英语短篇小说教程本科课件Unit7

Reading Tips:
The story is about an adolescent love, or something we call “puppy love,” which is usually not taken seriously. The boy narrator has some glimpses of a girl in the neighborhood, talks with her only once and very briefly, and hopes to bring her a present from the bazaar（集市）. Yet in the mind of the narrator the girl appears to be a symbol of beauty, romance and idealism against the bleakness of his day-to-day life. But his youthful fantasy is ultimately crushed by the indifference of the adult world. The writer allows the boy to experience an epiphany, a sudden realization or a moment of insight, by the end of the story.
For example a red rose is a conventional symbol of love. The girl in “Araby” (Unit 7) is the author’s unique symbol of beauty and idealism.
Epiphany
It is formerly a religious term, meaning a person’s soul enlightened by God’s wisdom. As a literary term, it means the revelation of some deep truth. In modern literature starting from James Joyce, it refers to any moment of profound revelation, or a sudden illumination or awareness of certain truth. In a literary work, an epiphany is not usually stated or made explicit, but takes effect in the mind of the reader who “feels it” by imaginatively putting himself or herself in the situation.
The Tone (2):
A story may be characterized by a dominant tone which may be described as:
grave or light-hearted; solemn or sentimental; intimate or distant; bitter or affectionate; straightforward or reserved; supportive or critical; respectful or condescending; serious or playful, and etc.
The Irony:
There are generally three types of irony:
• Dramatic irony occurs when a narrator or character knows less than readers do (for example, the naïve narration of “A Piece of Yellow Soap” in Unit 2);
The Story :
James Joyce:
Araby
Questions for Discussion:
Why does the boy isolate himself in his room reading books and why does he retreat into dreams of idealized love? Find the contrasts between his real life and the imagined perfection.
Why is the journey to the bazaar so important to the boy? Has he taken the matter overseriously?
What contrasts do we find between the adults and the boy?
• Situational irony occurs when what happens is at odds with what readers are led to expect (for example, the fool in the story making a wise plan);
• Verbal irony occurs when the narrator says one thing but actually means another (for example one says “She’s such a beauty!” while meaning that she is ugly).
The Symbol:
A symbol is a person or an object that, in addition to its literal meaning, suggests something more abstract or complex. Symbols enrich meaning and expand possibilities of interpretation.
Style is an overall effect achieved by a writer’s creative use of language which gives his work individual personality.
Style generally includes such elements as word choice, syntax, sentence length, structure, the use of symbols a
Short Stories in English: A Reading Course
Unit Seven
Style, Tone and Irony Reading: “Araby” by James Joyce
The Style (1):
A man’s language is the man. The typical way a writer presents his language is his style, something that marks him out as different from other writers.
abstract or concrete; elegant or vulgar; comic or serious; original or imitative; formal or casual; plain or poetic, etc.
The Tone (1):
The “tone” refers to the notion of speaking voice, in which we express attitude partly by our tone. For example, when one says “He is such a lucky guy!” the sentence may sound factual, envious or ironic, depending on the tone by which he or she says the words. The tone in which a thing is uttered modifies what is said and a good writer can control the exact way the reader is to “take” what he puts on the page.
The Style (2):
J.R. Lowell:
A good style is “the establishment of a perfect mutual understanding between the worker and his material.”
The Style (3):
People use such pairs of adjectives to describe style: