西方文化九种原型故事介绍

西方文化九种原型故事介绍

1.Achilles(Greek Myth)阿喀琉斯

A demigod,son of the mortal Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis and the greatest hero of the Trojan Wa r.Homer's Iliad tells the full story of the War and Achilles'role in it.It was said that in infancy his mother dipped him in the river Styx冥河to make him invulnerable.She was interrupted by Peleus,and abandoned her husband and child in anger.

海的女神忒提斯，预见儿子阿喀琉斯长大成人后会在战场上丧命。为了改变儿子的命运，她带着阿喀琉斯来到了冥河。她对泡一泡冥河的水，就能变成不死身的传说坚信不疑。尽管如此，忒提斯平时还是很严格的管教儿子，阿喀琉斯对此感到厌烦。最终，忒提斯在儿子的好友帕特洛克罗斯的劝说下，同意让阿喀琉斯接受勇士训练。阿喀琉斯会像忒提斯预见的那样命丧战场吗?

The"Achilles"story is the story of the seemingly invulnerable(无懈可击的)hero with afatal flaw.Classical tragedy is usually avariant of the Achilles story.(Example：Superman)

"阿喀琉斯"是--个看上去无懈可击，但是却有着一个致命弱点的英雄的故事。Achilles'Heel[阿喀琉斯之踵,弱点；要害]古典悲剧通常就是阿喀琉斯故事的-个变种。(如《超人》)

2.Candide康迪德

Voltaire's Candide(1759))

The story of the innocent abroad,the naively optimistic hero who triumphs contrary to all expectations.(Examples：Forrest Gump(《阿甘正传》)，Mr.Bean(《憨豆先生》),A Beautiful Mind(《美丽心灵》))

一个纯真无邪的乐天派英雄踏上陌生的土地，出人意料地大获全胜。(如《阿甘正传》、《憨豆先生》、《美丽心灵》、《印第安那·谅斯》)

法国哲学家、小说家伏尔泰(Voltaire,1694~1778)的名著《憨第德Candide,1758》(亦有译为《天真汉》)，故事里思想单纯的主人公憨第德，

Candide parodies the philosophy of optimism put forth by

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz.This philosophy states that since God created the world and God is perfect,everything in the world is ultimately perfect.The young and nave Candide studies under the tutelage监护of his enlightened tutor,Pangloss,who believes that"all the for the best in the best of all possible worlds".The tale is afantastic picaresque journey that takes Candide around the world.In their travels,however,they meet with nothing but

war,disease,torture,and slavery.After he and his friends are

killed,they are brought back to life；first rich,then poor；and finally,they wind up on afarm in Turkey.

In Candide(1759),Voltaire believed that Optimism led people to accept their situations instead of changing them.Candide follows the checkered多变的fortunes of an innocent young man as he travels the world and gradually comes to mistrust the philosophy that"all is for the best"and that people should not try to improve their lot.

3.Cinderella Fairy tale The story of the"dream comes true"：Goodness and virtue are despised at the beginning but recognized at last.The protagonist of the Cinderella story usually begins in alowly position but through his good nature,convinces all doubters(怀疑

者)and is rewarded.(Example：Pretty Women(《漂亮女人》))

灰姑娘

这是一个"梦想成真"的故事：良知与美德刚开始被轻视，最后则受到认可。灰姑娘故事的主人公出身卑贱，但是凭着美好的天性，最终感动了所有怀疑她

的人，并且获得了奖励。如《漂亮女人》

4.Circe喀耳刻

Circe,daughter of the sun,was asorceress巫婆best known for her ability to turn men into animals with her magic wand.she is remembered for her encounter with Odysseus and his men,and renowned

for her knowledge of magic and poisonous herbs.

When Odysseus and his men landed on an island,his crew later met with Circe and were turned into pigs.Circe's spells however had no effect on Odysseus who earlier was given an herb by Hermes to resist her power.Circe realizing she was powerless over him lifted the spell from the crew and welcomed them in her home.After about ayear when Odysseus leaves she warns them of the sirens一群女海妖they will encounter on their journey.Circe and Odysseus also bore achild together named Telegonus who later ruled over the Tyrsenians.

The"chase"story，in which an innocent victim is pursued by the villain,until the villain is defeated by the potential victim.Often this story takes the form of the temptress(诱惑男人的女

性)ensnaring(诱捕)'the love-struck(被爱情冲昏了头的)male；it has

often been vividly described as"the spider and the fly".It is the basis of horror films,thrillers,and film noir.(Examples：Fatal Attraction and the Alien films，Basic Instinct)

好人被坏人穷追不舍，直到好人打败了坏蛋。这个故事的形式常常是妖艳

的女子施展手段迷惑被爱情冲昏了头的男人，人们生动地将之形容为"蜘蛛和苍蝇"。这是恐怖片、惊片和黑色电影的基本结构。(如《本能》和《异形》系列

电影)

5.Faust(Medieval Legend,Marlowe's Doctor Faustus,Goethe's Faust)