文学定义

Chapter Four The Victoria Period

1.Critical realism: Victoria literature, as a product

of its age, naturally took on its quality of

magnitude and diversity. It was many-sided and

complex. While sticking to the principle of faithful

representation of the 18th century realist novel,

they carried their duty forward to the criticism of

the society and the defense of the mass. Although

writing from different points of view and with

different techniques, they shared one thing in

common, that is, they were all concerned about

the fate of the common people. They were angry

with the inhuman social institutions, the decaying

social morality as represented by the money

worship and Utilitarianism, and the widespread

misery, poverty and injustice. Their truthful

picture of people’s life and bitter and strong

criticism of the society had done much in

awakening the public consciousness to the social

problems and in the actual improvement of the

society.

2.The characteristic and achievement of

Charles Dickens’ novels a. Dickens is adept with the vernacular and large vocabulary. He is humorous and witty. Character-portrayal is the most distinguishing feature of his works. Among a vast range of various characters, marked out by some peculiarity in physical traits, speech or manner, are both types and individuals. And he is famous for the depiction of those horrible and grotesque characters and those broadly humorous or comical ones. Dickens’s works are also characterized by a mingling of humors and pathos. Three kinds of characters: a. the innocent, persecuted, helpless child characters like Oliver Twist, Little nell, David Copperfield and little Dorris. B. the horrible and groteque characters like Fagin, Bill Sikes and Qulip; C. the humorous and comic figures like Mr. Micawber, Sun Weller and Mrs. Gamp.

3.The theme of Jane Eyre: In Jane Eyre, Charlotte

pours a great deal of her own experience, such as the life at Lowood school and life as a governess.

One of the central themes of the book is the

criticism of the bourgeois system of education.

Another problem raised by her in the novel is the position of woman in society. Jane Eyre, the heroine of the novel, maintains that women should have equal rights with men.

4.The narrative method of The Wuthering Heights:

the story is told mainly by Nelly, Catherine’s old nurse, to Mr. Lockwood, a temporary tenant at Grange. The latter too gives an account of what he sees at Wuthering heights. And part of the story is told through Isabella’s letters to Nelly.

While the central interest is maintained, the sequence of its development is constantly disordered by fashbacks. This makes the story all the more enticing and genuine.

5.The artistic style of Browning’s poetry: 1)

“dramatic monologue” perfectly used as a dominant poetic medium in which the speaker reveals his or her own characters in telling the story unconsciously; 2) obscurity sometimes presenting itself in that psychological exposure mingles complicatedly with clipped syntax. 30