《莳萝泡菜》的象征手法研究_英语论文

On the Symbolism in “A Dill Pickle”

摘要

凯瑟琳·曼斯菲尔德是英国文学中最重要的短篇小说作家之一，和20世纪早期最有声望的作家关系甚好，比如劳伦斯，詹姆斯乔伊斯。《莳萝泡菜》是其最著名的短篇小说之一，讲述了一对恋人分离六年后再度相遇的情景。曼斯菲尔德通过展现不同种类的象征，如自然景物、动物、衣着、习惯性动作和标题，展现了人物情感和内心世界，深化了主题。

自小说出版以来，就吸引了众多学者和批评家的关注，并从不同角度对其进行了解读。研究者大多运用女性主义、悲观主义、现代主义等理论，重点研究小说中的人物对话表达方式、心理特征、空白美和物性分析。然而，只有少数学者深层次地探究作品中的象征主义。

在前人研究的基础上，本文将从象征主义角度对这篇小说进行分析。第一部分简要介绍曼斯菲尔德的生平及其文学成就，小说的内容梗概和研究现状。第二部分着重于象征主义理论的分析，对其主要概念、起源和发展，乃至对曼斯菲尔德创作的影响进行梳理。第三部分挖掘象征意象在具体语言环境和文化环境中的深层含义。本章主要研究和讨论曼斯菲尔德如何在其短篇小说中运用象征手法塑造人物性格并揭示人物微妙而丰富的内心世界。第四部分对论文进行了总结。

关键词: 凯瑟琳·曼斯菲尔德；《莳萝泡菜》；象征

Abstract

Katherine Mansfield was one of the most important short story writers in English literature, closely associated with the most acclaimed writers of the early twentieth century, such as D.H. Lawrence, James Joyce. “A Dill Pickle”, as one of her most famous short stories, tells a story about a couple who had been lovers and now meet again after six years of separation. By means of showing different types of symbols, including natural setting, animals, clothing, characters’ habitual action and the title, Mansfield conveyed the abstract state of mind or feelings of her protagonists, and hence strengthened the theme.

Since the short story came out, it has attracted much attention of many scholars and critics, who have interpreted it from different standpoints. Most of them have applied these theories, such as feminism, pessimism, modernism and so on to interpret the short story, and they usually pay more attention to the expression of character discourse, psychological features, the beauty of blank and transitivity analysis. Nevertheless, only few scholars have studied symbolism in depth.

On the basis of previous studies, this paper lays special stress on analyzing the short story from the perception of symbolism. It is made up of four parts. The first chapter briefly introduces Mansfield’s life and her literary achievements, as well as the main content and present research on “A Dill Pickle”. The second chapter focuses on symbolism through combing its main concepts, origin and development, as well as Mansfield’s application of symbolism in her works. The third chapter explores the meanings of different symbols under specific language environment and culture. This part aims to research symbolism in Mansfield’s short stories in order to explore her symbolic device along with the artistic effects of symbolism in representing and discovering the mystery of the characters’ inner world. The last one summarizes the opinion of the full text and draws a conclusion.

Keywords: Katherine Mansfield  “A Dill Pickle”  symbol

Contents

Acknowledgments I

Abstract II

摘要 III

Chapter One Introduction 1

1.1 Katherine Mansfield 1

1.2 “A Dill Pickle” 1

1.3 Literature Review 2

1.4 Thesis Structure 3

Chapter Two Symbolism 4

2.1 Definition and Origin of Symbolism and Symbol 4

2.2 Symbolism in Literature 4

2.3 Symbolism and Mansfield 5

Chapter Three Symbolic Interpretation of “A Dill Pickle” 7

3.1 Symbolic Meanings of the Title—“A Dill Pickle” 7

3.2 Symbolic Meanings of Flowers 10

3.2.1 Paper Daffodil 10

3.2.2 Geranium, Marigold and Verbena 10

3.2.3 Water Lily 11

3.3 Symbolic Meaning of Beast 11

3.4 Symbolic Meanings of Dress 12

3.4.1 The Symbol of Vera’s Veil, Collar and Gloves 12

3.4.2 The Symbol of the Man’s Clothes and Russian Cigarettes 13

Chapter Four Conclusion 14

References 15