摘要

查尔斯•兰姆（1775-1834）是英国文学史上著名的散文家。本文通过结合兰姆所处的时代特征和个人生活经历，剖析其代表作之一《伊利亚随笔》（1823）中所体现出的兰姆的个性特征。《伊利亚随笔》中源于周围平凡生活的取材和内容，幽默风趣的写作风格展现出一个善于从不济的生活中发现美，积极应对人生悲苦，向忧愁微笑的达观的兰姆。同时，对亲人的关爱和宽容，对身边熟人的友爱以及对社会中弱者深深的同情和怜悯充分体现出一个满载博爱精神的兰姆。对于兰姆的解读有利于读者对其本人和相关作品有更加深入的了解。

关键词：兰姆；伊利亚随笔；幽默；博爱

Abstract

Charles Lamb (1775-1834) is a famous essayist in the history of English literature. This paper analyzes Lamb’s personality reflected in one of his masterpieces Essays of Elia(1823) with reference to the characteristics of the times he lived and his personal life experience. The ordinary materials and contents from daily life, the humorous writing style all demonstrate an optimistic Lamb who is good at finding beauty through the tough life, always keeping a positive attitude towards the bitterness of life, always smiling towards sorrows. Meanwhile, his deep concern and love for the family, the friendly and harmonious relationship with the familiars, his sympathy for the very weak people in the society fully reflect a philanthropic Lamb. The interpretation of Charles Lamb can help the readers to have a better understanding of him and the related works.

Key Words: Lamb; Essays of Elia; humor; philanthropy

1.    Introduction
1.1    A Brief Introduction of the Related Background Information
At the turn of the 18th century and the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution broke out in western countries which brought various changes in politics, economic and culture. It is known to us all that literature, being an important part of our life, also develops with the advancement of the society. The two main revolutions had such a strong influence on it that many writers got their inspirations and then a large number of beautiful poems or prose appeared. Romanticism as a literary movement came into being at that period of time and gradually developed as a main literary trend from the year 1798 to 1832. It proclaimed the doctrine of “liberty, equality and fraternity” which was largely welcomed by the laboring people who were heavily-exploited. The Romanticists put the spiritual and emotional life of human beings in a really important position. And as a typical representative, Charles Lamb played his own unique role.