解读《睡谷传说》中伊卡波德形象_英语论文

On the Image of Ichabod in The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow

摘要

《睡谷的传说》是收录于美国作家华盛顿•欧文著名散文集《见闻札记》中的一篇短篇小说。本文旨在运用对立冲突的分析方法对《睡谷的传说》中伊卡波德形象进行分析，进一步展示出伊卡波德和村民之间的两种截然不同的生活方式。与此同时,本文将着重研究伊卡波德性格内部的矛盾冲突，环境对人物命运所产生的影响，以及伊卡波德在社会、文化方面的象征意义，以实现与读者之间的情感共鸣。最后，本文从发展的角度对欧文笔下的逃避主义进行了解释，对我们现实生活也起到了借鉴作用。

关键词：伊卡波德  矛盾冲突   象征意义  逃避主义

Abstract

The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow is a short novel in the famous essays, The Sketch Book, written by American writer Washington Irving. This paper makes a detailed analysis of Ichabod, the leading character of The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow, by exploring this image with the method of antitheses, showing two distinct lifestyles between Ichabod and the villagers. In the meantime, it will concentrate on the contradictions of Ichabod’s character. It will also talk about how the environment affects the characters as well as the symbolic meanings of the image of Ichabod in the social and cultural aspects so as to realize the emotional resonance of the readers. From the perspective of development, this paper gives an explanation of Irving’s escapism, from which we can draw lessons in our daily life. 

Keywords: Ichabod  Contradictions  Symbolic Meanings  Escapism

Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter Ⅰ Ichabod’s Complicated Character 3

1.1 Funny Looks with Elegant Behavior 3

1.2 Unreality, Timidity and Incompetence 4

1.3 Little Intellect with More Ignorance 5

Chapter Ⅱ Environment’s Influence on Ichabod 7

2.1 Being Poor and Incompatible in Netherlands 7

2.2 Achieving Success in New York 8

Chapter Ⅲ Symbolic Meanings of the Image of Ichabod 10

3.1 Destroyer of the Ideal Society 10

3.2 The Changing American Society 11

3.3 The Contradictory American Culture 12

3.4 Conflicts between Ideal and Reality 13

Conclusion 15

References 17

Acknowledgments 18