An Interpretation of Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant？from Perspective of Initiation Story Theory_英语论文

摘要

本文试图从成长小说的角度解读《我们能谈点开心的事吗？》，并且主要从成长小说的成长主人公、成长模式和成长引路人三个方面进行探究主人公的成长主题。通过对其成长经历的探究，本文主要描述了主人公在面对自己不愉快的童年和亲人衰老的事实时，她的心理是如何经历了从无知到成熟的发展历程，并最终实现了自我成长。此外，本文也使人们更深入地了解作者是如何运用图像小说的形式即漫画的艺术方法和表达技巧更直观，更生动形象地来呈现作者的心理成长过程。在这一过程中，作者选择勇敢的面对自己并通过自己的努力最终与不愉快的过去进行和解，进而突出了从成长小说的角度解读该研究文本成长主题的重要性和独特性。

关键词: 《我们能谈点开心的事吗？》  成长小说  图像小说

Abstract

The thesis attempts to provide a new interpretation of the novel Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? from the perspective of Initiation Story Theory. And it primarily explores the initiation theme from three aspects, namely, the protagonist of initiation, the mode of initiation and the guide of initiation. Through exploring the protagonist’s experience in her growing-up process, the thesis mainly describes the process of the protagonist’s psychological development from innocence to maturity when she faces her relatives’ aging and finally realizes self-growth. Additionally, it gives people a deeper understanding that how the author uses the artistic methods and expressive techniques of a graphic novel which are more visual and vivid to present the protagonist’s psychological growing-up process. This thesis presents that the protagonist chooses to face herself bravely and strives to reconcile with her unpleasant past in the end. Furthermore, it highlights the importance and uniqueness of interpreting the initiation theme of this studying text from the perspective of initiation story theory.

Key words: Can We Talk about Something More Pleasant?  Initiation Story graphic novel

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1  A Brief Introduction to Roz Chast 1

1.2  A Brief Introduction to Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? 3

1.3  Purpose of the Thesis 4

1.4  Structure of the Thesis 4

Chapter Two  Literature Review 5

2.1  Definition of Initiation Story Theory and its Development 5

2.2  Previous Studies on Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? 9

Chapter Three  Initiation Story Theory Interpretation in Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? 11

3.1  The Protagonist of Initiation 11

3.2  The Mode of Initiation 12

3.3  The Guides of Initiation 16

3.4  Summary 18

Chapter Four  Conclusion 19

Bibliography

Acknowledgments