《瑞普·凡·温克尔》中的哥特元素和超自然氛围_英语论文

The Gothic Elements and Supernatural Atmosphere in Rip Van Winkle

摘要

华盛顿·欧文是美国早期作家，其凭借《瑞普·凡·温克尔》等小说蜚声国际。人们普遍认为这篇小说是一个浪漫主义作品。笔者却认为这是一个非典型的早期美国哥特小说。本篇论文旨在分析其中的哥特元素和超自然氛围。通过剖析文中神秘色彩，心理层面的恐惧,壮美的场景以及时空穿越，充分证实它是一篇哥特小说。本文从哥特传统的起源说起，首先分析了小说中独特神秘的仙山---卡茨基尔山的山名和山中云雾色彩对营造神秘氛围的作用。接着，分析悬崖峭壁的壮美场景的描写，引起的恐怖。紧接着，对比入山前后的村落和村民，分析其造成的恐惧情感。然后分析小说中人物的善恶冲突。最后分析穿越和巫术等超自然现象。作者精妙地将哥特元素和超自然氛围融合在精彩的故事情节中，跳脱传统的欧洲哥特方式，写就了具有美国特色的哥特小说。

关键词：《瑞普·凡·温克尔》 哥特 超自然

Abstract

Washington Irving who is an early American writer won international fame by publishing series of novels such as Rip Van Winkle. It is thought that Rip Van Winkle is a romantic novel. However, the author of this paper regards it as a atypical Gothic novel. In this paper, the author analyzes Gothic elements and supernatural atmosphere in the novel. By analyzing mystery, horror, terror, sublime scene and time travel, the author proves that it is a Gothic novel. This paper starts with Gothic tradition in literature and analyzes the name and magical hues of mysterious fairy mountain. Next, it explains the sublime and the terror. Then, it contrasts changes of the village and citizens here in order to analyze horror in the story. Next, it highlights contradictions between the good and the bad. Finally, it points out supernatural phenomena such as time travel and witches. Irving penetrates Gothic elements and supernatural atmosphere in wonderful plots so the novel is rather an American-style Gothic novel than a atypical European Gothic novel.

Key words: Rip Van Winkle  Gothic elements  Supernatural Atmosphere

Contents

Introduction 4

1.Gothic Elements 5

1.1 The Origin of Gothic Tradition in Literature 5

1.2  Analysis of Gothic Elements in Rip Van Winkle 6

1.2.1 Mystery 7

1.2.2 The Sublime and Terror 8

1.2.3Horror 9

1.2.4 Conflicts between the Good and the Bad 11

2.Supernatural Atmosphere 14

2.1TimeTravel 14

2.1.1Time Travel of Immortal Hendrick Hudson 14

2.1.2 Time Travel of Rip 15

2.2 Other Supernatural Phenomena 16

2.2.1 The Emotional Dog Wolf 16

2.2.2  Ghosts and Witches 17

Conclusion 17

Bibliography 18

Acknowledgments 20