论毛姆《患难之交》中的写作手法_英语论文

On the writing techniques of A Friend in Need by Maugham

摘要

威廉·萨默塞特·毛姆作为著名的英国小说家，戏剧家，创造了许多优秀的作品，其短篇小说简洁精炼，引人入胜，发人深省。本论文，挑选了其短篇代表作《患难之交》为研究对象，通过举例分析其写作手法使读者能够更加深入地了解毛姆短篇小说的特点及内在意义。首先，论文着眼于文中大量的对比手法及其作用，从对于两位主人公--伦尼·伯顿，爱德华·伯顿外貌性格，行为举止等方面的相互对比，以及他们自身的对比，使主人公形象更加真实生动。其次通过列举文中的对比手法，文章的反讽意味油然而生，文章的深意也随之更加易于理解，因此，本文进一步就文章讽刺的两个方面进行了分析，一是对于人性缺失的讽刺，二是对于责任感缺失的讽刺。最后，本论文探讨了文章的叙述技巧，分别从其巧妙的“故事嵌套”手法和细致的对话以及环境描写两方面进行分析。总体而言，本论文通过对于《患难之交》的细致解读，大致呈现出了毛姆短篇小说的特点，也给读者在文学创作甚至写作方面带来一些启示。

关键词：毛姆；写作手法；对比；反讽；叙述技巧

Abstract

William Somerset Maugham, as a well-known English novelist and playwright, creates a number of great works, among which his short novels are succinct, attractive and meaningful. This thesis takes his representative short novel--A Friend in Need as the object of study, illustrating writing techniques and intrinsic meaning through analysis with examples. Firstly, with a view to contrasts and its function, this thesis has some comparisons in appearance, addressing, manners, personalities and others between two protagonists--Edward Hyde Burton and Lenny Burton, as well as theirs own inner contradictions. By means of contrasting, character description becomes more genuine and lively. At the same time, irony develops into an outstanding feature of this novel, which deepens thematic meaning. Then we divide the analysis of irony into two parts, including the absence of human kindness and the absence of human responsibility. At last, we move to discuss narrative skills from point of view and “story within a story” narrative structure to detail description of dialogue and environment. All in all, after an elaborate analysis and comprehension of A Friend in Need, this thesis presents some basic features of Maugham’ s short novels, and brings readers some inspirations in literary creation.

Key words: Maugham; writing techniques; contrast; irony; narrative skills

Contents

Introduction 1

1. On the Contrast of Two Protagonists 2

1.1 The contrast of Edward Burton’s characters 3

1.2 The contrast of Lenny Burton’s characters 4

2. On the Irony of Human Nature 6

2.1 An absence of human kindness 6

2.2 An absence of human responsibility 9

3.On the Narrative Skills 11

3.1 Point of view and “Story within a story” narrative structure 11

3.2 Detail description of dialogue and environment 13

Conclusion 15

Bibliography 15

Acknowledgments 16

es in different fields １２

3.3 Trying to use simple characters １３

3.4 Taking loanwords seriously １４

Conclusion １５

Bibliography １５

Acknowledgments １６