推荐美国文学课后问题参考答案.docx

推荐美国文学课后问题参考答案.docx

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推荐美国文学课后问题参考答案

QuestionsonAmericanLiterature

Question4onP16DescribebrieflyhowPoecharacterizesMontresorandFortunatoascontrasts.

“TheCaskofAmontillado”bestexplainsPoe’sliterarytheoryonshortstorywritingthatliteraturecreatesbeautyandshowsintensityofemotionashecharacterizesMontresorandFortunatoasstrikingcontrasts.

Atthebeginningofthestory,Montresor’sself-introductionleftreadersanimpressionthathewasapersonwithgreatpatienceashehadborneFortunato’sinsultmanyatimebefore.Andhisdeterminationtorevengeseemedonlywordswithoutaction.Yet,heturnedouttobeacunning,discreetavenger,plottingsecretlyandwaitingpatientlyforabestopportunitytoappear.Whenaperfectmomentcame,hegraspeditandsmilinglybeggedforFortunato’sfavorwhilehecoveredhisevilintentionsowellthatFortunatocouldn’thelpbutfallintohistrap.Theso-calledbadguy,Fortunato,tooksuchunusualprideinhisknowledgeofwineandhisskillofwinejudgmentthathebecameinsensitive,foolishlyblind,unabletodetectMontresor’ssinisterpurpose.HegraduallyapproachedhisgravequitewillinglyandMontresoreasilytookhisadvantage.Itwastowardstheendofthestorythattruthwasrevealed.Montresor,therelentlessavenger,attackedFortunato,thebigfool,andburiedhimalive.Wereaderstookaback,hardtobelieveMontresor’scruelty.Theemotionalintensitywasthusnaturallyachieved.

ThroughsuchcharacterizationPoerevealshispurposeofwriting,i.e.,thereisevilinhumannature,whichisusuallycoveredandignored,andtoomuchpridebringsonehisfinaldestruction.

Question1.p.33.WhyistheprisonthesettingofChapterIandwhatistheimplicationofthedescriptionoftheroses?

Hawthorne’sintentionofusingtheprisonasthesettingofChapterIisquiteobvious.Here,theprison–“blackflowerofcivilizedsociety”symbolizesthe17th-centuryPuritansocietyofBoston,whereitsresidentswereallprisonersastherewasnofreedom（ofspeech,willorlove）butcruelandoutdatedrulesandregulations.Yetnomatterhowdarktheprison-likePuritanenvironmentwas,therehadbeensomebraveandsteadfastpeoplefightingforjustice,rightandfreedom.AnneHutchinsonwasagoodexample.Hawthorne’sdescriptionoftherosescarriessuchimplicationthatHesterPrynnewasfollowingAnneHutchinson’sfootsteps,remainingfaithfultoNatureandmorality.Theroses–“sweetmoralblossom”symbolizehopeandfutureofmankind.

Question2.p.33.DescribetheappearanceofHesterPrynneandtheattitudeofthepeopletowardsher.

HesterPrynnewasatallfigureofperfectelegance,characterizedbyacertainstateanddignity.Shewaslady-like,afterthemannerofthefemininegentilityofthosedays.Sheappearedsogracefulbecauseshepossessedtruelove,whichshethoughtwassomethingnobleandworthwhileandforwhichshewaswillingtosacrificeherself.Hesterhadacquiredstrongpsychologicalindependence,whichprovidedhermorepowerandcouragetoendureserenelyandquietlythepublicinsult（abuse）,weightandhardnessofthereality.Hawthorneseemstostresstheimportanceofpsychologicalindependence.

DifferentpeoplehavedifferentattitudetowardsHester.Somearesympathetic,othersfeelsorryforher,andstillothers,especiallythosecold-hearted,middle-agedwivesexpresstheirhatredtowardsHesterbecauseshehasbroughtshameuponthem.Andtheyhateherbecauseofheryouth,beautyandloveshepossessesobviously,allofwhicharewhattheylackintheirdailylife.TheythinkthepresentpunishmentgiventoHesterbythejudgesistoomildtowarntheotherseffectively.Someofthemevensuggestthatdeathshouldbethejustpenalty.

Question3.p.33.WhathashappenedtoHester?

Whydoesshemaketheembroideryoftheletter“A”soelaborate?

Howdoesthistellusabouthercharacter?

HesterhasoffendedthePuritanrule,sinned,guiltyofadultery.Condemned（Punished）towearonthebreastofhergownthescarletletter,“A”,sheistostandontheplatformbeforethemeetinghousefor3hourssothathershame（disgrace）mightbeatimelywarningandareproachtoallwhosawher.

Thereasonwhyshemakestheembroideryoftheletter“A”soelaboratemightbethatshebelievesinandtreasureshertruelovewithDimmesdale.Sheisloyaltoherlover,faithfultomorality,honesttoherself.Shebecomesindependentandstronginpsychology,generousinaction,livingalifewithcompletedignityandgreatfortitude.

WhatisHawthorne’s“black”visionoflifeandhumanbeings?

Hawthorne’sliteraryworldisverydisturbed,tormentedandproblematical,mostlybecauseofhisblackvisionoflifeandhumanbeings.Helooksmoredeeplyandhonestlyintolife,findinginitmuchsufferingandconflict,andtheredeemingpoweroflove.AccordingtoHawthorne,“Thereisevilin