《看得见风景的房间》的象征意义分析dissertation.doc

《看得见风景的房间》的象征意义分析dissertation----英美文学论文

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爱·摩·福斯特是20世纪英国最著名的小说家之一。《看得见风景的房间》是他小说中最著名的一部。从表面上看，这是一部简单的爱情小说，但是在小说中大量地运用了象征主义手法使作品有了更深层的意义。

本文由五部分构成：论文的第一部分简单地介绍了福斯特的生平和他在文学上的主要成就。对福斯特小说中象征主义手法的运用进行了一个简单的论述，并简要说明了本论文研究的可行性及重要意义。第二章是本论文的理论基础，根据查德威克所著的《象征主义》对象征主义的介绍，概括出象征主义的主要创作方法：通过运用未加解释的象征暗示内心的情感与思想及内心深处所憧憬的理想世界;论文第三章通过对《看得见风景的房间》这部小说中题目、主要人物、小说故事发生的背景中象征主义手法的解读，暗示是如何通过一些客观事物来暗示他的情感：对不健全心灵的批判和对自由人文主义的提倡，同时传达他所追求的超越现实的理想世界：人与人、人与自然和谐相处。第四部分说明了象征主义在文章中的作用。第五部分是对全篇论文的总结。通过从象征主义手法分析福斯特的作品，读者可以更深刻地理解福斯特及他的作品。

ABSTRACT摘要

E.M. Forster ostfamous novelists of the 20th Century in English literature. A Room ong his six novels. At first sight, you may regard it as asimple love story, but the use of symbolism gives this novel deeper meanings.

This thesis is constituted of fiveparts. The first chapter briefly introduces Forster’s main life experiences andhis literary acplishments. The second part is the theoretical perspective.In terms of Symbolism ain method of symbolismbols to shoain characters and background settings. Through the use of symbolism,it reveals hoanism. The author desires a harmonious onghuman and also betan and nature. The forth part is the function of symbolismin the novel. The firth part is the conclusion of the thesis. StudyingForster’s bolism, readers are able to understandboth Forster and his novel on a deeper level.

Key bolism

Chapter1 Introduction引言

Ediddle-class family. He ous as D.H. Laes Tait Black Memorial Prize.

A Room e suggests, overes difficulties andgains the happiness that belongs to her finally.

This thesis is to analyze E.MFoster’s application of symbolism in the novel., of which we can know that thetitle,

-->characters, and locations, seasons and bolic meanings respectively. Through the collection of theinformation from some books, bols, roughly speaking, is a signof something else; in this aspect, all bols. In criticism,hobol” only refers to a e of bolism.

The body part of this novel consistsof tboland symbolism. Part tainly represents the symbolic meaning of the title,characters, locations, seasons and bol and Symbolism符号和象征意义的解释

Because of the importance of symboland symbolism in the novel and in order to let us understand this novel better,it is very necessary to understand some basic conceptions about symbol andsymbolism.

2.1 An interpretation of symbol

From the dictionary, symbol issomething that represents or stands for something else, usually by conventionor association, a material object used to represent something abstract. It isan object, person, idea and other things used in a literary ething else e more subtle bols sometimes are not justapplications for conveying meanings, being not a mark of themselves in theconcrete circumstances and scenes but also are knitted into the grain of theeaningsand more poplies all the same. Roughly speaking, it is a sign ofsomething else; in this point, all bols.

A symbol has intricate meanings; ithas not only a literal meaning, but also additional meanings beyond theliteral. A symbol may have more than one meaning. Actually, most typicalsymbols do express a eanings. Like the peony can be regarded asthe symbol ofChina.Thus, in the right context, a peony can express even eaningthan its literal and simple meaning.

Poets, like all of us, employmon symbols such as the terms “the Cross,” “the Red, eanings are monly knoe examples of mon Literary, the symbolic meaning of sunshine ishope, cross is salvation, heart is love, grim is reaper or death and phoenix isrebirth.

2.2 An exposition of symbolism

It is defined that symbolism as theart of expressing thoughts

-->and feelings not by describing them directly, nor bydefining them through parisons ages, but by expressing in the mind of the readerthrough the use of unexplained symbols.

According to Charles Chadbolism involves tansymbolism” and the other is called as “transcendental Symbolism”. Edmund an symbolism as “an attempt by carefully studied means—a plicatedassociation of ideas represented by a medley of metaphors—to municate uniquepersonal feelings”(Chadbolism “in ages are used as symbols, not of particular

thoughts and feelingserely an imperfect representation” (Chadbolism in literature, theperiod since the bol systemsare applied by many chief e from mostlyforgotten religious and mysterious traditions and partly developed by theauthors themselves. The symbolic applications in some of the most famous bolism in literature is one ofthe many tools that ploy in order to generate not only interest inone's eaning. Symbolism may beobvious or more subtle or hidden so that the reader must really think and studythe eaning. Like the ore subtle meanings.

ay also use symbolism toallude to a mood or feeling otion. For example, a ight use the symbol of a lily to representpurity or a ray of sunshine to represent hope. Roses and images of hearts havebee synonymous bolist revolutions’acplishment ost basically, an exact consciousness of language s of life rather than a natural appearance of the person (Scott 212).According to Friedman, because of the influence of French Symbolist poetry, anebolist novel came into being.

In some respects, the novels ofJames, Proust, Joyce, Conrad, Faulkner and Virginia bolist poetry.)Even though the symbolist novel is oneof the distinguished forms of the twentieth century, it has achieved

-->lessattention than studies of symbolist poets and of symbolist poetry. E.M. Forsterand E.K. Brobolist novel (Tindall 71).Through the use of symbolism in A Room plies his feelings and ideas to criticize the unsound heart andadvocating liberal humanism.

Chapter 3 SYMBOLIC ANALYSIS OF AROOM bols appear almost every bolism of the title, maincharacters and the background setting.

3.1 Symbolism of the Title—“A Room. Hoore than ore. The title of A Room bolic meaning.

In the title, there are tbols—“room” and “vieportant because that they “explorerather than summarize” (Gindin, 176). Evidently, “room” and “vieeaning, room is anenclosed environment bolic meaning. People er, have unsound and undeveloped hearts. Vieosphere inItalyadvocatespeople to be honest and natural to express their true feelings.

In the novel, all key charactersare measured by room and vieed by culture is that he has a dra but s. So this kind person is a deadly one.pletely differ from this kind persons, the Emersons bolizes the process of Lucy’s development. In the beginning ofthis story, Lucy longs for a room doesn’t etrue, she is very disappointed, plies Lucy has the right to o the vieersons offer to her, e new ideaswhich never happen to her before. Overprotected, she doesn’t know how to

--> doerson bol ofthe freedom provides Lucy al vieising life. No: s and Mr. Emerson’s representing vieersons andItaly, erson’s sincere suggestion andescapes from imprisonment into freedom.

The use of symbolism in the title provokesthoughts of readers and gives the novel a more rich meaning. .Forster agination, hypocrisy.” These features symbolize the middle class inevery country, but inEnglandthey are also national features, because the middle classes ofEnglandhavebeen in poale self-satisfaction”. All these are seen inCecil.

Noedieval. Like a gothic statue. Tall and refineded braced by an effort of the bled the fastidioussaints ained in the grip of a certain devilodern the medieval, mer vision, .” (Forster,106)

This portrayal description stresson Cecil’s back a his true life turning himself into a type of rigidart-object that is very different from all human outline. Symbolically, Cecilseems as the saints guarding the cathedral—a huge religious room. So e threatening qualities of Cecil’s “medievalism”. -->r />

Mr. Beebe Lucy and the in poth and generosity .He remarks Cecilis“ the kind of felloanity. Unable to understand the real meaning of life, he is alongthe sidelines, making best to fix and turn it to be appropriate to his prospectof the “good life,” a life th and humanity of Lucyand her family. He disliked touch and intimacy. Though he talked of democracy,he people, to keep himself pure and uncontact. He didn’tlike the body, all physical energies and functions.

All these points make acontribution to Forster’s creation of Cecil. The author arranged him among theinhuman orethan a character but a symbol of the conception “undeveloped heart.” in thisnovel.

3.2.2 Lucy— a “Fixed” one into a“Free” one

Through Forster’s using of names,some implied meaning is gained. e “Honeychurch” oral control by church . As aVictorian young lady, she is the product of her class and controlled by thesocial discipline . She has a fixed figure—a medial lady “virtuous, solemn,removed, and sensitive to art but allo her previous life, offered by Italy—er, nee adventure.

In Chapter 3 through the music LucyHoneychurch plays, it releases her out of herself and alloit in public. ation. Lucy es toItalyto gainknoore critical than everbefore, judging the familiar with new ideas and standards.

There is a big test waiting for herin Chapter 6. In this part, it es to her a cr

-->ucial encounter betazingly imaginative “vieprovement toore affected bythe mon attitudes of her class. She is doubtful about her true feelings. Atthis moment, she refuses the chance of o that life brings to her. So, the test is failed. Part 2 tells Lucydiscovered the truth about Cecil and her o fear of thephysical. She accepts Cecil Vyse’s third proposal and is engaged to him, ind is in a confused situation, even though a secondchance of releasing is given to her in the rest.

In Chapter, 12 there is anotherimportant encounter bete. Accidently, theymeet Mrs. Honeychurch, Cecil and Lucy. Georges seems like a god from pond andgreets Lucy almost naked. The interesting scene is a sign of asking forpassion.

In Chapter 15 one Sunday afternoon,at the rest just after George beats Lucy at tennis, Cecil accidentally reads achapter from Miss Lavish’s

novel, ilar to George’s firstkissing of Lucy during the outing toFiesole.Affected by the recollection of this scene, instinctively, George kisses Lucyagain. The kiss does have a direct and strong impact.

At the end of Chapter 16, shelisten to her heart and pursue happiness and love, so Lucy breaks off herengagement ersons —the Spokesmenof Liberal Humanism

The Emersons is the spokesmen ofLiberal Humanism. Mr.Emerson’s directness and kindness is seen by his firstapperance in the book. As the book opens, after their reaching to the PensionBertolini inFlorence,Lucy and Miss Bartlett find their rooms ised. At dinner, an hears their plaint, erson.

In symbolic terms, both theEmersons noust acquire. Mr.Emerson, has a viean ake thei

-->r fello these erson truly loves people erson an forItalyand love, appreciates and supports the love betphasis on theplexities of life. “Life is a public performance on the violin, in ust learn the instrument as you go along ” (Forster, 222). Mr. Emersoncontinues to speak to Lucy, quite unrestrained by social regulations, that sheloves George “body and soul” (Forster, 223).Though Lucy seems shocked, truthand love are too much part of Mr.Emerson and she has not got the courage toface him erson says to her next might be the vitalooning in the Pension Bertolini ulated by thebeautiful nature, George naturally conveys his love for Lucy. His role here isto aakes some contribution to her progress.

Moreover, the Emersons, aredemocratic, for they believe in the equality beten and en. As opposedto Cecil’s regarding Lucy as a an. “I y arms”(Forster, 187).Definitely George is a conqueror oral symbolism is best embodied in the Emersons.

3.3 Symbolism in the BackgroundSetting

3.3.1 Symbolism of the Locations

For Forster his visit toItalyother in the autumn of 1901 is “the most fruitful journey of his life” for itsdirect result is to afford some material for his earliest stories and t a quite different visionand Forster considersItalyas “The beautiful country bol of the“natural” life of activity and participation.Italybol of thefree land can be best personified in its people. Contrasted en, the Italians ore natural life.

Mr.Beebe says Italians “are bornknowing the way” and they are endowed with

--> “a gift from God” to find the rightpeople. Italians indeed have an intuitive intelligence. “They pry everyerson. Under the guidance of Phaethon,Lucy es into a“beautiful and direct”ing at last; shecould discern the river, the golden plain, other hills. At the same moment theground gave end to end.

3.3.1.2 Symbolic Meaning of England

As the book opens, pression ofEnglandthrough Lucy’s discontent ight beLondon.” She looked at the t.

Englandis just a similar inded conventionality. “Forster’sEnglandis chiefly that of the upper middleclasses and the intelligentsia of the universities andLondon” (Bradbury, 51).Civilization ong these people. bolizes a otion

3.3.2 Symbolism of Seasons and. The first part occurs inItalydominatedby the bright and sunny air but ends that implies the truelove is defeated by the tradition convention .

The second part describes Lucy’snice home uch similar to thevieising period ofic. “Do you suppose there’s anydifference betan?” (Forster, 84) Lucy’sspringtime of emotion also arrives.

In Chapter6, Forster describes aflorescent Italian spring viepered by

-->theemerging of Miss Bartlett. issBartlett’s repressed spirit ind and she gives n. All thatphed”(Forster,143).

The fortable climate fits forthe first important meeting betn. Summer adeher to be more pathetic, because they inded of spring. Looking thesurroundings, a leaf, violently agitated, danced past her, mer forever,ily. The inevitablemovement of nature implies that Lucy must react correctly. The traditionalvalues can’t meet her any longer and she should face the reality courageouslyand be honest to herself. In Chapter 18, after she lies to Mr.Beebe, Mrs.Honeychurch, Freddy and the Servants, Gray clouds ed insufficientfor those vast operations in heaven.

The plies Lucy is totally controlled Lucy and defeated by the depthof darkness. The novel concludes atching bolism inA Room bolism is important to expressthe theme of the novel, so this chapter mainly discusses hobolism presentsthe theme of the novel.

4.1 Theme of A Room w

-->ith A Viee of A Room A Vieany different levels phasis on differentaspects. The conflict beteof the novel.

Lucy's match atch that could makeher happy. Her match ore conventional, but marriage to Cecilersons are truly unconventional people. Theycare almost nothing for propriety. Mr. Emerson, a Socialist, speaks portance of passion and the beauty of the human body. TheBritish characters of the novel have very strong ideas about the need torepress passion and control young girls. To achieve happiness, Lucy any of e throughout E. M. Forster’s novel. Light and dark motifs conjointo a degree bolism of rooms and vieself muses repeatedly thatLucy represents light, and interestingly the name Lucy does in fact mean‘light’ – obviously chosen by Forster intentionally for the association.Forster distinguishes the difference bete Cecil, to putfurther emphasis on this symbolism,

means ‘blind’.

4.2 Function of Symbolism inPresenting Themes

The use of symbolism and itssignificance appear almost everyaticuse of symbolism style of E.M Foster akes him popular is one of the mostunusual. In bols are not used to decorate the novel but are means tomake a plete statement. They can offer consistency of meaning and carry muchdeeper meaning of the book to make the story more attractive. Symbolism in thenovel A Room ost successfulcontribution akes the various themes of the book appear vividly.

As noted earlier, there are plentyof symbols-such as the room and vieerges almost from the beginning tothe end and until the story is pleted, its importance starts to appear. Roomhere representsEnglandbolic meaning. People er, have unsound and undeveloped hearts. Viewstands forItalywhich is a free place link to nature and earth clo

-->sely. The atmosphere inItalyadvocatespeople to be honest and natural to express their true feelings. . Forster.London:Chatto .Forster.London:The Macmillan Press Ltd,1979.

Forster,Ed an,1983.

Gransden,K..Forster.London:Oliverand Boyd,1962.

胡允林. 《象征主义》 译林1980 第一期

Ruan,.福斯特小说和思想研究.北京：中国社会科学出版社，2003.

ACKNOENTS

Here firstly, I uch to the people e to finish this paper a lot,especially my

respected supervisor, any helpful suggestions and

-->some pertinent ments y paper better absolutely. And I should emphasize that y paper e a lot not only on English majorbut also hoe very much during the four years university life.

Thirdly, I y friendsand classmates deeply e too much help and support me y thesis.

Last but not the least, I am alsodeeply indebted to my parents for their encouragement and understanding, I ember their care forever.