The Rape of the Lock 夺发记 赏析

------------------------------------------作者xxxx------------------------------------------日期xxxxTheRapeoftheLock夺发记赏析【精品文档】【精品文档】【精品文档】【精品文档】【精品文档】【精品文档】TheRapeoftheLock夺发记ByAlexanderPope(1688-1744)1.Introduction:TheMock-EpicAtthebeginningof"TheRapeoftheLock",Popeidentifiestheworkasa“heroi-comicalpoem.”Today,thepoem–andotherslikeit–isreferredtoasamock-epicandsometimesasamock-heroic.Suchaworkparodies仿作theserious,elevatedstyleoftheclassicalepicpoem–suchasTheIliadorTheOdyssey,byHomer–topokefunathumanfollies.Thus,amock-epicisatypeofsatire;ittreatspettyhumansorinsignificantoccurrencesasiftheywereextraordinaryorheroic,likethegreatheroesandeventsofHomer'stwogreatepics.Inwriting"TheRapeoftheLock"PopeimitatedthecharacteristicsofHomer'sepics,aswellaslaterepicssuchasTheAeneid(Vergil),TheDivineComedy(Dante),andParadiseLost(Milton).Manyofthesecharacteristicsarelistedbelow,under"EpicConventions."2.SettingTheactiontakesplaceinLondonanditsenvironsintheearly1700'sonasingleday.Thestorybeginsatnoon(CantoI)attheLondonresidenceofBelindaasshecarefullypreparesherselfforagala盛会socialgathering.Thescenethenshifts(CantoII)toaboatcarryingBelindauptheThames.ToonlookerssheisasmagnificentasQueenCleopatrawaswhenshetraveledinherbarge.Therestofthestory(CantosIII-V)takesplacewhereBelindadebarks下船–HamptonCourtPalace,aformerresidenceofKingHenryVIIIontheoutskirtsofLondon–exceptforabriefsceneinCantoIVthattakesplaceinthecaveoftheQueenofSpleen.3.CharactersBelinda:Beautifulyoungladywithwondroushair,twolocksofwhichhanggracefullyincurls.TheBaron:YoungadmirerofBelindawhoplotstocutoffoneofherlocks.Ariel:Belinda'sguardiansylph(supernaturalcreature).Clarissa:YoungladywhogivestheBaronscissors.Umbriel:SpritewhoentersthecaveoftheQueenofSpleentoseekhelpforBelinda.QueenofSpleen:UnderworldgoddesswhogivesUmbrielgiftsforBelinda.Thalestris:FriendofBelinda.ThalestrisurgesSirPlumetodefendBelinda'shonor.SirPlume:BeauofThalestris.HescoldstheBaron.Sylphs,Fairies,Genies,Demons,PhantomsandOtherSupernaturalCreatures4.Source:AReal-LifeIncidentPopebasedTheRapeoftheLockonanactualincidentinwhichaBritishnobleman,LordPetre,cutoffalockofhairdanglingtantalizingly令人着急地fromtheheadofthebeautifulArabellaFermor.Petre’sdaringtheftofthelocksetoffabattleroyalbetweenthePetreandFermorfamilies.JohnCaryll–afriendofPopeandofthewarringfamilies–persuadedthegreatwritertopenaliteraryworksatirizingtheabsurdity荒谬andsillinessofthedispute.Theresultwasoneofthegreatestsatiricalpoemsinallofliterature.Inwritingthepoem,Popealsodrewuponancientclassicalsources–notablyHomer’sgreatepics,TheIliadandTheOdyssey–asmodelstoimitateinstyleandtone.HealsoconsultedthetextsofmedievalandRenaissanceepics.5.PlotSummaryPopeopenswithastatementannouncingthetopicofhispoem:Agentleman–alord,infact–hascommittedaterribleoutrageagainstagentlewoman,causinghertorejecthim.Whatwasthisoffense?Whydiditincite刺激suchangerinthelady?ThewomaninquestionisnamedBelinda.SheissleepinglateonedayinherLondonhomewhenasylph–adainty精巧的spiritthatinhabitstheair–warnsherthat“Isaw,alas!somedreadEventimpend.”Thesylph,namedAriel,doesnotknowwhatthiseventisorwhereorhowitwillmanifestitself.ButhedoestellBelindatobeonguardagainstthemachinationsofmen.Belindarisesandpreparesherselfforasocialgathering,sittingbeforeamirrorandprettyingherselfwith“puffsandpowders”andscentingherselfwith“allArabia.”Afterward,shetravelsuptheThamesRivertothesiteofthesocialfestivities,HamptonCourt,thegreatpalaceonthenorthbankoftheriverthatinearliertimeswashometoKingHenryVIII.Asshesitsintheboat,“FairNymphs,andwell-drestYouthsaroundhershone,/Butev'ryEyewasfix'donheralone.”Inotherwords,shewasbeautifulbeyondmeasure.Shesmiledateveryoneequally,andhereyes–brightsuns–radiatedgoodwill.Especiallyendearingtoanyonewholookeduponherwereherwondroustresses:一束头发ThisNymph,totheDestructionofMankind,Nourish'dtwoLockswhichgracefulhungbehindInequalCurls,andwellconspir'dtodeckWithshiningRingletsthesmoothIv'ryNeck.AmongBelinda’sadmirersisayoungbaronatHamptonCourtawaitingherarrival.Hehasresolvedtosnipoffalockofherhairasthetrophyoftrophies.Beforedawn,beforeeventhesungodPhoebusApolloarose,theBaronhadbeenplanningthetheftofalockofBelinda'shair.Towinthefavorofthegods,hehadlightedanaltarfireand,lyingfacedownbeforeit,prayedforsuccess.AfterBelindaarrivesatHamptonCourtwithhercompanyoffriends,thepartygoersplayOmbre,apopularcardgameinwhichonly40ofthe52cardsaredealt--theeights,nines,andtensareheldback.ItappearsthattheBaronwillwinthegameafterhisknaveofdiamondscapturesherqueenofhearts.However,Belindayethashope,evenaftertheBaronplaysanaceofhearts:TheKingunseenLurk'dinherHand,andmourn'dhiscaptiveQueen.HespringstoVengeancewithaneagerPace,AndfallslikeThunderontheprostrateAceTheNymphexultingfillswithShoutstheSky;TheWalls,theWoods,andlongCanalsreply.Belindawins!Coffeeisserved,thevaporsofwhichgototheBaron’sbrainandemboldenhimtocarryouthisassaultonBelinda’shair.Clarissa,aladywhofanciestheBaron,withdrawsscissorsfromacaseandarmshimwiththeweapon.WhenheclosesinbehindBelinda,shebendsoverhercoffee,exposingamagnificentlock.Butathousandspritescometoheraid,usingtheirwingstoblowhairoverthelock.Theyalsotugatoneofherdiamondearringstoalerthertothedanger.Threetimestheywarnherandthreetimesshelooksaround.Butallisfornaught.TheBaronopenswidehisweapon,closesitaroundthelock,andcuts.TherapeofherlockenragesBelinda:Thenflash'dthelivingLightningsfromherEyes,AndScreamsofHorrorrendth'affrightedSkies.NotlouderShriekstopityingHeav'narecast,WhenHusbands,orwhenLapdogsbreathetheirlast,OrwhenrichChinaVessels,fal'nfromhigh,Inglitt'ringDustandpaintedFragmentslie!AgnomenamedUmbrieldescendstotheUnderworldonBelinda’sbehalfandobtainsabagofsighsandavialoftearsfromtheQueenofSpleen.Withthesemagicalgifts,hemeanstocomfortpoorBelinda.First,heemptiesthebagonher.AgentlemannamedSirPlume--promptedbyhisbelle,Thalestris,afriendofBelinda--thenroundlyscoldstheBaronforhisgraveoffense.ButtheBaronisunrepentant.UmbrielthenemptiesthevialonBelinda.Griefovercomesherashereyeshalf-drownintearsandherheaddroopsuponherbosom.Shesays:Forevercurs'dbethisdetestedDay,Whichsnatch'dmybest,myfav'riteCurlaway!Happy!ahtentimeshappyhadIbeen,IfHampton-CourttheseEyeshadneverseen!ClarissatriestomollifyBelindainalongspeech,butfails.AbitofameleeensueswhenBelindaattemptstoretrieveherlostlock.“Fansclap,Silksrussle,andtoughWhalebonescrack.”Belindaprovesafiercecombatant.SheattackstheBaron“withmorethanusualLightninginherEyes”andthrowsahandfulofsnufffromSirPlume'sboxuphisnose.But,alas,whenthebattleends,thelockisnowheretobefound.However,thepoemendsonahappynoteforBelinda,Popesays,becausethetrimmedlockofhergoldenhairhasrisentotheheavens,theretobecomeashiningstar.6.ThemeThecentralthemeofTheRapeoftheLockisthefussthathighsocietymakesovertriflingmatters,suchasbreaches破坏ofdecorum礼仪.Inthepoem,afeud争执ofepicproportionseruptsaftertheBaronstealsalockofBelinda’shair.Inthereal-lifeincidentonwhichPopebasedhispoem,thePetreandtheFermorfamilieshadafalling-outafterLordPetresnippedoffoneofArabellaFermor’slocks.OtherthemesthatPopedevelopsinthepoemincludehumanvanityandtheimportanceofbeingabletolaughatlife’slittlereversals.Thelattermotifisakindof“moraltothestory.”ClarissatouchesuponbothofthesethemeswhenaddressingtearfulBelinda,shornofherlock:Butsince,alas!frailBeautymustdecay,Curl'doruncurl'd,sinceLockswillturntogrey;Sincepainted,ornotpainted,allshallfade,AndshewhoscornsaMan,mustdieaMaid,WhatthenremainsbutwellourPow'rtouse,AndkeepgoodHumourstillwhate'erwelose?7.ClimaxTheclimaxofTheRapeoftheLockoccurswhentheBaronsnipsawayoneofBelinda'slocks.8.EpicConventionsBecauseamock-epicparodiesaclassicalepic,itusesthesameconventions,orformulas,astheclassicalepic--butusuallyinahumorousway.Forexample,aconventionofmanyclassicalepicsisaseavoyageinwhichperils危险confronttheheroateveryturn.InTheRapeoftheLock,theseavoyageisBelinda'sboattripuptheThamesRiver.Herguardiansylph,Ariel,sees"blackomens"thatforetelldisastersforBelindaeventhoughthewavesflowsmoothlyandthewindsblowgently.Willshestainherdress?Loseherhonororhernecklace?Missamasquerade化妆舞会?Forgetherprayers?SofrightfularetheomensthatArielsummons50ofhiscompanionspiritstoguardBelinda'spetticoat,aswellastheringlets小卷发ofherhair.FollowingareexamplesoftheepicconventionsthatPopeparodies:Invocation乞灵oftheMuse:InancientGreeceandRome,poetshadalwaysrequested“themuse”tofirethemwithcreativegeniuswhentheybeganlongnarrativepoems,orepics,aboutgodlikeheroesandvillains.InGreekmythology,therewereninemuses,allsisters,whowerebelievedtoinspirepoets,historians,flutists,dancers,singers,astronomers,philosophers,andotherthinkersandartists.Ifonewantedtowriteagreatpoem,playamusicalinstrumentwithbravado,ordevelopagrandscientificorphilosophicaltheory,hewouldaskforhelpfromamuse.Whenawriteraskedforhelp,hewassaidtobe“invokingthemuse.”ThemuseofepicpoetrywasnamedCalliope(希腊神话)司雄辩和叙事诗的女神[kuhLYuhpe].In"TheRapeoftheLock,"Popedoesnotinvokeagoddess;instead,heinvokeshisfriend,JohnCaryll(spelledCARYLinthepoem),whohadaskedPopetowritealiteraryworkfocusingonanevent(thesnippingofalockofhair)thatturnedthemembersoftwofamilies--thePetresandtheFermors--intobitterenemies.Caryllthoughtthatpokingfunattheincidentwouldreconcilethefamiliesbyshowingthemhowtrivialtheincidentwas.DivisionofthePoemIntoBooksorCantos:Thetraditionalepicislong,requiringseveraldaysseveraldaysofreading.Dante'sDivineComedy,forexample,contains34cantos.Whenprinted,theworkconsistsofabookabouttwoinchesthick.Pope,ofcourse,presentsonlyfivecantoscontainingatotaloffewerthan600lines.SuchminiaturizinghelpsPopedemonstratethesmallnessorpettinessofthebehaviorexhibitedbythemaincharactersinthepoem.DescriptionsofSoldiersPreparingforBattle:InTheIliad,HomerdescribesinconsiderabledetailthearmorandweaponryofthegreatAchilles,aswellasthebattlefieldtrappingsofotherheroes.InTheRapeoftheLock,PopedescribesBelindapreparingherselfwithcombsandpins–with"Puffs,Powders,Patches"–notingthat"NowawfulBeautyputsonallitsArms."DescriptionsofHeroicDeeds:WhileHomerdescribestheexploitsofhisheroesduringtheTrojanWar,Popedescribesthe"exploits"ofBelindaandtheBaronduringacardgamecalledOmbre,whichinvolvesthreeplayersandadeckof40cards.AccountofaGreatSeaVoyage:InTheOdyssey,Odysseus(alsoknownasUlysses)travelstheseasbetweenTroyandGreece,encounteringmanyperils.InTheAeneid,AeneastravelstheseasbetweenTroyandRome,alsoencounteringperils.InTheRapeoftheLock,BelindatravelsuptheThamesinaboat.ParticipationofDeitiesorSpiritsintheAction:InTheRapeoftheLock--asinTheIliad,TheOdyssey,TheAeneid,TheDivineComedy,andParadiseLost--supernaturalbeingstakepartintheaction.PresentationofScenesintheUnderworld:Likesupernaturalbeingsinclassicalepics,thegnome土地神UmbrielvisitstheUnderworldinTheRapeoftheLock.9.PublicationInformationPopepublishedthreeversionsofTheRapeoftheLock.Thefirstwasatwo-cantoversionpublishedin1712.Thesecond,publishedin1714,wasafive-cantoversionthataddedreferencestosylphsandothersupernaturalcreatures.Thefinalversion,publishedin1717inavolumeofPope'spoetry,addedClarissa'sspeechinCantoV.10.VerseFormatPopewroteTheRapeoftheLockinheroiccouplets.Aheroiccoupletisaunitoftworhyminglinesiniambicpentameter.Alineofverseiniambicpentameterconsistsof10syllables.Thefirstsyllableisunaccented,thesecondaccented,thethirdunaccented,thefourthaccented,andsoon.Theentirepoemconsistsofoneheroiccoupletfollowedbyanother,asdemonstratedbythefirstfourlinesofthepoem:Whatdireoffencefromam'rouscausessprings,Whatmightycontestsrisefromtrivialthings,[FirstCouplet:springsandthingsrhyme]Ising–ThisversetoCARYL,Muse!isdue:This,ev'nBelindamayvouchsafetoview.[SecondCouplet:dueandviewrhyme]Eachofthelineshas10syllablesinasuccessionofaccentedandunaccentedpairs(iambicpentameter),asfollows:Whatdireoffencefromam'rouscausessprings,Whatmightycontestsrisefromtrivialthings,Ising–ThisversetoCARYL,Muse!isdue:This,ev'nBelindamayvouchsafetoviewYoumayhavenoticedthatPopeturnedamorousintotwosyllablesbyeliminatingtheoandattemptedtoturnevenintoasinglesyllablebyeliminatingtheseconde.Poeticlicensepermitspoetstomakesuchadjustmentstoachievetheirends.11.FiguresofSpeechThemainfigureofspeechinTheRapeoftheLockishyperbole.Popeusesitthroughoutthepoemtoexaggeratetheordinaryandthecommonplace,makingthemextraordinaryandspectacular.Insodoing,paradoxically,hemakesthemseemastheyreallyare,smallandpetty.Examplesofhyperboleincludethefollowing:SolthroughwhiteCurtainsshotatim'rousRay,Andope'dthoseEyesthatmusteclipsetheDay.[Hyberbole:Belinda'seyesaresobrightthattheyoutshinearayofsunlight]ThisNymph,totheDestructionofMankind,Nourish'dtwoLockswhichgracefulhungbehind[Hyperbole:Belindaissobeautiful--andherwondrouslockssoinviting--thatshecanbringmankindtoruinwithdesire.]ExamplesofOtherFiguresofSpeechinthePoemPersonificationLoveintheseLabyrinthshisSlavesdetainsAnaphora首语重复法repetitionofawordorphraseatthebeginningofsuccessiveclausesHesaw,hewish'd,andtothePrizeaspir'dAlliterationWhereWigswithWigs,withSword-knotsSword-knotsstrive,BeauxbanishBeaux,andCoachesCoachesdrive.