Winesburg, Ohio

Sherwood Anderson holds a very special place in American literary field in that he has been a pioneering figure in the research of new literature spirit of the modern American novels. Encouraged by Anderson's persistent effort in describing the small characters at the turn of the century, I decided to make a deep research into his greatest book, Winesburg, Ohio, and on the basis of that, I present this thesis. In it there are three chapters. In the first chapter, I provide a general introduction to this book and the author so that we can have a general understanding about the author and his book. And then the second chapter devotes itself into its artistic value. First I give a detailed presentation to the reason why Anderson focused his attention on the small town characters. And then I think Anderson made a special contribution to American literature because of his unique form of telling stories, his simple language, use of epiphany. Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio is equally valuable in its social value. Its first part deals with the tragedy of small town characters in the transitional period, in which I make a general survey about various grotesques in Winesburg. In depicting the tragic life, Anderson at the same time rejects the social norm of the time. As a realist, Anderson is a witness of an important period in American history, when America was transforming from an agricultural society into an industrial one. So he severely criticizes the social norm brought about by the industrialization. The second part of the third chapter gives a detailed portrayal of the women in Winesburg. They are also inevitably influenced by the machine age. Here Anderson gives a special sympathy to the persistent women. In conclusion, whether in literary or in social value, Winesburg, Ohio is a new creation.