The Analysis Of Narrative Art In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome

Edith Wharton is an important figure in American literature.She was recognized as one of the leading-American figures of realism at the beginning of 20th century American literary world.In Ethan Frome, Edith didn't describe the upper-class she was quite familiar with, it was the first time for her that to touch the harsh conditions of rural life and complicated emotions among the people. Ethan Frome holds a firm place asone of American literature's great tragic love stories.Ethan Frome is a story of ill-fated love among three person, Ethan ,his wife-Zeena and her wife's cousin-Mattie and tragic ending caused by contradiction between ideal and reality.In the criticism of Edith Wharton both at home and abroad,critics are interested in discussing how Whaton criticizes the upper-class, discloses the weak points in human nature and how the work is tinted with tragic color. Critics at home tend to use the methods of the school of ethics, sociology and interpretation to analyze the thoughts of the novel. The thesis intends to remark narrative art in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome.Chapter One is a detailed discussion of the structure of narration. Chapter One is a detailed discussion of the structure of narration.Wharton Wharton began thus, assaulting us with the narrator's presence in the very first word. It is a decidedly unusual way to open a fiction. In the eyes of the nameless narrator, Ethan Frome was unfolded before the reader. In this kind of narrative art, narrator plays very important role in the course of telling the story of Ethan Frome.It was narrator's status, writing method and degree that decide the basic character of story itself.Chapter Two focus on the symbolic and metaphor method in Ethan Frome. The embodiment can be found in every coner of the story. Symbolic objects and events went through the whole story and promoted the development of plot. Wharton successfully reflected the characteristics of three heroes and plot's development.Compared with other works of Wharton, the symbolism allows the writer to express thought more clearly. It makes hero real and full of color of tragic.Then I will come to artistic writing technique of foreshadowing and ellipsis in Chapter three. And to show how can the two writing techniques make the meaningful ending.All these writing technique brings incidents and personalities together in meaning, Ethan Frome is an excellent book that is quite deep levels. Edith Wharton dose an incredibly nice job of using his rich artistic writing technique and unique style of writing, kept upentirely reading this sad and tragic story.