On The Contained Significance And Art Of Irony Of 20^th Century English Anti-Utopian Literature

Anti-Utopian literature is a kind of literary genre which appeared in the 20th century. It is a "refuse" and"negative" of Utopian literature. Although been related by blood with Utopian literature which has more than 400 years history, in accordance with the 20th century's diverse culture situation, anti-Utopian literature converge into a unique connotation which is against the Utopian literature.This thesis regarding the inherent relation between the anti-Utopian literature and the Utopian literature, anti-Utopian literature's connotation and the highlight on its narrative of irony as three specific entry of the anti-Utopian literature study. Adopting a combinative study method which integrates theory with text,combines history analysis with esthetics analysis, links course with discussion,this thesis gives a systemic analysis to 20th century's anti-Utopian literature,trying to outline such an important literary form in the history of western literature, and to highlight its ideological principles.chapter I gives a brief exploring into Utopian and anti-Utopian literature from ancient time till now, through its diversified and changing form,on the basis of referring many definitions and explanations ,and then determine their core values: the Utopia is based on the idea of ontology,and also the "Image"of"perfect";while anti-Utopia is based on the questioning and refusal to this Utopian principle.Basing on the foregoing discussion, Chapter II classifies many anti-Utopian novels such as 1984,Brave New World, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Lord of the Flies, A Clockwork Orange,Oryx and Crake etc by different embodyment of the anti-Utopian thinking. Chapter II studies the discription and refusal of the dystopia world in anti-utopian literature,and pumping out the anti-historical teleological view, anti-common human nature theory as well as the concern of science and technology development, rationalism, and utopian politics to reflect on the practice and other anti-Utopia ideas and principles. Chapter III focuses on the meeting-point of anti-Utopian literature and irony, to explore the reason why the irony has such a clear manifestation in anti-Utopian literature: the modern anti-Utopian novel is sceptical about the Utopian ideals,while the modern irony is sceptical about everything, both of them show the rebel of the trustless absolute value.Then, based on the classification of irony and the methord of close reading,Chapter III deeply clarifies the irony in the anti-Utopian novels.Anti-Utopian literature is a kind of literature which reveals the paradox of human existence in the 20th century. Even though its expectations of the human future somehow shows empty and pessimism, it's still performance the characteristic of concern and warning about the human society, and then becomes a distinguished literary genre in clarifying and exploring the situation of the modern human existence.