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The Art Of Saving

Posted on:2011-02-15Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:H ZhangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360305460650Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Elegy is a profound literary genre, which involves diversified topics in ancient times. It was not until the 17th century that the term elegy was used in its present usage—lament over the noble dead, usually ending in a consolation. Many famous poets use this literary genre to express their sorrow over the lost friend, display their extraordinary poetic talents, and meditate on the meaning of life, which make great contribution to the enrichment of English literature.The first chapter gives a brief introduction to the origin of elegy tradition and its development, and then lists out the reasons why this thesis chooses Lycidas, Elegy written in a Country Church-yard, Adonais, In Memoriam A. H. H., and The Wreck of the Deutschland as the subject of study. Finally the significance of this thesis is pointed out on the basis of a literature review concerning the studies at home and abroad.The second chapter explores the basic feature of elegy—grief. By analyzing the social attitude towards mourning, it is easy to perceive that moderate consolation is the proper reaction towards the death event. After reading the elegy, our sorrow does not deteriorate, instead, great relief is achieved. There are three ways to divert grief. First, idealize the deceased; second, express one's anger; third, seek locus amoenus (a happy place that does not collapse beneath despair and doubt). Therefore, from emotional perspective, elegy is an art of saving people from grief.Chapter three, by analyzing the five poems, a deep religious complex is perceived in elegy tradition from Milton to Hopkins. Moreover, Plato's Idea as well as the traditional western cosmology finds their traces there. The elegists express their desire for eternity, and the pursuit of union with divine nature. From spiritual perspective, elegy is an art of saving people from degeneration.Chapter four is the conclusion:elegy tradition from Milton to Hopkins is an art of saving. It not only refers to the saving of the bereaved from the grief, but also the saving of the soul from degeneration. These two aspects complement and reinforce each other, and saving spiritually is the highest form of saving emotionally. It also points out that the elegy tradition in this thesis does not include modern and post-modern elegies, for they are an art of losing compared with the art of saving. The research concerning that will be under another topic.
Keywords/Search Tags:Elegy tradition, saving, Milton, Hopkins
PDF Full Text Request
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