A Study Of U-shaped Structure Of Snow Falling On Cedars From The Perspective Of Biblical Archetype

Snow Falling on Cedars is the representative work of David Guterson,who is a contemporary American novelist.It was published in 1994 and won 1995PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and others.Set at the time of the Second World War,the novel fictionalizes an island on the west coast of the United States with cedar trees and strawberries fields.With the process of a suspected murder case,it interweaves the contents of love,war,racial prejudice,justice and forgiveness.It has drawn the attention of scholars at home and abroad with its refined and beautiful words as well as multiple and profound themes.Under the guidance of the biblical archetype theory of Northrop Frye,this thesis analyzes the U-shaped structure of Snow Falling on Cedars in combination with biblical literature and culture,intending to reveal the creative significance of this novel.This thesis is composed of three parts: introduction,main body and conclusion.The introduction briefly introduces the creation background and the main plot of Snow Falling on Cedars,summarizes the research status of the work at home and abroad,introduces the biblical archetype theory and U-shaped structure proposed by Frye,and then tells the significance and innovation of this study.The main body consists of three chapters:The first chapter analyzes and interprets the harmonious start,which corresponds to the first stage of the U-shaped structure.It highlights the similarity between San Piedro Island and the garden of Eden in the Bible and analyzes the compatible state between man and nature and between people at the beginning of the story,which shows the beauty of the Eden-like island that has not been destroyed by sin.The second chapter discusses the depraved bottom,which corresponds to the second stage of the U-shaped structure.Through the analysis of the biblical archetypes of the characters Ishmael and the jury,as well as the images war and snow,it discusses the root,manifestation and consequences of the degeneration of San Piedro Island.The third chapter dissects the revived rising,which corresponds to the third stage of the U-shaped structure.Through the analysis of the biblical archetypes of the characters Nels and Miyamoto,as well as the images cedar and snow,it expounds how San Piedro Island ushers in its revival and how the leading characters achieve their spiritual salvation.The conclusion provides a summary of the three chapters in the main body,remarks on the significance of the author’s utilization of biblical archetypes and the U-shaped structure,and points out his creative intention.He inspires people to hold their faith of love and justice in an environment full of injustice.