密级：
NANCHANG UNIVERSITY
学 士 学 位 论 文
THESIS OF BACHELOR
（2007—2011年）
题 目: 从《百万英镑》看马克吐温式的幽默 英文题目: Analysis of Mark Twain’s Humor from
A Million Pound
Contents
Abstract ......................................................................................................................... I Introduction ................................................................................................................ II Chapter 1 the Work ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 History Background ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 About the Author ................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Profile ................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Theme ............................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 Mark Twain’s Humor ................................................................................ 7 2.1 General Introduction of Mark Twain’s Humor ............................................... 7 2.2 Techniques ........................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Style ...................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 3 Humor Reflected in His Work................................................................. 11 3.1 Humor from Characters .................................................................................. 11 3.1.1 Henry Adam ................................................................................................ 11 3.1.2 Clothes Shop Assistants and the Boss ....................................................... 11 3.2 Humor from Language Art .............................................................................. 12 3.3 Humor from Plots ............................................................................................. 14 Chapter 4 Humor’s Usage and Significance ............................................................ 16 4.1 Humor’s Usage .................................................................................................. 16 4.2 Humor’s Significance ....................................................................................... 17 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 18 References ................................................................................................................... 19 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 20
Abstract
Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, remains one of the world’s widely known authors. He is a famous American novelist and satirist. The characters in his novels vary from common people to politicians and principal citizens. In order to meet their selfish ends, they invented stories and slung mud at others. As a writer, humorist and speaker, he was quick-minded and contributed a lot to America’s literature development. His works are humorous, funny and witty, and fully expose American capitalist society’s demerits and discriminations, etc. His works have a deep subject and writing techniques. His humor is the outstanding heritage of American literature field and is loved by a large amount of people over the world.
This thesis tries to help readers to get a deeper understanding about the author himself and his works, through analyzing and appreciating his work A Million Pound. Moreover, by analyzing the attitude towards the protagonist and reviewing the social environment deeply, social function and significance of Mark Twain and his works will be reflected so that we may enjoy the artistic gleam of his humor. In addition, this thesis illustrates Mark Twain’s profound concern and raging criticism about the evil of the capitalist society. Key Words: Humor; Mark Twain; Style; Significance
Introduction
This thesis illustrates Mark Twain’s work A Million Pound. It displays a rough outlook of then time and then society, system. By analyzing the technique and performing style of humor, we can penetrate the most inner crystallization of the work, and taste then society’s reality. From the author’s background, we can understand his sufferings and his miracle life. The humor in the work displays his sophisticated talent and particular style. This paper helps readers from every aspect to experience his unique humor, and study humor’s usage and significance.
Mark Twain’s humor art is not only established in particular culture background, but also on the basis of America’s frontier life. Therefore, it looks solid, deep, stable and vivid. His humor is the mirror of humor’s inner quality and reflects the gleaming truth.
His humor laughs at capitalists’ hypocrisy and evil. At the same time, it sympathizes people of the low class, and holds a kind, beautiful hope to society, expresses the ideal of social equality, free democracy.
Mark Twain’s humor has profound social meanings. So, it has valuable and far-reaching significance. And his humor is so novel that it is the complexity of inheritance and innovation. His humor not only possesses main outer feature—laughing of humor, but also contains inner quality of traditional humor—profoundness and long—lasting philosophical connotations and self identification. The art achievement of Mark Twain’s humor is excellent and prominent.
Chapter 1 the Work
1.1 History Background
At the beginning of Mark Twain’s literature creation, American bourgeois developed very fast and it looked so prosperous but at the same time democracy and freedom of the bourgeoisie and the defects inherent in capitalist exposed too. He realized the social reality under the prosperous appearance, and he began to study some further social problems. His writing style is bitter irony and a satirical style. He is a remarkable representative of American realistic literature in the 19th century. Then time was American free competition capitalism with the deep realization to the American society, he convey his resentment to the society through the lines of his works. Mark Twain experienced from free competition capitalism to monopoly capitalism. He had his own particular art style and he made a great contribution to develop the American literature to the world’s standard. He fully deserved to be called father of American literature. In times of Mark Twain’s primary writing career, it was just after American civil war in 19th century mid term, this was the critical point the success of North’s industrial bourgeois, it cleared the obstacles for the development of the American’s capitalist, and American’s political, economic and cultural aspects went through a stable developing gold period, the States United economy flourished ever day, society made progress continuously, and people were deeply inspired. So, the American real status of this period was very good.
Mark Twain lived in a time when American society developed and changed fast. At the end of 19c, the mode of politics, life, moral which were familiar to people changed drastically. The economy miracle brought hope, and also left much puzzle. To Americans, this was a time which was abundant with opportunities but also was very puzzling. Mark Twain’s realistic works had deep perception and critical spirit, making the time’s ever changing leaked into his works.
After American civil war, the population flourished, cities extended in a high speed, industry, technology and education developed quickly .Although Mark Twain’s work A Million Pound was enveloped with irony, it is a comedy which mainly contained funny humor .And at that time, the government presented most part of collection land to the evil businessmen who operated railway, mineral, mountains etc, a large quantity of benefits was in the hands of