1、 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 Twains Humor from A Million Pound 系 别 : 英汉语言文学系 专 业 : 英语 班 级 : 07 级英语本科一班 学 号 : 8055107013 姓 名 : 指导老师 : 起讫日期 : 2010.12.14 2011.5.20 二零一一年五月Contents Abstract . I Introduction . II Chapt
2、er 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 Twains Humor . 7 2.1 General Introduction of Mark Twains 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
3、 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 Humors Usage and Significance . 16 4.1 Humors Usage . 16 4.2 Humors Significance . 17 Conclusion . 18 References . 19 Acknowledgements . 20 南昌大学共青学院毕业设计（论文） Abstract I Abst
4、ract Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, remains one of the worlds 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 an
5、d slung mud at others. As a writer, humorist and speaker, he was quick-minded and contributed a lot to Americas literature development. His works are humorous, funny and witty, and fully expose American capitalist societys demerits and discriminations, etc. His works have a deep subject and writing
6、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.
7、 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 Twains profound con
8、cern and raging criticism about the evil of the capitalist society. Key Words: Humor; Mark Twain; Style; Significance 南昌大学共青学院毕业设计（论文） Introduction II Introduction This thesis illustrates Mark Twains work A Million Pound. It displays a rough outlook of then time and then society, system. By analyzin
9、g the technique and performing style of humor, we can penetrate the most inner crystallization of the work, and taste then societys reality. From the authors background, we can understand his sufferings and his miracle life. The humor in the work displays his sophisticated talent and particular styl
10、e. This paper helps readers from every aspect to experience his unique humor, and study humors usage and significance. Mark Twains humor art is not only established in particular culture background, but also on the basis of Americas frontier life. Therefore, it looks solid, deep, stable and vivid. H
11、is humor is the mirror of humors 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 Twai
12、ns 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 featurelaughing of humor, but also contains inner quality of traditional humorprofoundn
13、ess and longlasting philosophical connotations and self identification. The art achievement of Mark Twains humor is excellent and prominent. 南昌大学共青学院毕业设计（论文） Chapter 1 1 Chapter 1 the Work 1.1 History Background At the beginning of Mark Twains literature creation, American bourgeois developed very f
14、ast 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
15、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 experien
16、ced 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 worlds standard. He fully deserved to be called father of American literature. In times of Mark Twains primary writing career, i
17、t was just after American civil war in 19th century mid term, this was the critical point which has milestone significance. The 1861-1865 American civil war was end up with the success of Norths industrial bourgeois, it cleared the obstacles for the development of the Americans capitalist, and Ameri
18、cans 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 A
19、merican 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 puzzl
20、ing. Mark Twains realistic works had deep perception and critical spirit, making the times 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 Twains work A Mill
21、ion 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 speculation companies
22、and speculators. 南昌大学共青学院毕业设计（论文） Chapter 1 2 Besides, the capitalists occupied a large amount of mineral mountains and abundant resources. Ever concentrating fortune and deeply monopolized fields made the Americans economy deformed, it mainly embodied in the ever frequent finance crisis and the lar
23、ger and larger scale. Since 1857, US broke out the 1873,1893,1900,1907 large-scale economic crisis continually. The economic depression and the gap between the rich and the poor deepen the ranks conflict .Workers and farmers set up trade union and association to strengthen their class advantages. Th
24、e famous association had worker classs National Labor Union and labor knight regiment. The labor regiment was the first biggest American workers association in workers history. Before 1878 year, compelled by the ruling classs high-tension policy, it took secret mode. It admitted women workers, black
25、 people and farmers to take part in organization, education and cooperation, lift workers welfare and be against strikes conflict. These evil phenomena of American reality were just the target of Mark Twains critical composition. Confronted with such a disappointed and frustrated American realistic
26、dilemma, Mark Twain, a responsible and conscious writer, was inevitably involved with the battle of defending the countrys image and peoples rights; this was the object reason of the critics. While, macroscopically, Mark Twains critics was dependent on Americans reality itself .Evidently, in speak o
27、f reasons and effects, if Mark Twains critics was effects, then the American reality itself was the cause, this was the most exact and straight answer. To some extent, American reality and Mark Twains critics were legal reflection. A Million Pound took humor and irony as tool, reflected the real lif
28、e vividly and lashed societys blemish. Mark Twains humor and irony sneer at vulgarity, hypocrisy money worship etc. 1.2 About the Author Mark Twain is a famous US writer, a representative critical writer for realistic literature of the late-half nineteenth century. Mark Twain has created lots of rea
29、listic works, which launched a severe criticism on US reality of the late-half nineteenth century. Since long, Mark Twains literature contributions, has drawn much concern, whereas much less concern and remarks by researchers from domestic and abroad is on the historic value among his literary works
30、 as well as his personal behaviors of the 南昌大学共青学院毕业设计（论文） Chapter 1 3 time. The reasons of Mark Twains criticism cant avoid mentioning his sufferings. Mark Twains life was full of ups and downs, anchorless life; the dream which makes big fortune broke up every time and relatives frequent unfortunat
31、e. To Mark Twain, who was a writer, this kind of personal experience under American realistic context, undoubtedly can lead to minds change and evolution, this would stimulate Mark Twain to be unsatisfied with American reality to some extent, and was the subject triggering factor of his criticism. M
32、ark Twain lost father when he was young, his family was as poor as a mouse, making his childhood dream broken, he had to drop off from school, and be a printing apprentice in a weekly newspaper, tasted the sorrow and warmth of society. He worked hard, but the welfare was very awful, then, his elder
33、brother bought the newspaper and let him work there continually, but was very strict to him, and even didnt give salary to him, he was tired from the poor apprentice life. However, working in Mississippi River as a sailor was a very agreeable memory, it was the unforgettable time in Mark Twains life
34、 .Mark Twain worked on river for about four years, these four years made him change his attitude towards himself, “He was being a somebody at first time”, while, during the four years, he made contact with every kind of people, and they were his works spectacular prototype, just as he said “I recogn
35、ized and was familiar with all kinds of people, they stepped into my works afterwards. ”However, the best time didnt last long, because the breakup of American civil war, Mississippi River closed steamboats traffic, Mark Twain had to give up this profession, and took part in civil wars south army; h
36、e left army due to his intolerance to kill people. Then, he worked as a secretary followed with his elder brother, and bred an idea to be a rich person, he came to mineral mountain to tap mineral and harvested nothing unexpectedly .During this time, Mark Twain started his writing life, and took a jo
37、b as a journalist, he wrote a series of ironic works. After paying a large amount of industriousness, and obtaining fame, Mark Twain got to east coast from set up his own publishing company. However, it was broken because of poor management, leaving a heavy debt and had to pay back the debt through
38、making speeches around the world. His dramatic profession life and frequently changed post made him can make contact with all kinds of people from every class, see different faces every time, familiar with peoples living environment and realistic status of every class and experience the low classs s
39、ufferings and appeals. Mark Twains 南昌大学共青学院毕业设计（论文） Chapter 1 4 criticism attaches great importance to his personality. He was a kind-hearted man. His kindness is just like his mother. When he saw a wounded bird which hit by a pistol falling down on the ground, his inner heart was very sad. The pity
40、 bird lay on the ground like a wound child. During American civil war, Mark Twain was intolerant to kill people himself, so he left army. Mark Twain was an honest person. Although he was not an outstanding businessman, he still adhered to the honest principle. When his publishing house was broken in his nephews hand, the debt was amount to 66%; he steadfastly took out his personal mo
