TheNauralismIn“TheOpenBoa”_开题报告

1 Literature review

American naturalism is initiated at the end of 19th century under the influence of European.11mile Zola points out in his Le Roman Experimental that if we carl grasp the laws，we can achieve a better society by changing individuals and environment He also states that Naturalists are actually experimental moralists.They try to be the master of good and evil，to control our lives and resolve all the social problems.Zola mentions in Le Roman Experimental that Naturalism has always been criticized by its fatalism.However,Zola makes it clear that Naturalism believes in determinism which is definitely different from fatalism.And the task of Naturalists，Zola summarizes，is to figure out the mechanism of good and evil and clarify the determinism concerns human being and the society so that man call govern those laws and phenomena.That is the goal of Naturalism.

However,domestic studies of American Naturalism，in particular studies of Stephen Crane，begin relatively late.Researches in American naturalism started form the late eighties.Liu Mingjiu’S Naturalism published in 1988 introduces the complete developing process of naturalism in French.Criticisms on naturalism of other countries have also been organized in this book.As for American naturalism，it mentions Frank Norris and Theodore Dreiser.In short，it makes an objective introduction to the literary ideas，literary practices and writing careers of naturalistic writers.Zhu Wen(1992)provides the readers the relatively comprehensive data of literary naturalism in The Naturalism in Literature.Zhu Wen focuses on Zola and the criticisms on Zola in French and other countries.This book provides a thorough knowledge of the theoretical origins of American naturalism to help readers to study the true features of it.Those researches above refer 1ittle to Crane.but more and more studies in the twenty-first century pay attention to American naturalism and Crane’S works.Meng Chunjian(2000)tries to correct the misunderstanding of natttralism in China in his paper‘‘On Literary Naturalism”and discusses the contribution and disadvantages of naturalism.Zhi Xiaojing(2009)explores the relation，the differences and similarities between realism and naturalism to help US understand these two important literary trends better in‘‘On Differences and Similarities between Realism and Naturalism”.In the Daper“0n the Transmutation of American N aturalist Literature”，Huang Bo(2012)points out that as soon as naturalism is introduced into American literature，it is immediately evolved into SociN Darwinism which dominates the value system of Amefican society.Huang Bo proves in this thesis that it is Social Darwinism which caused the changes and developments of American naturalism.The studies of Stephen Crane are mostly concentrated on The Red Badge of Courage.Specifically speaking，in“A Talk on the Impressionism and Naturalism in The Red Badge of Courage”，Sun Honghong(2001)indicates that Stephen Crane expresses his naturalistic view in this novel by using the techniques of Impressionism. The author believes that Stephen Crane conveys his pessimistic views of naturalism to the reader successfully through the usage of the words and expressions of colors，the panoramic rendition and the protagonist’S changing experience of the American Civil War and the world in which he lives.

As for“The Open Boat”，few papers have been found.In“Humanistic Reflection in Social transformation.An Interpretation on Stephen Crane’S The Open Boat”，Chen Lefu(2003)discusses the humanism reflected in“The Open Boat”.Chen Lefu believes that the author celebrates the spirit of community and the moral power arises in plight.Cai Xinxing(2008)proves that“The Open Boat”reflects Stephen Crane’S retrospection of American people’S core nature—“individualism”.

With respect to the studies abroad，Donald Pizer(1995)gives a comprehensive introduction to naturalism from both European background and American background in The Cambridge Companion to American Realism and Naturalism.Pizer(1995) notes that although naturalism is widely recognized pessimistic，it seems that there is still an optimistic strain in the works of naturalism.This optimistic strain is generally embodied in the implicit belief in illness and death，and the destiny of man is to go onward and upward in all evolutionary course and become more and more perfect in this progress.Charles C.Walcutt(1994)compares Stephen Crane to Christophel- Marlowe in his“Stephen Crane：Naturalist”，stressing Crane’S important position in the history of American literature，and speaking highly of his contribution to American literature.Sergio Perosa(1967)’S‘'Naturalism and Impressionism in Stephen Crane’S Fiction”discusses the naturalistic elements in Crane’S fiction by probing into its impressionistic ways of expression.In“Community,Perception，and the Development of Stephen Crane：From The Red Badge to‘The Open Boat’”,Robert Shulrnan(1978)notes that the significance of the developing sense of the value of human community of Crane is enhanced by contrasting with the essential impulse of American society.The trends of Crane’S progress are revealing.Crane once had brought extreme isolation and fragmentation to his own life during the process of writing The Red Badge.Shulman also pointed out that Crane thinks much about the self and of existence，and Crane’S recognition of community and the sense of the protest against death and inexorable social misery constitutes one of the most profound of Crane’S insights.James Colvert(1995)attempts to bring radical postmodern critical ideas to bear on Crane’S work in‘‘Stephen Crane and Post modem Theory'’.In“Hanging Stephen Crane in the Impressionist Museum”，Bert Bender (1976)sees Crane as all impressionist.Rodney O.Rogers(1969)answers the question of how French impressionist painting influenced Stephen Crane’S writing in“Stephen Crane and Impressionism”.Rogers concludes：“though ultimately all attempt to link Crane to impressionist painting can be no more than tentatively conclusive，it would seem to be justified if it helps identify and explain Crane’S characteristic techniques for modulating point of view,since these techniques in large part are responsible for creating the meaning in his fiction."(Rogers，1969：3 04)John Dudley(2002)analyzes Crane’S understanding of human nature and artistic expression in ‘‘‘Subtle Brother hood’in Stephen Crane’S‘Tales of Adventure’：Alienation，Anxiety,and the Rites of Manhood”.

Concerning The Open Boat.in“Stephen Crane’S‘The Open Boat’：Fact or Fiction?”William K.Spofford(1979)gives an account in accordance with what really happened and how much of Crane’S short story is a reflection of that particular experience.And this essay discusses the indifference of the nature and the necessity of brotherhood in the world.Oliver Billingslea(1994)analyzes the limitations of knowledge and the potentiality for sudden flashes in moments of recognition or epiphany in‘'Why Does the Oiler‘Drown’?Perception and Cosmic Chill in‘The Open Boat’”.In“Crane’S‘The Open Boat and Conrad’S‘Youth’”，Guy Owen，Jr (1958)notes the interesting points of resemblance between Crane’S“The Open Boat” and Conrad’S“Youth”.In“The Logic Beneath‘The Open Boat’”.George Monteiro (1972)discovers that the situation of the men in“The Open Boat”is a detailed representation of the life of ordinary human. 

2 Thesis proposals

Abstract

Introduction

1 The meaning of naturalism

2 Brief Introduction to American Naturalism

2.1 Emile Zola and naturalism

2.2 Disillusion of the illusion of“American Dream”

3 Brief Introduction to“The Open Boat”

4 The Naturalism In “The Open Boat”

4.1 Nature and human

4.2 Hope and disappointment

Conclusion

Reference

3 References

[1] Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2014.

[2] Ahnebrink, Lars. "Zola as Literary Model for Maggie." A Norton Critical Edition of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. Ed. Thomas A. Gullason. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2013.90-93.

[3] Max L. "The Word out of the Sea: A View of Crane's the Open Boat", Arizona Quarterly 2014:101-102.

[4] Bassan, Maurice. Stephen Crane: A Collection of Critical Essays, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.:Prentice-Hall, 2014.

[5] Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature (1865一1914), Volume C. ed. New York: W. W. Norton&Company, Inc. 2013.

[6] Brooks, Cleanth., Lewis, R.W.B, and Robot, Penn Warren, American Literature: The Makers and the Making, Volume II，New York: St. Martin's Press, 2013.

[7] Crane.The Red of Courage, Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2014.

[8] Charles. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, London: John 2014.

[9] Hart, James David. The Oxford Companion to American Literature, Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2015.

[10] Katz, Joseph. The Portable Stephen Crane, eds. New York: Penguin Books, 2014.