the_libido_for_the_ugly讲解

LessonSeven--H.L.MenckenAims1.Toacquaintstudentswithsubjectivedescriptionwriting.2.Tohelpstudentstounderstandtheauthor’srealintentionbehindthedescription.Author--HenryLouisMencken(1880--1956)Americaneducator,author,criticHenryLouisMenckenHislifebornandspentmostofhislifeinthecityofBaltimore,Maryland.Germanimmigrantparentscompletedhighschool;graduatedfromBaltimorePolytechnicInstituteat16areporter,dramacriticandeditorHenryLouisMenckencentralfigureinAmericanintellectuallifeduringthe1920's.highlyrespectedforliterarycriticismpowerfulinfluenceonAmericanliterature.HisworksTheAmericanLanguage1918Prejudices1919--1927HappydaysNewspaperDays1940--1943autobiographyHeathenDays25BooksandthousandsofarticlesHenryLouisMenckenleadingscholarinthefieldoflanguagemonumentalbookTheAmericanLanguage:outstandingworkofphilology(语言学,文献学)StylisticFeaturesBombastic(夸大的)styleandacidlanguageNotjusttheuglinessofWestmoreland,butthewholeAmericanrace--aracethatlovesuglinessforitsownsake,thelusttomaketheworldintolerable;aracewhichhatesbeautyasithatestruth.Thestrongestwordspossible--dreadfullyhideous,abominable,agonizingugliness,revoltingmonstrousness,leproushill,andsoon.StylisticFeaturesManyfiguresofspeechtocreatedreadfulimages,toreinforcehisverbalattack:hyperbole,sarcasm,ridicule,irony,metaphors,similes.Apieceofsubjective,impressionisticoremotionaldescriptionDescriptionDescriptionispaintingapictureinwordsofaperson,place,objectandscene.DescriptionItconveysthesensations,emotionsandimpressions.Thewriterdescribeswhathesees,hears,smells,feelsortastes,anditoftenincludeshisemotionalreactions.DescriptionThedescriptionofapersonThedescriptionofaplaceThedescriptionofanobjectThedescriptionofasceneThedescriptionofaperson1.aperson'sappearance2.whatthepersondoes,says,howhebehavestootherstorevealhischaracterThedescriptionofaplace1.forthepurposeofdescribingit(onavisittofamousscenicplaces)2.forthepurposeofrevealingaperson’spersonalityandcharacter(Acleantidyroom:toshowtheoccupantisanorderlyperson)3.forthepurposeofcreatingafeelingormood(Thehowlingofachillywind)(Thefallingofautumnleaves):thefeelingofdepressionThedescriptionofanobject1.Createaclearvisualimage:size,color,shape,taste,texture,smell.2.Tellhowitisused.Whatpartitplaysinaperson'slife.Emphasizeononlyoneaspectoftheobject(mostimportantcharacteristics).ThedescriptionofasceneTrytocreateadominantimpression.DescriptionThedominantimpression:Uglinessstandsoutvividlyandprominently.DescriptionTwokindsofdescription:1.objective/impersonalRealistic:Thewriterpaintsaverbalpictureoftherealisticworld,likeacamera;factualwords2.subjective/personalImpressionistic/emotional:Thewriterwantstosharewiththereadersakindofdominantimpression.Thedominantimpressionmaybeasenseimpressionoranemotion;emotionalwordsDescriptionMencken:verysubjectiveandpersonalinthislesson.Hisdescription:stronglyimpressionisticandhighlyemotional.TheLibidofortheUglyGeneralword?No.Itisaspecificwordusedinpsychoanalysis.Itisatechnicalterminpsychology.LibidoMeaning?1.psychicenergy2.strongdesire,greatpassion,greatlustTogivehissubjectascientificcoloring,tocreatetheimpressionthathisdescriptionandanalysishavesomescientificfoundation.WhydoesMenckenchoosetheterm?LibidoDetailedstudyofthetext(Para.1)Pittsburgh:acityinSouthwestPennsylvaniaoneofthemostimportantindustrialcitiesofAmericaacenterofrailandrivertransportation.the“SteelCity”or“SmokyCity”coal,naturalgas,oilandlimestoneAlargepartofU.S.steelandironisproducedhere.MapofPennsylvania1950sPara.1express;roll;Westmorelandcounty☆express:fast,directtrain,withfewstops☆roll:travelinawheeledvehicle☆Westmorelandcounty:acountyinSouthwestPennsylvania,aminingandmanufacturingregion.greatwealth&abominablehumanhabitationsinWestmorelandcountyPara.1appalling;desolation;lucrative;hideous;bleak;forlorn☆appalling:horrifying,shocking☆desolation:thestateofbeingdestroyed☆lucrative:producingprofit;profitable☆hideous:veryugly;horribletosee,hear,etc.☆bleak:cheerless,gloomy,desolate,depressing☆forlorn:inpitifulcondition,miserablePara.1aspiration;macabre;computation;habitation;abominable;disgrace;alley☆aspiration:ambition,strongdesire☆macabre:grimandhorrible;ghastly☆computation:calculation☆habitation:housing;house☆abominable:nastyanddisgusting☆disgrace:bringshameon☆alley:anarrowstreetFiguresofspeech(Para.1)Metaphor—HerewastheveryheartofindustrialAmerica,…---centerHyperbole—,theboastandprideoftherichest,grandestnationeverseenonearth…Herewaswealthbeyondcomputation,almostbeyondimagination.…herewerehumanhabitationssoabominablethattheywouldhavedisgracedaraceofalleycats.Figuresofspeech(Para.1)Antithesis--,theboastandprideoftherichest,grandestnationeverseenonearth—andherewasascenesodreadfullyhideous,sointolerablybleakandforlorn…MainideaofPara.1Contrastsbetweenthegreatwealthandtheabominablehumanhabitationsinthisregion.Para.2filth;allude;agonizing;sheer;revolting;monstrousness;Greensburg☆filth:disgustinglyoffensivedirt,garbage☆allude:referinacasualorindirectway☆agonizing:verypainful☆sheer:absolute,complete,downright☆revolting:disgus