The-Catbird--Seat分析

小组成员:王玉莹张亚儒郭文明朱雅莉TheCatbirdSeatdifferenttypesofpresentation1.Thebackground2.Plot3.Characters4.Writtingtechniquesandtheme#1Background(1)IntroductionoftheWriter(2)Introductionofthefiction(1)Writer:JamesGroverThurber(1894-1961))Americanhumorist(greatestsinceMarkTwain)ArtistandCartoonist(mostcontributedtotheNewYorker)(1913-1918)ThurberattendedTheOhioStateUniversity(1921-1924)Hebeganhiswritingcareer(1926-1927)HeentertheNewYorktheeditorialdepartment1930HiscareerasacartoonistbeganUSELARGEFONTS“TheNewYorkearlyrepresentativehumorwriterStartingin1926forNewYorkmagazine,1927toentertheNewYorktheeditorialdepartment,becomingoneofthemostpromisingyoungeditor,freelancejournalist.ThurberandE.B.WhiteestablishedNewYorkwitty,bitingstyle,theso-calledNewYorkstyle.costThurber'sworkisgenerallylikedbypeople,butthemostsuccessfulishisdeadpancomedysatirenovel.Heisespeciallygoodatdepictingmetropolisminorcharactersinthenovel,concisestyle,absurdisreal,humorisbitter,tobeknownastheInthecemeterytowhistle..CommonthemesFrustrationsofmodernlife1Disappointmentofmodernlife2Comedyinpeople’sattemptstocopewithlife3Majorworks:SexisNecessary?(1929):Thurber'sfirstbookandE·B·Whitecooperation,toparodythepopularsexmanualMyLifeandHardTimes(1933):anautobiographyofJamesThurberandgenerallyconsideredtobehisgreatestwork.Importantfactorsinfluencinghiswriting:Father:aclerkandminorpoliticianMother:astrong-mindedwomanandapracticaljokerBecamepartiallyblindafterbeingaccidentallyshotbyaarrowwhenhewasveryyoung,whichmightcontributetohisincredibleimagination.Hisunhappymarriages.iLetYourMindAlone(1937):theinspirationalbooksandpopularpsychologyMyWorld-AndWelcometoIt(1942):acollectionofillustratedstoriesandessaysandadaptedintoahalf-hoursitcombasedonhishumorandcartoons.CartoonistWhileabletosketchouthiscartoonsintheusualfashioninthe1920sand1930s,hisfailingeyesightlaterrequiredhimtodrawthemonverylargesheetsofpaperusingathickblackcrayon(also,onblackpaperusingwhitechalk,fromwhichtheywerephotographedandthecolorsreversedforpublication).peacecanexplainalotThelastdrawingThurberwasabletocompletewasaself-portraitinyellowcrayononblackpaper,whichappearedonthecoveroftheJuly9,1951,editionofTimeMagazine.ThesamedrawingalsoappearedonthedustjacketofTheThurberAlbum(1952).(2)FictionIn1920,theUnitedStateswomenwontherighttovoteandtheyareofficiallypermittedtoenterintopubliclife.Thisphenomenonchangethetraditionalstructureofgenderpower.Thenthepublicshowthehostileattitudetowomenwhogoouttowork.VIDEOISPRESENTTheCatbirdSeatwaschosenforBestStoriesof1943.HisshowoffeartowardwomenwherethelittlemanprevailsandisforcedtofightbackisalsoseeninmanyofThurber’sstories.#2Plot(1)BriefIntroduction(2)Beginning(3)Complication(4)Middle(5)End(1)BriefIntroductionJamesThurber’sTheCatbirdSeatfocusesonthebattlebetweenMartinandBarrows,thebattlebetweenthetwosexes,wheretheprotagonistintelligentlydefeatshisopponentwithdullnessandimagination.短篇小说《胜券在握》讲的是为人处事一向谨小慎微,在菲萨公司任劳任怨地干了二十二年的档案部主管埃尔文.马丁先生和骄横跋扈、盛气凌人的乌尔金.巴罗斯太太之间的角斗,其实质是争夺控制权的性别大战。本文认为主人公马丁对巴罗斯式的女人采取的反击行动体现了男人对丧失社会控制力的焦虑及其行为反应。(2)BeginningOnaMondaynight,afterbuyingapackofcamels,Mr.MartinwasponderingtheplanofrubbingoutMrsBarrosonhiswayhome.(4)MiddleThispartdescribestheprocessofcarryingoutMr.Martin’splan.VIDEOISPRESENT(3)ComplicationMr.MartinwenttoMrs.Barrow’shomeaccordingtotheplannextday.(5)EndMr.Martinwonthebattleandkeeponhiswork.Contentedly.ihaveadreamWhoindeedholdthecatbirdseat,Mr.MartinorMrs.Barrows?Atthebeginning,Barrownearlycontrolledthestaff’sfates,i.e.Shetookthecatbirdseat.Attheendofthestory,Martinregainedthecatbirdseatandrubherout.ihaveadream.Fromthisarticle,wecanknowthatThurberhasafirmpointthatsocietyshouldbeunderthecontrolofmale.Thefemale’sincreasingpowerjustputgreatpressureonmale’ssocialstatus.Tosomedegree,hejusthadprejudiceagainstwomen.Conflicihaveadream.AnalysisofCharacters#3Roundcharacter&Dynamiccharacter圆形人物&动态人物性格特征：1、复杂性2、立体感强Flatcharacter&Staticcharacter扁形人物&静态人物性格特征：1、单一2、突出VIDEOIS1、Mr.Martin:Stillwaterrunsdeep,hidden，Perseverance,courage,prudenceRoundcharacter&Dynamiccharacter圆形人物&动态人物2、Mrs.UlgineBarrows:Tough,obstinate,overbearing,arrogantFlatcharacter&Staticcharacter扁形人物&静态人物Supportingrole*Mr.Fitweiler：stupid*JoeyHart:snoopy*MissPairdThehero:asuccessfulpersonprejudiceagainstwomenTheheroine:thespiritoutofthequestionTheheroine:thespiritoutofthequestion1.Irony#4WRITINGTECHNIQUES2.Contrasivemethod3.3.resonableshiftnessofperspectiveThethreetypesofironyin'TheCatbirdSeat'byJamesThurberareverbalirony,dramaticironyandsituationalirony.Actualexamplesmaybefoundbyreadingthestory.Thetermironyreferstoadifferencebetweenappearanceandreality,betweenwhatmightbeexpectedandwhatactuallyhappens.Often,asinThurber'swork,ironycomesoutofagrimsenseofhumorandtomakeaseriouspoint.1.IronyVerbalIrony(言语反讽）ThewordsthatusedtodescribemrsBarrow.suchasshout、yell、bawl、scream、stare、glare.bray、bounce、sweepandlikeacircushorsearesuccessfulytodescribethecharacterofMrsBrowensSituationalIrony（场景反讽）.TheMrMartinabusedhisemployerinMrsBarrows'homeandtheBarrowstoldthistothebosswanttoruboutMartion,whereasbe