美国文学选读第三版课后习题答案陶洁(部分)Unit 1 Benjamin FranklinQuestions1.Why did Franklin write his Autobiography?Franklin says that because his son may wish to know about his life, he is taking his one week vacation in the English countryside to record his past. He also says that he has enjoyed his life and would like to repeat it2.What made Franklin decide to leave the brother to whom hehad been apprenticed?His brother was passionate, and had often beaten him. The aversion to arbitrary power that has stuck to him through his whole life .After a brush with the law, Franklin left his brother.3.How did he arrive in Philadephia?First he set out in a boat for Amboy, the boat dropped him offabout 50 miles from Burlington, the next day he reached Burlington on foot, in Burlington he found a boat which was going towards Philadelphia, he arrived there about eight or nineo’ clock, on the Sunday morning and landed at the Market Streetwharf.4.What features do you find in the style of the above selection?It is the pattern of Puritan simplicity, directness,and concision( 言简意赅 ).The narrative is lucid(易懂的),the structure is simple, the imagery is homely(朴素的 ).Unit 2 Edgar Allen Poe1.Who is the narrator? What wrong does he want to redress? Montresor.Fortunato, one of wine experts insulted him, so he wantedto murder him.2.What is the pretext he uses to lure Fortunato to his wine cellar?He baits Fortunato by telling him he has obtained what he believes to be a cask of Amontillado a rare and valuable sherry wine. Fortunato is anxious to determine whether or not it is truly Amontillado, so he goes to the vault with Montresor.3.What happens to Fortunato in the end?He was walled up alive behind bricks in a wine cellar.4.Describe briefly how Poe characterizes Montresor and Fortunato as contrasts?Poe uses color imagery to characterize them. Montresor faceis covered in a black silk mask, In contrast, Fortunato dresses the motley-colored costume of the court fool, who gets literally and tragically fooled by Montresor's masked motives.The color schemes here represent the irony of Fortunato's death sentence.Through the acts, words, and thoughts of Fortunato,we knowHe is greedy, he was lured into the dark and somber vaults just because a cask of Amontillado.This is also due to his bad habit of bibulosity(himself on hearing the wine.At the same time, he was cheated by reflected his ignorance.his酗酒） . He lostenemy,whichWhen he heard the pretended compliment from Montresor, hebecame very boastful and arrogant.He was easily confused by the superficial phenomena and failedto watch out for others. He couldn’ t tolerate that others werestronger than him.For example,Montresor always stimulated him with Luchresi who was good at connoisseur（鉴赏）in wine.Under the impulse of vanity,he fell into Montreso r’terribles trap.In fact, he was careless and foolish and didn ’findt that the danger was approaching him.He looked down upon Montresor and others.He didn’ t realize his foolishness until the death was coming. Talking from the appearance, Monstresor was a well-educated and― kind‖ businessman.He enjoyed the honor and respect in the city. But in fact, hewas an evil and awful person.His inner feelings were so cruel that they even made people tremble.Under his rich appearance was the dirty soul and despicable character.We couldn ’ t see any glorious virtues in his mind. Instead, his heart was cold and dark.It was the revenge that threw Montresor into the deep evil valley.unit 4 Nathaniel Hawthorne1.Why is the prison the setting of Chapter 1 ?No matter how optimistic the founders of new colonies may be, theyare quick to establish a prison and a cemetery in their―Utopia, ‖ for they know that misbehavior, evil, and death are unavoidable.This belief fits into the larger Puritan doctrine, which puts heavyemphasis on the idea of original sin —the notion that all peopleare born sinners because of the initial transgressions of Adamand Eve in the Garden of Eden. he is therefore using the prisonbuilding to represent the crime and the punishment which areaspect of civilized lifeWhat is the implication of the description of the roses?The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlastman's activities.The narrator suggests that roses offer a reminder of Nature'skindness to the condemned; for his tale, he says, it will provideeither a ― sweet moral blossom‖ or else some relief in the face of unrelenting sorrow and gloom.2.Describe the appearance of Hester Prynne and the attitude ofthe people towards her.The second paragraph on page 30.The crowd in front of the jail is a mixture of men and women,all maintaining severe looks of disapproval.Several of the women begin to discuss Hester Prynne, and theysoon vow that Hester would not have received such a lightsentence for her crime if they had been the judges.One woman, the ugliest of the group, goes so far as to advocatedeath for Hester.3.What has happened to Hester?As a young woman, Hester married an elderly scholar, Chillingworth,who sent her ahead to America to live.While waiting for him, she had an affair with a Puritan ministernamed Dimmesdale, after which she gave birth to Pearl.The scarlet letter is her punishment for her sin and her secrecy.Why does she make the embroidery of the letter A so elaborate?It seems to declare that she is proud, rather than ashamed, ofher sin.In reality, however, Hester simply accepts the ―sin and‖itssymbol as part of herself, just as she accepts her child.And although she can hardly believe her present―realities, takes them as they are rather than resisting them or trying toatone for them.How does this tell us about her character?Throughout The Scarlet Letter Hester is portrayed as an intelligent, capable. It is the extraordinary circumstances shaping her that make her such an important figure.Unit5 Herman Melville1.What are the stories Ismael tells about Moby Dick?Ishmael compares the legend of Moby Dick to his experience ofthe whale.He notes that sperm whale attacks have increased recently andthat superstitious sailors have come to regard these attacks as having an intelligent, even supernatural origin.In particular, wild rumors about Moby Dick circulate among whalemen, suggesting that he can be in more than one place at the same time and that he is immortal. Ishmael remarks that even the wildest of rumors usually contains some truth.Whales, for instance, have been known to travel with remarkable speed from the Atlantic to the Pacific; thus, it is possible for a whale to be caught in the Pacific with the harpoons of a Greenland ship in it.Moby Dick, who has defied capture numerous times, exhibitsan― intelligent malignity（狠毒）in‖his attacks on men2.Why does Ahab react so violently against the white whale?First, he lost one of his legs because of the white whale.Second,He considers Moby Dick the embodiment of evil in the world, and he pursues the White Whale，because he believes it his inescapable fate to destroy this evil.Ishmael suggests that Ahab is― crazy‖calland him―araving lunatic.‖ Do you agree with him? Why or why not?Ishmael describes Ahab as mad in his narration, and it does indeed seem mad to try to fight the forces of nature or God.3. What narrative features can you find in the selected chapter?In the selected charpter, Melville employed the technique of multiple view of his narrative to portray Moby Dick to achieve the effect of ambiguity and let readers judge the meaning.Unit 6 Henry David Thoreau1.Where indeed did Thoreau live, both at a physical level and ata spiritual level?He lived in a cabin on Walden Pond, which belonged to Emerson ’ s property.2.Had Thoreau ever bought a farm? Why did he enjoy the actof buying?No, he hadn’ t.He avoided purchasing a farm because it would inevitably tiehim down financially and complicate his life.Thoreau didn ’seet the acquisition of wealth as the goal for human existence, he saw the goal of life to be an exploration of the mind and of the magnificent world around us.He regarded the places as an existence free of obligationsand full of leisure.3.Is it significant that Thoreau mentioned the Fourth of July asthe day on which he began to stay in the woods? Why? Yes,it is.Because The Fourth of July is known as Independence Day,the birthday ot the United States.Here Thoreau uses the day to express his beginningof regeneration at Walden.It also means a symbol of his conquest of being.4.How could you answer the question Thoreau asked at the end of this selection?Unit 7 19th Century American Poets1. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow(1) I Shot an Arrow⋯1.Why did the speaker lose sight of his arrow and song?The arrow flies too swiftly and too far away to be seen by the speaker; whereas the song is naturally invisible.2.In what circumstances did he find them again?He finds them unexpectedly years later from the trunk of atree and the heart of a friend.3. What do arrow and song stand for in this poem?The images of arrow and song here may stand for friendship.(2) A Psalm of Life1. What kind of person is the speaker of this poem?The speaker is a man of action, always optimistic and cheerful, trying to achieve as much as possible in the short span of life.2.According to the poem, how should our lives be led to overcome the fact that each day brings us nearer to death?We should work harder and live happier.3.Interpret the metaphor of "Footprints on the sand of time"(line 28).The metaphor refers to human deeds in real life.2.Walt Whitman(1)One's Self I Sing1.What is the significance of singing about one's self?It is an exaltation of the individual spirit, which is typicalof American people.2.What is the difference between physiology and physiognomy?Physiology is a science that deals with the functions and life process of human beings, whereas physiognomy refers to anart of judging character from contours of face itself or the appearance of a person.3.What does Whitman mean by the term of "the Modern Man"?He means that a man should be free from any prejudice andpride, totally different from the traditional one, that is full ofbias.(3)O Captain! My Captain!1.Why is the word "Captain" capitalized throughout the poem?In this poem the word― Captain‖ specially refers to Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States.2. What overall metaphor does the poet employ in this poem?Life is a journey.3.Why do people on the shores exult and bells ring, whilethe speaker remains so sad?They welcome the ship returning from its hard trip, whereasthe speaker is sad because the captain fails to receive hisown honor.3.Emily Dickinson(1) To Make a Prairie⋯1.What things are needed to "make" a prairie? In what sense can one really do it?Some grass and insects and small animals. People can makea prairie with their imagination.2.How can "revery alone" create a prairie?The prairie stays in one's mind.(2)Success Is Counted Sweetest1.Why is success "counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed"?Those who have tasted the bitterness of failure would have a keener desire for success.2.Who are "the purple host"?3.Who is "he" in the last stanza?Anyone who is pursuing his success.(3) I'm Nobody!1. Who are the "pair of us" and "they" in this poem? The "pair of us" refers to the speaker in the poem and the reader, and "they" refers to the public, especially those in power.2. What does "an admiring bog" really mean?" (line 28).It Implies the vain and empty common people, who are alwaysadmiring and pursuing the celebrities.3. What is the theme of this poem?The real admirable life is a secluded and common one.4.Do you want to be "nobody" or "somebody"? Explainyour reasons.Different persons would have different answers to this question.Personally, I prefer to be nobody.Unit 8 Mark Twain1:Why do you think Mr.Wheeler is so eager to tell these stories?From Mr.Wheeler ’ s behaviors and contents of his narration we canknow he is so eager to tell these stories.First, when "I"asked him to tell "me" something about W.Smiley, he―ba me into a corner and blockaded me with his chair, and then satdown a nd reeled off the narrative ‖ . And during the process of telling his stories, he never paid any attention to others'response to his story and justwent on telling what amused him. At last when the listener felt boring andwanted toleave, Mr.Wheeler even didn't notice it and still asked him to sitthere listening to him.2: Does his audience share his enthusiasm in telling the stories?No. the audience does not show any interest in Mr.Wheeler stories.’In fact, the narrator was very feverish about his stories, but ,in theeyes of the listener,the stories were very boring and had nothing todo with his preoccupation. As an educated man, the listenercouldn't understand the way of laborers for joy, and he would never bother himself to understand it. So after thelong time of Mr.Wheeler’ solo narration and when the audience got a chance, he fled away.3:Do you think the narrator and his listener ever suspect thepresence of humor? Why? How do you interpret their interactions?The narrator and his listener never noticed or suspected thepresence of humor.During the intercourse,the narrator wentvigorously on his monotonous narrative "wihout a little smiling"talking about the animals and the things like ,while the listener felt rather puzzled or bothered by his stories.It seemed to bekind of coarse things. So the two different scenes go on separately without a intersection.And their interaction was a complete failure according toour common sense about communication.But it in this sense produced the effect of humor which can be tasted by our readers due to the skills adopted by Mark Twain.Unit 14 F Scott· Fitzgerald1.Do you think Gatsby deserves to be called“the great”? Why?（1）I think it is too complicated to simply say Gatsby deservesto be― great‖ or not.For one thing, Gatsby was ambitious, hardworking, generous and passionate. He was so extremelyloyal to his love and Daisy that he could do anything toget Daisy back: he did shady business to earn money and social position; he threw luxurious parties just to draw Daisy ’ s attention; he could take the blame for a death that he didnot cause.（2 ） In this respect, he is much ― greater ‖ than his contemporaries. For another thing, Gatsby never realized that Daisy wasn ’ t the girl he loved anymore. Gatsby was so innocent that he staked everything on his dreams, not realizingthat his dreams are unworthy of him. He wasn ’ t sober enough tobe great.2.Does “ the green light ” Gatsby believed in exist in reality?Why or why not ?（ 1 ） I think ― the green light ‖ does not exist in reality. Because the green light which situated at the end of Daisy’ sEast Egg dock and barely visible from West Egg lawnrepresents Gatsby ’unattainables dream.Although the coloritself can be seen as hope a nd bright future, Gatsby’ s quest for Daisy back is doomed to be impossible.Daisy lived in ― amaterial world without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dream like air‖.（2）After five years when Gatsby met Daisy again, the miracleDaisy had lost her original glory. Therefore, there is no delayingthat Gatsby ’s dream would not come true. In the novel, the greenlight not only represents that innocent Gatsby looked forward to thefuture, but also means his longing for the history –his happy pastwith Daisy. The distinction between ideal andreality was huge. As if American dream between golden pastand golden future always suffered from the realistic betrayaland crush.3.What does Gatsby ’s Schedule reveal about him and how does it relate to the American Dream?（1）The schedule is a reflection of Gatsby ’s determination and ambition. It reveals that he is hard on himself in pursuit of hisgoal — to be an upper-class man.（2 ） On one hand, we can know that he is persistent in pursuing his American Dream-- to attain wealth and happiness through his struggle. On the other hand, he is too idealisticand naive.（3）He tries his best to make money and learns everything required to be an upper-class man so that he can get access tohis beloved girl.Money is important ，but there are other barriers difficult to penetrate. The girl he loves is as vulgar and superficial as others in her circle, she is unable to meetsGatsby ’ s romantic fantasy. So his dream is destined to shatter, which indicates the disillusion of American Dream.4.When you read the line ― He (the man -witheyedowlgasses) took off his glasses and wiped them again, outside and in ,what images does it create in your mind, given the novel’ snumerous references to the strikingly strange scene of the spectacled eyes?（1）From this line , superficially, owl-eyes is a person withthick and blurry glasses who can not see clearly all the things in the world. However, we know he is actually an owl-wise observer and sees more clearly than anyone else in the novel. Owl-Eyes, except Nick, is the only friend to appear at the rain-soaked burial of Gatsby, when others are unwilling to come. He feels sympathy for Gatsby ’s tragedy.（ 2 ） After reading this line,I cannot help thinking of the Dr.Eckleburg billboard with its huge yellow spectacles in this novel. In many rainy days,Dr. Eckleburg ’ s eyes are also dimmed and seem blind. But in fact this is a pair of "all-seeing" eyes. The Owl-Eyed Man is similar to Dr. Eckleburg,sadly looking at the people’ s life and idealism of this timeoth.Bof them symbolize an uninvolved spectator god. They watch all the activities of the humans.Owl-eyes is the avatar of the sightless Dr. Eckleburg.Unit 16 Ernest Hemingway1.How do you interpret the irony of the title after reading the story?（1）The title―A Clean Well-Lighted Place‖ refers to the caf éin the text. The caf éwas very clean and well- lighted. Fromthe literary meaning, we may feel this place was very warm and comfortable, was a place where people need warmth wanted to go. So the old man, who was rich but deaf and lonely came hereto find warmth and avoided nada. It was the only place hecould go and could find some comfort. （ 2 ） However, the younger waiter was very selfish. As his wife was waiting him on the bed, he wanted to go home early. Therefore, he refused to offer the old man another cup of wine by the excuse that the business was finished. In fact, there was still an hour from closing time. The younger thought an hour was more importantto him than to the old man. The old man needed to leave theonly place where he could get far away from nada/ nothing.This caf é should be warm but the younger waiter forced the lonely and deaf to leave without any sympathy. This is the ironyof the title.2. Do you think youth and confidence can help one withstandthe metaphorical dark？Why or why not?（1）I don’ t thinkso.In our opinion, the metaphorical dark means nada，nothingin one ’s inner heart. In the article, the younger waiter had bothyouth and confidence; however, he never made full use ofthem. As we can see, he didn’t understand the old man’ ssuicide and excessive drinking, and failed to see his tomorrowthrough the old man ’s present situation.（2）What ’s more, he had no idea that youth is not permanent,which cannot guarantee love and work. From above, there is nodenying that he didn’t realize his nada. Therefore, his youthand confidence never contributed to withstanding his metaphoricaldark.（3）I think that, nowadays, youth and confidence do can helpto withstand the metaphorical dark, for one can bravely facethe reality and overcome the nada with youth and confidence.But they only serve as two main factors. In fact, we needsome other factors such as courage, dignity and so on if wewant to withstand the metaphorical dark successfully.3.The older waiter said to the younger waiter:“We are of twodifferent kinds. ” In what way do you think they are different?（1）I think they are different from each other in the followingfour aspects ：In the beginning, they are in different ages.Theolder waiter was in his middle age; while the other was muchyounger.（2）Then, they have different attitudes towards the old man.From the article, we know the older waiter had suffered a lot.He had maintained a clean and well-lighted place in his heart,and he could understand the old man and show sympathy tohim. However, the young man was very selfish. He wanted togo home early so that he finished the business one hour earlierand forced the old man to leave. He showed hatred rather thansympathy to the old man.（3）Next, they have different attitudes towards life. The olderwaiter had a deep sense of life. He was brave and wanted tofight again nada. Besides, he cared about others. The youngerone was totally different; he has a shadow understanding of life.He satisfied with his present love and work, he only care abouthimself and was reluctant to take others into consideration. Heeven never thought of his future. （ 4）Finally, they have differentattitudes towards nada. The older waiter had realized that it isimp ossible to avoid nada in one’ s whole life. The only thing hecan do is to keep a kind of clearness in his own mind. So he waswilling to work late for the lonely old man and was pleased tohelp those who are suffering nada. But out of youth and confidence, he failed to overcome nada. On the contrary, theyounger waiter had the two most important factors for withstanding nada; however, he didn ’ t realize the nada in his heart at all. Then his youth and confidence became useless.Unit 17 20th -Century American Poets1. Ezra Pound In A Station of the Metro1. Why does the poet call the faces of pedestrians "apparition"?These pedestrians are all walking in a hurry amidst the drizzlingrain.2. What do "petals" and "bough" stand for?Petals refer to thefaces while the bough stands for the floating crowd.2. Wallace Stevens Anecdote of the Jar1.What does the jar in poem symbolize? Why does the speakerplace it on top of a hill? The jar here symbolizes a certainperspective on looking at this world. If the perspective of theviewing is creative and unique, it will change theconventional order of the old world. When a new perspectivecomes out, it will certainly hold attention from the rest.2.The jar is "round" and "of a port in air," meaning that it has astately importance. What effect does it have on surroundings whenplaced on the ground? Maybe the round jar assumes the air of a domineering figure, which helps to form a certain order out of thedisordered surrounding.3.How did the wilderness of Tennessee characterized? Whatwords or phrases does the poet use to describe it?Tennesseeseems to a place full of life and energy.―Slovenly,‖and― wild‖ are some of the words used to describe the place.(See Anecdote of the Jar )4.Robert Frost(1)Fire and Ice1.What are the symbolic meanings of fire in this poem? Firesymbolizes natural disaster, human passion, as well as war.2. Why does the speaker say t hat ice is also great fordestruction? Explain what ice stands for here. Ice, oppose to fire,is also a dreadful natural disaster in this world, and ice is alwaysrelated to indifference, coldness, hatred, and the other negativesentiments of human beings.3.What is your opinion about fire and ice? Which one is moredestructive? Both fire and ice can destroy this beautiful worldif they are beyond control of human beings. Therefore we should be open-minded and reduce our prejudice and pride soas to keep this world in peace.(2)Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening1.In your opinion, what was the reason that made the speakerstop by the woods on a snowy evening? The poet was deeplyattracted by the natural beauty of the scene at that very moment.2. Why did the horse give the harness bell a shake? grew impatient by stopping in the middle of the The horse dark, coldwoods at midnight. It was eager to go home.3. Why couldn't the speaker appreciate its mysterious beauty?stay longer by the woods He realized that it was latetoat night and he would have to hurry home to get some foodand sleep, because the next morning he would have a lot ofwork to do.The4. What is the effect of repetition in the last two lines?refrain-like repetition in the last two lines reminds the readera simple fact of life: whatever happens, one must go forwardin the journey of his or her life.(3)The Road Not Taken1.What is the speaker's initial response to the divergence ofthe two roads? The speaker is at a loss which road he shouldchoose, and he feels sorry that he cannot explore both roads atthe same time.2.Describe the similarities and differences of these two roads.Which one does the speaker take? Two roads are similarexcept one of them is more― grassy,‖ which implies that it is less traveled by people. The speaker prefers the lesstraveled one, because he likes adventure.3. What might the two roads stand for in the speaker's mind?isOne road stands for the traditional one and the otherunconventional one and full of challenges and difficulties. Tofollow other people's footsteps or to open a new road for himself isreally not an easy decision for us to make in our lives.Unit22 Allen GinsbergAll through the poem, the speaker is addressing to Walt Whitman. Isthis poem about Walt Whitman or about modern America?-----from Allen Ginsberg A Supermarket in CaliforniaThe author in this poem wanted to emphasis his theme aboutshowing his respect to the passed age and showing his worryabout the corrupt in the part of spirit and society. As we all know,Walt Whitman ’poetrys was a revolution in American literature canbe seen in the first publication of Leaves of Grassin 1855. His poetry is ― free verse ‖ in that the lack of meter and rhyme is known as his major technical innovation. AllenGinsberg had a highly praise on him. As the movement of BeatGeneration, Allen Ginsberg used poetry as weapon to expresshis own understanding of Beat---beatific and beat down.In this poem, the author wrote the sentence― shopping forimages ‖ . What he wanted ot buy is the things which were listedby Walt Whitman many years ago. What is in the supermarket?The fresh fruits on the shelf fit the needs of customers and thefamilies. We across a strange statement: shopping for images.How can we shop for images? What he refers to us is still thepure image--- ― dreaming of your enumerations‖. The things on the shelf are the images of languages in Walt Whitman’s The language in Walt Whitman ’poetrys and the spirit in his poetryare the things which Allen Ginsberg dreamed of. A young Americawhich is full of energy is worth being praised.Allen Ginsberg found the song of himself, the song full ofcourage and the echo of the real world among Walt Whitmanwork. The meaning of age in this poem is that the nation or therace opens the age which belongs to them and creates thehistory of them own. To a certain extend, the age singer equalsthe national singer. The world is the world which has itsfeatures of timing and events. This means that the link ofcombining the world is not the same as the goods on the shelfbut the things which contain the world and individual spirits.。