英语系本科《英语小说选读》讨论题

时间：2025-04-23

英语,小说,

Week 2 Topics for Discussion on “Quality” by John Galsworthy

1. Who are the major characters? Who is the central character? How does the narrator

distinguish the younger brother from the elder brother?

2. Analyze the development of the action lines of the story?

3. Characterize the Gessler Brothers and point out the common grounds and desimilarities

shared by them.

4. What is the point of view of the story?

5. What does the Gessler Brother’s Conflict with the large firms suggest?

6. Why does not the author set two Germans as the major characters of the story instead of two

English men?

7. What is the theme of the story?

8. What do you think of the tragedy of the Gessler Brothers?

9. How to understand the title of the story?

10. What is the function of panorama and close-up in story-writing? Can you point up the

close-up lens of this story?

11. What is a symbol? Can you point out the symbols the author uses in this story?

Week 3 Topics for Discussion on “A Little Cloud” by James Joyce

1. Trace the development of the action line of the story.

2. What are the major conflicts of this story?

3. Who are the major characters? Who is the central character?

4. What is the point of view of the story?

5. What does the stream of consciousness mean? Can you point out this technique in the story?

Stream-of-consciousness refers to a method of telling a story in which a write lets the reader know every thought that enters a character’s mind. This method tries to imitate the way in which people actually think. Therefore, the character’s thoughts are presented in the order in which they occur, and this order is not necessarily logical. When the stream-of-consciousness technique is used, the story is always written from the first person print of view. Many 20th century writers attempt to convey the full range of unconscious as well as conscious material through this method.

The stream-of-consciousness novel is a type of psychological novel, which takes as its subject matter the uninterrupted, uneven and endless flow of the stream-of-consciousness of one or more of its characters. It is effective to present the character at depth. Famous writers of this sort include James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner.

Please make a contrast between Gallaher and Chandler.

Point out the dramatic ironies in this story.

What is Chandler’s psychic dilemma?

What is the story named “A Little Cloud”? 6. 7. 8. 9.

Week 4 Topics for discussion “A Special Occasion” by Joyce Cary

1. What are the major conflicts of the story?

2. Why is the story named “A Special Occasion”?

英语,小说,

Discussion on the Topics of Chapter 1 of The Metamorphosis

1. How does Gregory find himself transformed into a worm?

2. Why does Gregory refuse to get up and open the door?

3. Why does Gregory fear the office manager? Can you evaluate the manager’s attitude toward a

sick clerk?

4. How many legs does Gregory have? What kind of worms has he been changed into?

5. How is the manager scared away by Gregory?

6. What are the attitudes of the family members toward Gregory?

Week 5 (for National Holidays)

Week 6 Discussion on the Topics of Chapter 2 of The Metamorphosis

5. Narrate the development of the vermin ability of Gregory. Does Gregory change his mind of concern for his family after his metamorphosis? What is Gregory’s contribution to his family? What is Gregory’s response when his sister moves away the furniture from his room? Why does Gregory so bravely protect the picture of the lady in his room? Please describe

what the lady looks like?

6. Comment on his father’s attitude toward him before and after metamorphosis?

7. Where is the climax of the chapter?

Discussion on the Topics of Chapter 3 of The Metamorphosis

7. What is the terrible consequence happened to Gregory? What jobs have Gregory’s parents and sister Crete found? What are the sharp contrast of attitudes between Gregory and Grete? What leads to Gregory’s death? What is the climax of this chapter? Why does Grete want to get rid of Gregory as quick as possible? Why does Mr. Samsa treat his three tenants in different attitudes before and after Gregory’s

death?

8. Why does the last paragraph suggest in the story?

9. What changes appear in Gregory’s family after his metamorphosis?

Overall Discussion on The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

What does “metamorphosis” mean? What is your original understanding of the metamorphosis revealed in the novella?

Who are the major characters in the story?

Characterize Gregor and Grete.

Gregor—responsible, considerate, industrious, kind, well-meaning, and full of filial obedience or piety;

Grete—sentimental, selfish, greedy, snobbish, vain, hypocritical, merciless;

Where is the highest climax of the story?

1. 2. 3. 4.

英语,小说,