复旦大学：《英美短篇小说 British and American Short Stories》教学课件（PPT）the story-teller

The storv-teller sak

The story-teller Saki

British writer Witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories A master of short story Saki Hector Hugh Munro

Saki Hector Hugh Munro • British writer • Witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories. • A master of short story

The story-teller

The story-teller

Aunt's story vs bachelors story ● Bachelor' s story Aunt's story Horribly good girl, clicking medals, an invitation in the r podgisbygbegdrfrtsrells "sgakltlyhen prince s garden danasefemefe small girls, "but it had Wolf, spotless clean pinafore, clicking sound . Abeprtatuyterdiggardian may narrate tort kiche most beautiful story that I +时 barthe said the bigger of the small girls, with immense pwefchewedeastishghe bigger of the Cconvuon story (Ngtenbeautiful story I. Feedback: beautiful (children) improper (aunt)

Aunt’s story vs. bachelor’s story ⚫ Bachelor’s story: ⚫ Horribly good girl, clicking medals, an invitation in the prince’s garden ⚫ Wolf, spotless clean pinafore, clicking sound ⚫ Climax (or anticlimax): good girl eaten by the wolf ⚫ An unusual story ⚫ Function: silence the noisy children (non-educational) ⚫ Feedback: beautiful (children) improper (aunt) ▪ Aunt’s story: ▪ Good girl, good friends, saved when danger comes. ▪ A typical story guardian may narrate to a kid. ▪ Function: teaching ▪ Feedback: not welcomed (children simply don’t listen) ➢ "It's the stupidest story I've ever heard," said the bigger of the small girls, with immense conviction. ➢ "I didn't listen after the first bit, it was so stupid," said Cyril. ➢ "The story began badly," said the smaller of the small girls, "but it had a beautiful ending." ➢ "It is the most beautiful story that I ever heard," said the bigger of the small girls, with immense decision. ➢ "It is the ONLY beautiful story I have ever heard

A typical Saki story e Children are not spotless angels as what most adults figure. The have their feelings. their imagination and their own estimation of e world. They also possess the power of fright and cruelty that most adults choose to ignore e Other examples: Shredni Vashtar, the Toys of peace ry

A typical Saki story ⚫ Children are not spotless angels as what most adults figure. They have their feelings, their imagination and their own estimation of the world. They also possess the power of fright and cruelty that most adults choose to ignore. ⚫ Other examples: Shredni Vashtar, the Toys of Peace

The Good Girl represents less a specific person or demographic than s Exceptional goodness Symbols s The Garden represents the rewards of virtue the garden is more of a place of interest rather than of easure The Pigs Moderation The Wolf e represents misfortune

Symbols ▪ The Good Girl ▪ represents less a specific person or demographic than an ideal ▪ Exceptional goodness ▪ The Garden ▪ represents the rewards of virtue ▪ the garden is more of a place of interest rather than of pleasure. ▪ The Pigs ▪ Moderation ▪ The Wolf ▪ represents misfortune

Theme e In the reality, not everything good and positive is rewarded with something good o The Storyteller is a cynical antidote to crude didacticism Insisting everything should have a moral is stupid

Theme ⚫ In the reality,not everything good and positive is rewarded with something good. ⚫ “The Storyteller” is a cynical antidote to crude didacticism. ⚫ Insisting everything should have a moral is stupid