最新-dr heidegger’s experiment - teacherweb海德格尔博士的实验teacherweb-ppt文档资料.pptVIP

Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment By Nathaniel Hawthorne Literary term for this story: Allegory: A work in which each element symbolizes, or represents, something else. (In this story, each of the characters represents something people strive to have in their youth). Four characters: four symbols Mr. Medbourne---was a prosperous merchant----lost his money through “frantic speculation”—represents wealth (but lost that wealth through greed) Colonel Killigrew—was a healthy man—lost his health through “pursuit of sinful pleasures”—womanizing, drinking, etc. (lost health through lust and gluttony) Characters continued: Mr. Gascoigne—was a corrupt politician—now, no one remembers him. He is “obscure instead of infamous”—represents fame, (lost through his corrupt decisions) Widow Wycherly---was a beautiful young woman---lost respect of those around her as a result of “certain scandalous stories”—represents beauty, lost through her bad choices What do these four characters have in common? All three men had at one time been involved with the Widow Most important: Their “greatest misfortune” is that they are not dead yet! This makes them perfect candidates for the experiment---they have nothing to lose! What about Dr. Heidegger? He had a chance for love in his youth; what happened? Was it his fault? How does this relate to Dr. H’s decision not to participate in the experiment? Setting: Dr. Heidegger’s Study A place ripe for magical/enchanted events and objects Skeleton in closet Portrait of Sylvia Ward Dusty, old-fashioned, dim, has cobwebs Huge books on bookcases (Think about similarities to House of Usher) Setting continued: Mirror—what’s magical about it? Bronze bust of Hippocrates A book of magic: large black folio volume Bound in black leather—silver clasps When dusted, what happens? Skeleton rattles Sylvia “steps out” of the picture Faces appear in mirror Bronze bust says “forbear” The Experiment Itself Rose: whose? What happened? Reactions of four friends