Appreciation Treasury of Famous English Works. Drama Volume

Author: Gu Zhengkun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Drama is often used to compare life. The world in the play is colorful and diverse, just like life, which cannot be fully appreciated without careful attention. To fully enjoy the aesthetic beauty and impact of dramatic works, one must read the original text in detail. Since medieval English drama sprouted from church rituals, English dramatic works from different periods and styles each have their unique characteristics. Therefore, we have carefully selected over ten dramatic excerpts with compelling plots and exquisite language, drawn from the treasures of English, American, Irish, and other theatrical works. These playwrights are largely familiar to Chinese readers. For example, Shakespeare has enjoyed a wide readership in China for over a century since his introduction, and names like Shaw and Wilde are also well-known. Some plots are not unfamiliar to us, such as Oedipus killing his father and marrying his mother, Faust selling his soul to the devil, or the flower girl transforming into a noblewoman. Additionally, some works by contemporary playwrights have sparked strong interest among Chinese audiences, such as Waiting for Godot, Death of a Salesman, and Desire Under the Elms. All these masterpieces are presented in their original English versions, allowing readers to learn authentic English while appreciating the artistic qualities and subtle nuances of the originals. To assist readers in their reading, we first provide brief introductions to the authors and include an "Analysis of the Work" before each original passage, enabling readers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these masterpieces. Notes are appended at the end, explaining the difficulties, allusions, idioms, and proper nouns in the foreign text to help readers grasp the original more deeply. Appreciating English drama from the cultural background and aesthetic habits of China will reveal many surprising connections, similarities, differences, and complementary aspects.