公爵夫人与珠宝商

The Duchess and the Jeweller

Virginia Woolf [Br.] 1882-1941

OUTLINE Author Plot

Ideas Theme

Characters

Style

Language

1. About the Author Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English novelist, essayist, diarist, epistler, publisher, feminist, and writer of short stories, regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century.

Mrs. Dalloway, Jacob's Room, To the Lighthouse.

(25 Jan 1882 – 28 Mar 1941)

2. Plot Summary Once a poor boy in the streets of London, he has become the richest jeweller in England. One day, Oliver enters into his private shop room, and awaits the arrival of the Duchess. When she arrives, he has her wait. The Duchess comes to Oliver to sell ten pearls, as she has lost substantial money to gambling. The Duchess manipulates him into buying them for twenty thousand pounds. In the end, the pearls are found to be fakes.

3. Main ideas No. Paras

Main ideas

1

1

The jeweler's luxury

2

2-4

His recollection of his endeavor

3

5-14

To and in his shop

4

15-6

Before the duchess’ appearance

5

17-50

The deal

6

51-3

After the deal

4. The Theme Woolf, being an advocate of addressing the "stream of consciousness," shows the thoughts and actions of a greedy jeweller; Woolf makes a thematic point that corrupt people do corrupt actions for purely selfish motives (and often without regret).

5. Character Analysis The Jeweller Of humble origin, new-rich, luxurious, arrogant, greedy, showy, self-contemptuous The Duchess Of noble birth, flirtatious, luxurious, arrogant, greedy, crafty, florid

6. Stylistic Analysis

A. Stream of consciousness: inner world

B. Limited, yet unlimited time and space C. Modernism: individualism

7. Language Points Groups of words Furniture: chair, sofa, sideboard, mantelpiece, etc. Jewels: rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds, etc. Say: wail, sigh, moan, hiss, murmur, whisper, etc.

Materials, colors, clothing, etc. Complex sentences