This paper demonstrates how much the forest was used by medieval writers as a symbolic space where critical events take place deeply affecting their protagonists. The forest motif can be found in the works of St. Augu...This paper demonstrates how much the forest was used by medieval writers as a symbolic space where critical events take place deeply affecting their protagonists. The forest motif can be found in the works of St. Augustine as well as in Dante's Divina Commedia (ca. 1308-1321), and then in a plethora of other texts. Here the author examines more closely the symbolic meaning of the forest as a mysterious, dangerous, yet also spiritual location in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Titurel (ca. 1220) and then in two 15th-century prose novels: Thtiring von Ringoltingen's Melusine (1456) and the anonymous Fortunatus (1509). Each time we recognize how much the poets placed their central figures one in the forest where their life takes a major turn. Recognizing this intriguing function of the forest as a metaphor and symbol, we can employ the modern interest in and fascination with the forest as a refuge from the destruction of the natural environment through modem civilization as segue to attract students to the study of medieval literature once again.展开更多
This paper treats metaphors and terminology or the discourse of tasawwuf Having in mind that tasawwuf is a discipline developed in the scope of Islamic tradition and that its focus is on the esoteric dimension of the ...This paper treats metaphors and terminology or the discourse of tasawwuf Having in mind that tasawwuf is a discipline developed in the scope of Islamic tradition and that its focus is on the esoteric dimension of the Qur'an (ta wil), which relates to the cognition of the highest rank, an approach to such a discourse needs special effort, both intellectual and spiritual. The language of literature belonging to either theoretical or practical tasawwuf is highly symbolic: theoretical tasawwuf deals with ontology and discusses God, world, and human being, while pragmatic tasawwuftries, just as the ethics, to change human being, that is, to ennoble him. Because of its specific way of presentation and its specific discourse, a communication with that discourse is determined by the knowledge of its symbolism, its terminology and, generally, its professional terminology.展开更多
Henry James is one of the greatest novelists, who enjoys great reputation in the English literary world. He spent many years in Europe. Fie had deep and subtle insights into the life of the upper class in America and ...Henry James is one of the greatest novelists, who enjoys great reputation in the English literary world. He spent many years in Europe. Fie had deep and subtle insights into the life of the upper class in America and Europe. He experienced the cultural differences between America and Europe profoundly, which was demonstrated in his literary works. Daisy Miller is one of the representative works of Henry James, reveals his "international theme", the American innocence in face of European sophistication, In D^dsy Miller, Winterbourne is an undeniable protagonist, embodies both narrative and symbolic meaning. Through his narration and his representative features of the sophistication of European culture, we can gradually realize that it is the inevitable collision between new world and old world that leads to the pathetic ending of Daisy Miller.展开更多
文摘This paper demonstrates how much the forest was used by medieval writers as a symbolic space where critical events take place deeply affecting their protagonists. The forest motif can be found in the works of St. Augustine as well as in Dante's Divina Commedia (ca. 1308-1321), and then in a plethora of other texts. Here the author examines more closely the symbolic meaning of the forest as a mysterious, dangerous, yet also spiritual location in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Titurel (ca. 1220) and then in two 15th-century prose novels: Thtiring von Ringoltingen's Melusine (1456) and the anonymous Fortunatus (1509). Each time we recognize how much the poets placed their central figures one in the forest where their life takes a major turn. Recognizing this intriguing function of the forest as a metaphor and symbol, we can employ the modern interest in and fascination with the forest as a refuge from the destruction of the natural environment through modem civilization as segue to attract students to the study of medieval literature once again.
文摘This paper treats metaphors and terminology or the discourse of tasawwuf Having in mind that tasawwuf is a discipline developed in the scope of Islamic tradition and that its focus is on the esoteric dimension of the Qur'an (ta wil), which relates to the cognition of the highest rank, an approach to such a discourse needs special effort, both intellectual and spiritual. The language of literature belonging to either theoretical or practical tasawwuf is highly symbolic: theoretical tasawwuf deals with ontology and discusses God, world, and human being, while pragmatic tasawwuftries, just as the ethics, to change human being, that is, to ennoble him. Because of its specific way of presentation and its specific discourse, a communication with that discourse is determined by the knowledge of its symbolism, its terminology and, generally, its professional terminology.
文摘Henry James is one of the greatest novelists, who enjoys great reputation in the English literary world. He spent many years in Europe. Fie had deep and subtle insights into the life of the upper class in America and Europe. He experienced the cultural differences between America and Europe profoundly, which was demonstrated in his literary works. Daisy Miller is one of the representative works of Henry James, reveals his "international theme", the American innocence in face of European sophistication, In D^dsy Miller, Winterbourne is an undeniable protagonist, embodies both narrative and symbolic meaning. Through his narration and his representative features of the sophistication of European culture, we can gradually realize that it is the inevitable collision between new world and old world that leads to the pathetic ending of Daisy Miller.