谈《怪医杜立特》多层次功能

【Abstract】wWw.shuoshilunwen.com The Story of Doctor Dolittle is one of classic children’s literary works. It has attracted generations of readers since it was published in 1920. One of the reasons for its popularity is the multiple functions imbedded in this work. The Story of Doctor Dolittle has three profound functions: the entertaining function, the cognitive function, and the moral function. After numerous researches, children’s literature writers and critics at home and abroad believe that excellent children’s literary works should he the entertaining function, the cognitive function, and the moral function, which are of great importance to children’s growth. In the preface to the Chinese version of The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Chen Bochui, the translator of the book summarizes four reasons why this book has been so popular, that is, it is strongly artistic, full of knowledge, funny and interesting and quite helpful in improving children’s moral levels. According to scholars’researches on the functions of children’s literature, with the help of Chen Bochui’s analysis, this thesis tries to explore how the entertaining function, the cognitive function, and the moral function are shown in The Story of Doctor Dolittle and their influence on children’s growth in depth and in detail.This thesis comprises five parts.In Introduction, the thesis gives the information of The Story of Doctor Dolittle and its author Hugh Lofting and outlines scholars’ideas of the functions of children’s literature at home and abroad. It also proposes that excellent children’s literary works should include the entertaining function, the cognitive function and the moral function.Chapter One examines the entertaining function of The Story of Doctor Dolittle. At first, it introduces that enjoyment is the first and foremost thing that children’s literature should bring to children. Then it points out that imagination is the nature and soul of children’s literature. In works, imagination can be shown through plots and characters. Both complicated plots and exaggerated and lovely characters can bring enjoyment to children readers. At last, it analyzes how the work creates fantastic plots and exaggerated characters with the help of imagination and amuses readers.Chapter Two discusses the cognitive function of The Story of Doctor Dolittle. Firstly, it introduces that children’s literature should satiy children’s strong curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Thus the cognitive function should be imbedded in children’s literature. Secondly, by use of textual-analysis, the thesis holds that the cognitive function of the work is shown in two aspects: knowledge enriching and interest cultivation. While reading the story, children learn more about animals and nature unconsciously, which can arouse their interest and benefit their future study.Chapter Three is about the moral function of The Story of Doctor Dolittle. At first, it introduces that children’s literature should enrich children’s spiritual world, mould their characters and benefit their healthy growth. Then by use of textual-analysis the thesis believes that the hero of the work Doctor Dolittle sets a good example for children and his view on money and ecology will influence children readers greatly.In Conclusion, the thesis reemphasizes the three functions in The Story of Doctor Dolittle and their influence on children’s growth and reveals the value of this study.The Story of Doctor Dolittle is the first book of Hugh Lofting’s twelve Doctor Dolittle books, very popular and influential. There are knowledge and wisdom in interesting stories. The character is not only lovely but also a good example for children to learn from. These all benefit children’s healthy growth. Thus the multiple functions imbedded in The Story of Doctor Dolittle are worth studying, which is also helpful to the teaching of this book and the creating of other children’s literary works.