ABSTRACT

Based on the framework of growth theme, this thesis analyzes psychological and moral development of Huckleberry Finn. It compares this novel with The Kite Runner by Afghanistan writer Khaled Hosseini from the angle of protagonist’s growth; with Firefox: Confessions of a Girl Gang by American writer Joyce Carol Oates from the perspective of narrative style; with Rose Gate and The Bathing Women by Chinese writer Tie Ning from cultural difference between East and West. It makes a multi-level and multi-angle study of Huck’s confusion and harvest on the road of growth. It also explores the contribution this novel has made to American initiation stories.

Keywords: growth theme; Psychological and moral development; Narrative style; cultural difference; initiation story

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

Chapter Three COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS-5

3.1 Psychological and Moral Development of Huckleberry Finn-5

3.2 Growth of the Main Character Compared with The Kite Runner-6

3.3 Narrative Style Compared with Firefox: Confessions of a Girl Gang-8

3.3.1 First person narrative perspective: facing the growing confusion-8

3.3.2 Narrative model: suffering the pain of growth-8

3.3.3 Theme of growth: Intertextuality of foxfire-9

3.4 Cultural Differences between east and west: compared with Rose Gate and The Bathing Woman-9

Chapter Four CONCLUSION-11

REFERENCES-12