莎剧和中国古典戏剧中超自然因素的比较分析-comparative analysis of supernatural factors in shakespeares plays and chinese classical plays.docxVIP

AcknowledgementsIn the course of composing this thesis, I owe special thanks to Prof. Hong Zengliu, without whose encouragement and guidance, my thesis could never have taken the present shape.I am also indebted to Prof. Hua Quankun, Prof. Chen Zhengfa, Prof. Chen Bing, and Associate-Prof. Qi Tao for their precious guidance in my graduate study of the past three years.I am grateful to all the teachers and administrative staff in the School of Foreign Studies, whose help, either academic or otherwise, has made my postgraduate career in Anhui University an unforgettable part of my life. Additionally I wish to thank our university and school libraries, where I have spent much of my happy student‘s life.Last but not least, I will express my infinite thanks to my beloved family, whose encouragement and love keep nourishing me through my growth.AbstractWilliam Shakespeare whose works have been the focus of criticism holds the foremost place in English literature and numerous studies have been done to the description of supernatural elements in his plays. Since the introduction of Shakespeare and his plays into China, Shakespeare study has been enriched more greatly when comparative studies between Shakespeare and Chinese writers are done. These comparative studies are meaningful since ancient Chinese playwrights also hold important place in Chinese culture, and in the aspect of art and creation, we can say they are as excellent as Shakespeare. However, these comparative studies are either too general or too specific, which are not systematic as to offer a comprehensive understanding of supernatural elements particularly holy beings and ghosts in the plays of Shakespeare‘s and ancient Chinese.This thesis attempts to make a systematic comparison of holy beings and ghosts in Shakespeare‘s plays with those in ancient Chinese plays. By identifying supernatural elements in these plays, the sources which result in the different representation are explored after comparing differe