Abstract

A Passage to India is a representative novel of the British writer E. M. Foster, which is also a classic work of British literature. It was created after the twice experiences of the author to East India which depicted the Indian journey of two ladies, their experience of exploring the real East Indian culture and life and the occurrence of a sensational cave event. In this thesis, the image theory of comparative literature is used to analyze the contrastive images between East India and to show multi-angle images of the East Indians, and further to reflect the universal phenomenon of the people living in the contemporary colonial rule of the country, In their deep hearts, they are complex and contradictory. They not only show their respect and worship to the colonial rulers in cultural life, but also in their mind they are of the psychological anti-colonial sentiment. It reflects their mentality of the process of the change from hoping to be friends with the other people to the disappointment or even being hostile to the other people.

Key words: Image theory; Multi-angle images; Anti-colonial sentiment

Contents

摘要

Abstract

Introduction-1

1.-Image Theory-2

1.1 Definition-2

1.2 classification-3

1.2.1 Internal Research-3

1.2.2 External Research-4

1.3 Significance-5

2. East Indian Images in A Passage to India-5

2.1 Dr. Aziz’s Inferior Friendship with British-5

2.1.1Eager and Cherish the Friendship with the British-6

2.1.2 The Sense of Inferiority, Self-esteem and Extreme-7

2.1.3 A Good Relationship with Native People in East India-7

2.2 Professor Godbole’s Unique Insights to Hindus-8

2.2.1 A Mysterious Hindus-8

2.2.2 His Unique Insights-8

2.3 Self-contradictory Mahmoud Ali and Hamidullah-9

3.English Images in A Passage to India-9

3.1 Adela’s Hesitance of the Marriage-10

3.2 Ronny ‘s Prejudice against East Indians-10

3.3 Fielding’s Insistences on Justice and Compassion-11

Conclusion-12

References-13

Acknowledgments-14