Abstract

Mark twain, as one of the most popular American writers and the pioneer of American literature, has established a distinct individual style through his novels and criticisms in American literature – humor. The “Gilded Age” is actually the epoch of tycoons. So fascinated and interesting is Mark Twain’s experience that his stories contain all aspects of American society and get much closer to the real society than other American writers. Although Twain’s sense of humor is in natural, it is concluded six techniques of humor: colloquialism, irony, exaggeration, contrast, pun, repetition. William Faulkner calls Mark Twain as “the father of American literature ” and “the Lincoln of our literature”. Since Mark Twain’s writings root in American local color deeply, he manages to help this young nation to find out American ethnicity in a quite complex racial constitution.

Key words: humor,；The Gilded Age,；Colloquialism,；irony

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

Introduction-3

Chapter 1 The Background of Mark Twain and The Gilded Age-4

A. The experience of Mark Twain and the background of American society in 19th century-4

B. The relationship among Mark Twain’s experience, The Gilded Age and American social reality-5

Chapter 2   Analyzing Mark Twain’s technique of writing in the style of satire and humor-6

A. The use of Colloquialism, pun, irony, contrast, exaggeration, anti-climax, repetition in The Gilded Age-6

Chapter 3 The significance of Mark Twain’s language style-8

A. The influence on American literature-8

B. The significance on building American nationality-9

Conclusion

References