| Acknowledgement | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract in English | 第5-7页 |
| Abstract in Chinese | 第7-9页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第9-16页 |
| ·Introduction to Sherwood Anderson’s Life Experience and Criticism on Him and His Works | 第9-13页 |
| ·Sherwood Anderson’s Short Stories and Character Creation | 第13-16页 |
| Chapter 2 Sherwood Anderson’s Characters and Background Culture | 第16-24页 |
| ·Time of Transition | 第16-19页 |
| ·Dminishing yet Influential Force: Puritanism | 第17-18页 |
| ·Gradual Dominating Force: Industrialism | 第18-19页 |
| ·Popular Culture in American Mid-western Small Towns | 第19-24页 |
| ·Horse and Horse Racing | 第19-22页 |
| ·Saloons -- a Coarse and Wild Culture in Mid-western Small Towns | 第22-24页 |
| Chapter 3 Characteristics of Sherwood Anderson’s Characters | 第24-38页 |
| ·Permanent Pursuit of Their Believed “Truth” | 第24-27页 |
| ·Sense of Failure and Frustration | 第27-30页 |
| ·Growth of Adolescents | 第30-38页 |
| Chapter 4 Sherwood Anderson’s Techniques of Character Creation | 第38-45页 |
| ·Language of His Characters | 第38-40页 |
| ·Epiphany –a Moment of Revelation | 第40-42页 |
| ·Tragicomic Tone --- Tragicomic Life | 第42-45页 |
| Chapter 5 Women Characters in Anderson’s Short Stories | 第45-53页 |
| ·Women as “Feeders ” | 第47-51页 |
| ·Women against Traditions | 第51-53页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第53-56页 |
| Bibliography | 第56-57页 |
