| 独创性声明 | 第1-6页 |
| Abstract (in Chinese) | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract (in English) | 第7-8页 |
| Chapter 1: Introduction | 第8-29页 |
| ·A Brief Introduction to Theodore Dreiser and An American Tragedy | 第8-12页 |
| ·Dreiser and his literary achievements | 第8-9页 |
| ·A general introduction to An American Tragedy and its importance | 第9-12页 |
| ·Critical responses to An American Tragedy | 第12-16页 |
| ·Criticisms on An American Tragedy abroad | 第12-14页 |
| ·Domestic studies on An American Tragedy | 第14-15页 |
| ·The purpose and significance of why I choose the topic | 第15-16页 |
| ·Theoretical perspective | 第16-26页 |
| ·Realism and Theodore Dreiser | 第16-18页 |
| ·Freud's theory and Theodore Dreiser | 第18-22页 |
| ·Naturalism and Theodore Dreiser | 第22-26页 |
| ·Factors influencing Dreiser's theme sketch and characterization | 第26-29页 |
| ·Dreiser's family background | 第26-27页 |
| ·Dreiser's individual experience | 第27-29页 |
| Chapter 2:An Analysis of the theme in An American Tragedy | 第29-33页 |
| ·The corruption of American Dream | 第29-31页 |
| ·Dreiser's self-seeking---nightmare-self | 第31-33页 |
| Chapter 3: An Analysis of artistic techniques in An American Tragedy | 第33-53页 |
| ·Realistic characteristics in characterization | 第33-43页 |
| ·Typical characters in typical environment | 第33-37页 |
| ·The psychoanalytic technique in characterization | 第37-43页 |
| ·Naturalistic characteristics in characterization | 第43-47页 |
| ·Scientific methods in characterization | 第43页 |
| ·Determinism | 第43-46页 |
| ·The comparison and contrast technique in characterization | 第46-47页 |
| ·Characteristics in plot creation | 第47-53页 |
| ·Factual basis of plot | 第47-48页 |
| ·Factual basis in time and place setting | 第48-50页 |
| ·Artistic presentation of plot | 第50-53页 |
| Chapter 4 Conclusion | 第53-55页 |
| Notes | 第55-60页 |
| Bibliography | 第60-63页 |
| Acknowledgement | 第63页 |
