| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-10页 |
| 1. Introduction | 第10-17页 |
| ·Introduction to Thomas Wolfe and his novels | 第10-13页 |
| ·Literature review | 第13-16页 |
| ·Content and structure of the thesis | 第16-17页 |
| 2. Escape for Spiritual Expectations | 第17-31页 |
| ·Escape for spiritual life | 第17-25页 |
| ·Dissatisfaction with the conventional life | 第17-20页 |
| ·Escape from the fate | 第20-22页 |
| ·Escape for a spiritual life | 第22-25页 |
| ·Failure in his spiritual pursuit | 第25-29页 |
| ·Deadlock of his spiritual pursuit | 第25-26页 |
| ·Reasons for his failure in his pursuit of spiritual life | 第26-29页 |
| ·Effect of failure in the spiritual pursuit | 第29-31页 |
| ·Disillusionment of his spiritual ideal | 第29页 |
| ·Consciousness of reality | 第29-31页 |
| 3. Escape for a Material Pursuit | 第31-40页 |
| ·Escape from spiritual expectations into material life | 第31-34页 |
| ·Material-oriented view of life | 第31-32页 |
| ·Self-indulgence and sultriness | 第32-34页 |
| ·Reflection over material life | 第34-40页 |
| ·Dissatisfaction with his idling away life | 第34-35页 |
| ·Causes of the reflection | 第35-40页 |
| 4. Return:Formation of a Pragmatic View of Life | 第40-55页 |
| ·Return:heading for a new life | 第40-43页 |
| ·Pursuing a new life in the old world | 第40-41页 |
| ·Motives of the return | 第41-43页 |
| ·The nature of his return | 第43-55页 |
| ·A compromise between spiritual and material life | 第44-46页 |
| ·A compromise between ideal and reality | 第46-52页 |
| ·Formation of a pragmatic view of life | 第52-55页 |
| 5. Conclusion | 第55-57页 |
| Bibliography | 第57-58页 |
