Introduction

1.1 Studies at home and abroad

Studies at home and abroad concerning The Remains of the Days vary. This novel has been interpreted from different perspectives, the major of which can be mentioned as follows.

First, narrative techniques in The Remains of the Day have been explored in depth by many methods because the majority of the majority of the story flows from the voice of Stevens, whose memories provide the novel’s text. For instance, Kenny Johansson holds the view that the protagonist’s self-contradictory narrative deconstructs the points and he concludes that readers can interpret the whole plot from a utter different perspective. In “What the Butler Recalled-Memory and Self-Deception in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, Annika Jonsson Hall analyzes different cognitive aspects of the butler's memory by applying Daniel L.Schacter’s theories to Stevens’ recalling to show that his memory imperfections in the butler's narration as well as to reveal his self-deception by means of his repression. Moreover, Annika Jonsson Hall analyzes psychological aspects of the butler’s memories from the perspective of Freudian repression and self-deception. What is more, Adam Parkes believes that the butler’s narration is much too formal and stern, which suggests that something else is being said beneath its deliberately polished surface and the butler winds up saying something he tries to shun and refuses to admit.Secondly, the themes of this work have also been interpreted from the following aspects. According to the butler's own account, he spent his life attempting to embody dignity. But he also spends much of the novel pondering over what precisely that means. To be a great butler, in Stevens’s terms, is to have dignity, but there is never one single definition of dignity given: instead, Stevens offers a number of examples and anecdotes as he feels his way towards an understanding of how he has structured his own life.

Moreover, banter is an underlying theme in the novel. In the prologue, Stevens notes that his new American employer, Mr. Farraday, takes a more casual attitude with his servants than Lord Darlington did, and seems to expect to banter with Stevens. Determined to please his employer, Stevens takes this new duty very seriously. He sets out to practice and study the art of banter, including listening to a radio programme called Twice a Week or More for its witticisms. He attempts to banter with people he meets during his vacation, but his remarks fall flat. He agonizes over this, yet fails to realize that it is his delivery that is lacking. The true significance of banter becomes apparent at the end of the novel, when Stevens has met the retired butler who strikes up a conversation with him and tells him to enjoy his old age. Stevens then listens to the chatter of the people around him, in a positive frame of mind, and realizes that banter is the key to human warmth.

In addition, parts of the novel show the mobility and change of society, which is usually thought of as meritorious and progressive, can also be disruptive and frightening. This is the case even for someone like Stevens who would presumably benefit from being able to adopt a new way of life, but who is afraid to be overwhelmed by the new social realities that are approaching just as his own career is winding down.

Some scholars also pay attention to the cultural and historical connotation in The Remains of The Day. Some scholars state that the English Gentlemen are trying to save their country as their country is facing social and moral struggle.

1.2 Significance of this paper

The significance and the popularity of the novel has inspired many scholars to interpret it from many perspectives. And there are many scholars trying to interpret the novel from the narrative techniques and themes but few of them have studied the images in detail. I am impressed by the nostalgic images after perusing the novel. Therefore I choose to explore schema theory to analyze the nostalgic images. I hope this paper will provide a new perspective to study the images of the novel and decipher the underlying nostalgic meaning.

2. 研究的基本内容与方案

2.1