Abstract: As an female English writer, critic, Virginia Woolf was one representative of the stream of consciousness novel. She is also considered one of the pioneers of the 20th century modernism and feminism. In the traditional realism debate, Woolf made new viewpoints to shape the characters. To the Lighthouse as a classic stream-of-consciousness novel presents her novel theory vividly—the truth of life exists in the spiritual world of the complex characters, so the performance of “inner truth” should be the purpose of a novelist. To realize their creative ideas, Woolf used in a large number of symbolic images to suggest the character’s inherent emotions and thoughts, and succeeded in making the narrative across time and space. The large number of mysterious symbolic images in the novel not only roused critics and readers’ interest and attention, but also makes the novel itself full of diverse significance and controversy.

Key words: stream of consciousness; symbol; image

CONTENTS 

摘要

Abstract

1.Introduction1

1.1 Introduction to Virginia Woolf 

1.2 Introduction to To the Lighthouse

1.3 Introduction to image

2. Main Physical Images in the Novel 4

2.1The Lighthouse

  2.2 The Window 

  2.3 Lily’s Painting

  2.4 The Sea

3.Conclusion8

Bibliography9

Acknowledgement10