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【Abstract】Stephen Leacock’s masterpiece Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town is considered as one of the most enduring classics of Canadian humorous literature.This paper discusses the novel from the viewpoints of character analysis，Mariposa understanding and humor explanation to help the readers gain a better knowledge.
【Key Words】Stephen Leacock； Character； Mariposa； Humor
As one of the forefathers of Canadian literature，Stephen Leacock （1869-1944） created many vivid characters and a world “Mariposa” in Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town，and presented his unique style of humor.
1.Character Analysis
Leacock gave birth to many characters in his noted Sunshine，and almost all the characters are twofold.Characters are endowed with good qualities such as loveliness，kindness，and optimism； but also bad qualities like selfishness，blindness and greed.Most striking of all is Josh Smith.He runs the hotel，tries to keep his liquor license being cancelled，saves the Mariposa Belle，and takes advantage of his wealth to be elected.While his conducts are due to his interest and selfishness.Jefferson Thorpe，a barbershop owner，continues to work after he loses all the money in the stoke market.John Smith，who has born capability of running business，struggles for financial success； Golgotha Gingham is regarded as an important figure in Mariposa just due to his standing directly to “life and death”.
These characters are selfish，over-confident，and greedy.On the other，they are true to life，vivid，and of great representativeness.Actually some flaws in humanity that sometimes make them do folly things，are inevitable，forgivable and bona fide，far from serious and all the tragedies of mankind will be turned over.（傅新宇，2000）
2.Understanding “Mariposa”
Stephen Leacock outlined an imaginary world “Mariposa”，where the residents are living in a harmonious and restful life.
“There it lies in the sunlight，sloping up from the little lake that spreads out the foot of the hillside on which the town is built.” （Leacock，1987）
Mariposa，neither an industrialized metropolitan city，nor a barren wasteland，counts a beautiful town with charming sceneries.Leacock narrates “I don’t know whether you know Mariposa.If not，it is of no consequence，for if you know Canada at all，you are probably well acquainted with a dozen towns just like it”，which testifies that Mariposa is a Canadian-style lovely town on which he puts his hope and a somehow utopia like，where the organic society is applauded.
【Key Words】Stephen Leacock； Character； Mariposa； Humor
As one of the forefathers of Canadian literature，Stephen Leacock （1869-1944） created many vivid characters and a world “Mariposa” in Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town，and presented his unique style of humor.
1.Character Analysis
Leacock gave birth to many characters in his noted Sunshine，and almost all the characters are twofold.Characters are endowed with good qualities such as loveliness，kindness，and optimism； but also bad qualities like selfishness，blindness and greed.Most striking of all is Josh Smith.He runs the hotel，tries to keep his liquor license being cancelled，saves the Mariposa Belle，and takes advantage of his wealth to be elected.While his conducts are due to his interest and selfishness.Jefferson Thorpe，a barbershop owner，continues to work after he loses all the money in the stoke market.John Smith，who has born capability of running business，struggles for financial success； Golgotha Gingham is regarded as an important figure in Mariposa just due to his standing directly to “life and death”.
These characters are selfish，over-confident，and greedy.On the other，they are true to life，vivid，and of great representativeness.Actually some flaws in humanity that sometimes make them do folly things，are inevitable，forgivable and bona fide，far from serious and all the tragedies of mankind will be turned over.（傅新宇，2000）
2.Understanding “Mariposa”
Stephen Leacock outlined an imaginary world “Mariposa”，where the residents are living in a harmonious and restful life.
“There it lies in the sunlight，sloping up from the little lake that spreads out the foot of the hillside on which the town is built.” （Leacock，1987）
Mariposa，neither an industrialized metropolitan city，nor a barren wasteland，counts a beautiful town with charming sceneries.Leacock narrates “I don’t know whether you know Mariposa.If not，it is of no consequence，for if you know Canada at all，you are probably well acquainted with a dozen towns just like it”，which testifies that Mariposa is a Canadian-style lovely town on which he puts his hope and a somehow utopia like，where the organic society is applauded.