美国文学资料整理

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1、1、The first American writer is Captain John Smith. The first governor of Plymouth is William Bradford.（第一位殖民地女诗人）2、Puritan thoughts: as the world itself hints, Puritans wanted to make pure their religious beliefs and practices. The Puritan was a “would-be purifier.” The beliefs and practices charact

2、eristic of Puritans (most of whom were Calvinists who wished to purify the Church of England of its Catholic aspects) Puritans was the name given in the 16th century to the more extreme Protestants within the Church of England who thought the English Reformation had not gone far enough in reforming

3、the doctrines and structure of the church; they wanted to purify their national church by eliminating every shred of Catholic influence. In the 17th century many Puritans emigrated to the New World, where they sought to found a holy Commonwealth in New England. Puritanism remained the dominant cultu

4、ral force in that area into the 19th century.3、The literature of reason- Enlightenment.Enlightenment was originated in Europe in the 17th century, to use critical reason to free minds from prejudice, authority, and oppression. (1)The 18th-century American Enlightenment was a movement marked by an em

5、phasis on rationality rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious dogma, and representative government in place of monarchy. (2)Enlightenment thinkers and writers were devoted to the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man. (3)The coloni

6、sts who would form a new nation were firm believers in the power of reason; they were ambitious, inquisitive, optimistic, practical, politically astute, and self-reliant.(4)Colony-State Enlightenment in religionDEISMDEISM is a religious philosophy. It believes that religious truth is shown by reason

7、 applied to empirical events.This is in contrast to fideism - often found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam which maintains that religious truth is revealed by scripture, and personal revelation.Deism became popular during the 17th and 18th centuries - during the Age of Enlightenment - especially

8、in The United Kingdom, France, and USA Those are raised as Christians who found they could not believe in either the triumvirate God, the divinity of Jesus, miracles, or the inerrancy of scriptures, but who did believe in one God, were often drawn to deism. Initially no congregations were formed, bu

9、t in time deism was institutionalized as Unitarianism. Some key features of DEISM The rejection of revealed religion this was the critical aspect of deism. The belief that reason, not faith, leads us to certain basic religious truths this was the positive or constructive aspect of deism. The Boston

10、Tea Party in 1773 On Dec. 16, 1773, Samuel Adams led patriots, disguised as Indians. On a raid of British ships docked in Bostons harbor. They dumped the tea overboard.1775 was beginning of the Independence War. July 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin Declaration of Independe

11、nce1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army, English army surrendered. 1783, formal recognition from Britain government, won the independence, founded a republic country.4、Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Printer, opened his own print shop for 20 yearsEditor, published the Pennsylvan

12、ia Gazette (newspaper) Inventor, lightning rod, Franklin stove, bifocal glasses Scientist, made experiment with a kite, proving that lightning was electricityPolitician, He was the only American to sign the four documents that created the United States: The Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of

13、 Alliance with France, The Treaty of Peace with England, The ConstitutionPublic-spirited citizen, founded the first public library, organized the first fire department and the first paid police force, founded a school and a hospital.Prose writer the great man of letters Autobiography自传 Poor Richards

14、 Almanac 穷理查德历书 Poor Richards Almanac a book that is published every year, giving information for that year. Kept publishing for many years; includes many classical sayings.Autobiography It is regarded as one of the most important works of American literature produced during the 18th century. It is

15、a record of a man rising to wealth and fame from a state of poverty and obscurity into which he was born, an account of the colorful career of Americas first self-made man. It is a Puritan document -it is a record of self-examination(自我审视) and self-improvement (自我完善)： He believes that God helps thos

16、e who help themselves and that every calling is a service to God, in order to get on in the world, one has to be industrious, frugal, and prudent. It is an elucidation (阐述)of the fact that Franklin was spokesman for enlightenment: he represents American idea- man is basically good and free by nature

17、, endowed by God with certain inalienable(不可剥夺的) rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Significance of the AutobiographyIt presents a prototype（原型） of American success which inspired generations of Americans. Popular, still well-read today, his values and style influenced lots of Americans

18、 It is an embodiment of Puritanism and enlightening spirits. With it he set the form for autobiography as a genre. Why is Franklin the representative of American Enlightenment?1. He believed in reason or rationality, the scientific method, equality and human beings ability to perfect themselves and

19、their society. 2. He favored the education. Self-education, educating and disseminating knowledge among people by his newspaper and Autobiography, establishing learning club, college and library.3.He favored freedom of thoughts. He set up the ideas of democracy in the USA.5、Thomas Paine (1737-1809)O

20、ne of the Enlightment thinkers and a leading figure in the American Revolution “Great Commoner of Mankind” born in England and immigrated to America in 1774Common SenseOn Jan.10, 1776, “Common Sense” a series of sixteen pamphlets. It boldly advocated a “Declaration for Independence”, and brought the

21、 separatist agitation to a crisis.“By an Englishman”The most articulate spokesman of the American Revolution.Rights of Man (Part I, 1791; Part II, 1792): man is a part of nature and human beings are born equal. Not only championed Rousseaus doctrines of freedom, but suggested the over throw of the B

22、ritish monarchy. 1792, indicated for treason, seek refuge in France The Age of Reason (1794-1795)greatest contribution to the Enlightenment Movement: a deistic declaration advocating a rationalistic view of religionAmerican Crisis (1776) dec, 1776, “black month” Washingtons retreat across New Jersey

23、. It was read at once to all regiments. Inspired the continental army P.31-32 见34页note6、Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)The Declaration of Independence: p.37When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and

24、 to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.在有关人类事务的发展过程中，当一个民族必须解除其和另一个民族之间的政治联系，并在世界

25、各国之间依照自然法则和自然神明 ，取得独立和平等的地位时，出於对人类公意的尊重，必须宣布他们不得不独立的原因。We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (P.37)我们认为下面这些真理是不言而喻的：造物者创造了平等的个人，

26、并赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利，其中包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。 What is the significance of The Declaration of Independence?1. The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, not only announced the birth of a new nation, but also set forth a philosophy of human freedom which served as an important force in the wester

27、n world and constitutes a part of American heritage.2. it instilled among the common people a sense of their own importance and inspired struggle for personal freedom, self government and a dignified place in society.7、Philip Freneau (1752-1832) “Poet of the American Revolution” “Father of American

28、Poetry”“Pioneer of the New Romanticism” “A gifted and versatile lyric poet”“The Rising Glory of America” (1772) 美洲光辉的兴起“The House of Night” (1779, 1786) 夜之屋“The British Prison Ship” (1781)英国囚船“To the Memory of the Brave Americans” (1781) 纪念美国勇士“The Wild Honey Suckle” (1786) 野金银花“The Indian Burying G

29、round” (1788) 印第安人墓地 “The Dying Indian: Tomo Chequi” 奄奄一息的印第安人：托姆察吉 重点：“The Wild Honey Suckle” (1786) 野金银花“The Indian Burying Ground” (1788) 印第安人墓地 8、The Romantic PeriodWhat is the Romantic Period? As a literary trend or movement, it occurred and developed in Europe and America at the turn of the 18

30、th and 19th centuries under the historical background of the Industrial Revolution (around 1760) and the French Revolution (1789-1799). “ Romanticism remained one of the glories of the age. It accelerated the spread of democracy to the downtrodden and the poor. It revitalized art and established new

31、 ways of perceiving humanity and the universe. And it remained evident today” (AAL 1:565)Characteristics of Romanticism 1. An innate and intuitive perception of man, nature and societyreliance on the subconscious, the inner life, the abnormal psychology 2. An emphasis on freedom, individualism and i

32、magination rebellion against neoclassicism which stressed formality, order and authority 3. A profound love for nature nature as a source of knowledge, nature as a refuge from the present, nature as a revelation of the holy spirit 4. The quest for beauty pure beauty 5. The use of antique and fancifu

33、l subject matters sense of terror, Gothic, grotesque, odd and queer9、Washington Irving 1783 Was born in New York to a rich merchant family. 1804-1806 went to France to treat a lung ailment(肺炎), He learned French ,made many friends, he travelled through Europe, Indulged his love of art, theatre, and

34、opera. 1809 Irving composed his first novel The History of New York(纽约外史) which made Irving very famous at home and abroad In 1815, he left America for England to manage his brothers company and stayed in England for the next 17 years, but their company closed, he turned to his pen to make some inco

35、me. 1819-20 Irvings short stories, The Sketch Book (见闻札记) was first printed in America. It contained two of his most famous tales: Rip van Winkle (瑞普凡温克尔) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (睡谷的传说).From 1822-1832, Irvings health failed again and for many months he was unable to walk.Brace bridge Hall (1822

36、) 雷斯布里奇田庄Tales of a Traveler (1824), 旅客谈which Irving considered one of his finer works. Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (1829) 攻克格拉纳达Tales of the Alhambra(1832) 阿尔罕伯拉 10、Edgar Allen Poe (18091849)Father of modern short story Father of detective storyFather of psychoanalytic criticismpoems 1) “T

37、he Raven” 乌鸦2) “Annabel Lee” 安娜贝尔李3) “The Sleeper” 睡梦人4) “A Dream Within a Dream” 梦中梦5) “SonnetTo Science” 十四行诗致科学6) “To Helen” 致海伦7) “The City in the Sea” 海中的城市earlier entitled The Doomed City 衰败的城市TalesHorror Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque 述异集 The Black Cat” 黑猫“The Cask of Amontillado”一桶酒的故事

38、“Ligeia”莉盖亚The Masque of the Red Death红色死亡假面舞会“The Fall of the House of Usher” The Tell-tale Heart泄密的心 Ratiocination（推理）“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” 莫格街谋杀案“The Gold Bug”金甲虫 “The Purloined Letter”被窃的信件 “The Mystery of Marie Roget” 玛丽罗杰谜案Poes achievement1. His aesthetics, his call for the rhythmica

39、l creation of beauty have influenced French symbolists and the devotees of art for arts sake.“2. He is the father of psychoanalytic(心理分析的) criticism.3. He is the father of the detective story. Poes theory for poetry: 1.short but achieve maximum effect, 2.produce a feeling of beauty in the reader,3.

40、pure“, not to moralize, 4.He stresses rhythm, 5.insists on an even(规则的) metrical flow .Poes theory for short story Short story should be of brevity, totality, single effect, compression(压缩) and finality. Comments on Poe1. Most controversial and most misunderstood literary figure in the history of American literature2. Enjoyed respect and welcome in Europe3. The majority of critics have recognized him as a great writer of fiction, a poet of the first rank, and a critic of acumen and insight