1.美国文学简介课件

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1、Early American literatureAmerican literature grew out of humble origins.Forms of writing such as diaries,letters,travel books occupy a major position in the colonial literature.In content,these early writings served either God or colonial expansion.In form,English literary traditions were faithfully

2、 imitated and transplanted.TheColonialPeriod(1600s-1776)TheAmericanEnlightenment(1776-1800s)The Romantic Period(1800s-1860)The Romantic Period(1800s-1860)The Age of Realism(1860-1914)The Age of Realism(1860-1914)The Age of Modernism(1914-1945)The Age of Modernism(1914-1945)ThePost-warPeriod(after194

3、5)American Romanticism and Washington Irving美国短篇小说之父美国短篇小说之父General Characteristics of Romanticism Emphasis on imagination and the inner world of the charactersWorship of the individual and the common manFascination about the past and the exoticAmerican Romantic writings on the native grounds(美国浪漫主义

4、文学的特点美国浪漫主义文学的特点Transcendental philosophyPuritan moralityNational experience of“pioneering into the westThe role American landscapeWashington IrvingAn early Romantic writer;Father of the American short story美国短篇小说之父美国短篇小说之父Major worksThe Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon,Gent.,1819-1820The Sketch Book

5、of Geoffrey Crayon,Gent.This is a collection of essays and tales by Irving.Most of the sketches concern his observations as an American visitor during his stay in England.They were written in England,filled with English scenes and quotations from English authors.Irvings taste is conservative and sho

6、ws respect for the old world.Of the tales dealing with America,the most famous are“Rip Van Winkle and“The Legend of Sleep Hollow.Sleepy Hollow near Tarrytown Sleepy Hollow near Tarrytown from“Legend of Sleepy Hollowfrom“Legend of Sleepy HollowThe CatskillsThe Catskillsfrom“Rip Van Winklefrom“Rip Van

7、 WinkleThe story is remembered because of Rips 20-year sleep,set against the backdrop of the changing America,in which Irving presents to us two juxtapositions:two totally different worlds before and after Rips 20-year sleep.One is a shift of space,between the commonplace realities of the present wi

8、th his quarrelsome wife and a wild,lonely mountain glen where he meets a group of odd-looking people.The other is a shift of time,between the pre-Revolution village and the George Washington Era.The story reveals Irvings conservative attitude towards the American Revolution and the young Republic.Ri

9、p Van WinkleIrvings successful characterization makes the tale so enduring that it has become part of the American cultural tradition.The story takes place in the Dutch settlement of Tarrytown,near a sequestered glen(幽谷called Sleepy Hollow,around the year 1787.Ichabod Crane,a schoolmaster from Conne

10、cticut,comes to teach in a one-room schoolhouse;later he becomes the neighborhood song master.Besides these,he competes with Brom Bones for the love of Katrina.One evening,after being refused by Katrina,he rides off on his landlords horse.On his way,he sees a specter of a headless horseman,and is ne

11、ver seen again in Sleepy Hollow.The townspeople have a lot of guesses about his disappearance.Literary Preference for the PastLiterary Preference for the PastFor Irving literature should breed in a land rich in the past and culture,for example,the ruined castle,the falling tower,the masterpieces of

12、art,the refinements of a highly cultivated society.As a young nation,America couldnt provide all this,so Irving found value in the past and the found value in the past and the traditions of the Old Worldtraditions of the Old World and based most of his works on the English classics and some European

13、 tales.Thus his stories and characters are exotic and exotic and remoteremote in time and space.Indeed,The Sketch Book show Irvings affection for the antiquity of Europe and for the past in general.This attention to the past was one reason for Irvings success with his American audience.Americans,rec

14、ently severed from their European heritage,were struggling with an identity crisis at the time they were reading Irvings work,which itself looks both forward and backward.His writing marked the beginning of American Romanticism.He was the first American writer to gain international fame.He started t

15、he writing of short story as a literary genre.Irvings ContributionsRalph Waldo Emerson1803-1882拉尔夫拉尔夫沃尔多沃尔多爱默生爱默生a major American philosopher and center of the Transcendental movementNew England Transcendentalism:New England Transcendentalism:the summit of the Romantic periodthe summit of the Romant

16、ic periodFamily background:a descendent of a long line of New England Family background:a descendent of a long line of New England clergymanclergymanEducation:Harvard Divinity School Education:Harvard Divinity School Career:a pastor for 3 years in a Boston churchCareer:a pastor for 3 years in a Bost

17、on churchA European tour where he was influenced by English Romanticism A European tour where he was influenced by English Romanticism and German idealismand German idealismThe Transcendental Club:At Concord,Massachusetts,he formed a The Transcendental Club:At Concord,Massachusetts,he formed a club

18、with Henry David Thoreau,Margaret Fuller,which was club with Henry David Thoreau,Margaret Fuller,which was known as the Transcendental Club.known as the Transcendental Club.Nature Nature(1836)(1836):his first book,the Unofficial manifesto for the club:his first book,the Unofficial manifesto for the

19、clubThe DialThe Dial:the Transcendental journal:the Transcendental journal Essays Essays(1841):(1841):The American Scholar,Self-reliance,The Over-soulThe American Scholar,Self-reliance,The Over-soulMajor Features Major Features Over-soul Over-soul The“Over-soulThe“Over-soul is an omnipresent,omnipot

20、ent spiritual is an omnipresent,omnipotent spiritual power of goodness.power of goodness.It exists in nature and in humanity alike and constitutes the It exists in nature and in humanity alike and constitutes the chief element of the universe.chief element of the universe.Generally,the Over-soul ref

21、ers to spirit of God as the most Generally,the Over-soul refers to spirit of God as the most important thing in the universe.important thing in the universe.Emerson holds that intuition is a more certain way than Emerson holds that intuition is a more certain way than reason to perceive the over-sou

22、l.reason to perceive the over-soul.This view of over-soul is a reaction to 18th century concept This view of over-soul is a reaction to 18th century concept of the universe,which was made up of matter.of the universe,which was made up of matter.It also renounces the mechanized American society at th

23、at It also renounces the mechanized American society at that time,which got ahead in world affairs,but neglected in time,which got ahead in world affairs,but neglected in spiritual welfare.spiritual welfare.超灵是一种无所不容、无所不在的力量，是宇宙至为重要的因素超灵是一种无所不容、无所不在的力量，是宇宙至为重要的因素超灵是一种无所不容、无所不在的力量，是宇宙至为重要的因素超灵是一种无所不容

24、、无所不在的力量，是宇宙至为重要的因素,它存它存它存它存在于人和自然界内在于人和自然界内在于人和自然界内在于人和自然界内,是万物之本。人能超越和理性而直接认识真理。是万物之本。人能超越和理性而直接认识真理。是万物之本。人能超越和理性而直接认识真理。是万物之本。人能超越和理性而直接认识真理。ppIndividualism Individualism 个人是神圣的个人是神圣的个人是神圣的个人是神圣的ppEmerson believes in the divinity and infinity Emerson believes in the divinity and infinity of man

25、as an individual.of man as an individual.ppThe ideal type of man is self-reliant.Self-The ideal type of man is self-reliant.Self-reliance leads to self-importance,self-reliance leads to self-importance,self-cultivation and self-perfection.cultivation and self-perfection.ppEmerson urges,“Trust thysel

26、f!Emerson urges,“Trust thyself!“make “make thyself!that the world exists for you thyself!that the world exists for you Build there your own worldBuild there your own worldpp个人是社会的最重要的组成局部，个人的完善带来个人是社会的最重要的组成局部，个人的完善带来个人是社会的最重要的组成局部，个人的完善带来个人是社会的最重要的组成局部，个人的完善带来社会革新。因此人的首要责任是自我完善，而非刻社会革新。因此人的首要责任是自我完

27、善，而非刻社会革新。因此人的首要责任是自我完善，而非刻社会革新。因此人的首要责任是自我完善，而非刻意追求富贵。意追求富贵。意追求富贵。意追求富贵。pp“相信你自己是超验主义者的座右铭，有助于打相信你自己是超验主义者的座右铭，有助于打相信你自己是超验主义者的座右铭，有助于打相信你自己是超验主义者的座右铭，有助于打破加尔文教的破加尔文教的破加尔文教的破加尔文教的“人性恶、人性恶、人性恶、人性恶、“命定论等教条的束命定论等教条的束命定论等教条的束命定论等教条的束缚，为热情奔放，抒发个性的美国式文化奠定了根缚，为热情奔放，抒发个性的美国式文化奠定了根缚，为热情奔放，抒发个性的美国式文化奠定了根缚，为热

28、情奔放，抒发个性的美国式文化奠定了根底，鼓励了美国民族精神的开展完善。底，鼓励了美国民族精神的开展完善。底，鼓励了美国民族精神的开展完善。底，鼓励了美国民族精神的开展完善。ppNature Nature 自然是高尚的自然是高尚的自然是高尚的自然是高尚的ppNature is the garment of the over-soul.All Nature is the garment of the over-soul.All things in nature are symbols of Gods things in nature are symbols of Gods presence.pre

29、sence.ppBesides,it exercises a restorative influence on Besides,it exercises a restorative influence on human beings.Nature is ennobling and human beings.Nature is ennobling and people should come close to nature for people should come close to nature for instructions.instructions.“Go back to nature

30、,sink yourself back into“Go back to nature,sink yourself back into itself influence and youll be spiritually whole itself influence and youll be spiritually whole againagain.pp超验主义者认为自然界不只是物质超验主义者认为自然界不只是物质超验主义者认为自然界不只是物质超验主义者认为自然界不只是物质,是超灵的外衣是超灵的外衣是超灵的外衣是超灵的外衣,上上上上帝的精神充溢其中，。帝的精神充溢其中，。帝的精神充溢其中，。帝的精神

31、充溢其中，。pp同时，它对人的思想具有一种健康的滋补作用。超验同时，它对人的思想具有一种健康的滋补作用。超验同时，它对人的思想具有一种健康的滋补作用。超验同时，它对人的思想具有一种健康的滋补作用。超验主义主张回归自然，以在精神上成为完人。主义主张回归自然，以在精神上成为完人。主义主张回归自然，以在精神上成为完人。主义主张回归自然，以在精神上成为完人。The American Scholar(1837)Delivered as a lecture at Harvard College in 1837,Emerson asked American scholars to break free of

32、 European influences and create a new and original American culture:“We have listened too long to the courtly muses of Europe We will walk on our own feet,we will work with our own hands,and we will speak our own minds.It was called the US“Intellectual Declaration of Independence.Henry David Thoreau

33、 and Henry David Thoreau and WaldenWaldenAs Emersons disciple,Henry David Thoreau built a As Emersons disciple,Henry David Thoreau built a cabin on some land belonging to Emerson by cabin on some land belonging to Emerson by Walden Pond and lived there in a simple manner for Walden Pond and lived th

34、ere in a simple manner for over 2 years,which gave birth to a great over 2 years,which gave birth to a great transcendentalist work transcendentalist work WaldenWalden.For Thoreau,nature is symbolic and divine.He was For Thoreau,nature is symbolic and divine.He was often alone in the woods or by the

35、 pond,lost in the often alone in the woods or by the pond,lost in the spiritual communion with nature.spiritual communion with nature.He believes that men should be self-reliant and self-He believes that men should be self-reliant and self-sufficient,so he sought to reduce his material needs suffici

36、ent,so he sought to reduce his material needs to get spiritual happiness.to get spiritual happiness.The triumph of intuition over five senses,The triumph of intuition over five senses,the exaltation of the individual over society,the exaltation of the individual over society,the thrilling delight in

37、 naturethe thrilling delight in natureand the rejection of any kind of bondage to and the rejection of any kind of bondage to customcustomall these principles of transcendentalism exhorted young all these principles of transcendentalism exhorted young people to cast off their enslavement to the past

38、,to people to cast off their enslavement to the past,to follow God within,and to live every moment of life with follow God within,and to live every moment of life with energy,to regard nature as the great lesson proving energy,to regard nature as the great lesson proving Gods presence everywhere in

39、His creation.Gods presence everywhere in His creation.New England Transcendentalism is important to New England Transcendentalism is important to American literature at least for two reasons.American literature at least for two reasons.On the one hand,it is represented by two major On the one hand,i

40、t is represented by two major writers of the country-Emerson and Thoreau.writers of the country-Emerson and Thoreau.On the other hand,a new group of writers under the On the other hand,a new group of writers under the influence of Emerson and Thoreau began to apply influence of Emerson and Thoreau b

41、egan to apply transcendental ideas in their works.Hawthorne,transcendental ideas in their works.Hawthorne,Melville,Lowell,Dickinson,and Whitman were all Melville,Lowell,Dickinson,and Whitman were all exponents of transcendentalism in one way or exponents of transcendentalism in one way or another.Th

42、ey created one of the most prolific another.They created one of the most prolific periods in the history of American literature.periods in the history of American literature.沃尔沃尔特特 惠特曼惠特曼1819-1892Biographical BackgroundpBrought up in a working-class background in New York.p6 years schooling and expe

43、riences at various jobs School teacher,apprentice to a printer,editor of various newspapers,carpenter and volunteer male nurse in the Civil War.pFriendship with President Abraham Lincoln.O Captain！My Captain!O Captain!My Captain!Our fearful trip is done,The ship has weatherd every rack,the prize we

44、sought is won,The port is near,the bells I hear,the people all exulting,While follow eyes the steady keel,the vessel grim and daring;But O heart!heart!heart!O the bleeding drops of red!Where on the deck my Captain lies,Fallen cold and dead.啊！般长！我的船长！可怕的航程已完成；啊！般长！我的船长！可怕的航程已完成；这船历尽风险，企求的目标已达成。这船历尽风险

45、，企求的目标已达成。港口在望，钟声响，人们在欢欣。港口在望，钟声响，人们在欢欣。千万双眼睛注视着船千万双眼睛注视着船平稳，勇敢，坚决。平稳，勇敢，坚决。但是痛心啊！痛心！痛心！但是痛心啊！痛心！痛心！瞧一滴滴鲜红的血！瞧一滴滴鲜红的血！甲板上躺着我的船长，甲板上躺着我的船长，他倒下去，冰冷，永别。他倒下去，冰冷，永别。“O Captain,my captain is written in recollection of Lincolns death.It shows Whitmans love for an American leader.Whitman is using the ship a

46、s a representation of the United States democracy and the captain as the President.Inscriptions铭言集ChildrenofAdam亚当的子孙Calamus芦笛集BytheRoadside路边之歌DrumTaps桴鼓集SongsofParting别离之歌SandsatSeventy七十生涯Good-ByeMyFancy再见了，我的梦想Whitman devoted all his life to the creation Whitman devoted all his life to the creat

47、ion of a“singleof a“single poem,Leaves of Grass.poem,Leaves of Grass.He published the first edition of Leaves of He published the first edition of Leaves of Grass in 1855.Grass in 1855.He continued to add new poems to the He continued to add new poems to the collection,and to revise them,until his c

48、ollection,and to revise them,until his death in 1892.death in 1892.Whitman considered each of his poems to be a separate leaf of grass because:A leaf of grass is a symbol of vitality and strong will.“野火烧不尽，春风吹又生野火烧不尽，春风吹又生It exists in the form of individual leaves that work together to form the gras

49、s.The same is true of the people.个人与个人与群众群众“草叶英语中又是草叶英语中又是“书页、书页、“纸页纸页的意思。惠特曼用双关语将自己的的意思。惠特曼用双关语将自己的诗稿比作生生不息的青草。自然界最诗稿比作生生不息的青草。自然界最普通、最朴素，也是最有生命力的东普通、最朴素，也是最有生命力的东西，它易被忽略，但令人敬佩。西，它易被忽略，但令人敬佩。Contributions of Whitman Whitman believed that poetry should play a vital part in the process of creating a

50、new nation.美国歌手美国歌手 惠特曼是惠特曼是“新兴的美国文明的声音。新兴的美国文明的声音。?草叶集草叶集?反映了美国在内战反映了美国在内战前后从农业经济开展到一个工业大国的进程，用乐观的声音在歌颂前后从农业经济开展到一个工业大国的进程，用乐观的声音在歌颂一个新民族的崛起。关注普通人和日常生活上，诗人把船夫、铁匠、一个新民族的崛起。关注普通人和日常生活上，诗人把船夫、铁匠、木匠、纺纱女、排字工、筑路者、拉纤者等人物概括为美国人的形木匠、纺纱女、排字工、筑路者、拉纤者等人物概括为美国人的形象，歌颂城市生活和工业革命。象，歌颂城市生活和工业革命。Whiteman shows concer

51、n for the whole hard-working people and the burgeoning life of cities.To Whitman,the fast growth of industry and wealth in cities indicate a lively future of America.He made the city and urban living conditions suitable settings for poetry.我听见美国在歌唱，唱着各种各样不同的赞歌，机械工人歌唱着，每个人都唱着欢快强健的歌，木匠歌唱着，还测量着他的厚板和梁木，

52、泥水匠歌唱着，在出工前和停工时，船夫在船上唱着他自己的歌，水手们那么在轮船甲板上歌唱着鞋匠坐在板凳上唱歌，帽商站立着唱，伐木工、耕童们在歌唱，无论早上，午休时，或是日落时分还有慈祥的母亲，年轻的少妇，缝洗衣裳的女孩那甜美的歌每个人都唱着独属于他或她的一切，白天歌唱属于白天的，晚上，一群强壮友好的年轻小伙亮开嗓子唱起他们雄壮动听的歌?有一个孩子向前走去?There Was a Child Went Forth 有一个孩子每天向前走去，他看见最初的东西，他就变成了那东西，那东西就变成了他的一局部，在那一天，或者那一天的一局部，或者几年，或者很多年。如果是早开的紫丁香，那么它会变成这个孩子的一局部，

53、还有那青草，那绚丽的朝霞，那红色白色的苜蓿草，以及那菲比鸟的啾鸣，还有那三个月大的小羊羔，淡粉色的一窝小猪，小马驹和小牛犊，还有谷仓空地上或泥泞的池塘边那叽叽喳喳的小鸟一家，还有池中好奇的鱼儿，以及那美丽的迷人的湖水，还有池中的水草，优雅的摇曳着它们扁扁的头，所有的这一切，都成了这孩子的一局部。First,it was the poet himself as a boy.Second,it was the young America which was developing very fast.The poet uses his childhood experience of growing

54、and learning about the world to imply the growth of America will be like that.pWhitman not only sang praise of the individual value,but also identified the self with the“en-masseof America.pIn“Song of Myself,Whitman sets forth two principle beliefs,the theory of universality,which is illustrated by

55、lengthy catalogues of people and things,and the belief in the individual value of all beings.(p457)pAccording to him,two people could be“twain yet one,their paths could be different,but they could achieve a kind of transcendental contact.p两个人两个人“虽二而一，两个人的道路可以不同，但都能到达相同的虽二而一，两个人的道路可以不同，但都能到达相同的超验的接触。

56、超验的接触。pThe central metaphor,the unity of self with all other selves,is unique in American poetry.我赞美我自己，歌唱我自己我所采取的你也将采取，因为属于我的每一个原子也同样属于你。我邀请我的灵魂和我一道闲游，我俯身悠然观察着一片夏日的草叶。我的舌，我血液的每个原子，是在这片土壤，这个空气里形成的，是这里的父母生下的，父母的父母也是在这里生下的，他们的父母也一样，我，现在三十七岁，一生下身体就十分健康希望永远如此，直到死去。信条和学派暂时不管，后退一步，明了它们当前的情况已足，但也绝不是忘记,不管我从

57、善从恶，我允许随意发表意见，顺乎自然，保持原始的活力。Section 1Whitman stressed the physical self and celebrates sexuality which should be beyond the physical.In his remarkable use of sex and sexual imagery,Whitman broke new ground in American writing.人的个性和欲人的个性和欲望应该得到尊重。望应该得到尊重。Whitman is innovative in the forms of poetry.He prefers“free verse,poetry without a fixed beat or regular rhyme scheme.惠特曼主张为了描述宇宙万物的的创造力和丰富性，必须防止惠特曼主张为了描述宇宙万物的的创造力和丰富性，必须防止传统的诗艺常规，即押韵、格律等。他创造了一种空前自由的传统的诗艺常规，即押韵、格律等。他创造了一种空前自由的诗体。他的诗总是随着奔放的激情、恣肆的想象和纵横的议论诗体。他的诗总是随着奔放的激情、恣肆的想象和纵横的议论而形成一种舒卷自如的旋律。所以而形成一种舒卷自如的旋律。所以“自由是自由是?草叶集草叶集?的一大的一大特点。特点。