美国文学第二讲.doc

Lecture Two Colonial America & Benjamin Franklin Outline Historical Background and Ideology Literature in Colonial Period Representative Writers and Their Works Benjamin FranklinBackground: Big Events of This period 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the American continent. 1617, the first British colony was established in Jamestown, Virginia. 1620, Mayflower dropped anchor at Plymouth harbor. 1629, the puritans established the Massachusetts By Colony. 1776-1783, Independent War; the formation of a Federative bourgeois democratic republic-the United States of America.The earliest settlers of America The earliest settlers, included Dutch, Swedes, Germans, French, Spaniards, Italians, and Portuguese. All contributed to the forming of the American civilization, but the colonies that became the first United Stated were for the most part English sustained by English traditions, ruled by English laws, supported by English commerce, and named after English monarchs(君主) and English lands: Georgia, Crolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, New England. American Puritanism The puritans 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 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 cultural force in that area into the 19th century. Calvinism Calvinism is the doctrine of John Calvin, the great French theologian(神学者) who lived in Geneva. Its a doctrine of predestination, original sin and total depravity, and limited atonement (or the salvation of a selected few) through a special infusion of grace from God. Unconditional election: the idea that God had decreed who was damned and who was saved from before the beginning of the world. 无条件拣选：神没有任凭人在罪中灭亡，而是在创世以前就拣选了一群人施行拯救 Limited atonement: the idea that Christ died for the elect only. 有限救赎：基督的死只是为特定数目的选民而死 Total depravity: humanitys utter corruption since the Fall 完全堕落：总从亚当偷吃善恶果后，整个人类都堕落了 Irresistible grace: regeneration as entirely a work of God, which cannot be resisted and to which the sinner contributes nothing. 不可抗拒的恩典：圣灵的能力在罪人心里运行，一直到他认罪悔改方休 The perseverance of the saints: the elect, despite their backsliding and faintness of heart, cannot fall away from grace. 圣徒的坚守：圣徒既是神所拣选的，无论他们如何退步，始终在神的感召下。The Style of Puritan Writing 1. Protestant - against ornateness; reverence for the Bible. 2. Purposiveness - there was a purpose to Puritan writing - described above. 3. Puritan writing reflected the character and scope of the reading public, which was literate and well-grounded in religion.Common Themes in Early Puritan Writing 1. Idealism(唯心主义) - both religious and political. 2. Pragmaticism (实用主义)- practicality and purposiveness. The Influence of Puritanism on American Literature 1）Optimism The Puritans dreamed of living under a perfect order and worked with indomitable(不屈不挠) courage and confident hope toward building a new Garden of Eden in America. With such a sense of mission, the Puritans looked even the worst of life in the face with a tremendous amount of optimism. The spirit of optimism burst out of the pages of so many American authors. 2) Symbolism The American Puritans metaphorical mode of perception was chiefly instrumental in calling into being a literary symbolism which is distinctly American. Puritan doctrine and literary practice contributed to no small extent to the development of an indigenous symbolism. To the pious Puritan the physical phenomenal world was nothing but a symbol of God. Hence symbolism as a technique was a common practice in writing. 3) plainness in writing Bearing the direct influence of the Christian Biblical poetics, the Puritan writings are fresh, simple, direct, and with a touch of nobility.The Earliest American Literature 1. The first writings that we call American were the narratives and journals of these settlements. They wrote about their voyage to the new land, about adapting themselves to unfamiliar climates and crops, about dealing with Indians. 2. They wrote in diaries and in journals. They wrote letters and contracts and government charters and religious and political statements. They wrote about the land which stretched before themunimaginable and immense, with rich dense forests and deepblue lakes and rich soil. It stirred the imagination to great heights. All seemed possible through hardwork and faith. Representatives and their works William Bradford-“The History of Plymouth Plantation” John Winthrop-“The History of New England” Anne Bradstreet- “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America” Edward Taylor-“Psalm” Philip Freneau“The Power of Fancy” “The House of Night” Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672 ) Born in Northhampton, England, in 1612 clearly valued knowledge and intellect; a free thinker; an early feminist; The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672 ) Themes of Anne Bradstreets works: 1. Puritan spirits and her religious experiences: The Flesh and the Spirit; Mediations 2. Her sincere and passionate love to her husband and families: To My Dear and Loving Husband ; Before the Birth of One of Her ChildrenTo My Dear and Loving Husband (1678) 致辞亲爱的丈夫 If ever two were one, then surely we. 如果曾经两人默契，那是我和你。 If ever man were loved by wife, then thee. 如果有丈夫被妻子钟爱，那就是你； If ever wife was happy in a man, 如果有妻子与丈夫幸福温馨， Compare with me, ye woman, if you can. 同我比一比，女士们，如果可能。 I Prize thy love more than whole mines of gold 我珍惜你的爱胜过黄金矿藏， Or all the riches that the East doth hold. 胜过东方拥有的无尽宝藏， My love is that rivers cannot quench. 我的爱百川之水不能浇熄， Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense. 除了你的爱，别无它物能够平抑。 Thy love is such I can no more repay. 你的爱如此丰盛我无法回报， The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. 只能祈求上天给予你许多酬劳。 Then while we live, in love lets so persevere. 在世之时，让我们如此相亲相爱， That when we live no more, we may live ever. 百年之后，我们才能使生命永在。 * thou=you（主） thee=you（宾） thy=your doth=does The Other important figures Edward Taylor (c. 16421729) - the tradition of metaphysical poets - trying to obtain union with God Philip Freneau (17521832) - the father of American poetry - “The Rising Glory of America” - the founder of the National Gazette Literature and the American Revolution (1764-1815) Literature in the period of American Revolution was predominantly public and utilitarian. The more characteristic forms of writing include essays, pamphlets, and political documents for purposes of social reform, revolutionary agitation and philosophical declaration. It was in this period that American nationhood, with the United States as its name, began to emerge. Enlightenment The 18th century England is also, and better, known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. The Enlightenment was a progressive intellectual movement going on throughout Europe at the time, with France in the vanguard. The Enlightenment celebrated reason (rationality), equality, science and human beingsability to perfect themselves and their society. They held the common faith in human rationality and the possibility of human perfection through education. They believed that when reason served as the yardstick for the measurement of all human activities and social relations, superstition, injustice, privilege and oppression were to yield place to “eternal truth”, “eternal justice”, and “natural equality” or inalienable (不可剥夺的) rights of men. Everything was put under scrutiny, to be measured by reason. The belief provided theory for the American War of Independence in 1776.Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, author,printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. In Philadelphia, Franklin established Americas first circulating library and the college later became the University of Pennsylvania. As a scientist he was noted for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He first applied the terms “positive” and “negative” to electrical charges. He was also one of the first men to study and map the Gulf Stream. Besides the lightening rod, he also invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, a miniature printing press, a carriage odometer, and even a musical instrument called an “armonica,” which employed combinations of tuned glasses. Success As an Author: As an author he had power of expression, simplicity, a subtle humor. He was also sarcastic. His best writing is found in his own Autobiography, which has become one of the classics of the genre. Poor Richards Almanac (历书、年鉴)was first published in 1729. It is perhaps the most quoted of all his writings. In 1758, the year in which he ceased writing for the Almanac, he printed Father Abrahams Sermon, also known as The Way to Wealth. Poor Richards Almanac -1733 Great Talkers, little Doers. Eat to live, and not live to eat. March windy, and April rainy, makes May the pleasantest month of any. The proof of gold is fire, the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman. Lost time is never found again. A penny saved is a penny earned. Poor Richards Almanack -1758 Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly. Great Modesty often hides great Merit. God helps them that help themselves. Fish and visitor stink in three days. Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.13 Virtues 1. “Temperance(节制). Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. 2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 4. “Resolution(坚定). Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5. “Frugality(节约). Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. 6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 9. “Moderation(温和). Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. 10.Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation. 11. “Tranquillity(心神稳定). Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 12.“Chastity(贞洁). Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or anothers peace or reputation. 13. “Humility(谦逊). Imitate Jesus and Socrates. Major Themes in Franklins Writing a. Interest in the individual and society; the creation of an American national identity. b. Tension between aristocracy and democracy; the awareness of America as distinct in values and interests from those of England.Major Themes in Franklins Writing c. Tension between appearance and reality; shift from an other worldly to a this worldly viewpoint. d. Tension between romantic idealism and pragmatic rationalism; theory should be tested primari