History of American Literature.doc

Lecture 1 Early American Literature课 题：Puritanism目的要求：After learning this part, the Ss should1. know the background of puritanism;2. know the main representatives and works of puritanism;3. master the main features of puritanism.教学重点：1. Main representatives and their works 2. Features of puritanism教学难点：Understanding puritanism教学课时：2教学方法：Analytical and Inductive Approach本次课涉及的学术前沿： Puritanism in American Literature教学内容与步骤：1. Self-introduction2. Introduction to the CourseSimilar with History of English LiteratureCourse book: A Survey of American Literature by Chang Yaoxin; good and authoritative one; a little bit difficult and lack in order; prepare a notebook and copy the outline I provideEspecially important to your graduate entrance examinationSuggestions: 胡荫桐，刘树森主编，美国文学教程（南开大学出版社，1995，比较有条理）；童明著，美国文学史(增订版)，外语教学与研究出版社，2008，（视角较新，注重多元性）；吴定柏编著，美国文学大纲，上海外语教育出版社，1998，（分专题编写，比较简洁易懂）；吴伟仁编，美国文学史及选读 (第一、二册)，外语教学与研究出版社，1990，（很多学校考研的指定书目，但过于简单）。 Preview; taking notes; homework (two papers); attendance Chapter 1 Colonial America(US is a quite special country in the world. Although it only has a very short history, it is the most powerful country today. )1. Historical Background In 1942, Christopher Columbus found the new continent called America. Immigrants: Spanish (they built the first town on the new continent); Dutch (they built New York city at the beginning stage); French (today still lots of peoples mother tongue is French in North America) English immigrants, Jamestown, Virginia, 1607 1620 “May Flower”, Plymouth(Imagine: transportation not convenient, why some many immigrants left their hometown and came to such a remote place as America? Economic reasons; Religious reasons)(Reformation and religious conflicts in Europe; persecution of Protestants)2. American Puritanism（清教主义） Puritans=Calvinists John Calvin, a theologian, Puritans believed most doctrines preached by him, so they were also called Calvinists Puritans wanted to “purify the church” to its original state, because they thought the church was corrupted and had too many rituals To be a Puritan: taking religion as the most important thing; living for glorifying God; believing predestination（命运天定）, original sin（原罪，人生下来就是有罪的，因为人类的祖先亚当和夏娃是有罪的）, total depravity（人类是完全堕落的，所以人要处处小心自己的行为，要尽可能做到最好以取悦上帝）, limited atonement（有限救赎，只有被上帝选中的人才能得到上帝的拯救） Life style of Puritans: pious, austerity of taste, diligence and thrift, rigid sense of morality, self-reliance (John Milton is a typical Puritan.) American Puritans On the one hand, American Puritans were all idealist as their European brothers. They came to the new continent with the dream that they would built the new land to an Eden on earth. On the other hand, American Puritans were more practical maybe because the severe conditions they faced. Influence on literature Basis of American literature: the dream of building an Eden of Garden on earth (Early American literature were mainly optimistic because they believed that God sent them to the new continent to fulfill the sacred task so they would overcome all the difficulties they met at last. Gradually Americans found that their dreams would not be successful, so lots of pessimistic literary works were produced.) Symbolism（象征主义）: lots of American writers liked to employ symbolism in their works. (typical way of Puritans who thought that all the simple objects existing in the world connoted deep meaning.) Symbolism means using symbols in literary works. The symbol means something represents or stands for abstract deep meaning. Style: simple, fresh and direct (just as the style of the Authorized Version of Holy Bible)3. Colonial Literature General features Humble origins: diaries, histories, letters etc. In content: serving either God or colonial expansion or both In form: imitating English literary traditions Captain John Smith: the first American Writer (P16) Anne Bradstreet: first American woman poet; a Puritan poet; once called “Tenth Muse”; her poems mainly about religious experience, family life and early settlers lives; her most famous poems“Contemplations” (P17) Philip Freneau (1752-1832) He is the most important poet in the 18th century. He was entitled “Father of American Poetry”. He was born in New York and graduated from Princeton University. He wrote lots of poems supporting American Revolution and human liberty. He was the most notable representative of dawning American nationalism in literature. His poems presented Romantic spirits but his form and taste were mainly influenced by Classicism. Most famous poems: “The Wild Honey Suckle” and “The Indian Burying Ground” Analyze and discuss the theme, rhyme scheme and some difficult dictions in “The Wild Honey Suckle”.4. Homework:Preview the next chapter.Lecture 2 Edwards and Franklin课 题：Puritanism-Edwards and Franklin目的要求：After learning this part, the Ss should1. know the life experience of Edwards and Franklin;2. know the main works of Edwards and Franklin;3. master the main features of Edwards and Franklin.教学重点：1. Main works of Edwards and Franklin 2. Writing Features of Edwards and Franklin教学难点：Understanding puritanism in Edwards and Franklin教学课时：2教学方法：Analytical and Comparative Approach本次课涉及的学术前沿： Puritanism in American Literature教学内容与步骤：1. Historical Background(In most course books, this part is called the 18th century literature. And Jonathan Edwards is not included and is put to the colonial period. However, Philip Freneau should be included in this chapter.)(Putting these two characters together, the author may means to compare these two. The comparison is mentioned several times in the text on P27 and P32.) American Revolution(Strict rules made by English government prevented the economic development of the colonies. It was unfair. So American Independence War broke out.) 1775, Lexington, beginning of the Independence War June 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army 1778, English army surrendered 1783, formal recognition from Britain government Enlightenment (启蒙运动)(Review English Literature, 18th century, Addison, Steele and Pope, Classicism) Originated in Europe in the 17th century Resources: Newtons theory; deism（自然神教派，课本P28，宗教与启蒙精神相结合的产物）; French philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire) Basic principles: stressing education; stressing Reason (Order) (The age has been called Age of Reason.); employing Reason to reconsider the traditions and social realities; concerns for civil rights, such as equality and social justice Significance: accelerating social progress; freeing people from the limitations set by prevailing Puritanism; making spiritual preparation for American Revolution Representatives: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson etc. Influence on literatureIn form: imitating English classical（古典主义）writers In content: utilitarian tendency (for political or educational purpose)2.Jonathan Edwards (17031758) (last important figure in Puritan tradition) Life Born in a very religious New England family Graduated from Yale Worked as a minister and was an important figure in “Great Awakening” (a serious of religious revivals which occurred in the 1730s and 1740s on North America continent) Dismissed from his position because of fierce religious controversy at that time Lived and meditated in solitude; wrote some books (P29) Analysis Influenced by the new ideas of Enlightenment, such as empiricism Still a pious Puritan His sense of Gods overwhelming presence in nature and in soul anticipated the Transcendentalism. (P32) First modern American and the countrys last medieval man3. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) LifeJack of all trades Born in a poor candle makers family in Boston No regular education Became an apprentice of a printer when he was 12 An editor of a newspaper and published lots of essays when he was 16 Went to Philadelphia when he was 17 A successful printer and publisher Retired when he was 42 A scientist with lots of inventions and a famous experiment (kite, electricity, thunderstorm) A famous statesman (the only America who once signed all the four documents that created the new country) (P33) An example who made American Dream come true Literary works Poor Richards Almanac穷查理的年历Modeled on farmers annual calendar; kept publishing for many years; includes many classical sayings, such as “A penny saved is a penny earned.” (P34) The Autobiographyfirst of its kind in literatureWriting when he was 65An introduction of his life to his own sonIncluding four parts written in different timePuritanisms influence, such as self-examination and self-improvement (timetable, thirteen virtues, life style)Enlightenment spirits (mans nature good, rights of liberty, virtues includes “order”)Style: simple, clear in order, direct and concise (“Nothing should be expressed in two words that can as well be expressed in one.”) (Puritanisms influence)Popular, still well-read today, his values and style influenced lots of Americans4. HomeworkPreview Chapter 3. Lecture 3 American Romanticism课 题：Romanticism-Irving and Cooper目的要求：After learning this part, the Ss should1. know the background of romanticism;2. know the main representatives and works of American romanticism;3. master the main features of Romanticism;4. know the writing of Irving and Cooper.教学重点：1. Main representatives and their works in American romanticism 2. Features of American romanticism教学难点：Understanding American romanticism教学课时：5教学方法：Analytical and Inductive Approach本次课涉及的学术前沿： Romanticism in American Literature教学内容与步骤：1. General Introduction(1)Time: from the end of the 18th century to the outbreak of the Civil War(2)Reasons (Why Romanticism emerged?) A. Fast development of the new nation (flood of immigrants; pioneers pushing the frontier further west; industrialization; economic boom; a promising new land with prevailed optimistic moods) B. Development of jounalism (Some influential periodicals appeared, such as The Atlantic Monthly. They need more literary productions.) C. Foreign influence (Review history of English literature.)(from the 18th century classicism to sentimentalism to Pre-Romanticism to Romanticism which can be divided into passive group and active group)(most influential British writers to American Romanticists-Walter Scott)(3)General features of Romanticism A. Stressing emotion rather than reason B. Stressing freedom and individuality C. Idealism rather than materialism D. Writing about nature, medieval legends and with supernatural elements (4) Features of American Romanticism A. Imitative B. Independent a. peculiar American experience (landscape, pioneering to the West, Indian civilization, new nations democracy and dreams) b. Puritan heritage (more moralizing, edifying more than mere entertainment) (careful about love and sex. example: Scarlet Letter)(5) Two periods and representatives A. 1770s to 1830s Early period Representatives: Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper and New England poets Two famous poets: William Cullen Bryant (first distinctive American lyric poet; writing about nature, religion and life; famous poems - Thanatopsis and To a Waterfowl) and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (balancing Romantic spirits with classical and Christian taste; famous poem - A Psalm of Life) B. 1830s to 1860s Late period Flowering of American literature Representatives: Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, Whitman, Dickinson, Poe etc.(6) Significance Creative period of a native American culture and literature2. Washington Irving (1783 - 1859)(1) LifeA. Born in a rich merchant familyB. Learned law but more interested in writingC. Went to England for family businessD. Wrote to support himself after business failureE. Diplomatic work for a period(2) Major worksThe Sketch Book (a collection of essays and short stories)Two famous short stories in the collection: Rip Van Winkle (Read the plot on P48-P49)and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Read the plot on P49)(3) FeaturesA. Conservative (e.g. Rip felt into sleep before American Independence and woke after it.)(love of old worlds tradition)(an old gentleman speaking English not American)B. Style: gentle, refined, lucid, beautiful (classical in form though romantic in subjects)C. Aim of writing: entertainment, not moralizingD. Good at creating atmosphereE. Thin plotF. HumorG. Finished and musical languageH. vivid characters(4) ContributionsA. He was the first American writer of imaginative literature to gain international fame.B. The short story as a genre in American literature probably began with Irvings The Sketch Book.3. James Fenimore Cooper (1789 - 1851)(1) Life storyA. born in a rich familyB. attended Yale but expelledC. five years at seaD. inherited fortune then a comfortable lifeE. wrote lots of novels because he oneday was disgusted by one novel(2) Major works“Leatherstocking Tales” (a series of five novels about the frontier life): The Pioneers, The Prairie, The Last of the Mohicans, The Pathfinder, The DeerslayerCentral character: Natty Bumppo (several names for same character: Hawk-eye, the Pathfinder, the Deerslayer, Leatherstocking) (a typical frontier man: honest, simple, innocent, generous) (represents brotherhood of man, nature and freedom)Theme: modern civilization advancing on the wilderness and the contradiction between them(3) FeaturesA. Good at inventing plots (Cooper had never been to the frontier area personally.)B. Style: powerful, yet clumsy and dreadfulC. Wooden Characters D. Use of dialect, but not authentic (criticized by Mark Twain)(4) ContributionsFinding “the West” and “the frontier life” as materials for literary worksIntroducing Western tradition into American literature4. HomeworkPreview chapter 4. Lecture 4 Transcendentalism课 题：Transcendentalism-Emerson and Thoreau目的要求：After learning this part, the Ss should1. know the background of transcendentalism;2. know the main representatives and works of transcendentalism;3. master the main features of transcendentalism.教学重点：1. Main representatives and their works 2. Features of transcendentalism教学难点：Understanding transcendentalism教学课时：5教学方法：Analytical and Inductive Approach本次课涉及的学术前沿： Transcendentalism in American Literature教学内容与步骤：1. General Introduction(a special kind of philosophy appeared in the 1830s in US) (quite influential)(1) ResourcesA. Puritan heritageAt the end of the 18th century people gradually felt boring about the strict Calvinism. At the same time with the development of science and technology, Americans suspected the old religion. Thus, Unitarianism（唯一理教） appeared. It was a developed school from the Transcendentalism. It stressed “continual progress of mankind” rather than old religions “mans total depravity”. It influenced Emerson. Emerson once was a preacher of Unitarianism, but he thought there were too many rituals in this religious school. Then he resigned from the position and sought a way for people to worship more freely.Emerson also believed in individuality and the dream of making a Garden of Eden on earth held by old generation Puritans.From Jonathan Edwards Emerson inherited the ideas of inward communication with God and the divine symbolism of nature.B. Foreign influenceGerman Philosophy, especially Kant（康德）Ancient Indian and Chinese works, such as Confucius and Mencius(2) Features (P57)A. Emphasis on Spirit (Oversoul) (超灵)（爱默生在超验主义里强调的超灵相当于过去宗教里上帝的这个角色，在超验主义里超灵是无形的，人生活的世界里所有的一切都来自超灵，超灵在人生活的世界里也无所不在。）against “world is made of matter”; against “neglecting of spiritual life in capitalist world”B. Emphasis on individualsOld Puritan views: self-reliance and self-improvementThrough communication with Oversoul, human being can be divine.against “total depravity” in Old Puritan doctrinesagainst dehumanization of capitalist worldC. Taking nature as the symbol of the Spirit (Oversoul)encouraging people to find goodness and beauty from natureagainst materialism in the society and the actions which broke the harmony between human and nature only for profitsD. Brotherhood of man (equal and liberty)interested in social reforms; endeavor to create an ideal society; against “everything for money” in the capitalist world(3) SignificanceA. influenced a large group of writersB. summit of American RomanticismC. marked the independence of American literature2. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)(1) LifeA. born in a clergymans family in New EnglandB. graduated from HarvardC. a Unitarian ministerD. abandoned Unitarianism and went to Europe searching for truthE. founded a Transcendentalists Club and published a journalF. traveled and gave lectures; quite influential(2) Major worksNature ( a book which declared the birth of Transcendentalism)Some other essays preaching his thoughts: The Poet, Self-reliance and The American Scholar (Americans Declaration of Intellectual Independence)(3) Aesthetics and significanceA. Aestheticsa. In Emersons opinion, poets should function as preachers who gave directions to the mass.b. True poetry should serve as a moral purificatio