美国文学史及作品选读PPT1

1、2021/3/111 Lecture 1 The Literature of the Colonial America and of Reason and Revolution 2021/3/112 Teaching Objectives and Requirements 1 Make the students know clear about American Puritanism and its influence on American Literature. 2 Help the students to know about the main literary form, conten

2、t and theme in Colonial America and the representative writers of this period. 3 Help the students know about the American history of Independence War and the representatives in the period of Reason and Revolution, especially their influence on American Literature. 4 Make the students have a good un

3、derstanding of Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin. 5 Make sure the students understand clearly about Benjamin Franklins Autobiography and its influence on the latter Americans. 2021/3/113 1 Literature of the Colonial America (1607-1765) 2 Literature of Reason and Revolution (1765-End of 18th C)

4、2021/3/114 1.1 Historical Background In 1492, Christopher Columbus found the new continent called America. Spanish (the first town on the new continent) Dutch (New York city) French (French: lots of peoples mother tongue in North America); English (first settled in Jamestown of Virginia in 1607) In1

5、620, the famous “May Flower” shipped 102 Puritans to Plymouth. 2021/3/115 1.2 Puritan Thought Puritanism: the practices and beliefs of the Puritans Puritans: Calvinists. Puritans wanted to “purify the church” to its original state. To be a Puritan: religionthe most important thing; living for glorif

6、ying God; believing predestination, original sin, total depravity, limited atonement 2021/3/116 Life style of Puritans: pious austere of taste diligent thrift rigid sense of morality self-reliant 2021/3/117 American Puritanism: the practices and beliefs of the American Puritans American Puritans wer

7、e originally members of a division of the Protestant Church, who came into existence in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. They were a group of serious, religious people, advocating highly religious and moral principles. They wanted to purify their religious beliefs and practices. They

8、came to America out of various reasons. 2021/3/118 They were idealists, believing the church should be restored to complete “purity” and dreaming that they would build the new land to an Eden on earth. They accepted the doctrine of predestination, original sin, total depravity, and limited atonement

9、 through a special infusion of grace from God. But in the grim struggle for survival after their arrival in America, they became more and more practical. American Puritans lives were extremely disciplined and hard. They drove out of their settlements all those opinions that seemed dangerous to them.

10、 2021/3/119 As a culture heritage, American Puritanism did have a profound influence on the early American mind. It also had an enduring influence on American literature. It was one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature. It had become, to some extent, so

11、 much a state of mind, so much a part of the national cultural atmosphere, rather than a set of tenets. 2021/3/1110 Influence of American Puritanism on literature Basis of American literature: the dream of building an Eden of Garden on earth Being instrumental in calling into being a literary symbol

12、ism (meaning using symbols in literary works. The symbol means something representing or standing for abstract deep meaning.): lots of American writers liked to employ symbolism in their works Style: simple, fresh and direct 2021/3/1111 1.3 Colonial Literature General features: Humble origins: diari

13、es, histories, letters etc. In content: serving either God or colonial expansion or both In form: imitating English literary traditions 2021/3/1112 Representatives Captain John Smith: the first American Writer, A Description of New England (P16) William Bradford: The History of Plymouth Plantation (

14、P16-17) John Winthrop: The History of New England, A Model of Christian Charity 2021/3/1113 Anne Bradstreet: first American woman poet; a Puritan poet; once called “Tenth Muse”; her first collection of poems, “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America” was the first book written by a woman to be pu

15、blished in the United States; her poems mainly about religious experience, family life and early settlers lives; her work also serves as a document of the struggles of a Puritan wife against the hardships of New England colonial life, and in some way is a testament to plight of the women of the age;

16、 her most famous poems“Contemplations” (P17) 2021/3/1114 Roger Williams: one of the greatest Puritan dissenters; begins with the history of religious toleration in America, and the history of the separation of church and state. Edward Taylor: the best of the puritan poets; a meditative poet; most of

17、 his work treated religious themes, with poems based directly on the Psalms back 2021/3/1115 2 Literature of Reason and Revolution (1765-End of 18th C) 2.1 Historical Background 2.2 Representatives in the period of Reason and Revolution 2021/3/1116 Enlightenment (启蒙运动启蒙运动): Originated in Europe in t

18、he 17th century (1680) Resources: Newtons theory; deism（P28）; French philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire) Basic principles: stressing education; stressing Reason (Order); employing Reason to reconsider the traditions and social realities; concerns for civil rights, such as equality and social justice 202

19、1/3/1117 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 literature In form: imitating English class

20、ical（古典主义） writers In content: utilitarian tendency (for political or educational purpose) 2021/3/1118 American Revolution: 1775, Lexington, beginning of the Independence War June 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army 177

21、8, English army surrendered 1783, formal recognition from Britain government back 2021/3/1119 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) Lived and meditated in solitude; wrot

22、e some books (The Great Doctrine of Original Sin Defended, The Freedom of Will, The Nature of True Virtue) (P29) 2.2.1 Jonathan Edwards (1703 1758) 2021/3/1120 Influenced by the new ideas of Enlightenment, such as empiricism A pious Puritan His sense of Gods overwhelming presence in nature and in so

23、ul anticipated the Transcendentalism. (P32) First modern American and the countrys last medieval man 2021/3/1121 2.2.2 Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) LifeJack of all trades： A scientist with lots of inventions and a famous experiment (kite, electricity, thunderstorm) A famous statesman (the only Amer

24、ican who once signed all the four documents that created the new country) (P33) An example who made American Dream come true 2021/3/1122 Literary works： Poor Richards Almanac穷查理的年历穷查理的年历 Modeled on farmers annual calendar; kept publishing for many years; includes many classical sayings, such as “A p

25、enny saved is a penny earned.” (P34) 2021/3/1123 The Autobiographyfirst of its kind in literature： Writing when he was 65 An introduction of his life to his own son Including four parts written in different time Telling readers today what life was in 18th century America, a reflection of 18th centur

26、y idealism The preeminent work that mythologizes a hero of the American revolution The only enduring token that enshrines all the facets of Franklins diverse nature Presenting Americans today with a great hero from the past who helped establish the tradition of American Dream A good example of why F

27、ranklin is “the first American” 2021/3/1124 Puritanisms influence a puritan document: a record of self-examination and self-improvement (timetable, thirteen virtues, life style); a convincing illustration of the Puritan ethic (being industrious, frugal and prudent) Enlightenment spirits an eloquent

28、elucidation of the fact that Franklin was spokesman for enlightenment and that he represented in America all its ideas Style: simple, clear in order, direct and concise Popular, still well-read today, his values and style influenced lots of Americans 2021/3/1125 2.2.3 Other Representatives Thomas Paine (1737-1809): American Crisis and Common Sense Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826): Declaration of Independence Philip Freneau (1752-1832)： The most impo