浪漫主义文学英文版介绍

1、The Literature of RomanticismRomanticismo appeared in England in the 18th century. o A modern term applied to the profound shift in Western attitudes to art and human creativity in the first half of the 19th century. o Reaction against the prevailing neoclassical spirit and rationalism during the Ag

2、e of Reason.General literary characteristicso In themes:o 1. passion, emotion, fancy, imagination, etc. as markers of truth.o 2. Faith in individualism and intuitive perception. Man can know the world through his own ability/intuition. Common man as a hero.o 3. Mans societies are a source of corrupt

3、ion. Nature was a refuge, a source of goodness, knowledge and spirituality. Celebration of mans connection with nature.o 4. The fantastic and thrilling stories taking place long ago and far away, rich in mystic color.o 5. Solitude (Escapism)o 6. Satisfaction of desireo 7. Outcastso 8. Idealist philo

4、sophyo 9. Delight in self-analysiso 10. The sublime(升华，崇高，高尚）, the grotesque（奇异，怪异）, the picturesque（独特的，图画般的）, and the beautiful with a touch of strangeness are all valuedIn techniques:o Characterizationo Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions) o Description provides a feeling of the sceneo Fo

5、rmal languageo Plot is important and usu. arranged around crises to demonstrate n romantic love n honor and integrity n idealism of self etc.American RomanticismI. Historical backgroundo End of 18th century - outbreak of the Civil Waro 1. The “pioneers” pushing the frontier further west: Individuali

6、sm, buoyancy（轻快，轻松） and optimism of the frontier and intimacy with the wilderness o 2. Predominantly agrarian（土地的，耕种的） backgroundo 3. Industrialization and urbanization result in economic boom, rise of the middle classo 4. The sudden influx of immigrants, new cultures and perspectiveso 5. The level

7、of education and literacy rose and cultural business prospered.o 6. Democracy and political equality , and people enjoyed more freedomo 7. Pursuit of simplicity, utility, and perfection (idealism) remained an American characteristic.o Optimism and hope outburst of romantic feelingo Independence Isol

8、ation insecurity about valueso democracy loss of distinctiono o Search for new spiritual rootsII. In Literatureo Literature ceased to be primarily didactic（说教的）, a servant of politics and religion. o The romantic values were prominent in American politics, art, and philosophy until the Civil War.o 2

9、 stages: o 1830 pre-romanticism (1770s-1830) post-romanticism (1830-60,65-75)Characteristicso American Romanticism was both imitative and independent. foreign and native factorsIII. Notable Writerso 1. Washington Irvingo 2. James Fenimore Coopero 3. William Cullen Bryanto 4. Henry Wadsworth Longfell

10、ow o 5. Edgar Allan Poeo 6. Ralph Waldo Emersono 7. Henry David Thoreauo 8. Nathaniel Hawthorneo 9. Herman Melvilleo Washington Irving1. Washington Irving(1783-1859) o 1. First American author to make a living by his peno 2.“Father of American literature” o 3. Father of American Short Stories: The s

11、hort story as a genre in American literature began with Irvings The Sketch Book, which also marked the beginning of American Romanticism. o 4. The first American writer of imaginative literature to have his works characterized as classic literature and gain international fame.o 5.The first great pro

12、se stylist of American romanticism. It was him who introduced the familiar essay from Europe to America. o 6. Author of the first great American juvenile literature o 7. Among the first of the modern men of letters to write history and biography as literary entertainmento 8. His works on western adv

13、entures broke new trails in American literature.o 9. He restored the waning Gothic romanceso 10. His humor, which gave an impetus to the growth and popularity of American indigenous（本土的） humor was always well-meaning, mild and prone to be accepted. And he was the only American writer of his generati

14、on who could chide（斥责） the British in an atmosphere of good humor.o 11. The scope of his life and writing was international, and his best-known stories awakened an interest in the life of America. o 12. His genial（亲切的，适宜的） writing also improved the feeling of American toward the British. o Two impor

15、tant phases in his literary career: 1809-1832; 1832 deathWorkso A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty by Diedrich Knickerbocker (1809): a classic of humoro The Sketch Book (of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.) (1819-1820) The first book by an American writer to

16、achieve international success. “Rip Van Winkle” (based on a German folktale, set in the Dutch culture of Pre-Revolutionary War in New York State); “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (subtitle: Found Among the Papers of the Late Diedrick Knickerbocker)o Bracebridge Hall (1822) o A Tour on the Prairies (18

17、35)o Oliver Goldsmith (1840) o Life of George Washington (1855-1859) Styleo “American Goldsmith”o neoclassical tradition imitative; sentimental; avoid moralizing; good at enveloping his stories in an atmosphere; vivid and true-to-life character depiction; simplicity; lucidity; discursive, leisurely

18、and graceful presentation; careful phrases and cadences; humoro Rip Van Winkleo “Rip Van Winkle” is based on German folktales that Irving learned about through a lifetime of reading and years of travel in Europe. o One of his goals was to give the United States, a new country, some of the same feeli

19、ng of tradition that older nations had because of their traditional lore. o In a humorous context, “Rip Van Winkle” deals with issues of politics, as he shows how the American Revolution changed one small village, and gender issues, as he shows the comical relationship between a lazy husband and a b

20、ad-tempered wife.o A miraculous story about the unsuccessful love affair of Ichabod Crane, a country teacher, which is combined with the legend of a headless horseman.o James Fenimore Cooper2. James Fenimore Cooper(1789-1851) o A prolific writer: more than thirty novels o A social critic conservativ

21、eo The Pioneer of American sea novel; American frontier adventure tales; American espionage story; American sociopolitical novelo “American Scott”WorksoPrecaution (1820) oThe Spy (1821): about the American Revolution, an espionage story, the beginning of historical novels in American literature oThe

22、 Pilot (1824): a sea romanceoLeatherstocking Tales: frontier storiesnThe Pioneers 1823 4nThe Last of the Mohicans 1826 2nThe Prairie 1827 5nThe Pathfinder 1840 3nThe Deerslayer 1841 1Themeso wildness vs civilization; freedom vs law; order vs change; aristocratic vs democrat; natural rights vs legal

23、rightso The Pioneers was probably the first true romance of the frontier in American literature. o Natty Bumppo: a veritable embodiment of human virtues, such as innocence, simplicity, honesty, generosity, purity, endurance, a perfect sense of good and evil and right and wrong. o An isolated and sel

24、fless stoic; an epic heroo He represents the ideal American, who lives a virtuous and free life in Gods world. o Chingachgook, Hawkeyes Indian companion, was Coopers conception of the natural man, or “noble savage”, shows native intelligence, loyalty, and brotherly love, and is not spoiled by civili

25、zation. o The wildness is good, pure, perfect, where there is freedom not tainted and fettered by any forms of human institutions.Imitativeo Modeled on English and European works Foreign influences added incentive to the growth of romanticism in America.Imitativeo Themes: home; family and children;

26、nature and idealized love; historical romance; description of landscape; cult of solitude and gloom; Gothic tradition; love, passion and desireo Language: British English; stereotyped rhetoric (metaphors and explicit and superficial symbolism)o Poetic Techniques: traditional meters and stanza formsIndependento Novels, short stories, and poems replaced sermons and manifestos as Americas principal literary forms.o Imaginative literature became intense, personal, and symbolic.I