Harriet Beecher Stowe and Alice Walker

1、Harriet Beecher StoweI Brief IntroductionII Historical Background III.Major WorksI . Brief Introduction of Harriet Beecher Stowe(1811-1896)an American abolitionist and author She wrote more than 20 books, including novels, three travel memoirs, and collections of articles and letters. She was influe

2、ntial both for her writings and her public stands on social issues of the day.II. Historical Background The Fugitive Slave Law or Fugitive Slave Act was passed by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850 between Southern slave-holding interests and Northern

3、 Free-Soilers. This was one of the most controversial acts of the 1850 compromise and heightened Northern fears of a slave power conspiracy. It declared that all runaway slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their masters. Abolitionists nicknamed it the Bloodhound Law for the dogs that were u

4、sed to track down runaway slaves. Lincoln declared, So this is the little lady who started this great war. the novel helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War, according to Will Kaufman.Uncle Toms Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century6 and the second best-selling book of that centur

5、y, following the Bible III. Major Works1. Uncle Toms Cabin1851汤姆叔叔的小屋汤姆叔叔的小屋 The Man That Was a Thing一个卑贱者的生活一个卑贱者的生活 2.A Key to Uncle Toms Cabin汤姆叔叔小屋题解汤姆叔叔小屋题解3. A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (1856)徳雷德，阴暗大沼池的故事3.1 Uncle Toms CabinAbbreviate the Story Uncle Toms Cabin is an anti-slavery novel in

6、 1852 by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe about a long-suffering black slave named Uncle Tom around whom the stories of other characters revolve with depiction of the reality of slavery while also asserting that Christian love can overcome something as destructive as enslavement of fellow human

7、 beings. Uncle Tom, the title character, was initially seen as a noble, long-suffering Christian slave. Uncle Tom is dutiful, long-suffering servant faithful to his white masters such as Mr. Shelby , St.Clare and Simon Legree under the direction of God, but he was flogged to death by Simon Legree be

8、cause of his help other slaves his name has become an epithet directed towards African-Americans who are accused of selling out to whites. Stowe intended Tom to be a noble hero26 and praiseworthy person. Throughout the book, far from allowing himself to be exploited, Tom stands up for his beliefs an

9、d is grudgingly admired even by his enemies.Abbreviate the Story Eliza is a slave and personal maid to Mrs. Shelby who escapes across the frozen Ohio River to the North with her five-year old son Harry in her arms after he is sold to Mr. Haley. Her husband, George, eventually finds Eliza and Harry i

10、n Ohio and emigrates with them to Canada and liberates herself 3.1 Uncle Toms CabinPlotThemeCharacterizationStyleSelected ReadingPlot 1. Eliza escapes with her son, Tom sold 1. Eliza escapes with her son, Tom sold down the river“down the river“ 2. Elizas family hunted, Toms life with 2. Elizas famil

11、y hunted, Toms life with St. ClareSt. Clare 3. Tom sold to Simon Legree3. Tom sold to Simon LegreeTheme 1. The evil and immorality of slavery 2. Discrimination Characterization 1. Uncle Tom 2. Eliza 3. Eva 4. Simon Legree 5. Arthur Shelby Style1. Uncle Toms Cabin is written in the sentimental and me

12、lodramatic( 夸张的）夸张的） style common to 19th century sentimantal novels(言情小说或情言情小说或情感小说感小说)Selected Reading An analysis of Toms CharactersAlice Malsenior Walker(爱丽丝沃克） born February 9, 1944) an American author, poet, and activist. fiction and essays about race and gender. The Color Purple (1982) (Natio

13、nal Book and the Pulitzer Prize)The Color Purple 1. The Color Purple is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker that won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. It was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name.Theme1. Racism and sexism Almost none of the abusers in the novel possess a stereotypical demon-like demeanor that could be dismissed as pure evil. The characters who perpetuate violence are themselves, victims, often of sexism, racism, or paternalism. In the novel, Harpo only beats Sofia after his fat