HenryJames美国文学作家

1、Henry James（1843-1916）A famous novelist and literary criticLife of Henry James Born in a wealthy family in New York to a philosopher and theologist father Brother William James a famous philosopher, psychologist, and founder of utilitarianism. Father encouraging children to familiarize themselves wi

2、th all kinds of thoughts and things, to make their own judgment, to cultivate independent thinking (inwardness)Life of Henry James Frequent tour to Europe learning Henry James with the long history and brilliant culture of Europe (known for his international topic, world citizen) Acquaintance with W

3、illiam Dean Howells in the 1860s and publishing short stories and articles on The Atlantic Monthly, North American ReviewLife of Henry James Acquaintance with Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, Gustave Flaubert, Guy de Maupassant, Emile Zola, and Adlai Ewing Stevenson Settling in London from 1875 on A Englis

4、h man in 1915 Death in 1916Periodization of Jamess Career The experimental period (1865-1881) Collection of creative materials and international subject Realistic, rich content Vivid characters Daisy Miller (1879) The Portrait of A Lady (1881) The American (1877)Periodization of Jamess Career The Se

5、cond period (1881-1895) More forms of art (novel, story, play) Subject matters other than international cultural conflict (social and political problems but conservative) (The Bostonians, 1886; The Princess Casamassima, 1886) Morality and good conscience of modern man (What Maisie Knew 1897) Art and

6、 life (The Tragic Muse, 1890)Periodization of Jamess Career The Third Period (1895-1916) International cultural themes but more emphasis on the harmony between cultures and between men Ambiguous attitude toward European and American culture (sophistication & hypocrisy & arrogance vs. vulgari

7、ty & simplicity & equality & kindness) The Wings of he Dove (1902) The Ambassadors (1903) The Golden Bowl (1904)Literary Contribution of James Literary criticism The Art of the Novel Terms: “theme” “technique” “narrative angle” “showing” (with the characters interior monologue) and “tell

8、ing.” Literary Contribution of James Novel Creation Theories Content more important than form A novelists peculiarity in creation Novelist like artist Art based on life, reflecting realistically life, but elevating life Morality, truth and beauty as the novelists concernLiterary Contribution of Jame

9、s Psychological Realism Novels faithful to life Plot not so important as the characterization, esp. their psychological activities Plot depending not on external events but the characters internal consciousness Forerunner of Stream of Consciousness novelLiterary Features of Henry James The cultural

10、conflict between Europe and America The psychological activities of character Upper class men and women, esp. children, women, artists and writers Fluid, orthodox, subtle, well-chosen language Integrity of form and content Dramatic effect Ambiguity in attitude towards many thingsNegativity of Henry

11、Jamess Novels Narrow, sometimes disgusting, psychological “realities” Extravagant and ambiguous beyond the limit (the cathedrals of frosted glass) James a snobbish aesthete Too autobiographical Ornamented languageThe Portrait of A Lady CharactersMr. and Mrs. TouchettRalph TouchettLord WarburtonCasper GoodwoodGilbert OsmondMadame MerleIsabel ArcherThe Portrait of A Lady Questions Who is the “lady”? What is the implied meaning of this word? W