美国文学1(复习资料)

ColonialPeriodI.HistoricalBackground:ThefirstpermanentEnglishsettlementinNorthAmericawasestablishedin1607.Thefirstsettlersadvocatedhighlyreligiousandmoralprinciples.TheycarriedwiththemtoAmericaacodeofvaluesandaphilosophyoflife-----Puritanism.1.Before17thc,Indians.A.variety:morethan2000tribes,500languagesB.Scarce.Oralform2.After17thc,colonies

A.1607,Jamestown,VirginiaB.1620,Plymouth,NewEnglandII.Literature:1.writings:narrativesandjournalsofthesesettlements2.writers:A.CaptainJohnSmith(thefirst)B.EdwardTaylor.(faithfuldiscipleoftheGod.)C.AnneBradstreet.

a.firstAmericanwomanpoetb.“TheTenthMuseLatelySprungUpinAmerica”c.“contemplations”d.content:religiousexperience;earlysettlers’lives;familylife

3.Americanliteraturehadcloserelationshipwithreligion.ThereweresuchnotedPuritanswhofirstlydescribedNewEnglandasapromisingvirginland.TheirwritingsaboutNorthAmericabecamethesourceofinformation,whicharousedtheattentionofmanypeopleinEnglandandEurope,anddrewthemovertothisNewWorld.III.Thought,Culture:

1.PuritanismisthereligiousbeliefsofPuritanswhocametoAmericaforthesakeofreligiousfreedom,andwishedtoescapereligiouspersecution.Theirwayoflifewasbasedonthedoctrines.PuritanvaluesdominatedliteratureincolonialAmerica,andgreatlyinfluencedthewholeA:purifythechurch3.Principles:a.predestinationb.originalsinc.totaldepravityd.limitedatonement4.Lifestyle:pious;austerityoftaste;diligence;thrift;rigidsenseofmorality;selfreliance

IV.InfluenceofpuritanismonLiterature1.Optimistic2.pessimistic3.symbolism4.style:simple;fresh;direct(Bible)

RevolutionaryPeriod

I.HistoricalBackground:Fromthemiddleofthe18thcenturytothebeginningofthe19thcentury,NorthAmericahadexperiencedgreatturbulenceandsocialchange.TheideasoftheEnlightenmentdealtaheavyblowtoPuritanism.2.economical:industrialgrowth3.political:TheWarforIndependence(1776-1783)4.cultural:Enlightenment-------Themixtureandalternationbetweentheoldandnew,wasthecharacteristicofthisperiod.II.LiteraryTrendcontent:utilitariantendency(politicalandeducationalpurpose)form:imitatingEnglishclassicalwritersIII.LiteraryFigures:

1.BenjaminFranklin.Hisideaswereexpressedthroughhistwofamousliteraryworks,PoorRichard’sAlmanacandAutobiography.(1)PoorRichard’sAlmanac----anannualcollectionofproverbs.(2)Autobiography----ahow-to-do-goodbook,andsetsautobiographyasaliterarygenreinAmericanliterature.（p90）(3)setsanexampleofAmericanDream2.ThomasPaine.(1)title:amostimportantrevolutionaryactivistandpoliticalwriterduringthewarofIndependence.(2)works:CommonSense;TheAmericanCrisis;TheRightsofMan3.ThomasJefferson.(1)“TheDeclarationofIndependence.”(p37)(2)thethirdpresidentoftheUnitedStates.4.PhilipFreneau.

野地里的忍冬(P45)1.美丽的花，你如此秀丽，

却藏身在这僻静沉闷的地方——

花儿开了，甜美却没人亲昵，

枝梢招展，亦无人观赏；

没有游来荡去的脚把你踩碎，

没有东攀西摘的手催你落泪。2.大自然把你打扮得一身洁白，

她叫你避开庸俗粗鄙的目光，

她布置下树荫把你护卫起来，

又让潺潺的柔波淌过你身旁；

你的夏天就这样静静地消逝，

这时候你日见萎蔫终将安息。3.那些难免消逝的美使我销魂，

想起你未来的结局我就心疼，

别的那些花儿也不比你幸运——

虽开放在伊甸园中也已凋零，

无情的寒霜再加秋风的威力，

会叫这花朵消失得一无踪迹。4.朝阳和晚露当初曾把你养育，

让你这小小的生命来到世上，

原来若乌有，就没什么可失去，

因为你的死让你同先前一样；

这来去之间不过是一个钟点——

这就是脆弱的花享有的天年。(1)title:thefirstimportantAmericanpoet,“FatherofAmericanpoetry.”(2)atransitionalfigurefromtheEnlightenmenttotheRomanticperiod.(3)Works:P.45TheWildHoneySuckleP.46TheIndianBuryingGround(4)features:lyricbeauty+heartfeltpathosRomanticismPeriodoneofthemostimportantperiodsinthehistoryofAmericanliterature,whichstretchesfromtheendofthe18thcenturythroughtheoutbreakoftheCivilWar(1861).I.Historicalbackground:ThisperiodsawarisingAmericawhichdeclareditspolitical,economicandculturalindependence.Suchasceneofprosperitycriedforliteraryexpression.TheotherincentivewastheinfluenceofEurope.Economy:fastdevelopment(immigrant;frontier;industrialization)--------optimisticmoodCulture:journalism(periodicals)--------moreliteraryproductionsareneededforeigninfluenceII.Features:

Althoughforeigninfluenceswerestrong,AmericanRmonfeatures,a,b,c,d(P55)2.“newness.”A.form,P.57.B.content,P.58.a.natureb.psychicstatesWashingtonIrving(1783-1859)

“thefatherofAmericanliterature.”I.TheSketchBook:

1.form:Itisthefirstcollectionofshortstories.2.significance:ItmarkedthebeginningofAmericanRomanticism.3.InTheSketchBook,themostfamousare:A.RipVanWinkle(defamiliarization;loveofoldworld’stradition)B.TheLegendofSleepyHollow(alightsatiricalnotiononpedantrismasrepresentedbytheprotagonist----Crane).II.Conclusion:1.Content:Irving’sstoriescarryastrongromanticsensibility,withaspecialinterestinremoteness,theGothicandsupernaturalelements.------romanticismincontent2.Style:humorous,familiar,gentleandgraceful------Classicisminform3.purpose:forfunandpleasure,notmoralizingJamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)

I.title:thefirstfrontiernovelist.thefirstwriterofseaadventures.

II.Works:1.CoopercreatedamythabouttheformativeperiodoftheAmericannation.TheworkthatestablishedhisfameinAmericanliteraturewasLeatherstockingTales.ItofferssomefictionalversionoftheAmericannationalexperienceofadventureintotheWest.TheimportanceofthefrontierandthewildernessinAmericanliteraturewasforthefirsttimewellillustrated.

2.structure:aseriesof5novelsaboutthefrontierlife3.significance:“thenearestapproachyettoanAmericanepic”4.Centralcharacter:NattyBumppo(honest;simple;innocent;generous)5.theme:thecontradictionbetweenmoderncivilizationandthewidenessAmericanromanticismculminatedaroundthe1840s,andithascometobeknownas“NewEnglandTranscendentalism”or“AmericanRenaissance”(1836--1855).TheleadingfigureinthisperiodwasRalphWaldoEmerson.RalphWaldoEmerson(1803--1882)I.Transcendentalism:Hisliterarywork“Nature”cameoutin1836.Thisbookwasamanifestoof“transcendentalism”,andmadeatremendousimpactontheintellectuallifeofAmerica.II.Features:①Itputsemphasisonspirit,orthe“Oversoul”

②Itstressedtheimportanceoftheindividual.③TranscendentalistsconsiderthatNaturewasnotpurelymatter.III．LiteraryWorks:1.Nature----“manifestoofNewEnglandTranscendentalism”2.TheAmericanScholar-----“OurintellectualDeclarationofIndependence.”3.TheDivinitySchoolAddress4.Self-Reliance

HenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862)

1.Thoreauwasafaithfuldisciple,astrictfollowerofEmerson.2.WaldenrecordshisexperimentinlivingatWaldenPond3.Content:hisunderstandingofnature;hismeditationonthemeaningoflife;hissocialcriticism.Waldenofferspeoplevariouslayersofinterpretations. WilliamCullenBryant(1794-1878)I.title:“WilliamWordsworthinAmerica”forerunnerofAmericanromanticpoetryII.works:1.Thanatopsis(1)title:“Ameditationupondeath”(2)theme:death

ItfollowsthetraditionoftheEnglish“graveyardschool”(3)Classicalform(thanatos-[Greek])(4)significance:Bryant’sbestknownpoemwiththethemeofdeathMakeabriefcommentonThanatopsis(120-123)2.ToaWaterfowlcomment:“thepeakofBryant’spoeticcreation.”“alyricpoemwithstrongspiritualintent”“themostperfectbriefpoeminthelanguage.”(2)

structure:8stanzas(3)

form:epistolary(4)“To”:

intimacy;affectionadmiration;persuasion;respect;awe

“waterfowl”:

bird;hope/life/joy;nature………III.Closereading(p124-125)content:naturehumanbeings(individual)Tone:melancholy(graveyardschool)Religion(notPuritanism)ClassicalformSimplelanguageHenryWadsworthLongfellow(1807-1882)I.title:themostinfluentialAmericanpoetofhistory.II.Works:1.

collectionsofpoetry:VoicesoftheNight

BalladsandOtherPoems

PoemsonSlavery2.poems:(1)APsalmofLife

----themostfamouspoeminVoicesoftheNight.P.253-255.(2)TheSlave’sDream

(3)MyLostYouth

(4)TheSongofHiawatha

III.Feature:romanticspirit+PuritanthoughtsNathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)WiththepublicationofTheScarletLetterin1850,NathanielHawthornebecamefamousasthegreatestwriterintheUnitedStates.Andhisreputationasamajorwriterhasbeenontheincreaseeversince.I.LifeExperience:1.NathanielHawthornewasbornonthefourthofJuly,1804,inSalem,Massachusetts.2.SalemWitchcraftTrialin1692.3.In1821,HawthornewenttoBowdoinCollege,wherehehadHenryWadsworthLongfellowasaclassmate.HealsodevelopedafriendshipwithFranklinPiercewhowastobecomethe14thpresidentoftheUnitedStates.From1825to1837,Hawthornelivedinsolitudeandseclusion.II.LiteraryCreation:1.Twice-ToldTales(1837)2.MossesfromanOldManse(1846)3.TheHouseoftheSevenGables(1851)4.TheBlithedaleRomance(1852)5.TheMarbleFaun(1860)III.TheScarletLetter:

1.plot:P.200-204.2.comment:TheScarletLettersuggeststhatAmericanRomanticismadapteditselftoAmericanPuritanmoralism.(didacticism)themoral,emotional,andpsychologicaleffectofthesinonthepeopleingeneral.3.Characterization:1)HesterPrynne.Herstrongcharactershowsthetensionbetweensocietyandsolitude.ItisnotapraiseofaHestersinning,butahymnonthemoralgrowthofthewomansinnedagainst.2)Thechangeof“A”inmeaningsymbolizeshermoraldevelopment.Atfirst,itisatokenofshame----“Adultery;”thenhergenuinesympathyandhelpchangesitinto“Able.”Later,“A”appearsinthesky,signifying“Angel.”3)Dimmesdale.Hebanisheshimselffromsociety.WhileHisabletoreconstructherlifeandwinamoralvictory,Dundergoesthetragicexperienceofphysicalandspiritualtorture.Hawthorneputsthesetwocharacterstogethertoillustratethat,thebestpolicyforamanistobetrue,honest,andeverreadytoshowone’sworsttotheoutsideworld.4)TherealvillainisRogerChillingworth.Thescholar,theembodimentofpureandintellect,commits“theUnpardonableSin”----theviolationofhumanheart.HekeepspreyingonDimmesdale’sconscienceuntilthepooristormentedtodeath.4.Symbolism:Hawthorne’ssymbolismmeritsparticularmention.A:Adultery---Able---Angel.Inaddition,thenamesofthecharactersaresymbolic,too.IV.TenorofHawthorne’sLiteraryCreation:Allhislife,Hawthorneseemstobehauntedbyhissenseofsinandevilinlife.Readinghistalesandromances,onemustbeoverwhelmedbythe“black”vision.HermanMelville(1819-1891)

I.IdeologyMelvillewasaheadofhisage.HewascriticalofEmerson’sviewoflife.(Transcendentalismwaspopularthen)MelvillewasawareofthedarknessandevilinAmericansociety.Thoughoblivioustohiscontemporaries,Melvillearousedmoreandmoreattentioninmodernsociety.II.MobyDick1.agreatepicromance,asuccessfulseaadventuresandahighlyphilosophicalallegoricalnovel.2.plot:P.219-2243.theme:A.MobyDick

representsMelville’sbleakviewoftheworld:Mancanneverovercomenature.Hemustplacehimselfatthemercyofnature.(aShakespeareantragedyofmanwhofightsagainstoverwhelmingforcesinanindifferentuniverse.)B.maninthisuniverselivesameaninglessandfutilelife.thisthemeisverypopularintheWestaftertheWorldWar.That’sthereasonwhyMelville’sworkwasrevaluedinthe20thcentury.C.Atragedyagainstexetremeindividualism

4.character:CaptainAhabisatragichero.Hecutshimselffromtheoutsideworld.HehatesMobyDick----embodimentofnature.Hebecomesadevilwhofulfilshisownrevengeattheexpenseofhislifeawellasthelivesofhiscrew.Histragedystemsfromextremeindividualism.5.symbolism:Ahab:fromtheBible,aKing,RevengeIshmael:fromtheBible,outcastAhab’sship:aworldinminiature.(Pequod)Thevoyage:ametaphorfor“searchanddiscovery.”MobyDick:themysteryoftheuniverse.EdgarAllanPoe(1809-1849)

I.LifeExperience:II.GothicNovel/Romance:astoryofterrorandsuspense,usuallysetinagloomyoldcastleormonastery,withacomparablysinisterandgrotesqueatmosphere.Gothicheroesandheroinestendtobeequallymysterious,withdarkhistoriesandsecretsoftheirown.Exaggerationandemotionallanguagearefrequentlyemployed.

III.LiteraryCreation:

Poeconcentratedonstrangeness,mystery,terror,insanityanddeath.Hewroteaboutpeopleburiedwhilealive;aboutdreamsthatbecometrue/realitythatseemslikeadream.1.TalesoftheGrotesqueandArabesque(1839)----acollectionofshortstories.“M.S.FoundinaBottle”;“TheTell-TaleHeart”;“BlackCat”;“TheCaskofAmontillado”;“Ligeia”;“TheFalloftheHouseofUsher”(hisbestone)2.Poems:A.“TheRaven”----best-knownpoem,apoeticexpressionofmelancholy.B.“ToHelen”----anawe-inspiringcelebrationofclassicbeauty.C.“AnnabelLee”----apoemabout“lostlove”/thedeathofabeautifullady.3.theme:BeautyandMelancholy/deathIV.P’stheoryaboutPoems:Thepoem,shouldbeshortandreadable.Itschiefaimisbeauty,namely,toproduceafeelingofbeautyinthereader.1.

“ToHelen”ItisoneofthemostfamousofPoe’slyrics.(P.128.)2.“TheRaven”ItisanothertestimonyofPoe’sliterarytendency.Here,asenseofmelancholyoverthedeathofabelovedbeautifulyoungladypervadesthewholepoem.Poe’spoemsareheavilytintedinadreamyandillusorycolor.V.TheFalloftheHouseofUsher:1.narrator-----”I”PoeplacesRoderick’sschoolfriendbesideshim,watchingandthencomingbacktoretelltheappallingprocessofthedissolution.WhatdrivesRoderickcrazyisnotimmediatelyclear.Itleavesforthereader’simagination.Here,theuseofthenarrator,givesreadersmorevividanddetaileddescriptions,andthusenhancestheeffectofhorror.2.feature----Poecombinestheoutsideworldwiththehero’sinnerworldperfectly.3.symbolism:Itsignifies“thedoomoftheisolatedconsciousness”----amoderntheme.VI.TwoSidesofPoe’sLiteraryCreation:theworldofimaginationandfancy;rationalhumanbeing,withanintuitivefacultyandasixthsense.

WaltWhitman(1819-1892)

I.W’sinfluenceovermodernpoetryisgreat.acatalogofAmericanandEuropeanthought.II.Life:5years’education;varietyofjobs;warIII.Works:1.LeavesofGrass----collectionofpoetrythatrepresentedthesummitofWhitman’spoeticcreationbothinthemeand