美国文学课件hawthorneandmelville

1、,Nathaniel Hawthorne(1804-1864)纳撒尼尔霍桑,Life Story,Hawthornes family history Hawthornes childhood Hawthornes college years Hawthornes reclusive years Hawthornes return to society,Family History,From a Puritan family His great-great-grandfather, William Hathorne was active in the persecution of Quakers

2、. His great-grandfather, John Hathorne, was the magistrate presiding over the trial of the accused witches of Salem (1692).,Childhood,Born July 4, 1804 in Salem, MA Father, a sea captain, died when Hawthorne was four years old A serene childhood Sent to Bowdoin College in Maine,College in Maine,Clas

3、smates included Franklin Pierce and Henry Longfellow Pierce- future President of the USA Longfellow- poet, educator, linguist Graduated in 1825,Reclusive Years in Salem,1825-1836 Lived in virtual solitude in Salem Gathered his writing material by observing and listening Harvest the richness of his b

4、ackground,Back into Society,“Human nature will not flourish any more than a potato, if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of generations, in the same worn-out soil.” Editor, customs officer and other political positions Became engaged to Sophia Peabody, married in 1842 Acquainted wit

5、h Emerson, Thoreau and Melville,Hawthornes Major Works,Two collections of short stories: Twice-told Tales 故事新编 Mosses from an Old Manse 古宅青苔,2) The Scarlet Letter 红字,masterpiece, which established him as the leading American native novelist of the 19th century,Hawthornes Major Works,3) The House of

6、the Seven Gables 七个尖角阁的房子 4) The Blithedale Romance 福谷传奇 5) The Marble Faun 大理石雕像 Short stories: Young Goodman Brown 小伙子古德曼布朗 The Ministers Black Veil 教长的黑面纱 The Birthmark 胎记,Hawthornes thought,Hawthorne is influenced by Puritanism deeply. He was not a Puritan himself, but he had Puritan ancestors w

7、ho played an important role in his life and works. “the wrong doing of one generation lives into the successive ones.” “I hereby take shame upon myself for their sakes, and pray that any curse incurred by them may be now and henceforth removed.” Melville : “霍桑描写黑暗的巨大力量，是由于受到加尔文派教义关于与生俱来的堕落与原罪思想的影响。没

8、有一位思想深邃的人能完全摆脱这种思想所发生的各种形式的影响。”,Hawthornes point of view,(1) Evil is at the core of human life.,Hawthorne,sense of sin and evil in life, “black” vision of life and human,is haunted,Evil exists in the human heart, human heart is the source of evil. Everyone possesses some evil secret. Evil is mans bi

9、rthmark.,a most disturbed and tormented one, discuses sin and evil in almost every book,literary world,rejects the Transcendentalist optimism,looks more deeply and more honestly into life, finding much suffering but circumstances may rouse it to activity,A piece of literary work should “show how we

10、are all wronged and wrongers, and avenge one another”,Writing features,He tends to explore the moral issues of sin and guilt and the consequences He has special interest in the psychological aspect of human beings He is a master of symbolism what is a symbol? Generally speaking, a symbol is somethin

11、g that is used to represent something other than itself. In literature, it is most often a concrete object which is used to represent something abstract, often a moral, religious or philosophical concept or value.,style typical romantic writer,a man of literary craftsmanship，extraordinary in,the use

12、 of symbol,revelation of characters psychology,the use of supernatural mixed with the actual,The symbol serves as a weapon to attack reality. It can be found everywhere in his writing,He is good at exploring the complexity of human psychology. There isnt much physical movement going on in his works,

13、1. In what century is the story of Hester Prynne set? (A) The 16th century (B) The 17th century (C) The 18th century (D) The 19th century B 2. What is situated immediately outside the door of the prison in which Hester is kept? (A) A rosebush (B) A pine tree (C) A gallows (D) A graveyard A,The Scarl

14、et Letter,The Scarlet Letter,3. How does Hester support herself financially? (A) As a prostitute (B) As a seamstress (C) As a nurse (D) As a farmhand B 4. Next to whom is Hester buried? (A) Dimmesdale (B) Chillingworth (C) Pearl (D) No one; her body is burned A,The Scarlet Letter,5. Why does Pearl n

15、ot recognize her mother when she sees her with Dimmesdale in the forest? (A) Hester has removed the scarlet letter. (B) Hester has removed her cap to expose her long hair. (C) Hester is not wearing her usual plain gray dress. (D) Mistress Hibbins has cast a spell on Hester, changing her appearance.

16、A,The Scarlet Letter,6. How does Pearl acknowledge Dimmesdale as her father at his death? (A) By calling him “father” (B) By interrupting his sermon (C) By kissing him (D) By announcing that she has seen him with her mother C,The Scarlet Letter,7. What color of clothing does Hester always wear? (A)

17、Scarlet (B) White (C) Black (D) Gray C 8. What does Chillingworth pretend to be? (A) A minister (B) A doctor (C) A madman (D) A scholar B,The Scarlet Letter,9. What does Hesters letter “A” eventually come to represent to the townspeople? (A) “Able” (B) “Alone” (C) “Avaricious” (D) “Absolutely Admira

18、ble” A,Major characters in The Scarlet Letter,Hester Prynne,Arthur Dimmesdale,Roger Chillingworth,daughter,lover,husband,heroine,Pearl,The Scarlet Letter,Setting of the story: Boston in the early days of the Massachusetts Colony a Puritan society during the 1640s Characters of the story: Hester Pryn

19、ne, Arthur Dimmesdale, ChIllingworth and Pearl,Scene of the public shame,Scene of public shame: 1. Why was Hester asked to stand on the scaffold? sin of adultery, show her shame and warn the public 2. How did she look like on the scaffold? Serenely and quietly 3. What did the ministers ask her to do

20、 and how did she respond? Name the man, but she refused 4. Who did she see when standing there? Chillington appeared as an elderly, almost deformed man,Scene of prison,What happened to Chillington after he sent Hester to Boston? his ship was wrecked and he remained a captive among the Indians What d

21、id Chillington want to do with the shame imposed on him? He asked for the name of the man He stated he would stay in Boston to practice medicine and devote the rest of life to discovering the truth,After imprisonment,How did Hester live with her litter girl Pearl? worn the scarlet letter isolated fr

22、om town people, needlework What happened between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale? intimately acquainted with each other and lived in the same house What did Hester ask Chillingworth to do with Dimmesdale? to have mercy on Dimmesdale and let go of his revenge on D What did Hester and Dimmesdale decide t

23、o do to get away from the evil influence of Chillingworth? they decided to leave the town together,Scene of church on election day: union of the three What did Dimmesdale do on election day? He delivered an inspiring speech; dreamlike walking; stood together with Hester and Pearl What was exposed af

24、ter he tore the ministrial band across his breast? A was imprinted on his chest,End of the story,Dimmesdale died on his admission of his sin Chillingworth died within the year, left his property to Pearl “became the richest heiress of her day” Hester left with Pearl and returned alone Pearl “but whe

25、re was little Pearl? If still alive, she must now have been in the flush and bloom of early womanhood” “Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy, and mindful of her mother”,Symbolism of The Scarlet Letter,Symbolism of scarlet letter “A” Adultery Alone and alienation Imprisonment After impris

26、onment Able, admirable and angel The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathize - that many people refuse to interpret the scarlet letter A by its original signification. Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is o

27、ur Hester the towns own Hester who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!,Symbolism of characters,HesterHestier (Zeuss sister) symbol of truth, beauty and goodness Arthur Dimmesdale Initials AD Dimdark and weak, dalevalley Symbol of the dark interior of the c

28、lergyman Pearl symbol of beauty: “There was fire in her and throughout her, she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment” symbol of value and treasure: “I must tarry at home, to keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into t

29、he forest, and signed my name in the Black Mans book too, and that with mine own blood”,Symbolism of characters,Chillingworth Chillingchilly: cold, heartless and bloodless Symbol of his worthless revenge “All his strength and energyall his vital and intellectual force seemed at once to desert him; i

30、nsomuch that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanied from mortal sight, like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun”,Consequences of sin,Sin of adultery Hester: shame, imprisonment, alienation from the society Dimmesdale: self punishment by whipping and fasting Sin of rev

31、enge: devoted to seeking revenge,Herman Melville 梅尔维尔 (18191891),Herman Melville,Did not receive recognition until the 1920s,“He has a very high and noble nature”,Herman Melville (1819-1891),Life story: born in 1819 in New York poor and not well-educated bank clerk, a farmer, a school teacher, sailo

32、r a whale ship is “my Yale College and my Harvard” friendship with Hawthorne unnoticed death in 1891,Melvilles Major Works,1) Typee 泰皮 2) Omoo 欧穆 3) Mardi 玛地 4) Redburn 雷得本 5) White Jacket 白外衣,from his adventures among the people of the South Pacific islands,an account of his voyage to England,The m

33、an who lived among cannibals,Melvilles Major Works,6) Pierre 皮埃尔 7) Billy Budd 比利巴德(a sign that he had resolved his quarrel with God) Clarel 克拉莱尔( a poem),Moby-Dick,The cornerstone of Melvilles modern fame A complete failure when published Characters Ishmael: sailor and narrator captain Ahab: Starbu

34、ck: shipmate, a religious man Stubb: the second mate, fatalist Flask: enjoys the thrill of killing Queequeg: Ishmeals native friend Fedallah: prophet,Moby-Dick story,1st part: before signing on board Ishmael: a former school master, sailor decided to sign on a whaling ship. Queegueg: a native Americ

35、an, a friend of Ishmaels,Moby-Dick story,Part II: life on board Pequod Starbuck, Stubb, Flask Captain Ahab: a leg made of whalebone a scar from head to foot obsessed with killing Moby Dick Monomaniac: obsessed with killing the whale Tragic hero: tremendous overconfidence,Moby-Dick story,Part II: lif

36、e on board Pequod encounters with other captains Captain 1: warned Ahab not to chase Moby Dick Captain 2: knew nothing about the whale Captain 3: his arm made of sperm whalebone; warned that it was almost impossible to chase Moby Dick,Moby-Dick story,Part II: life on board Pequod Fadallahs prophecy

37、and Queeguegs coffin Prophecy: 1) Ahab would die only after he saw two strange hearses carrying the dead: one not made by mortal hands, the other made of wood grown in America 2) Ahab would have no hearse or coffin for his own death Queeguegs coffin: used as a chest with some strange designs carved

38、on it,Moby-Dick story,Part III: the encounter with Moby Dick 1st day: the whale split the ship into pieces 2nd day: dashed three harpoons into his flanks, but the lines twisted and Fedallah was disappeared 3rd day: Fedallahs body was bound to Moby Dick; Moby Dick swam into Pequod and shattered it; A

39、hab died because rope coiled around his neck Ishmael survived because of the coffin,Moby-Dick,1. Which body part has Ahab lost to Moby Dick? (A) His leg (B) His arm (C) His eye (D) His fingers A,Moby-Dick,2. What is the name of Ahabs ship? (A) The Town-Ho (B) The Rachel (C) The Samuel Enderby (D) Th

40、e Pequod D,Moby-Dick,3. After what is Ahabs ship named? (A) Its owner (B) A vanished tribe of Native Americans (C) A species of whale (D) A biblical character B,Moby-Dick,4. For what were whales primarily hunted? (A) Oil (B) Skin (C) Meat (D) Fins B,Moby-Dick,5. What does Ahab nail to the ships mast

41、 to motivate his crew in his quest for Moby Dick? (A) A gold coin (B) A severed head (C) A drawing of Moby Dick (D) A pirate flag A,Moby-Dick,6. What keeps Ishmael afloat after the Pequod sinks? (A) A coffin (B) A barrel of oil (C) A lifeboat (D) A mattress A,Moby-Dick,7. What frightens Ishmael the

42、most about Moby Dick? (A) The whales size (B) The whales teeth (C) The whiteness of the whale (D) The sounds that the whale makes B,Moby-Dick,8. With what is the Pequod adorned? (A) Sperm whale teeth (B) American flags (C) Red paint (D) Whale fins A,Moby-Dick,9. From what is Ahabs false leg made? (A

43、) A whales jawbone (B) Wood (C) An elephants tusk (D) Leather A,Moby-Dick,10. How does the Pequod sink? (A) She is rammed by Moby Dick. (B) She is overloaded with oil. (C) She gets lost in a storm. (D) She is rammed by another ship. A,Moby-Dick,Hard to trace, to find and impossible to kill/destroy P

44、owerful, overwhelming Mysterious,Moby Dick,Language is difficult to understand: sailors talk; old-fashioned A story of fantasy and realism symbolism,Symbols in Moby Dick,The Pequod Moby Dick Ahab Queequegs Coffin,The Pequod,a symbol of doom,named after a Native American tribe in Massachusetts,did no

45、t long survive the arrival of white men (extincted),is painted gloomy black and covered in whale teeth and bones,the mementos of violent death,like a primitive coffin,the microcosm of human society,Moby Dick,is hidden all the time,mirrors its environment,unknown and unknowable truths,only the surfac

46、e of the ocean is available for human observation and interpretation,the depths conceal unknown truths,a metaphor for the human relationship with the Christain God: God is unkown and cannot be pinned down,inscrutable, mysterious,various symbolic meanings,to the Pequods crew,a concept onto which they

47、 can diplay their anxiety about dangerous and frightening jobs,to Ahab,a manifestation of all that is wrong with the world,It is his destiny to get rid of this symbolic evil,to the readers and critics,God: all powerful, dominant, but unknowable,truth: purpose of the crew,nature: complex, mysterious,

48、 unpredictable, beautiful,Queequegs Coffin,Queequegs coffin alternately symbolizes life and death. Queequeg has it built when he is seriously ill, but when he recovers, it becomes a chest to hold his belongings and an emblem of his will to live. He perpetuates the knowledge tattooed on his body by c

49、arving it onto the coffins lid. The coffin further comes to symbolize life when it replaces the Pequods life buoy. When the Pequod sinks, the coffin becomes Ishmaels buoy(浮标), saving not only his life but the life of the narrative that he will pass on.,The sea adventure,spiritual voyage of the mind

50、in quest of the truth and knowledge of the universe. Ones futile struggle with nature Ones overconfidence and his doomed destiny,Themes of Moby Dick,Melvilles bleak view (negative attitude): the sense of futility and meaninglessness of the world. His attitude to life is “Everlasting Nay” Man in this

51、 universe lives a meaningless and futile life, meaningless because futile. Man cannot overcome nature. Once he attempts to seek power over it he is doomed.,Themes of Moby Dick,Melvilles bleak view (negative attitude): the sense of futility and meaninglessness of the world. His attitude to life is “E

52、verlasting Nay” Man in this universe lives a meaningless and futile life, meaningless because futile. Man cannot overcome nature. Once he attempts to seek power over it he is doomed.,Themes of Moby Dick,the adventure of killing Moby Dick is meaningless. Ahab tries to control it, which leads to his doom.,the embodiment of nature,modern life,the loss of faith, the sense of futility,well expressed in Moby Dick,Themes of Moby Dick,2) alienation (far away from each other) exists between man and man, man and society, and man and nature.,Ahab cuts himself off from his family, stays