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AHistoryofAmericanLiteratureLecturer:EnglishDepartmentBeijingInternationalStudiesUniversityCourseOrientationvAgeneralinquiry:whatdoyouknowaboutAmericanlit.?vContentsoflectureshistoricalbackgroundmajorwritersandselectedreadings(mainconcern)vTextbookvAssessmentClassperformance(attendance,presentationsandtests)40%Afinalexam60%vNote:Ifthestudentisfivetimesabsentfromclass,nogradewillbesubmittedtohim.Major stages of American Literature1.TheColonialandRevolutionaryPeriod:1607-18002.TheRomanticPeriod:1800-18603.TheRealisticPeriod:1860-19104.TheModernPeriod:1914-19455.ThePeriodofPluralism:1945-thepresentProgressionofthecoursevWeek1:OrientationandTheColonialPeriodvWeek2:AmericanRomanticism:GeneralSurvey(Poe)vWeek3:AmericanRomanticism:Hawthorne&MelvillevWeek4:AmericanRomanticism:Whitman&EmilyDickinsonvWeek5NationalDayvWeek6:AmericanRealism:GeneralSurvey,Howells&vHenryJamesvWeek7:AmericanRealism:Localcolorism,MarkTwainvWeek8:AmericanNaturalism:GeneralSurveyvWeek9:AmericanNaturalism:TheodoreDreiserWeek10:GeneralSurvey,Modernismin20thCentury:Imagism,EzraPoundvWeek11:Modernism:Poetry,T.S.EliotvWeek12:Modernism:NoveltheLostGeneration:FrancisvScottFitzgerald&EarnestHemingwayvWeek13:Modernism:NovelWilliamFaulknervWeek14:Modernism:Novelthethirties:DosPassosv&SteinbeckvWeek15:AmericanDrama:EugeneONeillvWeek16:MultiethnicLiterature:BlackLiteratureRalphvEllisonvWeek17:MultiethnicLiterature:JewishLiteratureSoulvBellowvWeek18:GeneralReviewQuestionWhat is the origin of Western cultureandliterature?vTheancientGreekculturevHebrewculturevGreekCulture:v1.GreekandRomanMythologyv2.Epic:a poem that celebrates in the form of acontinuous narrative theachievements ofoneormore heroic personages of history or tradition.Homerepics:Iliad Odysseyv3.Drama(tragedyandcomedy),v4.Oraltraditionstory-tellingHebrewculture:TheHolyBibleInfluence:Themes:theGardenofEden,OriginalSinandsalvationAllusions:JudahsKiss,NoahsArk,thelastsupperStoryPatterns:theflood,theExodusImages:fire,waterStyle:Comparethefollowingparagraphs:AndAdamknewEvehiswife;andsheconceived,andbareCain,andsaid,IhavegottenamanfromtheLORD.And she again bare his brother Abel.And Abel was akeeperofsheep,butCainwasatilleroftheground.Andinprocessoftimeitcametopass,thatCainbroughtofthefruitofthegroundanofferinguntotheLORD.AndAbel,healso brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fatthereof.AndtheLORDhadrespectuntotoAbelandtohisoffering;But unto Cain and to his offering he had notrespect.And Cain was very wroth,and his countenancefell.(Genesis)Andnowthegreatownerandthecompaniesinventedanew method.A great owner bought a cannery.Andwhenthepeachesandthepearwereripehecuttheprice of the fruit below the cost of raising it.And ascanneryownerhepaidhimselfalowpriceforthefruitand kept the price of canned goods up and took hisprofit.And the little farmers who owned no cannerieslost their farms,and they were taken by the greatowners,thebanks,andthecompanieswhoalsoownedcanneries.Astimeswenton,therewerefewerfarms.The little farmers moved into town for a while andexhausted their credit,exhausted their friends,theirrelatives.Andthentheytoowentonthehighways.Andtheroadswerecrowdedwithmenravenousforwork,murderousforwork.(The Grapes of Wrath)The stylevDiction:simpleandconcisevSyntax:simpleandshortsentencevParallelvTheuseof“and”vWhat are the Classics of Chinese culturevSi Shu(四书四书)vThe Great Learning 大学大学vThe Doctrine of the Mean 中庸中庸vThe Analects of Confucius 论语论语vMencius 孟子孟子五经：TheFiveClassics:TheBookofSongs诗经TheBookofHistory书经TheBookofChanges易经TheBookofRites礼记TheSpringandAutumnAnnals春秋vThephilosophicalfoundation:vConfucianismvBuddhismvTaoismTheColonialandRevolutionaryPeriod:1608-18001.TheColonialPeriod:1608-17502.TheRevolutionaryPeriod:1750-1800Historical Background:The Colonization of North AmericavIndiansofNorthAmericav1492,ChristopherColumbusvMigrationfromEuropev1607,morethan120BritishmenfoundedthefirstEnglishColony,JamestowninVirginiav1620,“MayFlower”,Puritans,PlymouthcolonyinNewEnglandv1630,MassachusettsBaycolonyvThirteenEnglishcolonies(1607-1733)v13EnglishColoniesvMayflower(imitation),27meterslongv102peopleaboardv66daysatseaFeatures of PuritanismnPurificationofthechurchnCalvinism(JohnCalvin,1509-1564,Frenchprotestantreformer)EmphasisofPredestination“预定论”vTotaldepravity(OriginalSin)彻底的堕落(因原罪而起）vUnconditionalelectionLimitedatonement有限的赎罪Influence of PuritanismvIntoleranceandbigotryinreligion,austerityandrigidityoftaste,asceticism,killjoywayoflife(Theword“Puritan”isusedtorefertodenoteastrictnessinmorality.)vHardwork,thrift,pietyandsobrietyhighlycherishedvPositiveinfluenceonnationalcharacter,onliteratureandonculture.(p.14-15)vpopular image of Puritans:ateetotaler绝不沾酒,gaunt骨瘦如柴,lank-haired头发平直,wearingablacksteeplehat尖顶帽Overview of the Literary ScenevGenre(personal literature)diaries,histories,journals,letters,travelbooks,autobiographies/biographies,sermonsvTheme Idealism&pragmatism:God or colonialexpansion,politics,ideasofEnlightenmentandrevolution,advocacyofindependenceanddemocracyvForm imitated and transplanted English literarytraditionsvFeatures proudsenseofmission,emphasisondidacticrole,richinreligiouscolor,notprofessional,highlypolitical,largelyderivativeanddependentColonial LiteraturevEarly American writers:CaptainJohnSmith(Jamestown)WilliamBradford(Plymouth)JohnWinthrop(MassachusettsBay)vEarly poets:AnneBradstreetEdwardTaylorAnne Bradstreet(1612 1672)安妮安妮布雷兹特里特布雷兹特里特vFirstfamouspoetinNorthAmerica,knownasthe“TenthMuse”vMajorworks:The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America(1650)最近在美洲出现的第十位缪斯 the first collection of poems in North America.Contemplations沉思录Literature in the Age of Reason and Revolution(17501810)HistoricalBackgroundv1.War of Independencev2.Enlightenment(science,order,reason;deism自然神论;JeanJaquesRouseau,Social Contract社会契约论,)OverviewoftheLiteraryScenev1.Genre:prose,novel,poetry,dramav2.Content:justificationofWar;encouragepeople;civilandreligiousfreedom;Americanmaterialv3.Form:imitation,began to seek for literaryindependencev4.Features:17501780,distinctpoliticalnature；17801800,seekforculturalindependenceMajor Thinkers and WritersThomasJefferson:v“DeclarationofIndependence”ThomasPaine:v“CommonSense”,“TheAmericanCrisis”BenjaminFranklin:v“PoorRichardsAlmanac”,“Autobiography”PhilipFreneau:v“TheWildHoneysuckle”(p.23),“TheIndianBuryingGround”JonathanEdwards:religious,aministervMajor works of Jeffersonv1.Declaration of Independence,1776-“Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatall men are created equal,that they areendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienable Rights,that among these are Life,LibertyandpursuitofHappiness.”2.Notes on the State of Virginia 弗吉尼亚笔记 backv托马斯潘恩（17371809）most influential thinker and writer in the War of Independence vMajorworksCommon Sense 常识The American Crisis 美洲危机（“The Times that Try Mens Souls”考验人的灵魂的时代)The Rights of Man(1791 1792)人的权利 The Age of Reason 理性的时代backBenjamin Franklin(1706-1790)vStatesman,essayist,orator,philosopher,ambassador,scientist,inventor,publisherv“masterofeachandmasteredbynone”HermanMelvillevOneoftheFoundingFathersofAmericavSymbolofAmericaintheAgeofEnlightenmentTheonlyAmericantosignthefourdocumentsthatcreatedtheUnitedStates:vtheDeclarationofIndependencevthetreatyofalliancewithFrancevthetreatyofpeacewithEnglandvtheconstitutionThesymbolofAmericanDream,aself-mademanHisMajorWorks(1)vPoor Richards Almanac(1732)格言历书 poemsandessaysagoodmanyadagesandcommonsensewitticismsHisMajorWorks(2)vAutobiography(1868)thesimpleyetimmenselyfascinatingrecordofamanrisingtowealthandfamefromastateofpovertyandobscuritythefaithfulaccountofthecolorfulcareerofAmericansfirstself-mademan.aPuritandocument(self-examinationandself-improvement;illustrationofPuritanethics)astoryofthefulfillmentofAmericandream.vGeneral Characteristics:vAsanauthor,Franklinisbestknownforhisphilosophyofthepracticalandtheuseful.Franklinsenergieswerebenttowardimprovingtheconditionsofthismundaneexistence.vStyle:vSimple,easy,naturalwayofrelatingeventsvSimplicity,practicality,suggestiveness,commonsense,werehisleadingattributes.SupplementaryreadingColonizationofAmericaTwo important New England SettlementsThe Plymouth ColonyFlagship Mayflower arrives-1620Leader-William BradfordSettlers known as Pilgrims The Mayflower Compact provides forsocial,religious,and economic freedom,while still maintaining ties to Great Britain.The Massachusetts Bay ColonyFlagship Arbella arrives-1630Leader-John WinthropSettlers are mostly Puritans The Arbella Covenant clearly establishesa religious settlement,free of ties to Great Britain.ColonialProseWritersJohnSmith(1580-1631)约约翰翰史史密密斯斯,the first American writer A true Relation of Virginia(1608)关于弗吉尼亚的真实叙述A Description of New England（1616)新英格兰概述WilliamBradford(1590-1657),威威廉廉布布拉拉福福德德，“Father of American History”.Of Plymouth Plantation 普利茅斯种植园史JohnWinthrop(1588-1649),约翰温斯罗普The History of New England新英格兰史Thirteen virtues from The Autobiography(1)1.Temperance节制.Eatnottodullness;drinknottoelevation.2.Silence沉默.Speaknotbutwhatmaybenefitothersoryourself;avoidtriflingconversation.3.Order秩 序.Let all your things have theirplaces;let each part of your business have itstime.4.Resolution决心.Resolvetoperformwhatyouought;performwithoutfailwhatyouresolve.ThirteenvirtuesfromThe Autobiography(2)5.Frugality节俭.Makenoexpensebuttodogoodtoothersoryourself,i.e.,wastenothing.6.Industry勤奋.Losenotime;bealwaysemployedinsomethinguseful;cutoffallunnecessaryactions.7.Sincerity诚 实.Use no harmful deceit;thinkinnocently and justly,and,if you speak,speakaccordingly.8.Justice公正.Wrong none by doing injuries,oromittingthebenefitsthatareyourduty.Thirteen virtues from Thirteen virtues from The Autobiography The Autobiography(3)(3)9.Moderation适度.Avoidextremes;forbearresentinginjuriessomuchasyouthinktheydeserve.10.Cleanliness清洁.Toleratenouncleanlinessinbody,clothes,orhabitation.11.Tranquility宁静.Be not disturbed at trifles,or ataccidentscommonorunavoidable.12.Chastity贞贞洁洁.Rarelyusevenerybutforhealthoroffspring,nevertodullness,weakness,ortheinjuryofourownoranotherspeaceorreputation.13.Humility谦虚谦虚.ImitateJesusandSocrates.Autobiography:A story that a person writes about his or her own life is called an autobiography.Autobiographies are written in first-person point of view,and biographies in third-person point of view.First-person narration makes readers feel that the writer is talking directly to them and gives more of the writers personal ideas and feelings than a third-person narration.QuestionHow does theAutobiography reflectthespiritofPuritanism?Please make a brief comment onthestyleofit.The Style of Puritan Writing1.Protestant-against ornateness;reverence for the Bible.ThePuritanschosetheBibleastheguidebooktotheirPromisedLand.2.Puritan writing reflected the character and scope of the reading public,which was literate and well-grounded in religion.
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