美國文學(xué)史及選讀上冊 復(fù)習(xí)筆記

1、美國文學(xué)史及選讀復(fù)習(xí)筆記整理 by DaisyPart one. The literature of colonial AmericaI. Introduction of American literature1. Definition of American LiteratureLiterature produced in American English by American citizens 2. Basic Qualities of American Writers 1) Independent A. no close hold; free from its control B. a

2、n independent action C. free-lance writer 自由作家 D. their independence and their right to make up their own minds2) Individualistic A. their own efforts for success B. the initiative; not give in easily C. free from political prejudice and ideological conformity D. their literary career; successful th

3、rough their individual efforts E. the rights of individuals; their own rights and interest F. a means of self-expression; a way of expressing their personal views about life and society, of advocating liberty, democracy and independent action of the individual. G. a devotion to self-realization, to

4、protection of environment and to suspicion of a mass society and power 3) Critical A. not satisfied with the contemporary society B. question the prevailing values C. discern flaws in society D. criticize American society E. a literary tradition in America4) Innovative A. the least restraints and bo

5、ndage to the past B. the new ideas, new attitudes, and new cultural faces C. experiments in writing D. different from others as much as possible; a new trend almost every ten years E. Americas changing values 5) Humorous A. a strictly national characteristic; part of their life, their character, and

6、 their style B. the ludicrous and mirthful C. enrich American literature with humor of all kindsII. Native American Literature1. Background 1) A rich store of oral literature 2) Different literary taste 2. Three stages of development 1) Traditional Indian Literature A. the category of oral literatur

7、e B. a regularity of metric pattern C. an organic part of everyday life D. functional2) Transitional Indian Literature A. translations of the great Indian orators; memoirs of the Indian experience B. related by Indians to white audiences. 3) Modern Indian Literature A. novels, short stories, and poe

8、try B. more good Indian poets than fiction writers C. both their rich heritage and their tragic loss of identity III. Literature of Colonial Settlements 1. Background 1) Neither American nor really literature not American: the work mainly of immigrants from England not literature: an interesting mix

9、ture of travel accounts and religious writings 2) The austere 簡樸的Pilgrims to reform the Church of England2. Puritanism 1) The New England settlements: A. religious controversy B. an urge for religious freedom and determination C. fleeing from religious and political oppression and persecution D. hum

10、an thirst for greater economic opportunity, for land, and for adventure 2) Puritans -to “purify” the religious practice in the church 3) Their own religious and moral principles American Puritanism one of the enduring influences in American thought and American literature.4) Predestination, original

11、 sin, total depravity, and limited atonement 補償from Gods grace 5) Their way of life hard work, thrift, piety, and sobriety 3. Literature (In the colonial period, much of the literature was produced by Puritan writers.) 1) A literary expression of the Puritan idealism The Puritan optimism enormous im

12、pact on American literature 2) A literature of discovery The potentialities of the New World; The harsh reality. 3) The types of writing produced in the colonial settlements histories, travel accounts, biographies, diaries, letters, autobiographies, sermons and poems 4) The purpose of writing to rec

13、ord their experiences and to express their views and feelings 5) Writers in this period include William Bradford(1590-1657)，John Winthrop(1588-1631), Ann Bradstreet(1612-1672), one of the most interesting of the early poetsEdward Taylor(1642-1729). the best of the Puritan poets.A and E: They can be

14、called servants of God. Their writings served either God or colonial expansion. Some other colonial writers wrote for civil and religious freedom, and some wrote for America shaking off the fetters of the savage British colonial rule.4. Characteristics 1) utilitarian功利主義的, polemical好爭論的, or didactic

15、說教的 2) teach some kind of lesson 3) served either God or colonial expansion or both 4) a practical consideration of the sort impression each writer wanted to make upon a selected group of readers 5) symbolism as a technique 6) plainness 7) fresh, simple, direct, and with a touch of nobility 8) as mu

16、ch a product of continuities as an indigenous creation補充American PuritanismAmerican Puritanism is one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature.The term “puritan” was first applied to those Protestant reformers who rejected Queen Elizabeths religious settlem

17、ents of 1560 because they were determined to “purify” their religion.Puritan Beliefs Two covenants:1. the agreement made between God and Adam “original sin”(原罪）2. the agreement made between God and Abraham “grace”（恩典）The Puritans believed that they were descendents of Abraham: they were the “elect g

18、roup” redeemed by the suffering of Jesus Christ and chosen to receive Gods “grace”.1. Origin of PuritanIn the mediaeval Europe, there was widespread religious revolution. In the 16th C, the English King Henry VIII, at that time, the Catholics were not allowed to divorce unless they have the Popes pe

19、rmission. Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife because she couldnt bear him a son. But the Pope didnt allow him to divorce because his wife is the Popes niece. Henry VIII became very dissatisfied with the Pope, so he broke away from the Roman Catholic Church & established the Church of England.

20、 But there was no radical徹底地 difference between the doctrines of the Church of England and the Catholic Church. A group of people thought the Church of England was too Catholic and wanted to purify the church. Then came the name Puritans Of course they had different religious belief from that of the

21、 Catholic Church.2. Puritanism-based on Calvinism1)predestination: Gods electPuritans believed they are predestined before they were born.Nothing or no good work can change their fate. They believed the success of ones business is the sign to show he is the Gods elect. So the Puritans works very har

22、d, spend very little and invest more for the future business. They lived a very frugal life. This is their ethics.2)original sin and total depravityMan is born sinful. This determines some puritans pessimistic attitude toward life.3)limited atonement (the salvation of a selected few)4)theocracyThey

23、combined state with religion. Their government is at least not a liberal one.The Puritans established Am tradition-intolerant moralism. They strictly punished drunks, adultery & heretics.Puritans changed gradually due to the severity of frontier environment.Puritanism & ConfucianismConfucian

24、ism (修身 齊家 治國 平天下) )3. Influence on Am literature1)its optimismAmerican literature was from the outset conditioned by the Puritan heritage. It can be said American literature is bases on the Biblical myth of the Garden of Eden.(Adam and Eve used to live a carefree life in the Garden of Eden. lured b

25、y the snake, they ate the Forbidden Fruit in the apple tree. A peice of apple choked in Adams throat , then came Adams apple. After knowing the truth, God became very angry and drove them all out of the Garden of Eden. The snake used to walk like man but after that the God force him to crawl. Then m

26、an was forced to suffer the labor to keep the whole family and Woman was forced to suffer the agony of baby bearing.) After that, man have an illusion to restore the paradise. The puritans, after arriving at America, believeing that God must have sent them to this new land to restore the lost paradi

27、se , to build the wilderness into a new Garden of Eden. Fired with such a strong sense of mission, they treated life with a tremendous amount of optimism. The optimistic Puritans has exerted a great influence on American literature,2)Puritans metaphorical mode of perception changed gradually into a

28、literary symbolism問題American colonial literature is neither real literature nor Americanwhy?1.Diaries,histories,journals,letters,etc. personal literature in various forms2.Colonial Literature is mainly English literature tradition imitated & transplanted.Part two. The Literature of Reason and Re

29、volution.Background 1. The American War for Independence 1775-1783 The formation of a Federative bourgeois democratic republic: the United States of America2. Enlightenment A) The spiritual life in the colonies during the period was to a great degree molded by the bourgeois Enlightenment.(PS. The Ag

30、e of Enlightenment, or simply The Enlightenment, is a term used to describe a time in Western philosophy and cultural life, centered upon the eighteenth century, in which reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority.)(1) Originated in Europe in the 17th century; Center of

31、Enlightenment: France(2) Sources: Newtons theory; deism（自然神教派); French philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire) (3) Basic principles: Stressing education; stressing Reason (Order) (The age has been called the Age of Reason.); employing Reason to reconsider the traditions and social realities; concerns for ci

32、vil rights, such as equality and social justice; the idea of progress.(4)Representatives: 孟德斯鳩(Montesquieu, 16891755) Spirit Law division of power 三權(quán)分立伏爾泰(Voltaire,16941778) Philosophical(哲學(xué)通信）、思想：natural freedom and equality人生而自由平等狄德羅(Diderot, 1713-1784)讓·雅各·盧梭(Jean-Jacques Rousseau,17121

33、778) Social Contract 康德(Kant, 1724-1804)霍布斯(Hobbs, 1588-1679)洛克(John Locke, 1632-1704)B) At the initial period the spread of the ideas of the Enlightenment was largely due to journalism. All the leaders of the revolution were influenced by the Enlightenment; Representatives: Benjamin Franklin, Thoma

34、s Paine, Thomas Jefferson, etc.The representatives of the Enlightenment set themselves the task of disseminating knowledge among the people and advocating revolutionary ideas. They also actively participated in the War for Independence.C) The new nation was set on the basic ideas and principles of t

35、he Enlightenment. Influence of the Enlightenment (1) American Enlightenment dealt a decisive blow upon the Puritan traditions and brought to life secular education and literature.(2) The secular ideals of the American Enlightenment were exemplified in the life and career of Benjamin Franklin. Litera

36、tureLiterature in the period of American Revolution was predominately public utilitarian1. Call for Americas independence in literatureIn 1783, Noah Webster declared, “America must be as independent as she is in politics, as famous for the arts as for arms”. Yet throughout the century American liter

37、ature was largely patterned on the writing of 18th century Englishmen. 2. Literary achievements: great political pamphleteering and state papers Essayists and journalists had shaped the nations beliefs with reason dressed in clear and forceful prose. 3. Representative worksThomas Jefferson: Declarat

38、ion of IndependenceThomas Paine: The American Crisis; Rights of Man; The FederalistBenjamin Franklin: Poor Richards Almanac; The AutobiographyBenjamin Franklin (1706-1790)- a jack of all tradesA patriot, diplomat, author, printer, scientist, and inventor in the eighteenth century; One of the Foundin

39、g Fathers of the United States.An embodiment of the “American Dream”1. His life Born in a poor candle makers family in Boston and had no regular education;Became an apprentice to a printer when he was 12;An editor of a newspaper and published lots of essays when he was 16;He went to Philadelphia whe

40、n he was 17 and became a successful printer and publisher;Found the Junto, a club for informal discussion of scientific, economic and political ideas;Established Americas first circulating library;Founded the college University of Pennsylvania; Retired when he was 42.【successful in business, renowne

41、d in science, national affairs (politics) writer (literature): power of expression, simplicity, a subtle humor, sarcastic】2. Representative works As an author he had power of expression. His works are well-known for their simplicity, subtle humor and being sarcastic. (1) Poor Richards AlmanacModeled

42、 on farmers annual calendar; kept publishing for many years; includes many classical sayings, such as:“A penny saved is a penny earned.” “A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.”“God help them that help themselves.” “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealth

43、y, and wise.”(2) The Autobiography written when he was 65; an introduction of his life to his own son; including four parts written in different times; the first success story of self-made Americans.In The Autobiography we will be able to notice:1) Puritanisms influence, such as self-examination and

44、 self-improvement (timetable, thirteen virtues, life style) 2) Enlightenment spirits (mans nature is good, rights of liberty, virtues include “order”)3. His style: simple, clear in order, direct, concise and humorous (“Nothing should be expressed in two words that can as well be expressed in one.”)

45、(Puritanisms influence);First of its kind in literature and set the autobiography as a genre;Popular, still well-read today4. His influence-His values and style influenced lots of AmericansHe was the only American to sign the four documents that created the United States: the Declaration of Independ

46、ence, the treaty of alliance with France, the treaty of peace with England, and the constitution.“His shadow lies heavier than any other mans on this young nation.”“The new Prometheus who had stolen fire electricity in this case from heaven”Kant(康德) He was a printer, postmaster, almanac maker, essay

47、ist, scientist, orator, statesman, philosopher, political economist, ambassador “Jack of all trades, master of each and mastered by nonethe type and genius of his land” Herman MelvilleThomas Paine (1737-1809)- Great Commoner of MankindRevolutionary War patriot and pamphleteer, Born in Thetford, Engl

48、and. Paine immigrated in 1774 to Pennsylvania, where he gravitated toward those who supported colonial independence.1. Paine's pamphlet Common Sense appeared in January 1776 and caused an immediate sensation. In it, Paine both supported American independence and attacked the corruption of the Br

49、itish hereditary (世襲的) monarchy. He fought in the Revolutionary War and continued to publish, including his 1776 essay The American Crisis.2. Major works (1).The Case of the Officers of the Excise (1772) - His first pamphlet, a petition to Parliament for a living wage for the excise collectors(2). C

50、ommon Sense (1776) - signed simply “By an Englishman”, to urge the colonies to declare independence; Pain became forthwith the most articulate spokesman of the American Revolution.(3). The American Crisis (1776-1783)-Paines chief contribution was a series of 16 pamphlets (1776-1783) entitled The Ame

51、rican Crisis and signed “Common Sense” which dealt directly with the military engagements to inspire the Continental Army.(4). The Rights of Man (1791 - 92)- an answer to Burkes Recent Reflections on the French Revolution, which not only championed Rousseaus doctrines of freedom, but also suggested

52、the overthrow of the British monarchy. Paine was indicted for treason and was forced to seek refuge in France.(5). The Age of Reason (1795)-a deistic treatise advocating a rationalistic view of religion.(6). Analysis of The American Crisis(17761783)-a series of pamphlets published in London from 177

53、61783 during the American Revolution. It decried British actions and Loyalists, offering support to the Patriot cause.Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826)1. His mind ranged curiously over many fields of knowledge-law, philosophy, government, architecture, education, religion, science, agriculture, mechanics

54、-and whatever he touched, he enriched in some measure.2. He was the third President of the United States (18011809), the principal author of The Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States.

55、 3. As a political philosopher, Jefferson was a man of the Enlightenment and knew many intellectual leaders in Britain and France.4. He is a humanist looked to merit and ability alone, not to privilege.5. Jefferson served as the wartime Governor of Virginia (17791781), first United States Secretary

56、of State (17891793) and second Vice President (17971801).6. A polymath (學(xué)識淵博的人), Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist (古生物學(xué)者), author, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia.Philip Morin Freneau (1752

57、-1832) -the most outstanding writer of the post-Revolutionary periodHe was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. Remembered as the poet of the American Revolution and the father of American poetry, he was a transitional figure in American literature.1. His political and satirical poems have value mainly for historians, but his place as the earliest important American lyric poet is secured by such poems as “The Wild Honeysuckle”, “The Indian Burying Ground”, and “Eutaw Springs”.2. His poems are Strongly lyrical; with clear imagery; neoclassical in form, and