英美文學(xué)選讀復(fù)習(xí)要點(diǎn)浪漫主義

英美文學(xué)選讀》ChapterlTheRomanticPeriod第一章美國(guó)浪漫主義時(shí)期一、美國(guó)浪漫主義時(shí)期概述Ⅰ.本章學(xué)習(xí)目的和要求通過(guò)本章學(xué)習(xí),了解19世紀(jì)初期至中葉美國(guó)文學(xué)產(chǎn)生的歷史、文化背景;認(rèn)識(shí)該時(shí)期文學(xué)創(chuàng)作的基本待征、基本主張,及其對(duì)同時(shí)代和后期美國(guó)文學(xué)的影響;了解該時(shí)期主要作家的文學(xué)創(chuàng)作生涯、創(chuàng)作思想、藝術(shù)特色及其代表作品的主題思想、人物刻畫(huà)、語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格等;同時(shí)結(jié)合注釋,讀懂所選作品并了解其思想內(nèi)容和藝術(shù)特色,培養(yǎng)理解和欣賞文學(xué)作品的能力。Ⅱ.本章重點(diǎn)及難點(diǎn):1.浪漫主義時(shí)期美國(guó)文學(xué)的特點(diǎn)2.主要作家的創(chuàng)作思想、藝術(shù)特色及其代表作品的主題結(jié)構(gòu)、人物刻畫(huà)、語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格、思想意義。3.分析討論選讀作品Ⅲ.本章考核知識(shí)點(diǎn)和考核要求:1.美國(guó)浪漫主義時(shí)期概述(1."識(shí)記"內(nèi)容:美國(guó)浪漫主義文學(xué)產(chǎn)生的社會(huì)歷史及文化背景(2."領(lǐng)會(huì)"內(nèi)容:美國(guó)浪漫主義在文學(xué)上的表現(xiàn)a.歐洲浪漫主義文學(xué)的影響b.美國(guó)本土文學(xué)的崛起及其待證(3."應(yīng)用"內(nèi)容:清教主義、超驗(yàn)主義、象征主義、自由詩(shī)等名詞的解釋2.美國(guó)浪漫主義時(shí)期的主要作家A.華盛頓·歐文1.一般識(shí)記:歐文的生平及創(chuàng)作主涯2.識(shí)記:《紐約外史》《見(jiàn)聞札記》3.領(lǐng)會(huì):歐文的創(chuàng)作領(lǐng)域、創(chuàng)作思想,及其作品的藝術(shù)風(fēng)格4.應(yīng)用:選讀《瑞普·凡·溫可爾》的主題及其藝術(shù)特色B.拉爾夫·華爾多·愛(ài)默生1.一般識(shí)記:.愛(ài)默生的生平及創(chuàng)作生涯2.識(shí)記:愛(ài)默生的超驗(yàn)主義思想3.領(lǐng)會(huì):(1愛(ài)默生的散文:《論自然》《論自助》《論美國(guó)學(xué)者》等(2.愛(ài)默生與梭羅:梭羅的超驗(yàn)主義思想和他的《沃爾登》4.應(yīng)用:《論自然》節(jié)選:愛(ài)默生的基本哲學(xué)思想及自然觀C.納撒尼爾·霍桑1.一般識(shí)記:霍桑的生平及創(chuàng)作主涯2.識(shí)記:霍桑的長(zhǎng)短篇小說(shuō)3.領(lǐng)會(huì):(1《紅字》的主題、心理描寫(xiě)、象征手法和、小說(shuō)結(jié)構(gòu)(2霍桑的清教主義思想及加爾文教條中的"原罪"對(duì)霍桑的影響(人性本惡的觀點(diǎn)(3霍桑對(duì)浪漫主義小說(shuō)的貢獻(xiàn)4.應(yīng)用:選讀《小伙子布朗》的主題結(jié)構(gòu)、象征手法及語(yǔ)言特色D.華爾特·惠特曼1.一般識(shí)記:惠特曼的生平及其創(chuàng)作生涯2.識(shí)記:惠特曼的民主思想3.領(lǐng)會(huì):(1惠特曼的《草葉集》的主創(chuàng)意圖、思想感情及詩(shī)體形式、語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格(2.惠特曼的個(gè)人主義4.應(yīng)用:選讀《草葉集》詩(shī)選:"一個(gè)孩子的成長(zhǎng)"、"涉水的騎兵'"、"自己之歌"的主題結(jié)構(gòu)、詩(shī)歌的藝術(shù)特色、語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格E.赫爾曼·麥爾維爾1.一般識(shí)記:麥爾維爾的生平及創(chuàng)作生涯2.識(shí)記:麥爾維爾的早期作品:《瑪?shù)亍贰独椎帽尽贰栋淄庖隆?后期作品《皮埃爾》《騙子的化裝表演》《比利伯德》等3.領(lǐng)會(huì):《白鯨》的(1主題:表層及深層意義(2小說(shuō)結(jié)構(gòu):浪漫主義和現(xiàn)實(shí)主義的統(tǒng)一(3象征手法和寓言的運(yùn)用(4語(yǔ)言特色4.應(yīng)用:選讀《白鯨》最后一章的節(jié)選:主題思想、人物刻畫(huà)、象征手法、語(yǔ)言特色ChapterlTheRomanticPeriod(一"識(shí)記"內(nèi)容:1.TheoriginofRomanticAmericanliteratureTheRomanticPeriod,oneofthemostimportantperiodsinthehistoryofAmericanliterature,stretchesfromtheendofthe18thcenturytotheoutbreakoftheCivilWar.ItstartedwiththepublicationofWashingtonIrving'sTheSketchBookandendedwithWhitman'sLeavesofGrass.2.TheAmericanRenaissanceorNewEnglandRenaissanceisaperiodofthegreatfloweringofAmericanliterature,fromthei830sroughlyuntiltheendoftheAmericanCivilWar.Itcameofageasanexpressionofanationalspirit.OneofthemostimportantinfluencesintheperiodwasthatoftheTranscendentalists,includingRalphWaldoEmerson,HenryDavidThoreau.TheTranscendentalistscontributedtothefoundingofanewnationalculturebasedonnativeelements.ApartfromtheTranscendentalists,thereemergedduringthisperiodgreatimaginativewriters---NathanielHawthorne,HermanMelville,andWaltWhitman---whosenovelsandpoetryleftapermanentimprintonAmericanliterature.3.ItssocialhistoricalandculturalbackgroundThedevelopmentoftheAmericansocietynurtured"theliteratureofagreatnation."Americawasflourishingintoapolitically,economicallyandculturallyindependentcountry.Historically,itwasthetimeofwestwardexpansioninAmericaeconomically,thewholenationwasexperiencinganindustrialtransformation.Politically,democracyandequa1itybecametheidealofthenewnation,andthetwo-partysystemcameintobeing.Worthyofmentionistheliteraryandculturallifeofthecountry.WiththefoundingoftheAmericanIndependentGovernment,thenationfeltanurgetohaveitsownliteraryexpression,tomakeknownitsnewexperiencethatothernationsdidnothave:theearlyPuritansettlement,theconfrontationwiththeIndians,thefrontiersmen'slife,andthewildwest.Besides,thenation'sliterarymilieuwasreadyfortheRomanticmovementaswe11.Thus,withastrongsenseofoptimism,aspectacularoutburstofromanticfeelingwasbroughtaboutinthefirstha1fofthe19thcentury.4.MajorwritersofthisperiodThereemergedagreathostofmenoflettersduringthisperiod,amongwhomthebetter-knownarepoetssuchasPhilipFreneau,WilliamCullenBryant,HenryWordsworthLongFellow,JamesRusselLowell,JohnGreenleafWhitter,EdgarEllenPoe,and,especially,WaltWhitman,whoseLeavesOfGrassestablishedhimasthemostpopularAmericanpoetofthe19thcentury.ThefictionoftheAmericanRomanticperiodisanoriginalanddiversebodyofwork.ItrangesfromthecomicfablesofWashingtonIrvingtotheTheGothictalesofEdgarAllenPoe,fromthefrontieradventuresofJamesFenimoreCoopertothenarrativequestsofHermanMelville,fromthepsycho1ogicalromancesofNathanielHawthornetothesocialrealismofRebeccaHardingDavis.(二.領(lǐng)會(huì)內(nèi)容1.TheimpactofEuropeanRomanticismonAmericanRomanticismForeignliterarymasters,especiallytheEnglishcounterpartsexertedastimulatingimpactonthewritersofthenewworld.Bornofonecommonculturalheritage,theAmericanwriterssharedsomecommonfeatureswiththeEnglishRomanticists.Theyrevoltedagainsttheliteraryformsandideasoftheperiodofclassicismbydevelopingsomerelativelynewformsoffictionorpoetry.(1Theyputemphasisupontheimaginativeandemotionalqualitiesofliterature,whichincludedalikingforthepicturesque,theexotic,thesensuous,thesensational,andthesupernatural.(2TheAmericansalsoplacedanincreasingemphasisonthefreeexpressionofemotionsanddisp1ayedanincreasingattentiontothepsychicstatesoftheircharacters.Heroesandheroinesexhibitedextremesofsensitivityandexcitement.(3ThestrongtendencytoexalttheindividualandthecommonmanwasalmostanationalreligioninAmerica.WriterslikeFreneau,Bryant,andCoopershowedagreatinterestinexternalnatureintheirrespectiveworks.(4Theliteraryuseofthemorecolorfu1aspectsofthepastwasalsotobefoundinIrving'sefforttoexploitthelegendsoftheHudsonRiverregion,andinCooper'slongseriesofhistoricaltales.(5Inshort,AmericanRomanticismis,inacertainway,derivative.2.TheuniquecharacteristicsofAmericanRomanticismAlthoughgreatlyinfluencedbytheirEnglishcounterparts,theAmericanromanticwritersrevealeduniquecharacteristicsoftheirownintheirworksandtheygrewonthenativelands.Forexamp1e,(1theAmericannationalexperienceof"pioneeringintothewest"provedtobearichsourceofmaterialforAmericanwriterstodrawupon.TheycelebratedAmerica'slandscapewithitsvirginforests,meadows,groves,endlessprairies,streams,andvastoceans.Thewildernesscametofunctionalmostasadramaticcharacterthatsymbolizedmoral1aw.(2ThedesireforanescapefromsocietyandareturntonaturebecameapermanentconventionofAmericanliterature.SuchadesireisparticularlyevidentinCooper'sLeatherStockingTales,inThoreau'sWaldenand,later,inMarkTwain'sAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn.(3WiththegrowthofAmericannationalconsciousness,Americancharactertypesspeakinglocaldialectsappearedinpoetryandfictionwithincreasingfrequency.(4ThentheAmericanPuritanismasaculturalheritageexertedgreatinfluencesoverAmericanmoralvaluesandAmericanRomanticism.OneofthemanifestationsisthefactthatAmericanromanticwriterstendedmoretomoralizethantheirEnglishandEuropeancounterparts.(5Besides,apreoccupationwiththeCalvinisticviewoforigina1sinandthemysteryofevilmarkedtheworksofHawthorne,Melvilleandahostoflesserwriters.(三.應(yīng)用內(nèi)容1.TheAmericanPuritanismanditsgreatinfluenceoverAmericanmoralvalues,asisshowninAmericanromanticwritings.(1AmericanPuritanismPuritanismisthepracticesandbeliefsofthePuritans.(ThePuritanswereoriginallymembersofadivisionoftheProtestantChurch,whocameintoexistenceinthereignsQueenElizabethandKingJamesⅠ.ThefirstsettlerswhobecamethefoundingfathersoftheAmericannationwerequiteafewofthemPuritans.TheycametoAmericaoutofvariousreasons,butitshouldberememberedthattheywereagroupofserious,religiouspeople,advocatinghighlyreligiousandmoralprinciples.Astheworditselfhints,Puritanswantedtopurifytheirreligiousbeliefsandpractices.TheyfeltthattheChurchofEnglandwastooclosetotheChurchofRomeindoctrineformofworship,andorganizationofauthority.TheAmericanPuritans,liketheirbrothersbackinEngland,wereidealists,believingthatthechurchshouldberestoredtocomplete"purity".Theyacceptedthedoctrineofpredestination,originalsinandtotaldepravity,andlimitedatonementthroughaspecialinfusionofgracefromGod.ButinthegrimstruggleforsurvivalthatfollowedimmediatelyaftertheirarrivalinAmerica,theybecamemoreandmorepractical,asindeedtheyhadtobe.Puritanswerenotedforaspiritofmoralandreligiousearnestnessthatdeterminatedtheirwholewayoflife.Puritans'liveswereextremelydisciplinedandhard.Theydroveoutoftheirsettlementsallthoseopinionsthatseemeddangeroustothem,andhistoryhascriticizedtheiractions.Yetinthepersecutionofwhattheyconsiderederror,thePuritanswerenoworsethanmanyothermovementsinhistory.Asacultureheritage,PuritanismdidhaveaprofoundinfluenceontheearlyAmericanmindandAmericanvalues.AmericanPuritanismalsohadaconspicuouslynoticeableandanenduringinfluenceonAmericanliterature.Ithadbecome,tosomeextent,somuchastateofmind,somuchapartofthenationalculturalatmosphere,ratherthanasetoftenets.(2OneofthemanifestationsisthefactthatAmericanromanticwriterstendedmoretomoralizethantheirEnglishandEuropeancounterparts.Besides,apreoccupationwiththeCalvinisticviewoforigina1sinandthemysteryofevilmarkedtheworksofHawthorne,Melvilleandahostoflesserwriters.2.NewEnglandTranscendentalismNewEnglandTranscendentalismisthemotclearlydefinedRomanticliterarymovementinthisperiod.ItwasstartedintheareaaroundConcord,Mass.byagroupofintellectualandtheliterarymenoftheUnitedStatessuchasEmerson,HenryDavidThoreauwhoweremembersofaninformalclub,i.e.theTranscendentalClubinNewEnglandinthel830s.Thetranscendentalistsreactedagainstthecold,rigidrationalismofUnitarianisminBoston.Theyadheredtoanidealisticsystemofthoughtbasedonabeliefintheessentialunityofallcreation,theinnategoodnessofman,andthesupremacyofinsightoverlogicandexperiencefortherevelationofthedeepesttruths.ThewritingsofthetranscendentalistspreparedthegroundoftheircontemporariessuchasWaltWhitman,HermanMelville,andNathanielHawthorne.Themainissuesinvolvedinthedebateweregenerallyphilosophical,concerningnature,manandtheuniverse.Basically,Transcendentalismhasbeendefinedphilosophical1yas"therecognitioninmanofthecapacityofknowingtruthintuitively,orofattainingknowledgetranscendingthereachofthesenses."Emersononceproclaimedinaspeech,"Nothingisatlastsacredbuttheintegrityofyourownmind."OtherconceptsthataccompaniedTranscendentalisminc1udetheideathatnatureisennoblingandtheideathattheindividualisdivineand,therefore,self-re1iant.3.AmericanRomanticistsdifferedintheirunderstandingofhumannature.TothetranscendentalistssuchasEmersonandThoreau,manisdivineinnatureandthereforeforeverperfectible;buttoHawthorneandMelville,everybodyispotentiallyasinner,andgreatmoralcourageisthereforeindispensab1efortheimprovementofhumannature,asisshowninHawthorne'sTheScarletLetter.二.美國(guó)浪漫主義時(shí)期的主要作家Ⅰ.WashingtonIrving(1783-l859Irving'spositioninAmericanliteratureWashingtonIrvingwasoneofthefirstAmericanwriterstoearnaninternationalreputation,andregardedasanearlyRomanticwriterinthemericanliteraryhistoryandFatheroftheAmericanshortstories.一.一般識(shí)記HislifeandmajorworksWashingtonIrvingwasborninNewYorkCityinawealthyfamily.Fromaveryearlyagehebegantoreadwidelyandwritejuvenilepoems,essays,andplays.Inl798,heconc1udedhiseducationatprivateschoolsandenteredalawoffice,buthelovedwritingmore.HisfirstsuccessfulworkisAHistoryOfNewYorkfromtheBeginningOftheWorldtotheEndoftheDutchDynasty,which,writtenunderthenameofDiedrichKnickerbocker,wonhimwidepopularityafteritcameoutin1809.WiththepublicationofTheSketchBookofGeoffreyCrayon,Gent.inserialsbetween1819and1820,IrvingwonameasureofinternationalfameonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.ThebookcontainsfamiliaressaysontheEng1ishlifeandAmericanizedversionsofEuropeanfolktaleslike"RipVanWinkle",and"TheLegendofSleepyHollow."GeoffreyCrayonisacarefullycontrivedpersonaandbehindCrayonstandsIrving,juxtaposingtheOldWorldandtheNew,andmanipulatinghisownantiquarianinterestwithartisticperspectives.ThemajorworkofhislateryearswasTheLifeofGeorgeWashington.二.識(shí)記1.Irving'sgreatindebtednesstoEuropeanliteratureMostofIrving'ssubjectmatterareborrowedheavilyfromEuropeansources,whicharechieflyGermanic.Irving'srelationshipwiththeOldWorldintermsofhisliteraryimaginationcanhardlybeignoredconsideringhissuccessbothabroadandathome.AHistoryofNewYorkisapatchworkofreferences,echoes,andburlesques.HeparodiesorimitatesHomer,Cervantes,Fielding,Swiftandmanyotherfavoritesofhis.HewasalsoabsorbedinGermanLiteratureandgotideasfromGermanlegendsfortwoofhisfamousstories"RipVanWinkle"and"TheLegendofSleepyHollow."TheAlhambraisusuallyregardedasIrving's"SpanishSketchBook"simplybecauseithasastrongflavorofSpanishculture.Mostofthethirty-threeessaysinTheSketchBookwerewritteninEngland,filledwithEnglishscenesandquotationsfromEnglishauthorsandfaithfultoBritishorthography.WashingtonIrvingbroughttothenewnationwhatitspeop1edesiredmostinamanof1etterstherespectoftheOldWorld.2.Irving'suniquecontributiontoAmericanliteratureIrving'scontributiontoAmericanliteratureisuniqueinmorethanoneway.HewasthefirstAmericanwriterofimaginativeliteraturetogaininternationalfame.AlthoughgreatlyinfluencedbyEuropeanliterature,IrvinggavehisworksdistinctiveAmericanflavor."RipVanWinkle"or"TheLegendofSleepyHol1ow",howeverexoticthesestoriesare,areamongthetreasuresoftheAmericanlanguageandculture.ThesetwostorieseasilytriggeroffAmericanimaginationwiththeirfocusonAmericansubjects,Americanlandscape,and,inIrving'scase,thelegendsoftheHudsonRiverregionofthefreshyoung1and.ItisnotthesketchesabouttheOldWorldbutthetalesaboutAmericathatmadeWashingtonIrvingahouseholdwordandhisfameenduring.HewasfatherofAmericanshortstories.AndlaterinthehandsofHawthorneandMelvilletheshortstoryattainedadegreeofperfection.三.領(lǐng)會(huì)1.Irving'sthemeofconservatismasisrevealedin"RipVanWinkle"Irving'stastewasessentia1lyconservativeandalwaysexa1tedadisappearingpast.Thissocia1conservatismandliterarypreferenceforthepastisrevea1ed,tosomeextent,inhisfamousstory"RipVanWinkle."ThestoryisatalerememberedmostlyforRip's20-years1eep,setagainstthebackgroundoftheinevitablychangingAmerica.RipwenttosleepbeforetheWarofIndependenceandwokeupafterit.Thechangethathadoccurredinthe20yearshesleptwastohimnotalwaysforthebetter.Therevolutionupsetthenaturalorderofthings.InthestoryIrvingski1lfu1lypresentstousparalleledjuxtapositionsoftwototallydifferentworldsbeforeandafterRip's20years's1eep.BymovingRipbackandforthfromanoisyworldwithhiswifeonthefarmtoawildbutpeacefulnaturalworldinthemountains,andfromapre-RevolutionvillagetoaGeorgeWashingtonera,lrvingdescribesRip'sresponseandreactioninadramaticway,sothatweseeclearlyboththenarratorandIrvingagreeonthepreferabi1ityofthepasttothepresent,andthepreferabilityofadream-likeworldtotherealone.IrvingneverseemedtoacceptamoderndemocraticAmerica.2.Irving'sliterarycraftsmanshipWashingtonIrvinghasalwaysbeenregardedasawriterwho"perfectedthebestclassicstylethatAmericanLiteratureeverproduced."(1Wegetastrongsenseimpressionaswereadhimalong,sincethelanguageheusedbestrevealswhataRomanticwritercandowithwords.Wehearratherthanread,forthereismusicalityinalmosteverylineofhisprose.(2Weseldomlearnamora1lessonbecausehewantsusamusedandrelaxed.Soweoftenfindourselveslostinaworldthatispermeatedwithadreamingquality.(3TheGothicelementsandthesupernaturalatmospherearemanipulatedinsuchawaythatwecouldbecomesoengagedandinvolvedinwhatishappeninginaseeminglyexoticplace.(4YetIrvingneverforgetstoassociateacertainplacewiththeinwardmovementofapersonandtochargehissentenceswithemotionsoastocreateatrueandvividcharacter.Heisworththehonorofbeing"theAmericanGoldsmith"forhisliterarycraftsmanship.四.應(yīng)用SelectedReading:AnExcerptfrom"RipVanWinkle"ThestoryofRipVanWinkleRip,anindolentgood-naturedDutch-American,liveswithhisshrewishwifeinavillageontheHudsonduringtheyearsbeforetheRevolution.OnedaywhilehuntingintheCatskillswithhisdogWolf,hemeetsadwarflikestrangerdressedintheancientDutchfashion.Hehelpshimtocarryakeg,andwithhimjoinsapartysilentlyplayingagameofninepins.Afterdrinkingoftheliquortheyprovide,Ripfallsintoasleepwhichlasts20years,duringwhichtheRevolutionaryWartakesplace.Heawakesasanoldmanandreturnstohishomevillagethathasgreatlyaltered.Uponenteringthevillage,heisgreetedbyhisolddog,whichdiesoftheexcitementandthenlearnsthathiswifehaslongbeendead.Ripisalmostforgottenbuthegoestolivewithhisdaughter,nowthemotherofafamily,andissoonbefriendedwithhisgenerosityandcheerfulness.Thisexcerptbelowistakenfromthestory,describingforusRip'sdifficultiesathome,whichheoftenescapesbygoingtothelocalinntospendhistimewithhisfriendsandsometimesbygoinghuntinginthewoodswithhisdog,andthenfocusingonRip'sreturnfromhis20years'sleeptohisgreatlyalteredhomevillage.Here,Irving'spervasivethemeofnostalgiafortheunrecoverablepastisatoncemadeunforgettable.Whatarethethemeandtheartisticfeaturesof"RipVanWinkle"?(1Thetheme:Irving'stastewasessentia1lyconservativeandalwaysexa1tedadisappearingpast.Thissocia1conservatismandliterarypreferenceforthepastisrevea1ed,tosomeextent,inhisfamousstory"RipVanWinkle."ThestoryisatalerememberedmostlyforRip's20-years1eep,setagainstthebackgroundoftheinevitablychangingAmerica.RipwenttosleepbeforetheWarofIndependenceandwokeupafterit.Thechangethathadoccurredinthe20yearshesleptwastohimnotalwaysforthebetter.Therevolutionupsetthenaturalorderofthings.InthestoryIrvingski1lfu1lypresentstousparalleledjuxtapositionsoftwototallydifferentworldsbeforeandafterRip's20years's1eep.BymovingRipbackandforthfromanoisyworldwithhiswifeonthefarmtoawildbutpeacefulnaturalworldinthemountains,andfromapre-RevolutionvillagetoaGeorgeWashingtonera,lrvingdescribesRip'sresponseandreactioninadramaticway,sothatweseeclearlyboththenarratorandIrvingagreeonthepreferabi1ityofthepasttothepresent,andthepreferabilityofadream-likeworldtotherealone.IrvingneverseemedtoacceptamoderndemocraticAmerica.(2Theartisticfeatures:"RipVanWinkle"isnotonlywell-knownforRip's20-yearsleepbutalsoconsideredamodelofperfectEnglishinAmericanLiteratureandintheEnglishlanguageaswell.WashingtonIrvinghasalwaysbeenregardedasawriterwho"perfectedthebestclassicstylethatAmericanLiteratureeverproduced."Hehasaclear,easystyle.(aWegetastrongsenseimpressionaswereadhimalong,sincethelanguageheusedbestrevealswhataRomanticwritercandowithwords.Wehearratherthanread,forthereismusicalityinalmosteverylineofhisprose.(bWeseldomlearnamora1lessonbecausehewantsusamusedandrelaxed.Soweoftenfindourselveslostinaworldthatispermeatedwithadreamingquality.Heusesgenialhumortoexaggeratetheseriousnessofsituation.Heusesdignifiedwordstoproduceahalf-mockingeffect.(cTheGothicelementsandthesupernaturalatmospherearemanipulatedinsuchawaythatwecouldbecomesoengagedandinvolvedinwhatishappeninginaseeminglyexoticplace.(RipVanWinklewasoverwhelmedbythemagicpowerofthedrinkandfellintosleepfor20years.(dYetIrvingneverforgetstoassociateacertainplacewiththeinwardmovementofapersonandtochargehissentenceswithemotionsoastocreateatrueandvividcharacter.Heisworththehonorofbeing"theAmericanGoldsmith"forhisliterarycraftsmanship.II.RalphWaldoEmerson一.一般識(shí)記Hislife:RalphWaldoEmersonisthechiefspokesmanofNewEnglandTranscendentalism,whichisunanimouslyagreedtobethesummitoftheRomanticperiodinthehistoryofAmericanliterature.EmersonwassonofaUnitarianminister.Thoughbornofanimpoverishedfamily,Emersonneverfailedtoreceivesomeformaleducation.Whi1eastudentatHarvardhebegankeepingjournals,apracticehecontinuedthroughouthis1ife.Helaterdrewonthejournalformaterialsforhisessaysandpoetry.AfterHarvard,hetaughtasaschoolmaster,whichhesoongaveupforthestudyoftheology.Hebeganpreachingin1826andthreeyearslaterhebecameapastorinachurchinBoston.Emersonwasardentatfirstinhisserviceinreligion,butgraduallygrewskepticalofthebeliefsofthechurch;feelingUnitarianismintolerable,hefinallylefttheministryinl832.EmersonwasgreatlyinfluencedbyEuropeanRomanticism.HeCarlyle,andlistenedtosomefamousRomanticpoetslikeColeridgeandWordsworth.ThroughhisacquaintancewiththesemenhebecamecloselyinvolvedwithGermanidea1ismandTranscendentalism.AfterhewasbackfromEurope,EmersonretreatedtoaquietstudyatConcord,Massachusetts,wherehebegantopursuehisnewpathof"self-reliance."EmersonformedaclubthereatConcordwithpeop1elikeHenryDavidThoreau,MargaretFuller,whichwaslaterknownastheTranscendenta1Club.AndtheunofficialmanifestofortheClubwasNature(l836,Emerson'sfirstlittlebook,whichestablishedhimeversinceasthemosteloquentspokesmanofNewEnglandTranscendentalism.Naturewasthefundamentaldocumentofhisphilosophyandexpressedalsohisconstant,deeply-feltlovefornature.Itwascalled"theManifestoofAmericanTranscendentalism".HealsohelpedtofoundandeditforatimetheTranscendentaljournal,TheDial.Emersonlivedanintel1ectuallyactiveandsignificantlifebetweenthemid-1830sandthemid-1840s,1ecturingalloverthecountry,andoccasionally,abroad.HepreachedhisTranscendentalpursuitandhisreputationexpandeddramaticallywithhislecturesandhisessays.ThoughtherestofEmerson'slifewasaslowanticlimaxtohismidd1eyears,peoplecontinuedtohonorthemostinfluentia1prophetandtheintellectua1liberatoroftheirage,andhisreputationasafamilymanofconventionallifeandadecent,solidcitizenhasremainedalways.二.識(shí)記內(nèi)容:Hismajorworks:Emersonisgenerallyknownasanessayist.Duringallhislifeheworkedsteadilyatasuccessionofessays,usuallyderivedfromhisjournalsorlectureshehadalreadygiven.NaturedidnotestablishhimasanimportantAmericanwriter.HislastingreputationbeganonlywiththepublicationofEssays(1841.ManyofhisfamousessaysareincludedinEssay,whichconveythebestofhisphilosophicaldiscussionsandtranscendentalpursuits,suchasTheAmericanScholar,SelfReliance,TheOverSoul.ThesecondcollectionofEmerson'sessays,Essays:SecondSeries(1844demonstratedevenmorethorough1ythanthefirstthatEmerson'sintellecthadsharpenedintheyearssinceNature.ThePoetandExprienceareexamples,theformerareflectionupontheaestheticproblemsintermsofthepresentstateofliteratureinAmericaandthelatteradiscussionabouttheconflictbetweenidealismandordinary1ife.三.領(lǐng)會(huì)1.EmersonianTranscendentalismEmersonianTranscendentalismisactual1yaphilosophicalschoolwhichabsorbedsomeideologicalconcernsofAmericanPuritanismandEuropeanRomanticism,withitsfocusontheintuitiveknowledgeofhumanbeingstograsptheabsoluteintheuniverseandthedivinityofman.Inhisessays,Emersonputforwardhisphilosophyoftheover-sou1,theimportanceoftheIndividual,andNature.(1Emerson'sphilosophyoftheover-sou1EmersonrejectedboththeformalreligionofthechurchesandtheDeisticphilosophy;insteadhebasedhisreligiononanintuitivebeliefinanultimateunity,whichhecalledthe"over-soul."EmersonandotherTranscendentalistsbelievedinthetranscendenceof"over-soul".Itisanimpersonalforcethatiseternal,moral,harmonious,andbeneficientintendency.Theybelievedthatthereshouldbeanemotionalcommunicationbetweenanindividualsoulandtheuniversal"oversoul",sincetheover-sou1isanall-pervadingpowerfromwhichallthingscomefromandofwhicha1lareapart.Oneofthetendenciesofthe"over-soul"istoexpressitselfinform,hencetheworldofnatureasanemanationoftheworldofspirit.Emerson'sremarkableimageof"atransparenteyebal1"marksaparadoxicalstateofbeing,inwhichoneismergedintonature,theover-soul,whi1eatthesametimeretainingauniqueperceptionoftheexperience.(2Emerson'sphilosophyoftheimportanceoftheIndividualEmersonisaffirmativeaboutman'sintuitiveknowledge,withwhichamancantrusthimselftodecidewhatisrightandtoactaccordingly.Theidealindividualshouldbeaself-reliantman."Trustthyself,"hewroteinSelfReliance,bywhichhemeanstoconvincepeoplethatthepossibilitiesformantodevelopandimprovehimselfareinfinite.(3Emerson'sviewonnatureEmerson'snatureisemblematicofthespiritualworld,alivewithGod'soverwhelmingpresence.ItmediatesbetweenmanandGod,anditsvoiceleadstohighertruth;hence,itexercisesahealthyandrestorativeinf1uenceonhumanmind."Gobacktonature,sinkyourse1fbackintoitsinf1uenceandyou'1lbecomespirituallywho1eagain."ByemployingnatureasabigsymboloftheSpirit,orGod,ortheover-soul,EmersonhasbroughtthePuritan1egacyofsymbolismtoitsperfection.EmersonianTranscendentalisminspiredawholegenerationoffamousAmericanauthorslikeThoreau,Whitman,andDickinson.2.Thoreau'sTranscendentalismHenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862ismostoftenmentionedasinspiredbyEmerson,themostrepresentativeofthephi1osophicalandliteraryschoolwhichisAmericanTranscendenta1ism.Thoreauembracedhismaster'sideasasadisciple.In1845hebuiltacabi