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1、Part II The Literature of Reason and Revolution,Historical Introduction Important writers Declaration of Independence,Historical Introduction,Two historical events 1. The American War for Independence 1775-1783 2. Enlightenment Theology dominated the Puritan phase of American writing. Politics was n
2、ow the great subject to command the attention of the best minds.,I. The American War for Independence 1775-1783,1. The writers held vitally important places in the movement for American independence. Freedom was won as much by their fiery and inspiring speeches and writings as by the weapons of Wash
3、ington and Lafayette (In the American Revolution, Lafayette served as a major-general 少将 in the Continental Army under George Washington). The 13 original American states were persuaded to become a single nation by the arguments of statesmen and men of letters.,George Washington deism（自然神教派); French
4、 philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire),II. Enlightenment,(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 civil rights, such as equality and social justice; the
5、idea of progress.,II. Enlightenment,2. 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;3. Representatives: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, etc. The representati
6、ves 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.,II. Enlightenment,4. The new nation was set on the basic ideas and principles of the Enlightenment.5. Influenc
7、e 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.,III. Literature,1. Call for Ame
8、ricas independence in literature As soon as America became politically and economically independent, the call for its independence in literature started to emerge. In 1783, Noah Webster declared, “America must be as independent as she is in politics, as famous for the arts as for arms”. Yet througho
9、ut the century American literature was largely patterned on the writing of 18th century Englishmen.,Noah Webster 拷贝的) and dependent, the heroic and revolutionary ambitions of the age had created great political pamphleteering (小册子) and state papers. Essayists and journalists had shaped the nations b
10、eliefs with reason dressed in clear and forceful prose.,III. Literature,3. Representative works Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence Thomas Paine: The American Crisis; Rights of Man; The Federalist Benjamin Franklin: Poor Richards Almanac; The Autobiography,Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790),A p
11、atriot, diplomat, author, printer, scientist, and inventor in the eighteenth century; one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.,Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790),He was a jack of all trades; Born in a poor candle makers family in Boston and had no regular education;Became an apprentice to a prin
12、ter when he was 12;An editor of a newspaper and published lots of essays when he was 16;He went to Philadelphia when he was 17 and became a successful printer and publisher;Found the Junto, a club for informal discussion of scientific, economic and political ideas;,I. Life,Established Americas first
13、 circulating library; Founded the college University of Pennsylvania; Retired when he was 42.,I. Life,(1) a businessman;(2) A scientist with lots of inventions and a famous experiment (kite, electricity, thunderstorm); first applied the terms “positive” and “negative” to electrical charges (电荷). (3)
14、 a statesmanAs a representative of the Colonies, he tried in vain to counsel the British toward policies that would let America grow and flourish in association with England. He conducted the difficult negotiations with France that brought financial and military support for America in the war.,I. Li
15、fe,Declaration of IndependenceThe Treaty of Alliance with FranceThe Treaty of Peace with EnglandThe Constitution(4) a writer (5) an embodiment of the “American Dream”,II. Literary career,As an author he had power of expression. His works are well-known for their simplicity, subtle humor and being sa
16、rcastic.1. Representative works (1) Poor Richards AlmanacModeled 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.”,Poor Richards Almanac,II. Literary career,(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.,II. L
