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1、20111013 Thursday整个文学脉络美国：1. The literature of colonial America (1590-1750)2. The literature of Reason and Revolution (the war of Independence 1750 - 1810) 3. Romanticism (1810 - 1860 civil war)4. Realism and naturalism (latter half of 19th cen.)5. 20th century literature 1. Literature in stage I/ I
2、INot wonderful , no special featuresSimple literary works: personal letters, historical records, journals, sermons, political pamphletsserved for the religious and political purposeStyle: followed the example of its English counterparte.g. Franklin Key points:the first American writer, the father of
3、 American poetrythe first important American writerPuritanism features/ influences Franklin Autobiography the American dream 3. Romanticism (1810 - 1860 civil war)From the end of the 18th century (after the War for Independence ) through the outbreak of the Civil War.(1798 the preface of Lyrical Bal
4、lads-1832 the death of Scott) a. 1st phase: Early Romanticismnovel -Irving (local events ) Cooper (the West) poetry- Bryant, Poe (rose to the same level of its English literature to some degree)b. 2nd phase: New England Renaissance (summit)developed its distinct style and form optimism Transcendenta
5、lism Emerson/ Thoreau; pessimism ( Hawthorne, Melville) Irving: position, The Sketch Booktwo masterpiecesmain ideas, theme, etc., his attitude towards the change and European cultureCooper:The frontier Saga Central figure features, special image of IndiansPermanent theme: desire for an escape from s
6、ociety and a return to nature= conventionBryant: Title, masterpiecesimilarity with WordsworthPoe:Writing principle:Brevity, beauty; Unity of Effect or AtmosphereVs Oscar Wildes Aesthetic movementFavorite topics/tone: Masterpiece:Poetry: To Helen, Annabel Lee, The RavenShort story: The Cask of amonti
7、llado, the fall of the house of usher Transcendentalism:I. Features1. the transcendence of oversoul2. divinity of men, importance of individualism3. nature symbol of spirit/God；restorative influence 4. focus in intuition (irrationalism and subconsciousness)II. Influence1. It served as an ethical gui
8、de to life for a young nation and brought about the idea that human can be perfected by nature. It stressed religious tolerance, called to throw off shackles of customs and traditions and go forward to the development of a new and distinctly American culture.2. It advocated idealism that was great n
9、eeded in a rapidly expanded economy where opportunity often became opportunism Emerson: Americansnewborn Adam, standing simple and sincere before the world 3. It helped to create the first American renaissance one of the most prolific period in American literature.Representatives: 1Ralph Waldo Emers
10、on1. life2. works(1) Nature manifesto/ Bible(2) speech: The American Scholarintellectual Declaration of Independence3. opinions(1) One major element of his philosophy is his firm belief in the transcendence of the “oversoul”.(2) He regards nature as the purest, and the most sanctifying moral influen
11、ce on man, and advocated a direct intuition of a spiritual and immanent God in nature.(3) If man depends upon himself, cultivates himself and brings out the divine in himself, he can hope to become better and even perfect. This is what Emerson means by “the infinitude of man”. self-reliance4. aesthe
12、tic ideas about the poet The Poet, The Nature and The American Scholar(1) definition of poetno ordinary person. He is a complete man, an eternal man. He should be able to see into the depths of infinite time, comprehend the path of things and the divine unity of the Universe by intuition and communi
13、cate the feelings of contact with nature to his fellowmen. Whitman: envisioned the poet as a hero, a savior and a prophet, one who leads the community by his expression of the truth. In “The Defense of Poetry,” Shelley claims that “poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” Poets hold u
14、p a mirror to society challenging us (readers) to question our behavior, our morals, our philosophy. Vs Plato (liars should be banished from Republic) Wordsworth, Eliot (2) True poetry and true art should ennoble. It should serve as a moral purification and a passage toward organic unity and higher
15、reality.(3) The poet should express his thought in symbols. as for him, symbolism is a universal thing. Influence of Puritanism(4) As to theme, Emerson called upon American authors to celebrate America which was to him a long poem in itself, to celebrate the life of today. American intellectuals should have independent mind, stop imitating and transplanting European tradition, should focus on here and present. attitude toward American culture: IrvingThe Authors Account of Himself: praise the sublime and beautiful natural sce
