Courseware-1-Introduction-to-American-Literature

Outline•1.Puritanismasatraditioninculture,literature•2.Romanticism:•Americanliteraturefromimitationtoindependence•3.Realism(localcolorism→realism→naturalism)•4.Modernism•5.BlackAmericanLiterature(oraltowritten)•6.TheSouthernLiteratureI.PuritanismasaTraditionItplaysaveryimportantroleinshapingAmericanthoughtandliterature.i.HistoricalbackgroundThewordwasfirstusedin1560s,referringtosomeEnglishBourgeoisiewhowantedtoreformorpurifytheChurchofEngland.ii.WhydidtheycometoNorthAmerica?mission:tofound“ACityofGodonEarth.”1620asmallsailboat“Mayflower”1621ThanksgivingDayiii.Puritandoctrines•JohnCalvin(1509-54)•AmericanPuritanismacceptedCalvinism,whichstressed•1.predestination(预定论);•2.originalsin(原罪);•3.totaldepravity(彻底的堕落);•4.limitedatonementfromGod’sgrace/thesalvationofaselectedfew(有限的赎罪).InstitutesoftheChristianReligion(1536《基督教原理》)JohnCalvin•“BytheFallandRevoltofAdamtheWholeHumanRaceWasDeliveredtotheCurse(诅咒),andDegenerated(堕落)fromItsOriginalCondition;theDoctrineofOriginalSin”.•…•Originalsin,then,maybedefinedahereditarycorruptionanddepravity(堕落)ofournature,extendingtoallthepartsofthesoul,whichfirstmakesusobnoxious([ɔb’nɔkʃəs]verydisagreeable)tothewrathofGod,andthenproducesinusworkswhichinScripturearetermedworksoftheflesh.•Originalsinandtotaldepravity•…•ThepredestinationbywhichGodadoptssometothehopeoflife,andadjudges(judge)otherstoeternaldeath,nomanwhowouldbethoughtpiousventuressimplytodeny;butitisgreatlycaviled([kævəl]criticize)at,especiallybythosewhomakeprescience(foresight,foreknowledge)itscause.•PredestinationandlimitedatonementAbsoluteauthority:awrathfulimageofGod(Godisalmighty,perfect;manisfallible,sinful.)•SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod(1741)•JonathanEdwards(1703–1758)•TheGodthatholdsyouoverthepit(井)ofhell,muchasoneholdsaspiderorsomeloathsome(讨厌的)insectoverthefire,abhors(hate)you,andisdreadfullyprovoked:Hiswrathtowardsyouburnslikefire;Helooksuponyouasworthyofnothingelsebuttobecastintothefire;HeisofpurereyesthantobeartohaveyouinHissight;youaretenthousandtimesmoreabominable(可恶的)inHiseyesthanthemosthatefulvenomous(（蛇等）分泌毒液的)serpentisinours.……Andthereisnootherreasontobegiven,whyyouhavenotdroppedintohellsinceyouaroseinthemorning,butthatGod’shandhasheldyouup.Thereisnootherreasontobegivenwhyyouhavenotgonetohell,sinceyouhavesathereinthehouseofGod,provokingHispureeyesbyyoursinfulwickedmannerofattendingHissolemnworship…Osinner!Considerthefearfuldangeryouarein:itisagreatfurnaceofwrath,awideandbottomlesspit,fullofthefireofwrath,thatyouareheldoverinthehandofthatGod,whosewrathisprovokedandincensedasmuchagainstyou,asagainstmanyofthedamnedinhell.…WrathfulImageofGodTheDayofDoomMichaelWigglesworth(1631–1705)209•Withironbandstheybindtheirhands,•andcursédfeettogether,•Andcastthemall,bothgreatandsmall,•intothatlakeforever.•Wheredayandnight,withoutrespite,•theywail,andcry,andhowl•Fortort’ringpain,whichtheysustain•inbodyandinsoul.•Sinners:Sufferingsofthedamned210•Fordayandnight,intheirdespite,•theirtorment’ssmokeascendeth.•Theirpainandgriefhavenorelief,•theiranguishneverendeth.•Theremusttheylie,andneverdie,•thoughdyingeveryday:•Theremusttheydyingeverlie,•andnotconsumeaway.•ascend:[ə’send]climbupHarshfaith(hardwork,rigidity,stoicism)andBiblicalmetaphorsTheEbbandFlowEdwardTaylor(1642-?)•…•ButnowmyheartismadeThycensertrim,•FullofThygoldenaltar’sfire,•Toofferupsweetincensein•UntoThyselfentire:•…潮与涌爱德华·泰勒……•但现在我的心是只小巧的香炉，•炉下是您圣坛上的火焰，•为的是使馨香烟云飘出，•全部向您奉献：•……InMemoryofMyDearGrandchildElizabethBradstreet,WhoDeceasedAugust,1665,BeingaYearandHalfOldAnneBradstreet(1612-72)•1•Farewelldearbabe,myheart’stoomuchcontent,•Farewellsweetbabe,thepleasureofmineeye,•Farewellfairflowerthatforaspacewaslent,•Thenta’enawayuntoeternity.•Blestbabe,whyshouldIoncebewailthyfate,5•Orsighthydayssosoonwereterminate,•Siththouartsettledinaneverlastingstate.since•2•Bynaturetreesdorotwhentheyaregrown,•Andplumsandapplesthoroughlyripedofall,•Andcornandgrassareintheirseasonmown,10(mow:cut)•Andtimebringsdownwhatisbothstrongandtall.•Butplantsnewsettobeeradicate,(eradicate:destroy)•Andbudsnewblowntohavesoshortadate,•IsbyHishandalonethatguidesnatureandfate.•1678InMemoryofmyDearGrandchildAnneBradstreet,WhoDeceasedJune20,1669,BeingThreeYearsandSevenMonthsOldAnneBradstreet•WithtroubledheartandtremblinghandIwrite,•Theheavenshavechangedtosorrowmydelight.•HowoftwithdisappointmenthaveImet,•WhenIonfadingthingsmyhopeshaveset.•Experiencemight’forethishavemademewise,5•Tovaluethingsaccordingtotheirprice.•Waseverstablejoyyetfoundbelow?•Orperfectblisswithoutmixtureofwoe?•Iknewshewasbutasawitheringflower,•That’sheretoday,perhapsgoneinanhour;10•Likeasabubble,orthebrittleglass,brittle:fragile•Orlikeashadowturning,asitwas.•MorefoolthenItolookonthatwaslent•Asifmineown,whenthusimpermanent.•Farewell,dearchild;thoune’ershallcometome,15•Butyetawhile,andIshallgotothee;•Meantimemythrobbingheart’scheeredupwiththis:•ThouwiththySaviorartinendlessbliss.1678iv.Influences•PuritanismisoneofthemostenduringshapingfactorsinAmericanthoughtandAmericanliterature.•(i).Positiveinfluences:•workethic(senseofmission,mora