常耀信美国文学知识点

1Introduction1.TheYoungestNationalLiterature1781(IndependenceWar)---2012=about200years2.Greatachievement:1930-1980,nineAmericanwriterswontheNobelPrizeThePeriodsofAmericanLiterature1.Thecolonialperiod(约1607-1765)2.TheperiodofenlightenmentandIndependenceWar(1765-1800)3.Theromanticperiod(1800-1865)4.Therealisticperiod(1865-1914)5.Theperiodofmodernism(1914-1945)6.TheContemporaryLiterature(1945-)ChapterIColonialAmericaAmericanPuritanism1.ThebeliefsandpracticescharacteristicofPuritans(mostofwhomwereCalvinistswhowishedtopurifytheChurchofEnglandofitsCatholicaspects)2.StrictnessandausterityinconductandreligionPuritans’religiousbelief:Calvinism◆JohnCalvin,thegreatFrenchtheologian.Theprincipalconcepts:1)Originalsinandtotaldepravity.2)Predestination3)Salvationofselectedfew◆ThePuritanscarriedwiththemtoAmericaacodeofvalues,aphilosophyoflife,andapointofview,which,intime,tookrootintheNewworldandbecamewhatisknownasAmericanPuritanism.(p11)TheInfluenceofPuritanismonAmericanLiterature1)Idealism（optimism）2)Symbolism3)SimplicityinwritingSignificanceofPuritanismWithtimepassingitbecameadominantfactorinAmericanlife,oneofthemostenduringshapinginfluencesinAmericanthoughtandAmericanLiterature.Tosomeextentitisastateofmind,apartofthenationalculturalatmospherethattheAmericanbreathes,ratherthanasetoftenets.Time:Fromthearrivalofthefirstsettlersintheearly17thcenturytotheendofthe18thcenturyLiteraryFeatures1.FormsPersonalliteratureinvariousforms---diaries,histories,commonbooks(札记)，journals,letters,travelbooks,sermonsetc.2.Content1)practicalmatter-of-factaccountsoffarming,hunting,travel,etc.designedtoinformpeople“athome”whatlifewaslikeinthenewworld2)highlytheoreticaldiscussionsofreligiousquestions.3.StyleInStyle,Englishliterarytraditionswereimitatedandtransplanted.EarlywritersinthecolonialperiodJohnSmith,acaptain,oneofthefoundersofthecolonyofJamestown,Virginia;thewriterofADescriptionofNewEngland.WilliamBradford,thefirstgovernorofthePlymouthPlantation,hiswriting:OfPlymouthPlantation(P16)JohnWinthrop,thefirstgovernoroftheMassachusettsBayColony,InhisfamousspeechAModelofChristianCharity,hestatesthattherewasaagreementbetweenGodandhispeopleofbuildinganewGardenofEdeninthenewworld.(P17)Thereforeletuschooselife,所以，让我们选择生活，thatweandourseed这样，我们和我们的后代，maylivebyobeyingHis可以听从上帝的声音，voiceandcleavingtoHim,须臾不离上帝，forHeisourlifeand因为，上帝是我们的生命，ourprosperity.我们的兴旺2___JohnWinthrop(1588-1649)MajorwritersintheperiodAnneBradstreet(1612-1672)ThomasPaine(1737-1809)PhilipFreneau(1752-1832)CharlesBrockdenBrownAnneBradstreet(1617-1672)1.LifeandWorksHerfirstvolume:TheTenthMuseLatelySprungUpinAmerica《美洲最近出现的第十个谬斯》Shewasknownasthe“TenthMuse”2.MajorcontentsofherpoetryDescriptionoftheearlysettlers’lifeinthenewworlde.g.“AsWearyPilgrim”PoemsaboutthejusticeofGod’swaywithHisPuritanflock;insearchofman’snatureanddestinyandhismissioninthenewworld.e.g.“UpontheBurningofOurHouse”Poemstoherhusbandandherchildren.e.g.“ToMyDearandLovingHusband”《我侬词》管道升你侬我侬，忒煞情多；情多处，热似火；把一块泥，捻一个你，塑一个我。将咱两个一齐打破，用水调和；再捻一个你，再塑一个我。我泥中有你，你泥中有我：我与你生同一个衾，死同一个椁。Characteristicsofherpoetrysingularlypuritanmodeofperception;imitationofSpenserandtheFrenchpoetBartas.Contemplations(9)ThepoemP17-18Commentonthepoem:(p18)Whensheheardthegrasshopperandthecricketsing,shethoughtofthisastheirpraisingCreatorandsearchedherownsoulaccordingly.Itisevidentthatshesawsomethingmetaphysicalinheringinthephysical,amodeofperceptionwhichwassingularlyPuritan.EdwardTaylorHispoeticstyle:Inhiselaboratemetaphors,heisliketheEnglishmetaphysicalpoets,suchasJohnDonneandGeorgeHerbert.Hispoeticcontent:Hewasfirstandlast,aPuritanpoet,concernedabouthowhisimagesspeakforGod.Huswifery《家务》P19Metaphor:SpinningwheelinthecontrolofthehousewifeisjustliketheChristiansintheobedienceofGod.Thethemeofthepoem:Ifyougiveyourlifeovertogodandmakehimyourcenter,youwillbeacceptedjoyfullyintoHiskingdom.WriterswritingforreligiousfreedomandAmericanindependenceRogerWilliams(1603-1683)“thefirstrebelagainstthedivinechurchorderinthewilderness”(CottonMather)“TheBloodyTenetofPersecutionfortheCauseofConscience”(1644):attackingthereligiousconformityandupholdingthespiritualfreedomoftheindividualJohnWoolman(1720-1772)AQuaker(“innerright”—convincedthattruereligionconsistedininwardlife);attackingallformsofiniquity,pleadingfortherightsofallmenandfortheabolitionoftheslaverysystem:“someConsiderationsontheKeepingofNegroes”“APleaforthePoor”Journal:recordinghisspiritualexperiencesofinwardcommunicationwithGod.ThomasPaine(1737-1809)comingtoAmericaat37withthelettersofintroductionfromBenjaminFranklin;anunflinchingfighterfortherightsofman;participatingintheFrenchRevolution;dieinpovertyinNY.Hisgreatgiftasastylistwas“plainness”:Itismydesigntomakethosewhocanscarcelyreadunderstand.CommonSenseAmericanCrisisRightsofManTheAgeofReasonPhilipFreneau(1752-1832)“PoetoftheAmericanRevolution’’thefirstprofessionalAmericannovelistThefirstAmerican-bornpoet(themostsignificantpoetofeighteenth-centuryAmerica);notablemainlyfortwothings:usinghispoetictalentsservingthenationalindependence;advocat