美国文学史及作品选读PPT1

Lecture1TheLiteratureoftheColonialAmericaandofReasonandRevolutionTeachingObjectivesandRequirements1MakethestudentsknowclearaboutAmericanPuritanismanditsinfluenceonAmericanLiterature.2Helpthestudentstoknowaboutthemainliteraryform,contentandthemeinColonialAmericaandtherepresentativewritersofthisperiod.3HelpthestudentsknowabouttheAmericanhistoryofIndependenceWarandtherepresentativesintheperiodofReasonandRevolution,especiallytheirinfluenceonAmericanLiterature.4MakethestudentshaveagoodunderstandingofJonathanEdwardsandBenjaminFranklin.5MakesurethestudentsunderstandclearlyaboutBenjaminFranklin’sAutobiographyanditsinfluenceonthelatterAmericans.1LiteratureoftheColonialAmerica(1607-1765)2LiteratureofReasonandRevolution(1765-Endof18thC)1.1HistoricalBackgroundIn1492,ChristopherColumbusfoundthenewcontinentcalledAmerica.Spanish(thefirsttownonthenewcontinent)Dutch(NewYorkcity)French(French:lotsofpeople’smothertongueinNorthAmerica);English(firstsettledinJamestownofVirginiain1607)In1620,thefamous“MayFlower”shipped102PuritanstoPlymouth.1.2PuritanThoughtPuritanism:thepracticesandbeliefsofthePuritans◆Puritans:Calvinists.◆Puritanswantedto“purifythechurch”toitsoriginalstate.◆TobeaPuritan:religion—themostimportantthing;livingforglorifyingGod;believingpredestination,originalsin,totaldepravity,limitedatonement◆LifestyleofPuritans:piousaustereoftastediligentthriftrigidsenseofmoralityself-reliantAmericanPuritanism:thepracticesandbeliefsoftheAmericanPuritans◆AmericanPuritanswereoriginallymembersofadivisionoftheProtestantChurch,whocameintoexistenceinthereignsofQueenElizabethandKingJamesI.◆Theywereagroupofserious,religiouspeople,advocatinghighlyreligiousandmoralprinciples.Theywantedtopurifytheirreligiousbeliefsandpractices.TheycametoAmericaoutofvariousreasons.◆Theywereidealists,believingthechurchshouldberestoredtocomplete“purity”anddreamingthattheywouldbuildthenewlandtoanEdenonearth.Theyacceptedthedoctrineofpredestination,originalsin,totaldepravity,andlimitedatonementthroughaspecialinfusionofgracefromGod.ButinthegrimstruggleforsurvivalaftertheirarrivalinAmerica,theybecamemoreandmorepractical.◆AmericanPuritans’liveswereextremelydisciplinedandhard.Theydroveoutoftheirsettlementsallthoseopinionsthatseemeddangeroustothem.◆Asacultureheritage,AmericanPuritanismdidhaveaprofoundinfluenceontheearlyAmericanmind.ItalsohadanenduringinfluenceonAmericanliterature.ItwasoneofthemostenduringshapinginfluencesinAmericanthoughtandAmericanliterature.Ithadbecome,tosomeextent,somuchastateofmind,somuchapartofthenationalculturalatmosphere,ratherthanasetoftenets.InfluenceofAmericanPuritanismonliterature◆BasisofAmericanliterature:thedreamofbuildinganEdenofGardenonearth◆Beinginstrumentalincallingintobeingaliterarysymbolism(meaningusingsymbolsinliteraryworks.Thesymbolmeanssomethingrepresentingorstandingforabstractdeepmeaning.):lotsofAmericanwriterslikedtoemploysymbolismintheirworks◆Style:simple,freshanddirect1.3ColonialLiteratureGeneralfeatures:◆Humbleorigins:diaries,histories,lettersetc.◆Incontent:servingeitherGodorcolonialexpansionorboth◆Inform:imitatingEnglishliterarytraditions●Representatives◆CaptainJohnSmith:thefirstAmericanWriter,ADescriptionofNewEngland(P16)◆WilliamBradford:TheHistoryofPlymouthPlantation(P16-17)◆JohnWinthrop:TheHistoryofNewEngland,AModelofChristianCharity◆AnneBradstreet:firstAmericanwomanpoet;aPuritanpoet;oncecalled“TenthMuse”;herfirstcollectionofpoems,“TheTenthMuseLatelySprungUpinAmerica”wasthefirstbookwrittenbyawomantobepublishedintheUnitedStates;herpoemsmainlyaboutreligiousexperience,familylifeandearlysettlers’lives;herworkalsoservesasadocumentofthestrugglesofaPuritanwifeagainstthehardshipsofNewEnglandcoloniallife,andinsomewayisatestamenttoplightofthewomenoftheage;hermostfamouspoems—“Contemplations”(P17)◆RogerWilliams:oneofthegreatestPuritandissenters;beginswiththehistoryofreligioustolerationinAmerica,andthehistoryoftheseparationofchurchandstate.◆EdwardTaylor:thebestofthepuritanpoets;ameditativepoet;mostofhisworktreatedreligiousthemes,withpoemsbaseddirectlyonthePsalmsback2LiteratureofReasonandRevolution(1765-Endof18thC)2.1HistoricalBackground2.2RepresentativesintheperiodofReasonandRevolution●Enlightenment(启蒙运动):◆OriginatedinEuropeinthe17thcentury(1680)◆Resources:Newton’stheory;deism（P28）;Frenchphilosophy(Rousseau,Voltaire)◆Basicprinciples:stressingeducation;stressingReason(Order);employingReasontoreconsiderthetraditionsandsocialrealities;concernsforcivilrights,suchasequalityandsocialjustice◆Significance:acceleratingsocialprogress;freeingpeoplefromthelimitationssetbyprevailingPuritanism;makingspiritualpreparationforAmericanRevolution◆Representatives:BenjaminFranklin,ThomasPaine,ThomasJeffersonetc.◆InfluenceonliteratureInform:imitatingEnglishclassical（古典主义）writersIncontent:utilitariantendency(forpoliticaloreducationalpurpose)●AmericanRevolution:◆1775,Lexington,beginningoftheIndependenceWar◆June4th,1776,ThomasJefferson,DeclarationofIndependence◆1778,alliancewithFrance,turningpointforAmericanarmy◆1778,Englisharmysurrendered◆1783,formalrecogn