8-Realism

2020/6/2TableofContentsRevisionRealismWilliamDeanHowellsMarkTwainHenryJames2020/6/2TheOutlineofAmericanLiteratureIColonialPeriod(1607—1765)IIRevolutionaryPeriod(1765—1800)IIITheAgeofRomanticism(1800—1865)IVTheAgeofRealism(1865—1918)VAmericanModernism(1918—1945)VIContemporaryLiterature(1945--)2020/6/2TheAgeofRealismGeneralBackgrounds1.Firstperiod:Howells;James;BretHarte2.LocalColorism:MarkTwain3.AmericanNaturalism:Crane;Norris;Dreiser;Robinson;JackLondon;OHenry;2020/6/21CivilWar→adeteriorationofAmericanmoralvalues2increasingindustrialization&mechanizationofthecountry→extremesofwealthandpoverty3thefrontierwasclosing→feelingofdisillusionmentandfrustrationA.Background:2020/6/2B.LiteraryCharacteristicsoftheAge:1)Peoplebegantoquestiontheassumptionssharedbythetranscendentalists;.2)PeoplebegantotireofthesentimentalfeelingsoftheRomanticismaftertheCivilWar;3)PeopleturnedawayformPuritanism&NewYorkreplacedBostonasthenation’sliterarycenter.RealisticattitudeenteredAmericanliterature2020/6/2TheDefinitionofRealism:Realismwasamodelofwritingthatgivestheimpressionofrecordingorreflectinganactualwayoflifefaithfully.2020/6/2Itisbasedontheaccurate,unromanticizedobservationofhumanexperiences.Itinsistsonprecisedescription,authenticactionanddialogue,normalhonestyandademocraticopennessinsubjectmatterandstyle.2020/6/2Asawayofwriting,realismhasbeenappliedinalmosteveryliteraturethroughouthistory(e.g.inChaucerorDefoeintheirdifferentways).Butasaliterarymovement,itreferstotheapproachofrealistfictionoccurredatthelatterpartofthe18thCentury.2020/6/2MajorFeaturesofRealism1Realismisthetheoryofwritinginwhichfamiliaraspectsofcontemporarylifeandeverydayscenesarerepresentedinastraightforwardormatter-of-factmanner.2Inrealistfictioncharactersfromallsociallevelsareexaminedindepth.3Openendingisalsoagoodexampleofthetruthfultreatmentofmaterial.2020/6/24Realismfocusesoncommonnessofthelivesofthecommonpeoplewhoarecustomarilyignoredbythearts.5Realismemphasizesobjectivityandoffersanobjectiveratherthananidealisticviewofhumannatureandhumanexperience.6Realismpresentsmoralvisions.2020/6/2AmericanRealismcameinthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcenturyasareactionagainstRomanticism.ThethreedominantfiguresoftheperiodareWilliamDeanHowells,MarkTwain,andHenryJames.2020/6/2StyleofRealismgracefulprose,vernaculardiction,rough&readyfrontierhumor;①Verisimilitude（逼真）ofdetailderivedfromobservation,theefforttoapproachthenormofexperience;②arelianceontherepresentativeinplot,setting,andcharacter;③andtoofferanobjectiveratherthananidealizedviewofhumannatureandexperience.2020/6/2WilliamDeanHowells(1837-1920)“DeanofAmericanRealism”2020/6/2LifeExperienceBornandbroughtupinahumblesurroundings;Littleformaleducationbutwidelyread;Influencedbymanyfamousliteraryfigures;Workedasreporter,editorandwriter;2020/6/2becamethefirstpresidentoftheAmericanAcademyofArtsandLetters(美国艺术文学学院)wroteacampaignbiographyofLincolntohelphimtowinthePresidencyHowellswrote8criticalbooksandabout1700bookreviewstospreadtheprinciplesofrealismacriticandaprolificwriterhelpedyoungerandmoreradicalwriterstogetahearing2020/6/2Howells’srealisticprinciplesa.Realismis“fidelitytoexperienceandprobabilityofmotive”.完全真实对待生活和素材b.Theaimis“talkofsomeordinarytraitsofAmericanlife”.写作目的是讲述普通人的生活c.Maninhisnaturalandunaffecteddullnesswastheobjectoffictionalrepresentation.人自然流露出的呆板和迟钝是描写的对象2020/6/2d.Realismisbynomeansmerephotographicpicturesofexternalsbutincludesacentralconcernwith“motives”andpsychologicalconflicts.现实主义不仅表现外在的影像，还应包含对动机和心理冲突的分析e.Heavoidssuchthemesasillicitlove.避免涉及违背伦理道德的爱情话题f.Charactersshouldhavesolidityofspecificationandbereal.人物塑造应真实可信Howells’srealisticprinciples2020/6/2g.The“commonfeelingsofcommonplacepeople”wasbestsuitedasatechniquetoexpressthespiritofAmerica.表现普通人的普通感情是表达美国精神的最好方式i.Truthisthehighestbeauty,itincludestheviewthatmoralitypenetratesallthings.真理是最美的，真理蕴含一个观点：道德无处不在。Howells’srealisticprinciples2020/6/2j.Withregardtoliterarycriticism,Howellsfeltthattheliterarycriticshouldfollowthedetachedscientistinaccuratedescription,interpretation,andclassification.使用科学的方法，仔细描述、解读和分类Howells’srealisticprinciples2020/6/2①TheRiseofSilasLapham《赛拉斯.拉帕姆的发迹》②CriticismandFiction《批评与小说》③TheirWeddingJourney《他们的婚姻之旅》④AModernInstance《现代婚姻》⑤AChanceAcquaintance《偶然相识》Howells’sworks2020/6/2⑥TheMinister’sCharge《牧师的职责》⑦AWorldofChance《偶然的世界》⑧AnnieKilburn《安妮.吉尔伯恩》⑨AHazardofNewFortunes《时来运转》⑩LiteratureandLife《文学与生活》2020/6/2TheRiseofSilasLapham1)plot2)symbolicmeaningofthenewhouseandthefire3)featuresofitsplot:mainplotandlovesubplot2020/6/21)Markhissuccessinbusinessandhismoraldegeneration;2)PortrayalofdevelopingprocessofAmericanCapitalism;3)Advancementofmaterialanddecayofspirit;Thenewhouse2020/6/2FireindicateshisdoubtanddissatisfactionwiththedevelopingdirectionofAmericancivilization.2020/6/2FeaturesofitsplotOnitsmostsuperficiallevel,thelovesubplotaddsanelementofmysteryandsuspensetothestory,thusexcitingandholdingtheinterestsofreaderingeneral.2020/6/2LoveSubplotFirst,the“economyofpain”formulaevolvedinthesubplot;Anotherwayisthatitpresentsaroughlyanalogou