美国文学选读总结-陶洁版

第一讲PeriodsofAmericanLiterature1607—1775theColonialPeriod1765—1790theRevolutionaryAge1775—1865theearlynationalperiodandtheRomanticPeriod1865—1914theRealisticPeriod1900—1914theNaturalisticperiod1914—1939theModernperiod1939---thecontemporaryperiodTheColonialPeriodFromthefoundingofthefirstsettlementatJamestown,Virginia,totheoutbreakoftheAmericanRevolutionHistoricalbackgroundTheReformationinEurope→mostofthefoundingfatherswerepuritans→theAmericanPuritanismbecameoneofthemostenduringshapinginfluenceswhatisAmericanPuritanism?HowdoesitinfluenceAmericanliterature?AmericanPuritanismAcodeofvalues,aphilosophyoflife,orasetoftenetsofTheAmericanpuritansTheywereidealistsbelievingthattheirchiefbusinesstoseethatmanlivedandthoughtandactedinawaywhichtendedtothegloryofGod.Theyacceptedthedoctrineofpredestination,originalsinandtotaldepravity,andlimitedatonement(orthesalvationofaselectedfew)throughirresistiblegraceofGod.Ontheotherhand,theywerepracticalidealists,ordoctrinaireopportunists.TheyfelttheywereexilesunderthegraceofGodtoestablishaparadiseinthenewworld,yettheharshrealityforcedthemtobuildawayoflifethatstressedhardwork,thrift,piety,andsobriety.TheinfluencesonAmericanliteratureOptimism:Anglo-Americanliterature,basedontheBiblicalmythoftheGardenofEden,isaliteraryexpressionofthepiousidealismofthePuritanbequest.Firedwithasenseofmission,theydreamedofbuildinganewEdeninAmerica,whichledtotheemergenceofAmericandreaminliterature.Literarysymbolism:Puritan’smetaphoricalmodeofperceptionhelpedtodevelopliterarysymbolismastheysawthephysical,phenomenalworldwasnothingbutasymbolofGod.Hencesymbolismasatechniquewasacommonpractice.TheliterarysceneinColonialAmericanHumbleorigins:histories,travelaccounts,diaries,letters,sermons,biographies,autobiographies,commonplacebooks,andpoemstorecordtheirexperiencesandexpresstheirviewsandfeelings.Literatureofdiscovery,ofpuritanexpansion,andofGodWilliamBradford(1590-1657)OfPlymouthPlantationJohnSmith(1580-1631)ADescriptionofNewEnglandAnneBradstreet(1612-1672“theTenthMuse”)PuritanPoet:EdwardTaylor(1642-1729)characteristicsFullofSymbolicmeaningsUtilitarian,polemical,ordidacticThestyle:fresh,simple,anddirectTherhetoricisplainandhonest,notwithoutatouchofnobilitytraceabletothedirectinfluenceoftheBibleThe18thCentury“ForthreegenerationstheprevailingAmericancharacterwascompactinonetype,themanofactionwhowasalsothemanofGod.Notuntiltheeighteenthcenturydidtheriftappear…itappearedinthetwophilosophers,JonathanEdwardsandBenjaminFranklinwhofixedthepolesofournationallife….JonathanEdwardsdisplayedtheinfiniteinflexibilityoftheupperlevelsoftheAmericanmind…typicallyFranklinthefiniteflexibilityofitslowerlevels”VanWyckBrooks:American’sComingofAge1915AmericanPuritanismisatwo-facetedtraditionofreligiousidealismandlevelcommonsense.Edwardsrepresentedtheformeraspect,whileFranklinthelatterTwobasicpatternsofthoughtinAmericanTheinfluenceofthedeism.(Godasthemakeroftheclock)→Theageofenlightenment,reason,orderthepersistentCalvinistbeliefs→the“GreatAwakening”EdwardsandFranklinrepresenttheparadoxofPuritanmaterialismandimmateriality.BenjaminFranklinandhisAutobiographyBornin1706intoapoorcandle-maker’sfamily---“poorandobscure”,littleformaleducation.Independentprinterandpublisher,essayist,scientist,orator,statesman,philosopher,politicaleconomist,ambassador,parlorman,----“Jackofalltrades”Sinceearly1750s,publiccareerbegan.TheonlyAmericantosignthefourdocumentsthatcreatedtheUS----TheDeclarationofIndependence,thetreatyofalliancewithFrance,thetreatyofpeacewithEngland,andtheconstitution.Masterofeachandmasteredbynone---thetypeandgeniusofhisland-------HermanMelvillethusdescribedhim.TheAutobiographythesimpleyetfascinatingrecordofamanrisingtowealthandfamefromastateofpovertyandobscurity,thefaithfulaccountofthecareerofAmerican’sfirstself-mademan.aPuritandocument,arecordofself-examinationandself-improvement.Aconvincingillustrationofthepuritanethicthatinordertogetonintheworld,onehastobeindustrious,frugal,andprudent.Aneloquentexplanationofhisphilosophy:moderation,order,man’sbasicallygoodandfreenature,man’scapabilityofimprovement,man’sinalienablerights.CelebratesthefulfillmentoftheAmericandreamthroughthespiritofself-reliance.ThestylePatternofpuritansimplicity,directness,andconcision.PlainnessofstyleHomelinessofimagerySimplicityofdictionLucidityofthenarrativeWashingtonIrving(1783-1859)BornintoawealthyNewYorkmerchantfamily.Firstbookin1809:AHistoryofNewYorkWiththepublicationTheSketchBook(1819-1820),acollectionofessays,tales,andsketches,hewonameasureofinternationalrecognition.In1826,senttoSpainasanAmericandiplomaticattaché.from1829-1832,wasasecretaryoftheunitedstatesLegationinLondon.Upto1832,hewasdrawntotheruinsandrelicsofEuropeandwritingaboutsubjectseitherEnglishorEuropean.Hefoundvaluesinthepastandinthetraditionsoftheoldworld.BackinAmerica,hefoundawholenewspiritofnationalisminAmericanfeelingandletters.IrvingwasthefirstAmericanwriterofimaginativeliteraturetogaininternationalfame.TheshortstoryasagenreinAmericanliteraturebeganwithhisTheSketchBook,ofwhichthemostfamousareRipVanWinkleandTheLegendofSleepHollow.ItalsomarkedthebeginningofAmericanRomanticism.Irving’sstyle1.Avoidmoralizingasmuchaspossible;wrotetoamuseandentertain.2.Despitetheslimplot,heisgoodatenvelopinghisstoriesinanatmosphere3.Hislanguageisfinishedandmusical.TheAmericanGoldsmith第二讲TheRomanticPeriodStretchesfromtheendof18thcenturythroughtheoutbreakofthecivilwarHistoricalandculturalbackgrounda.thebuoyantmoodofthenationburstingintonewlifeb.theflourishingromanticmovementinEuropec.theculturalheritage:AmericanPuritanismAmericanromanticismwasbothimitativeandindependenta.itwasinessencetheexpressionofarealnewexperienceandcontainedanalienquality.ItexhibitedanapathytoAmericanlifelikethewestwardexpansionsanddemocracyandequality.b.intechniqueAmericanromanticistlovedtraditionalmetersandstanzaforms,usedstereotypedmetaphorsandsuperficialandexplicitsymbolismNewEnglandTranscendentalismThesummitofAmericanromanticism,“AmericanRenaissance”ThetranscendentalclubwithitsjournalDialexpresstheirresentmenttothematerialistic-orientedlifeofthetimeandtothecold,rigidrationalismofunitarianismThemajorfeaturesEmphasisonspirit,ortheOversoul,asthemostimportantthingintheuniverse.Theoversoulwasanall-pervadingpowerforgoodness,omnipresentandomnipotent,fromwhichallthingscameandofwhichallwereapart.Itexistedinnatureandmanalike.→anewwayoflookingattheworld,reactionagainsttheNewtonianconceptoftheuniverseandthemechanizedcapitalisticAmerica.Stressedtheimportanceofindividualwhichwasthemostimportantelementofsociety.Theindividualsoulcommunedwiththeoversoulandwasthereforedivine.Thefirstconcernofmanwashisperfectionthroughself-culture,self-improvement,andself-reliance.→anewwayoflookingatman,reactionagainsttheCalvinismandthedehumanizationofcapitalismOfferedafreshperceptionofnatureassymbolicofthespiritorGod.Naturewas,tothem,notpurelymatter.Itwasalive,filledwithGod’soverwhelmingpresence.ItwasthegarmentoftheOversoul.Thereforeitcouldexerciseahealthyandrestorativeinfluenceonthehumanmind.NewEnglandtranscendentalismwastheproductofacombinationofforeignromanticinfluencesandtheAmericanPuritanidealism.RomanticismonthePuritansoil.RalphWaldoEmerson(1803-1882)DescendantofalonglineofNewEnglandclergymen.WenttoHarvard,whereheunderwentaspiritual“odyssey”Calvinistbelief→Unitarianminister→EuropeanRomanticism→themosteloquentspokesmanofNewEnglandtranscendentalismHisNature(1836):themanifestoofAmericantranscendentalismTheDivinitySchoolAddress(1838)TheAmericanScholar(1837):American’sdeclarationofIntellectualIndependenceTheRepresentativeMen(1850):biographiesofgreatmen,revealhisambivalencetowardaggressivenessandself-seekingTheConductofLife(1860)TheTranscendentalistviewsofEmersonThetranscendenceofthe“Oversoul”andthedivinityofmanThespiritualandimmanentGodisoperativeinthesoulofman,andthatmanisdivine.TheinfinitudeoftheprivatemanIfmandependsuponhimself,cultivateshimself,andbringsoutthedivineinhimself,hecanhopetobecomebetterandevenperfect.thepossibilitiesformantodevelopandimprovehimselfareinfinite.Manshouldandcouldbeself-reliant.TrustthyselfandmakethyselfThesanctifyingmoralinfluenceofnatureasthesymbolofspiritThenaturalworldisvitalisticandevolutionary.Itmediatesbetweenmanandgod,andisawholesomemoralinfluenceonman.Aesthetics:romanticorganicprincipletruepoetryandartshouldserveasamoralpurificationandapassagetowardorganicunityandhigherreality.Self-relianceiswidelyconsideredtobethedefinitivestatementofEmerson’sphilosophyofindividualismandthefinestexampleofhisprose“trustthyself”.Contents:1.Theconfidence2.Theindependence3.Keeppersonality4.ShowingnosympathytothepoorAnalysisPartⅠ(1-6):TrustthyselfP1:TheimportanceofthinkingforoneselfP2:“TrustthyselfP3:TheforceofinfancyandyouthP4:TheanalogybetweenboysandtheidealizedindividualP5:TheimportanceofanindividualresistingthepressuretoconformtotheexternalnormsP6:Thenecessitytofollowone’sinnervoice,whateveritis.BeanonconformistPartⅡ(7-13):Consistencyisthehobgoblin（妖怪）oflittlemindsP7:Society’sdisapprovalorscornP8:Theindividual’sownsenseofconsistencyP9:ConsistencydrainsourcreativityP10:ThecondemnationofthesocietythatdemandsconformityP11:TheultimateconsistencyP12:AtruemanisthecenterofthingsP13:Humansdeterminetheworthofanobjectnotviceversa第三讲HenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862)AsonofanunsuccessfulstorekeeperandamakerofleadpencilsWentofHarvardbecauseofhisaspiringmotherOngraduation,helpedtomakepencils,thenranaprivateschool.MadefriendswithEmerson,usedhislibrary,andembracedhisideasIn1845,wenttobuildacabinonapieceofEmerson’spropertyonWaldenPond,andmovedinonJuly4tolivethereinaverysimplemannerforawhileovertwoyearstomoveawayfromtherushandbustleofAmericansociallifewhichwasgettingmoreandmoresadlymaterialistic-oriented.Therehewasentirelyincommunionwithnature.BacktoConcord,hewroteabouthisexperiencein“Walden”.DuringhisstayinWalden,hewrote“CivilDisobedience”,which,advocatedpassiveresistancetounjustlawsofsociety.HisWaldenAbookonself-cultureandhumanperfectibility.Hehasfaithintheinnervirtueandinward,spiritualgraceofman.Themostimportantthingformantodowithhislifeistobeself-sufficientandstrivetoachievepersonalspiritualperfection.Criticizedmoderncivilizationwhichinhisopinion,wasdegradingandenslavingman.Hesaid“civilizedmanistheslaveofmatter.”heurgedmantoleavethelifeofhurryandbustleofgettingaheadinworldlyaffairsandsinkoneselfinthewholesomeatmosphereofnature.Thebookisfullofideasexpressedtojostlehisneighborsoutoftheirsmugcomplacency.Hegoesontoprescribeapanaceaforthefatalmoderncrazeformonetarysuccess:simplicity!simplify!Spiritualrichnessisrealwealth.Abookaboutregenerationofabetterman,rebornandreinvigorated.Structurally,summer,autumn,deathofwinter,renascenceofspring.CommentonThoreauAnactivetranscendentalist.Notanescapistorarecluse,northewickedanti-socialornullifierofcivilization.OneofthreegreatAmericanauthorsof19thCenturywhohadnocontemporaryreadersandyetbecamegreatinthe20thcentury.Hetookamorethanusualinterestinnaturalworld.MorethanEmerson,hesawnatureasagenuinerestorative,healthyinfluenceonman’sspiritualwell-being,andregardingitasasymbolofthespirit.Withsolitarycommunionwithnature,hewentevenfurthertoillustratethepantheisticqualityofnature.Hisideacameclosetobeingheathenismandnature-worship,apantheismwhichtendedtodestroythetranscendenceofGod.NovelsandRomancesoftheeraJamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)NathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)HermanMelville(1819-1891)JamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)Bornintoarichland-holdingfamilyofNewJersey.SenttoYaleat14butwasexpelledinhisjunioryearSpentfiveyearsatsea.Inearlytwenties,inheritedvastfortune.Beganhiscareerasanauthorbyaccidentduetohiswife’schallenge.Hewrotethirty-oddnovelsinallsincethen.OneofthefirstauthorstowriteabouttheAmericanwestwardmovement.HecreatedamythabouttheformativeperiodoftheAmericannation,andwasrememberedastheauthorofthe“Leatherstockingtales”aseriesoffivenovelsaboutthefrontierlifeofAmericansettlers.LeatherstockingtalesThePioeers,theLastoftheMohicans,thePrairie,thePathfinder,andTheDeerslayer.DepitedNattyBumppoorLeatherstocking(sonamedbecauseofhiswearingleatherleggingsintheAmericanIndianfasion)asapioneer,arealfrontiersman,representinganationstrugglingtobeborn,progressingfromoldagetorebirthandyouth.Itisahistoryofmoderncivilizationadvancingontherecedingwilderness,andofthejuxtapositionof“theworksofmanandthereignofnature.”Thethemeofhisstories:theantithesisbetweennatureandcivilization,betweenfreedomandlaw,themorallyrightandthepracticallyinevitable,orleatherstocking(man’soldforestfreedom)andJudgeTemple(manassavagewithoutlawandorder).NathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)Asonofaseacaptain.Bornonthe4thofJulyinSalem,Massachusetts.SomeofhisancestorsweremenofprominenceinthePuritanTheocracyof17th-centuryNewEngland.HewasintenselyawareofthemisdeedsofhisPuritanancestors,whichledtohisunderstandingofevilbeingatthecoreofhumanlife.In1821HawthornewenttoBowdoinCollege.From1825to1837,helivedinsolitudeandseclusion.In1837,publishedhisTwice-ToldTales,acollectionofshorttales.1841,helivedforafewmonthsatBrookFarm,andmarriedSophiaPeabody.WorkedintheCustomhouseinBostonandSalem1853,Hawthorne’scollegefriendFranklinPierce,appointedHawthorneaUnitedStatesconsulinEngland.1864,hedied,afewyearsafterreturningtoAmerica.HisworksTwocollectionsofshortstories:Twice-toldTales《故事新编》MossesfromanOldManse«古宅青苔»Romance:TheScarletLetter«红字»masterpiece,whichestablishedhimastheleadingAmericannativenovelistofthe19thcenturyTheHouseoftheSevenGables《七个尖角阁的房子》TheBlithedaleRomance《福谷传奇》TheMarbleFaun《大理石雕像》Shortstories:YoungGoodmanBrown《小伙子古德曼•布朗》TheMinister’sBlackVeil《教长的黑面纱》TheBirthmark《胎记》Hispointofview(1)Evilisatthecoreofhumanlife.Hawthornesenseofsinandevilinlife,“black”visionoflifeandhumanishaunted.Evilexistsinthehumanheart,humanheartisthesourceofevil.Everyonepossessessomeevilsecret.Evilisman’sbirthmark,amostdisturbedandtormentedone.Herejectsthetranscendentalistoptimismandlooksmoredeeplyandmorehonestlyintolife,findingmuchsufferingandconflictinit.(2)Wheneverthereissin,thereispunishment.Sinorevilcanbepassedfromgenerationtogeneration.(3)Evileducates.Achievementis“undertheimpactofandbyengagementwithevil”Manisbetterforthecrimewhichbringsaboutthefall.(4)Hehasdisgustinscience.Onesourceofevilisoverweeningintellect.Hisintellectualcharactersarevillains,dreadfulandcold-blooded.thetensionbetweentheheadandtheheartconstitutesoneoftheelementsinhisromancesAestheticideas(1)Hetookagreatinterestinhistoryandantiquity.Tohimthesefurnishthesoilonwhichhismindgrowstofruition(fulfill).Trying“toconnectabygonetimewiththeveryPresent”,hemakesthedreamstrangethingslookliketruth.(2)HewasconvincedthatromancewasthebestformtodescribeAmerica.thepovertyofmaterialsromancesratherthannovelsallowhimtoavoidoffendingthePuritantasteTotellthetruthandsatirizeandyetnottooffend第四讲HermanMelville(1819-1891)Happychildhoodtotheageof11(whenhisfatherdiedindebt)HadlittleeducationandbegantoworkathisearlyyearsBankclerk,salesman,afarm-handonhisuncle’sfarm,aschoolteacher,(thesejobsfailedtoofferhimadecentlivelihood)Threethingsthatdeserveattentionabouthislife1.wenttoseaatabouttwenty(asawhaler,thelowestofsailors)2.hismarriage(marriedabovehim,thedaughterofawealthyjudge,harassedbyapecuniaryneed)3.in1850,madefriendswithHawthorne.(rewroteMobyDick,theyrepresentedapositionoftragichumanismintheirtime)Forthelasttwentyyears,MelvilleworkedintheCustomHouseinNewYork.Hewasforgottenasanauthorevenwhenstillliving.Hesankfurtherandfurtherintooblivion.Inthe1920s,duetothespadeworkofascholarWeaver,hereceivedrecognition.Melville’sworksIn1846,Typeecameout,tobefollowedinclosesuccessionbyOmoo(1847),Mardi(1849).(fromhisadventuresamongthepeopleoftheSouthPacificislands).Redburn(1849)anaccountofhisvoyagetoEngland.WhiteJacket(1850)relateshislifeonaUnitedStatesman-of-war.ThushewasknownasapopularwriterofexotictalesMobyDick(1851)thefirstAmericanproseepic.MobyDick(1851)TheplotIshmael,feelingdepressed,seeksescapebygoingouttoseaonthewhalingship,Pequod.ThecaptainisAhab,themanwithoneleg.MobyDick,thewhitewhale,hadshearedoffhislegonapreviousvoyage,andAhabresolvestohunthimtothekill.Hehangsadoubloononthemastasarewardforanyonewhosightsthewhalefirst.ThePequodmakesagoodcatchofwhalesbutAhabrefusestoturnbackuntilhehaskilledhisenemy.Eventuallythewhitewhaleappears,andthePequodbeginsitsdoomfightwithit.Onthefirstdaythewhaleoverturnsaboat;ontheseconditswampsanother.Whenthethirddaycomes,Ahabandhiscrewmanagetoplungeaharpoonintoit,butthewhalecarriesthePequodalongwithittoitsdoom.Allonboardthewhalergetdrowned,exceptone,Ishmael,whosurvivestotellthetale.onMobyDickAnencyclopediaofeverything,history,philosophy,religion,etc,notonlyadetailedaccountoftheoperationsofthewhalingindustryAShakespeareantragedyofmanfightingagainstoverwhelmingoddsinanindifferentandevenhostileuniverse.ItrepresentsthesumtotalofMelville’sbleakviewoftheworldinwhichhelived.ItisatonceGodlessandpurposeless.Maninthisuniverselivesameaninglessandfutilelife.Mancanobserveandevenmanipulateinaprudentway,buthecannotinfluenceandovercomenatureatitssource.Hemustultimatelyplacehimselfatthemercyofnature.Onceoneattemptstoseekpoweroveritheisdoomed.Theideathatmancanmaketheworldforhimselfisnothingbutatranscendentalistfolly.Weshouldgettoknowtheextentofevilinlifeandthehumansoultohelpmakelifeandmanbetter.“Thewaytoheavenisthroughhell”CaptainAhabCaptainAhabcutshimselfofffromhiswifeandkid,andstaysawaymostofthetimefromhiscrew.HehatesMobyDickwhichisanembodimentofnature.Heisangrybecausehisprideiswounded.Afterthelossofhisleginhisencounterwiththewhitewhale,heseemstoholdGodresponsibleforthepresenceofevilintheuniverse.Hearingofnoobjection,heisbentonavenginghimself.Hebeginswithanobleintentiontocrushevilanddefiantlyrejectstheslavishvaluesoftheshoreinordertodefythemalignancyintheuniverse.InMobyDick,Ahabseesnothingbutinscrutablemalice,intelligentmalignity,anagentofallforcesthatthwartanddestroythehopesandlivesofhumans.Eventuallyheisdestroyedbyhisconsumingdesiretorootoutevil,loseshissanityandhumanityandbecomesadevilishcreaturerushingtowardhisdoom.AhabseemstobethebestillustrationofoneofthemajorthemesinMelville:Alienation,whichhesensedexistinginthelifeofhistimeondifferentlevels,betweenmanandman,manandsociety,andmanandnature.AhabmayhavebeenMelville’sportraitofanEmersonianself-reliantindividual.Ahabistoomuchofaself-reliantindividualtobeagoodhumanbeing.Hestandsaloneonhisownonelegamongthemillionsofthepeopledearth.Forhimtheonlylawishisownwill.Tohimtheworldexistsforhissake.Hisselfhoodmustbeassertedattheexpenseofallelse:livesmaybesacrificed,andnaturemayhavetobevanquishedinorderthathemaydowhathewills.Inassertinghisprivatepersonality,hedeniesruthlesslythehumanityandindividualityofhisfellowmen.Thisnovel,thusrevealsbasicpatternof19th-centuryAmericanlife:lonelinessandsuicidalindividualisminaself-styleddemocracy.Melville’sstyleThewritingisconsciouslyliterarywithmanyallusionstoclassicalmyths,andmanynon-narrativechaptersbywhichMelvillechangesanadventurestoryintoaphilosophicalnovelHemanagestoachievetheeffectofambiguitythroughemployingthetechniqueofmultipleviewinhisnarrative.Thismethod,indicatingtheauthor’sunwillingnesstocommithimself,definitelyhelpstocreateasymboliceffect.Hisstyleishighlysymbolicandmetaphorical.MobyDick,atragicepic,aromanceofmoralinquiryaboutthenatureofgoodandevil,andaboutthepowerofwilltodefyfate.Itisanaturalisticstoryofwhale-hunting,yetmetaphoricalandsymbolic.ThesymbolisminMobyDickThevoyageThevoyageitselfisametaphorfor“searchanddiscovery,”thesearchfortheultimatetruthofexperience.Theship,Pequod,isoneoftheAmericansoul.Theshipontheoceanisasymbolofthewholeworldwithpeopleofeverylandsailingacrossthewatersoflifeinquestofitsmystery.ItisalsoamicrocosmofAmericansociety.Itcontainsrepresentativesofmostsocialandethnicgroups,andtheirvariousreactionstothechase.Thewhitewhale,Themysteryoftheuniverse.Itiscapableofmanyinterpretations.Asymbolofevil,orgoodness,orboth.Itisparadoxicallybenignandmalevolent,nourishinganddestructive.Itswhitenessisparadoxicalcolor,signifyingasitdoesdeathandcorruptionaswellaspurity,innocence,andyouth.Bothablessingandcurse第五讲WaltWhitman(1819-1892)BroughtupinafarmingcommunityonlongIsland,NewYorkGrewupinamicrocosmofworkingclassAmerica:5-6yearsofformalschooling,thenasanofficeboyinalawfirm,thenforadoctor,andafterwardsinprinting,thenanelemen