The History of American Literature 第七讲 Part One: Early American Literature(1620-1770) Chapter 1: The Seventeenth Century Literature (also called the colonial literature) 1. American Puritanism: American Puritanism was one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature. It has become, to some extent, so much a state of mind, rather than a set of tenets, so much a part of the national cultural atmosphere that the American breathes, that we may state with a degree of safety that, without some understanding of Puritanism, there can be no real understanding of America and its literature. Just like the influence of Confucian doctrine upon the ideology of chinese people) Puritanism is the practices and beliefs of the Puritans. The Puritans were originally members of a division of the protestant
The History of American Literature 第七讲 Part One: Early American Literature (1620-1770) Chapter 1: The Seventeenth Century Literature (also called the colonial literature) 1. American Puritanism: American Puritanism was one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature. It has become, to some extent, so much a state of mind, rather than a set of tenets, so much a part of the national cultural atmosphere that the American breathes, that we may state with a degree of safety that, without some understanding of Puritanism, there can be no real understanding of America and its literature. (Just like the influence of Confucian doctrine upon the ideology of Chinese people) Puritanism is the practices and beliefs of the Puritans. The Puritans were originally members of a division of the Protestant
Church, who came into existence in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. The first settlers who became the founding fathers of the American nation were quite a few of them Puritans. They came to America out of various reasons but it should be remembered that they were a group of serious, religious people, advocating highly religious and moral principles. As the word itself hints, Puritans wanted to purify their religious beliefs and practices. They felt that the church of England was too close to the church of rome in doctrine form of worship, and organization of authority. The American Puritans back in England, were idealists, believing that the church should be restored to complete purity". They accepted the doctrine of predestination, original sin and total depravity, and limited atonement or the salvation of selected few) through a special infusion of grace from God. But in the grim struggle for survival that followed immediately after their
Church, who came into existence in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King JamesⅠ. The first settlers who became the founding fathers of the American nation were quite a few of them Puritans. They came to America out of various reasons, but it should be remembered that they were a group of serious, religious people, advocating highly religious and moral principles. As the word itself hints, Puritans wanted to purify their religious beliefs and practices. They felt that the church of England was too close to the Church of Rome in doctrine form of worship, and organization of authority. The American Puritans back in England, were idealists, believing that the church should be restored to complete “purity”. They accepted the doctrine of predestination, original sin and total depravity, and limited atonement (or the salvation of selected few) through a special infusion of grace from God. But in the grim struggle for survival that followed immediately after their
arrival in America, they became more and more practical, they became more and more preoccupied with business and profits, as indeed they had to be. Puritans' lives were extremely disciplined and hard. They drove out of their settlements all those opinions that seemed dangerous to them And history has criticized their actions. They were also determined to find a place where they could worship in the way they thought true Christians should. They meant to reestablish a commonwealth, based on the teachings of the Bible, restore the lost paradise and build the wilderness into a new Garden of eden Influence of puritanism sense of mission symbolism, and simple style 2. Literature of this period: 1)Characteristics: Not independent, but based on British literary traditions. The first American literature was not written by an American, but by John Smith, a British captain. Most
arrival in America, they became more and more practical, they became more and more preoccupied with business and profits, as indeed they had to be. Puritans’ lives were extremely disciplined and hard. They drove out of their settlements all those opinions that seemed dangerous to them. And history has criticized their actions. They were also determined to find a place where they could worship in the way they thought true Christians should. They meant to reestablish a commonwealth, based on the teachings of the Bible, restore the lost paradise and build the wilderness into a new Garden of Eden. Influence of Puritanism: sense of mission, symbolism, and simple style. 2. Literature of this period: 1)Characteristics: Not independent, but based on British literary traditions. The first American literature was not written by an American, but by John Smith, a British captain. Most
writers were born in britain 2)Writers John Smith : A True Relation of such Occurrences and accidents of Note as Hath Happened in Virginia A Map of virginia Edward Taylor (1642-1729): the best puritan poet. Anne Bradstreet(1612-1672: called the “ tenth muse”that recently sprung up in the new continent 第八讲 Chapter 2: The Eighteenth Century Literature 1. Enlightenment in American literature An intellectual(philosophical) movement characterized by belief in the power of human reason. It originated in the European continent The enlighteners regarded"enlightenment or education"as the principal means for the development of a society, moreover, they
writers were born in Britain. 2)Writers: John Smith: A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Happened in Virginia. A Map of Virginia Edward Taylor (1642-1729): the best puritan poet. Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672): called the “tenth muse” that recently sprung up in the new continent. 第八讲 Chapter 2: The Eighteenth Century Literature 1. Enlightenment in American literature An intellectual (philosophical) movement characterized by belief in the power of human reason. It originated in the European continent. The enlighteners regarded “enlightenment” or “education” as the principal means for the development of a society, moreover, they
showed larger concerns for civil rights. They began to reconsider the relations among man, Nature and God, suggesting an extension of the principles of equality and social justice The enlighteners advocated publicly to study “ man instead of“God", and pointed out the evils in human civilization stemmed from the social injustice, not from "original sin They emphasized on reason, education and scientific research, believed that man could perfect himself and decide his own destiny The spokesman s Benjamin Franklin.(1706-1790) 2 Deisn(自然神论) The belief in natural religion. The Deists believed that all things in the nature were the embodiments of gods, and that why man lived in the world was not to suffer so as to exchange for the rebirth of the next generation but to eliminate the inequality of race, sex and faith and to build up his own"“ paradise” in the human world. (promoted the American
showed larger concerns for civil rights. They began to reconsider the relations among man, Nature and God, suggesting an extension of the principles of equality and social justice. The enlighteners advocated publicly to study “ man” instead of “God”, and pointed out the “evils” in human civilization stemmed from the social injustice, not from “original sin.” They emphasized on reason, education and scientific research, believed that man could perfect himself and decide his own destiny. The spokesman is Benjamin Franklin.(1706-1790) 2. Deism ( 自然神论) The belief in natural religion. The Deists believed that all things in the nature were the embodiments of gods, and that why man lived in the world was not to suffer so as to exchange for the rebirth of the next generation, but to eliminate the inequality of race, sex and faith and to build up his own “paradise” in the human world. (promoted the American
revolution) 1) Only one god was worth worshipping 2) Man could keep making progress by making use of his own moral sense and of his own intelligence and wisdom 3 Man should love truth and do good 4) Education and science was an important means to create man's happiness 5) The freedom of citizen's speech, action and faith embodied man's basic benefits 6) To serve God best was to do good for the man kind 7) Voltaire(1694-1778), Daniel Defoe (1659-1731) Rousseau(1712-1778 belonged to this belief 3. Calvinism Calvinism is the doctrine of Calvin the great French theologian who lived in Geneva. It is a doctrine of predestination, original sin and total depravity, and limited atonement (or the salvation of a selected few) through a special infusion of grace from God. The Calvinists
revolution) 1） Only one god was worth worshipping 2） Man could keep making progress by making use of his own moral sense and of his own intelligence and wisdom 3） Man should love truth and do good 4） Education and science was an important means to create man’s happiness 5） The freedom of citizen’s speech, action, and faith embodied man’s basic benefits 6） To serve God best was to do good for the mankind 7） Voltaire(1694-1778), Daniel Defoe (1659-1731) Rousseau (1712-1778) belonged to this belief. 3. Calvinism Calvinism is the doctrine of Calvin, the great French theologian who lived in Geneva. It is a doctrine of predestination, original sin and total depravity, and limited atonement (or the salvation of a selected few) through a special infusion of grace from God. The Calvinists
believed that man was, since the Fall basically evil and enslaved by his sense of sin, and that God was all, and would in His mercy and love work for man's salvation but as for man, all he could do (if ever there was anything he could do was to worship the Almighty and hope. Jonathan Edwards (1572-1832)was a representative 4. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 1)Life He was born poor and obscure. He received little education, but he was a voracious reader. He was a rare genius in human history Everything seems to meet in this one man, mind and will, talent and art, strength and ease wit and grace, and he became almost everything: a printer, postmaster, almanac maker, essayist, scientist, orator, statesman philosopher, political economist ambassador--"Jack of all trades". For quite some time he was regarded as the father of his country
believed that man was, since the Fall, basically evil and enslaved by his sense of sin, and that God was all, and would in His mercy and love work for man’s salvation, but as for man, all he could do (if ever there was anything he could do) was to worship the Almighty and hope. Jonathan Edwards (1572-1832) was a representative. 4. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 1) Life: He was born poor and obscure. He received little education, but he was a voracious reader. He was a rare genius in human history. Everything seems to meet in this one man, mind and will, talent and art, strength and ease, wit and grace, and he became almost everything: a printer, postmaster, almanac maker, essayist, scientist, orator, statesman, philosopher, political economist, ambassador---“Jack of all trades”. For quite some time he was regarded as the father of his country
3). Autobiography a book on the art of self-improvement, an inspiring account of a poor boy's rise to wealth and fame and the fulfillment of the American dream Its Importance: (1)It is the first of its kind (2)The reflection of the age (3)The fulfillment of the American Dream (4)Exhibition of a simple style (5)A demonstration of Enlightenment (6)A Puritan document 6. Philip Freneau(1752-1832) )Life He was the most significant poet of eighteenth-century America. "Father of American Poetry". He was in turn a school teacher, a newspaper writer, a sailor, a trader, a farmer, and a government official. He supported the Revolution with great enthusiasm, hence being called"Poet of the American Revolution He was a most notable representative of dawning nationalism in
3). Autobiography a book on the art of self-improvement , an inspiring account of a poor boy’s rise to wealth and fame and the fulfillment of the American dream. Its Importance: (1) It is the first of its kind (2) The reflection of the age. (3) The fulfillment of the American Dream (4) Exhibition of a simple style (5) A demonstration of Enlightenment (6) A Puritan document 6. Philip Freneau ( 1752—1832) 1)Life He was the most significant poet of eighteenth-century America. “Father of American Poetry”. He was in turn a school teacher, a newspaper writer, a sailor, a trader, a farmer, and a government official. He supported the Revolution with great enthusiasm, hence being called “ Poet of the American Revolution”. He was a most notable representative of dawning nationalism in
American literature, Almost alone of his generation, he managed to peer through the pervasive atmosphere of imitativeness, to see life around directly, to appreciate the natural scenes on the new continent and the native Indian civilization 2)Literary Achievement 1. Poems encouraging revolution and glory The British Prison Ship On the memorable victory of John Paul Jones 2. Poems about the order and beauty of the nature. The Wild honey Suckle The Indian Burying Ground To a Caty-Did 3. Political motivated poems To Sir Toby On the memorable victory of John Paul Jones 第11-12讲: Part Two: The Age of Romanticism
American literature. Almost alone of his generation, he managed to peer through the pervasive atmosphere of imitativeness, to see life around directly, to appreciate the natural scenes on the new continent and the native Indian civilization. 2)Literary Achievement: 1. Poems encouraging revolution and glory: The British Prison Ship, On the memorable Victory of John Paul Jones. 2. Poems about the order and beauty of the nature: The Wild honey Suckle The Indian Burying Ground To a Caty-Did 3. Political motivated poems: To Sir Toby On the memorable Victory of John Paul Jones 第 11-12 讲：Part Two: The Age of Romanticism
(1770-1875) Chapter 3: Early Romantics 1. Common Characteristics of romanticism. 1)Romanticism was a rebellion against the objectivity of rationalism. It placed high importance on the creative function of imagination, and saw art as a formulation of ntuitive and imaginative perceptions that tend to speak a nobler truth than that of fact 2) For romantics, the feelings, intuitions and emotions were more important than reason and common sense. They believed that one could find truth through feelings. They believed that the irrational was important in human experience and that not everything could be explained by reason 3 Romantics did not think of the world as a ticking watch made by God. They thought the world was a living, breathing being They stressed the close relationship between man and nature. They viewed
(1770—1875) Chapter 3 : Early Romantics 1. Common Characteristics of Romanticism: 1)Romanticism was a rebellion against the objectivity of rationalism. It placed high importance on the creative function of imagination, and saw art as a formulation of intuitive and imaginative perceptions that tend to speak a nobler truth than that of fact. 2)For romantics, the feelings, intuitions and emotions were more important than reason and common sense. They believed that one could find truth through feelings. They believed that the irrational was important in human experience and that not everything could be explained by reason. 3)Romantics did not think of the world as a ticking watch made by God. They thought the world was a living, breathing being. They stressed the close relationship between man and nature. They viewed