美国文学史——精选推荐

Abstract:
America's history of literature began with the swarming in of immigrants with different background and cultures. After that, American literature had been greatly influenced by the European culture for a long period. It was not until America's independence, did Americans realized that they need national literature strongly, and American literature began to developed. The Civil War was a watershed in the history, after which American literature entered a period of full blooming. Romantics, which emphasized individualism and intuition and Tnscendentalism represented by Emerson came out into being. This was an exciting period in the history of American literature. Like the flowers of spring, there were suddenly many different kinds of writing at the same time. They have given depth and strength to American literature, and accelerated the forming of High Romantics. But due to the influence of Civil War, the American society was in a turbulent situation. The writings about local life, critical realism and unveiling the dark side of the society were increased. After The First World War, Americans were at a loss postwar, and the Modern American literature began.
My piece of paper is written in chronological order as these periods developed in order to have a clear outline of its progress.
Keywords: National Literature, Romanism, Transcendentalism, Local Color, Realism, Modern literature
摘要：从殖民地时期起，欧洲殖民者和清教徒翻开了美国⽂学史的第⼀页。

这往后很长⼀段时期，美国⽂学⼀直都受到欧洲⽂化的很⼤影响。

⼀直到美国独⽴后，美国⼈强烈地感觉到了民族⽂学的需要，美国的民族⽂学开始发展。

南北战争是美国⽂学⼀个分⽔岭，战后美国⽂学进⼊了⼀个全盛时期，产⽣了强调个性主义和直觉的早期浪漫主义，和以爱默⽣为代表的超验主义⽂学。

爱默⽣的时代是美国前所未有的⽂学变动时代，产⽣了⼀⼤批优秀的作家和作品。

他们突出地给予了当时美国⽂学以深度和⼒量，也促进了罗曼主义⾼潮的来临。

但是由于战争的影响，社会动荡不安，这时的作品更注重于揭⽰社会的阴暗⾯，同时美国的民族⽂学进⼀步发展，创作出许多带有本⼟⾊彩和批判现实主义的作品。

⼀战后，美国⼈陷⼊战后的茫然，美国也开始进⼊了现代⽂学阶段。

我的论⽂随着这些时代的发展以时间顺序展开，以便对于美国⽂学史的产⽣和发展纲要能有⼀个清晰的条理。

关键词：民族⽂学，浪漫主义，超验主义，本⼟⾊彩，现实主义，现代⽂学
American is a multi-national country. Just like a big container, which put in various kinds of elements. Different cultures, that can not only be co-existed but also form a sharp contrast, mixed together, It makes American literature style has a flavor of distinct and various aesthetic feeling. Many writers come from lower level, which makes American literature has the rich flavor of life and local color. Furthermore, many new styles of literature in the world are oriented in America since 20th century.
The process of American literature can be divided into following main periods: Colony and Puritan literature; early national literature; latter national literature and Modern literature.
America's history of literature began with the swarming in of immigrants with different background and cultures. After that, American literature had been greatly influenced by the European culture for a long period. It was not until America's independence, did Americans realize that they need national literature strongly, and American literature began to develop. The Civil War was a watershed in the history, after which American literature entered a period of full blooming. Romantics, which emphasized individualism and intuition，and Tnscendentalism represented by Emerson came out into being. This was an exciting period in the history of American literature. Like the flowers of spring, there were suddenly many different kinds of writing at the same time. They have given depth and strength to American literature, and accelerated the forming of High Romantics. But due to the influence if Civil War, the American society was in a turbulent situation. The writings about local life, critical realism and unveiling the dark side of the society were increased. After The First World War, Americans were at a loss postwar, and the Modern American literature began.
1. Colonial and early American literature
（1）. Travelers and Explorers
When the European explorers first came to this new continent, the native Indians who probably got here from Asia about fifteen thousand years ago were still in origin, and they even had no written language, “The traditional literature was originally transmitted almost entirely by word of mouth, and therefore belongs to the category of oral literature,” （Wu Dingbo, 1） As time past, more and more travelers and explorers swarmed in. They wrote a lot of diaries、letters, and travel accounts to describe the new land as second Eden. No wander somebody said that the earliest American literature were the travel accounts written by European adventurers. Among the most remained were Captain John Smith's True Relation of Virginia （1608）, and Description of New England （1616）.
Although most of the Indian history was preserved in tales and songs, they had thoughts about life and nature. They loved the natural world around them deeply, and they believed that when a person was dead, he would give back what had
borrowed while he was alive to nature. This kind of philosophy had influenced later or even modern American writers. It's interesting that when we look at the literature of the Puritans, the Transcendentalists, the Naturalists, and even the Moderns, when we read Anne Bradstreet, Emily Dickinson, Stephen Crane, and Ernest Hemingway, we can find similar themes.
（2） Pilgrim settlements
Several years later, another group of settlers also arrived in the New World. This group was looking for the Jamestown settlement. However, because of bad navigation, they landed in Massachusetts. They were also coming to the New World with dreams of success, but their goal was different from the Jamestown settlement. They wanted to start a new world governed by the Bible. They were called Puritans because they wanted to live a better life by making themselves pure. They first arrived on the Mayflower and settled in Plymouth. This is the group we are usually thinking about when we talk about the "first Americans."
The clearest history of their journey to the New World can be found in History of Plymouth Plantation （1608） written by William Bradford, who was also one of the Mayflower passengers. The History of Plymouth Plantation is a Puritan book in the best sense. “It's loosely annalistic, but a direct and simple style gives charm, as a sincere faith in Puritanism gives purity, to the entire book.” （W. P. Trent, 1997）
The Puritans had several kinds of literature. By far the most common form is the writing related to Biblical teachings, or sermons, that the church leaders wrote. The Puritans believed that they were in the New World because God had brought them there for a special purpose. They thought that by studying the Bible they could learn more about this way of life. So they were very strict to their life, and they didn't allow any kind of entertainment even in literature. That's way Wu Dingbo said in his book “Literature of the New England Settlement is mainly a literary expression of the Puritan idealism” and “The literature of the colonial settlement served either God or colonial expansion or both.” （Wu Dingbo, 4）
Another important form of writing from this period is the histories. These books, like Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, are important because they tell us about life at the time of the Puritans.
People also wrote many poems. But a lot of works were hidden and lost because people often considered poetry to be an inferior form of writing and not totally acceptable to Puritan thinking.
One of the most significant poets from this period was Anne Bradstreet （1612-1672）. Her poems in Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up In America （1650） reflected the con concerns of women who came to settle in the colonies, and in all her poems, however, she shows her strong belief in God.
2. 18th century—the Age of reason
（1） The Age of reason
In the 18th century, people believed in man's own nature and the power of human reason. With Franklin as its spokesman, the 18th century America experienced an age of reason.
Words had never been so useful and so important in human history. People wrote a lot of political writings. Numerous pamphlets and printings were published. These works agitated revolutionary people not only in America but also around the world.
Among the most renowned was the work Common Sense （1776） of Thomas Paine （1737-1809）. It's the ringing call for the decoration of liberty. He also wrote Crisis （1774-1783） and The Age of Reason （1794-1796）, according to Wu, “He thought that religion should be based on rational, reasonable ground. ” （Wu Dingbo, 12） The pamphlets helped complete the debate that resulted in America's separation from England.
And of course for all the Americans, the most important document from this period was a single sheet of paper called The Declaration of Independence （1776）, mainly written by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin （1706-1790）, the most distinguished person and giant in American history, he wrote and worked for American independence hardly and had made so many great efforts to America that he has been called "The First American." a world-renowned scientist, diplomat, philosopher, and writer. He perfected the smooth, clear, short sentences of the Puritan plain style. His Autobiography encourages hard work and emphasizes the importance of achievement. Another work that is well known is Poor Richard's Almanack, and many of the sentences have become popular quotations.
During this time writers thought that the truth should be relied on Bible, churchmen, authorities, or practice and experience.
（2） Early National Literature
During the period of American Revolution War, American national literature came into being. Since before the war,
American people have already had the awareness of national independence, so they wrote many political writings revolutionary poems.
The war helped the first important American prose writers and poets grow up both culturally and artistically. Furthermore, the independence of nation led to the independence of national literature. From this moment on, American people began to understand of meaning of being a real “American”.
3. The flourishing of American literature in 19th century
From the 1820's to the Civil War broke out, American literature entered a period of full blooming. Writings all characterized by a distinct national style and flavor. At the same time, the world as a whole was experiencing a change in ways of thinking: there was a move from classical ideas to romantic ones. This change was taking place in all areas of culture around the world. This was an exciting period in the history of American literature. Like the flowers of spring, there were suddenly many different kinds of writing at the same time. All the works have an optimistic spirit. They represented the various and quick development of American national literature.
（1） Early Romantics
In early 19th century, Washington Irving （1783-1859）, the person born with the new nation, his The Sketch Book created a new style of American literature—short novel. James Fenimore Cooper （1789-1851） His "Leather-Stocking" novels told us a story about how the brave immigrants fight with savage using what they have learnt from nature.
Another famous writer of this time was William Cullen Bryant （1794-1878）, he was regarded one of the earliest naturalist poets in American history. His greatest poem Thanatopsis was published in the North American Review in 1817. He appreciates normal birds and flowers, through which appreciated harmonious relationship between human and nature. The Romantics emphasized individualism and they thought feelings and emotions were more important than reason and common sense.
（2） The Transcendentalism
“The New England Transcendentalism was romantic idealism on puritan soil” （Wu Dingbo: 28）. It stressed the power of intuition placed spirit first, and it took nature as symbolic of spirit or God. There were three main features of Transcendentalism were Unitarianism, idealistic philosophy, and oriental mysticism.
Ralph Waldo Emerson （1803-1882）, the leader of American Transcendentalism. “He captained a group of enthusiast and formed a transcendental club with them. He also helped to set up and edited the transcendentalist journal The Dial. ” He had written many famous essays. Among the best are Nature and The American Scholar, which has been called “America's Declaration of Intellectual Independence”. Emerson wrote in The American Scholar （1837）, a man must "learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within." The main key to this inner world is the imagination. Man's imagination leads to expression. Our expression makes each of us a unique human. Romanticism became the way of thinking for this generation of writers.
Henry David Thoreau was also one of the writers of Transcendentalism, and his famous essay was Walden, in which he revealed the hidden spiritual possibilities in everyone's life, and to considerate the pursuit of material things.
（3） High Romantics
Due to the great effort made by those geniuses such as Emerson and Thoreau, a wild-ranged national American literature had been laid a solid foundation by the mid-19th century.
There are four important names in American literature to remember from this period: Washington Irving （1783-1859）, Walt Whitman （1819-1892）, James Fennimore Cooper （1789-1851）, and Edgar Allan Poe （1809-49）.
Irving will long be remembered for his book of essays and stories, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon （1819）, which helping this new nation started its first step confidently. Cooper and Whitman described the character of the nation, which combined the courage and cleverness of expansion, the great sense of destination, and the optimistic spirit together. Hawthorne and Melville expressed the dark side of American dream though their profound and symbolized works.。