美国文学史术语解释terms

American Realism

The American literature from 1865 to 1918 is called the American Realism.

From American Civil War to the World War I, America witnessed a great development in politics, economy, culture, religion etc. Although everything seemed prosperous, the lower class’ life was miserable due to the capitalists’ exploitation. The American Dream was vanished. Under this circumstance, American Realism appeared. American Realism is largely opposite to the Romanticism. American Realists abandoned subjectivity, idealism and romanticism, and they tried to explain life with objective and realistic attitude. Henry James, Mark Twain were important representative writers.

American Naturalism

The main American literature school at the end of 19th century is the American Naturalism. It was the literature outcome of the rural America gradually transited to industrial America. During this transition, the Americans were mentally shocked and puzzled. The main genres are social reform literature, rural literature, local literature and realistic literature.

In the further explanation of Realism, American Naturalists were aware of the correctness of Darwinism. As one of the values and ethos of the US, American Naturalism is an important school in American literature history. Theodore Dreiser and Jack London were the representatives.

American Modernism

The American Modernism lasted from the World War I to Depression to the World War II. The American Modernism was influenced by Freud’s psychoanalysis, Henry James’ stream of consciousness and other ideologies. The American Modernists adopted new techniques, forms and styles for literature creation. They focused on the characters’ inner thoughts. American Modernism Movement was called the second American Renaissance. Ezra Pound, Earnest Hemingway and William Faulkner were the representatives.

American Local Colorism

For American local cultures vary in different places, America appeared many novels with local color in the latter half of the 19th century. This period was the early phase of American Realism. In a novel, the settings, dialects, customs, dress, ways of thinking and feeling are distinctive to a particular region of America. Most of the novels are optimistic and positive. The most representative writer is Mark Twain, who mainly wrote about areas along the Mississippi.

Imagism

Imagism is a literature movement by English and American poets during 1910s. It is a branch of Symbolism. Imagism writers should use distinct, precise and vivid images to portrait things, and devote emotions to every line of poetry. The representative poet is Ezra Pound.

Jazz Age

Jazz Age refers to the time between World War I and Depression. During this period, the traditional Puritan ethics was faded, while the Epicureanism prevailed. F. Scott Fitzgerald named this time the Jazz Age, so he was called the Chronicler and Poet Laureate of Jazz Age.

Lost Generation

Lost Generation refers to a postwar Generation in the United States; some of the writers went to the European battlefield with the ideal of democracy, but witnessed unprecedented holocaust and suffering. Deceived by the slogan: Democracy, Glory and sacrifice, they were sorely disappointed at the society. This generation has experienced confusion and depression, setbacks and pain in their life. This is a kind of lonely lost; this is a "lost generation" in the confusion.

The Hemingway Heroes

This refers to the main characters in Earnest Hemingway’s works. These characters mostly are boxer, hunter, fisherman, etc. They are courageous, strong and indomitable. When facing violence, bad fate and death, they are brave, calm and grace. Like Santiago said, a man can be destroyed but not defeated. The Hemingway Heroes are tough men.

Iceberg Principle

Earnest Hemingway first mentioned Iceberg Principle in his book Death in the Afternoon--The dignity of movement of an ice-berg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water.

The Iceberg principle means use simple words to describe vivid image, and hide writer’s feeling, so that the readers can dig deep as they read and think deep. The four important elements of Iceberg principle are simple words, vivid images, rich emotions and profound ideas, and these became Hemingway’s writing style.