美国文学史简写版复习资料

I. The literature of colonial America (1590-1750)

(1) Cultural background:

<1> Early in 17th cen., most of the settlers in North America were the puritans who wanted to avoid the religious persecution of the Church of England and seek religious freedom in the new land.

☆Puritans -- a ―would-be purifier‖, a radical sect of the Protestant reformers who wanted to purify the religious beliefs and practices of the Church of England

净化宗教观念，简化仪式

Thus they suffered fierce persecution and attack from the Church of England. In order to avoid such persecution, they fled to the American Continent

e.g. the Mayflower 1620 in Plymouth

The founding myth 美国的建国神话

They regarded themselves as the chosen people and were sent to the America by God in order to create a New world (a new Garden of Eden) in the America. By doing so, they can get the chance of salvation. (optimism/ idealism)

in the grim struggle for survival that followed immediately after their arrival in America, they became more and more practical.

They were noted for a spirit of moral and religious earnestness that determinate their whole way of life. The Puritans in New England practiced theocracy神权政治Their way of life were based on their somber religion and stressed hard work, thrift, piety and sobriety（节制）They opposed arts and pleasure. They suspect joy and laughter as symptoms of sin. In people’s daily life, religious activities were a matter of first importance and all others should serve the religion.

<4> Their practices and beliefs (American Puritanism)greatly influenced the literature of this period (e.g. practical matter-of-fact accounts of life in the new world; highly theoretical discussions of religious questions)

(2) Major works and writers:

<1> The first writings in American literature were the narratives and journals of the early colonial settlements, which helped to lure more Europeans, especially the Puritans to seek fortune or religious freedom in the new continent

<2> John Smith wrote about the exploration in A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting of That Colony《关于弗吉尼亚的真实描述》and became the first American Writer.

<3> Poetry:

Anne Bradstreet ’s The Tenth Muse Recently Sprung Up in America----the first poetess in America

II.The literature of Reason and Revolution (1750-1810)

While purtianism dominated the writings of the colonial times, politics政治论辩permeated the writing of the Revolution period.

<1>Background:

{1} political background

Industrial Revolution: spurred the economy in American colonies. Independence War: Around the war, many political writings were written to support and defend American independence and democracy.

{2} Cultural background

The Enlightenment: a literary movement which flourished in France & swept through the whole Western Europe in 18th century. Its purpose was to enlighten the whole world with the light of modem philosophical & artistic ideas. The enlighteners celebrated reason or rationality, equality & science &human beings’ability to perfect themselves and their society. What’s more, they believed that man is basically good and free by nature, endowed by God with certain inalienable rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

While in America the humanistic ideas of the movement dealt a heavy blow to Puritanism in advocating science, knowledge and the power and ability of man. It brought to life secular education and literature. The Enlightenment had also influenced the literature of that period

(1) form a style of clarity and precision.

(2) its secular ideals (the possibilities of human progress, man has the rights to pursue equality, liberty, and the happiness) are reflected in the writings

E.g. Franklin. (P16 )

<2> Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

(1) Life achievement:

He was born into a poor candle-maker’s family. He had very little education. He learned in school only for two years, but by self-improvement and self-reliance, he made a great fortune and did lots of contribution to the society.

The secular ideals of the American Enlightenment were exemplified in his life and career.

(2)Important works:

Poor Richard’s Almanac穷查理历书:

An annual collection of proverbs. Franklin’s pragmatism （实用主义, how to make fortune by efforts & sense of humor are fully demonstrated in this work.

E.g. God help them that help themselves. No man was glorious, who was not laborious.

The Autobiography自传: