美国文学史练习题

美国文学史练习题

1、回答问题

What are the features of American Puritanism?

What is transcendentalism?

Transcendentalism: is a philosophic and literary movement that flourished in New England, partic ular at Concord, as a reaction against Rationalism and Calvinism. Mainly it stressed intuitive unde rstanding of God, without the help of the church, and advocated independence of the mind. The re presentative writers are Emerson and Thoreau.

What is the main idea of Walden?

Thoreau’s work demonstrates how the abstract ideals of libertarianism and individualism can be effectively instilled in a person’s life. In Walden (1854) Thoreau explains his motives for living apart from society and devoting himself to a simple lifestyle and to the observation of nature. The book not only displays Emersonian ideas of self-reliance but also develops Thoreau’s own transcendental idea. For Thoreau, nature is not merely symbolic, but divine in itself and human beings can receive precise communication from the natural world by way of pure sense. To achieve personal spiritual perfection he thinks the most important thing for man is to be self-sufficient.

Wha t is the significance of Whitman’s Leaves of Grass?

The work has always been considered a monumental work because of its uniquely poetic embodiment of American democratic ideal. It has nine editions and the first edition was published in 1855.In the giant work, Whitman shows concern for the whole hardworking people and the burgeoning life of the cities. The realization of the individual value also found a tough position in his poems in a particular way. In celebrating the self, Whitman emphasizes the physical dimension of the self and openly celebrates sexuality. Some of his poems are politically committed. Stylistically, Whitman experiments with a mixture of the colloquial diction and prose rhythm of journalism. The direct address is another salient feature of his poetry. He constructs a democratic “I”, a voice that sets out to celebrate itself and the rapture of its sense experiencing the world. He initiated the form of free verse in America that endows his poems with a flow of musicality a sense of rhythm.

What is James’ “international theme”?

“The international theme” refers to the moral and psychological complications when the American innocence encountered the European sophistication

The typical Americans in James: fresh, enthusiastic, eager to learn, and basically “good”, disregard of the conventions, stand for morality

The Europeans in James : highly cultivated, elegant in manners, but sophisticated. stand for manners