美国文学概论2

Review

•1. Name at least three basic qualities of American writers.

•2. What happened in the following years: 1492, 1607, 1620, 1630?

•3. What is a pilgrim?

•4. What is a puritan?

•5. What is the New England region?

•6. Name some early American writers.

The Literature of Reason and Revolution

•Background

•Benjamin Franklin

•Thomas Paine

•Thomas Jefferson

•Philip Freneau

•Background: Revolutionary Period (1775-1783)

Background

•The 18th century:

A. Independence War (1776-1783)

B. American Enlightenment: a blow upon the puritan traditions/secular education /great interest in science, philosophy and literature.

C. Literature: derivative and dependent.

D. essayists, journalists, pamphleteers.

Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790)

•A rare genius: a printer, postmaster, almanac writer, essayist, scientist, orator, statesman, philosopher, political economist, ambassador, businessman, patriot, and man of the world.

•Life story:

Benjamin Franklin (continued)

•His humble origins, dedication to self-improvement and genius for business set an example for “self-made man” in America.

Benjamin Franklin (continued)

•Literary Achievements:

A. Poor Richard’s Almanac(an almanac is the book that gives vital information for the year, the seasons, the sunrise and the sunset, ac curate information on tides…all are practical information important to farmers. /Richard Saunders:a cracker barrel philosopher/ down-to-earth maxims )

•An empty bag cannot stand upright.

•Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle.

•Cheese and salty meat should be sparingly eat.

•The Doors of wisdom are never shut.

•Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

•Full of courtesy, full of craft.

•God helps them that help themselves.

•Hunger never saw bad bread.

•If you'd have a servant that you like, serve your self.

•Ale in, truth out.

•Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.

•A Lie stands on one leg, the truth on two.

•A Man without a wife is but half a man.

•Nothing but money is sweeter than honey.

•One today is worth two tomorrows.

•Pay what you owe and you'll know what's your own.

•A Quarrelsome man has no good neighbors.

•The Rotten apple spoils his companion.

•Speak little, do much.

•Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

•Up, sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.

•Visits should be short, like a winter's day.

•Well done is better than well said.

•A good example is the best sermon.

•You may delay, but time will not.

•There are lazy minds as well as lazy bodies.

B. Autobiography: a long account of his family background in the form of a private letter to his son/ 4 parts

1. Style: clear, simple, humorous.

2. Significance: an inspiring account of a poor boy’s rise to wealth and fame and the fulfillment of the American dream. a) classic of this kind in American literature. b) spokesman of American enlightenment: the transition from Puritan piety, idealism and provincialism to the more secular utilitarian, and cosmopolitan values.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

•Life: he was of low class, with no finished college education/ didn’t come to America until 1774 with recommendation from Franklin. Yet a great adventurer in human freedom and a supporter of the Revolution.