美国文学史期末论文终极版

Contents

摘要 (1)

Abstract (1)

Chapter 1 American Romanticism(1810--1865) (2)

1.Background reasons (2)

1.1 Politically this period was ripe (2)

1.2 Economically American had never been wealthier (2)

1.3 Culturally American own value emerged (2)

2.Basic features and styles (2)

2.1 Expressiveness (2)

2.2 Imagination (2)

2.3 Worship of nature (2)

2.4 Simplicity (3)

2.5 Cultural nationalism (3)

2.6 Liberty,freedom,democracy and individualism (3)

3.Influence (3)

Chapter 2 American Realism(1865--1914) (3)

1. Background changes (3)

1.1 Politics (4)

1.2 Economics (4)

1.3 Cultural and social changes (4)

2. Basic features and styles (4)

2.1 Truthful description of the actualities of the real life and

material (4)

2.2 Focus on ordinariness (4)

3. Three dominant figures (4)

4. Influence (5)

Chapter 3 American Naturalism(1890--1914) (5)

1. Background information (5)

1.1 Cultural and Social Background (5)

1.2 Religion and theoretical basis (5)

2. Major ideas and features of Naturalism (5)

2.1 Determinism (5)

2.2 World: godless, indifferent, hostile (6)

2.3 Style: scientific objectivity (6)

2.4 Subjects and themes (6)

3. A representative work that show the ideas and features above (6)

3. Influence (6)

Chapter 4 American Modernism(1914--1945) (6)

1. Background information (6)

1.1 Politics (6)

1.2 Economy (7)

1.3 Cultural and social background (7)

2. Characteristics and features of Modernism (7)

3. Major genres and a representative of each one (7)

3.1 Modern poetry——Ezra Pound (7)

3.2 Modern fiction——Ernest Hemingway (7)

4. Influence (8)

Chapter 5 American Postmodernism(1914--1945) (8)

1. Background information (8)

1.1 Politics (8)

1.2 Economics (8)

1.3 Social and international background (8)

2. Characteristics and major features (8)

2.1 Experimental writing techniques (8)

2.3 Irony, playfulness and black humor (9)

3.Influence (9)

Bibliographies (9)

摘要

具有自身特点的新文学的出现，是一个国家真正形成的标志。自从美国在政治上取得独立后，便迎来了文学史的第一个高潮——浪漫主义文学。好景不长，19世纪中叶的内战使国内环境发生巨大变化，美国文学转向了对社会和人类本质的探讨。由此便诞生了现实主义和自然主义文学。紧接着，随着一战爆发，社会国际环境又发生了翻天覆地的变化。大批的作家开始改造传统的艺术形式，这就是美国的“第二次文艺复兴”——现代主义文学.而二战后的美国后现代主义文学也是美国文学史上不容忽视的一个百花齐放的时期。

而本篇论文对于美国文学史各时期的简述有以下几个重点：一，紧扣“变化”，分析各文学时期形成背景；二，总结各时期文学作品的特征及风格，并举例说明；

三，对各时期代表作家的介绍视情况而定；最后，对各文学时期的影响稍作总结。关键词: 主义；背景；改变；特征；影响

Abstract

The emergence of a literature with its own characteristics is the symbol of the real formation of a country.After America achieved its independence,it marched into the first climax of its literature---Romanticism. But not for long,the Civil War in the middle of the 19th century arouse radical changes in domestic social background.American literature turned to search for the nature of society and human beings.So Realism and Naturalism came into being.Next,with the outbreak of World War I.Social and international background went through radical changes again.A great number of writers began to reform the conventional art forms into Modernism,which is the second renaissance.And postmodernism after World War II is also a very important period with flourish literature genres.

As to a brief summary of American literature,this paper has several key points as below:Firstly,lay emphasis on “the changes”to analyze the background;secondly,make a summary of the characteristic and styles,giving some examples;thirdly,the introduction of representative writers will depends;at last,conclude the influence of each period.

Key Words: -ism;background;change;feature;influence

Chapter 1

American Romanticism(1810--1865)

The American Romantic period stretched from the end of the 18th century to the outbreak of the Civil War. And the literature of this period was crucial to the development of American literary traditions.So i will attach much importance to this part.

1.Background reasons

1.1 Politically this period was ripe.

For one thing,America winned its independence after the 1812 war against England.For another, the nation witnessed an incredible expansion such as the westward expansion.But this country was also torn by the risk of internal division, which led to American Civil War latterly.

1.2 Economically American had never been wealthier.

The Industrial Revolution made America become a major commercial and industrial country.At the same time,th e “American Dream” was in the process of formulating.

1.3 Culturally American own value emerged.