纽约大学公开课 美国文学

“美国文学”课程教学大纲一、课程基本信息开课单位：翻译学院课程名称：美国文学课程编号：223114英文名称：American1iterature课程类型：专业拓展课总学时：36 理论学时：36实验学时：O学分：2分开设专业：翻译专业先修课程：英国文学二、课程任务目标（一）课程任务《美国文学》是翻译专业本科学生的必修课程，是为培养和检验学生美国文学的基本理论知识和理解、鉴赏美国文学原著的能力而设置的一门专业理论课程。

（二）课程目标设置本课程旨在使学生对美国文学形成与发展的全貌有一个大概的了解；并通过阅读具有代表性的美国文学作品，理解作品的内容，学会分析作品的艺术特色并努力掌握正确评价文学作品的标准和方法。

由于本课程以作家作品为重点，因此学生要仔细阅读原作。

通过阅读努力提高语言水平，增强对美国文学原著的理解，特别是对作品中表现的社会生活和人物感情的理解，提高他们阅读文学作品的能力和鉴赏水平。

三、教学内容和要求（-）理论教学的内容及要求本课程主要内容包括美国文学发展史及代表作家的简要介绍和作品选读。

文学史部分从美国历史、语言、文化发展的角度，简要介绍美国文学各个历史断代的主要历史背景，文化，文学思潮与流派等对文学发展的影响，主要作家的文学生涯、创作思想、艺术特色及其代表作品等;选读部分主要节选了美国文学史上各个时期重要作家的代表作品，包括诗歌、戏剧、小说、散文等。

第•章殖民地时期的文学教学内容：了解殖民地时期的社会及文化背景与新英格兰文学的状况，理解清教主义思想及其对美国文学的深远影响。

第一节美国殖民地时期概述一、北美拓殖的开始二、美国清教主义思想三、美国清教主义思想对早期美国文学的影响第二节殖民地时期的代表作家及作品一、安妮•布雷兹特里特(AnneBradStreet)二、爱德华•泰勒(EdwardTay1or)教学重点：殖民地时期新英格兰文学的特点教学难点：清教主义思想第二章理性和革命时期的文学教学内容：了解理性和革命时期美国文学产生的社会及文化背景，掌握理性和革命时期美国文学的形式、特点、代表作家及作品。

课程名称：美国文学史授课对象：大学本科生课时安排：共8课时教学目标：1. 了解美国文学的历史发展脉络，掌握美国文学的基本特征。

2. 培养学生对美国文学作品的鉴赏能力，提高文学素养。

3. 增强学生跨文化交际能力，拓展国际视野。

教学内容：一、美国文学概述1. 美国文学的起源和发展2. 美国文学的基本特征3. 美国文学的重要流派和代表作家二、殖民时期文学（17世纪）1. 殖民时期文学的社会及文化背景2. 新英格兰文学3. 清教主义思想4. 代表作家：Anne Bradstreet & Edward Taylor三、启蒙时期文学（18世纪）1. 启蒙时期文学的社会及文化背景2. 美国独立战争与文学3. 代表作家：Benjamin Franklin & Thomas Paine四、浪漫主义文学（19世纪）1. 浪漫主义文学的社会及文化背景2. 美国南北战争与文学3. 代表作家：Nathaniel Hawthorne & Edgar Allan Poe五、现实主义文学（19世纪末至20世纪初）1. 现实主义文学的社会及文化背景2. 代表作家：Mark Twain & Henry James六、现代主义文学（20世纪）1. 现代主义文学的社会及文化背景2. 代表作家：F. Scott Fitzgerald & Ernest Hemingway七、后现代主义文学（20世纪后半叶）1. 后现代主义文学的社会及文化背景2. 代表作家：Thomas Pynchon & Don DeLillo八、当代美国文学1. 当代美国文学的社会及文化背景2. 代表作家：Toni Morrison & John Updike教学过程：一、导入1. 结合美国历史背景，简要介绍美国文学的起源和发展。

2. 引导学生关注美国文学的基本特征和重要流派。

二、讲授1. 按照教学内容，依次讲解各个时期的美国文学。

American LiteratureLecture One A brief outline of the courseI. Teaching objectives:through this lecture, the students are expected to have a general idea about the important authors and their most influential works, and the literary focus and achievements in different periods of the formation of the nation.II. Teaching focus: a brief introduction of:1. The background of different periods2. The major writers to be covered3. The important works that are going to be studiedIII. Teaching steps1. Ask students some general questions about American literature2. Lecture by the teacher3. Group discussion by the studentsIV. HomeworkWrite a short article about what you are expecting to learn from this course, what suggestions you have for this courseLecture Two Colonial PeriodI. Teaching objectives:through this lecture, the students are expected to have a general idea about the mission of the first group of Puritan immigrants to the New World, their perseverance in seeking their purpose, and the pervading spirit of Puritanism in the early communities.I.Teaching focus1. The mission of the Puritan immigrants to the New World2. Puritanism and its influence in all spheres of life in the early communities3. The religious poems by Anne BradstreetII.Teaching steps1.Warming-up questions1.1 What is the meaning of Puritan, what are the major characteristics of thePuritans1.2 Why did some Puritans left their own country and risked their lives tocross over the Atlantic Ocean and settle on the New World?1. 3 What is the meaning of theocracy?2.Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 A brief introduction about the Puritan from a historic perspective2.2 The missions of the first group of Puritans to the new world2.3 The situation in the communities of the early settlement2.4 The spirit of Puritanism and its impact on the building of the nation andpeople’s daily life during the colonial period.3.Read and analyze the poem “Upon the Burning of Our House” by AnneBradstreetIII.HomeworkRead the e-book: Research Guide to American Literature: Colonial Literature: 1607-1776Lecture Three: Edwards and FranklinI. Teaching objectivesIn this lecture, the students are expected to get some knowledge about the major point of Puritanism and Calvinism, and how Edwards and Franklin demonstrate different aspects of the spirit of PuritanismII. Teaching focus1. The major doctrine of Puritanism2. The major doctrine of Calvinism3. Benjamin Franklin4. Jonathan EdwardsIII. Teaching steps1. Warming-up questions for the students1.1 Do you know the original of original sin?1.2 Do you have any knowledge about John Calvin and the religious doctrines that he advocated?1.3 Do you know the well-story of Franklin’s flying of kite, and can you name some of his inventions?2. Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 the major doctrines of Puritanism and its profound impact on people’s daily life of the colonial period and literary endeavors for a long time2.2 the major doctrines of Calvinism and its pervading spirit of sin and evil2.3 the most famous self-made man in America, Benjamin Franklin, and his successful story which is the best example of the American Dream from a material perspective.2.4 the pious life of Jonathan Edwards and his influence on a group of writers called the Transcendentalists in the 1830s-40s3. Read and analyze certain passage from Benjamin Franklin’s AutobiographyIV. HomeworkRead the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan EdwardsLecture Four American Romantic LiteratureI.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, students are expected to have a general idea about the following points: the relationship between American Romantic literature and that of Britain; the major writers and their works of American Romanticism. II.Teaching focus1.The major characteristics of American Romanticism2.Washing Irving and his short stories3.James Fenimore Cooper and his Leatherstocking TalesIII.Teaching steps1. Warming-up questions1.1 Washington Irving is called the Father of American Literature, what canpossibly denote by such honorary title?1.2 There is a very interesting anecdote concerning Cooper’s trying to writenovels by himself, have you ever heard that anecdote, and what is youropinion of such a personage?2. Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 a comparison between Romanticism in America and Britain2.2 Washington Irving’s literary creation and two of his most famouslegendary tales: Rip Van Winkle and Legend of the Sleepy Hollow2.3 Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales and his importance as the builder of theAmerican myth3. Read and analyze some passages from Rip Van Winkle by WashingtonIrvingIV.HomeworkRead Irving’s Legend of the Sleepy Hollow and Cooper’s The Last MahicanLecture Five American Transcendentalist Literature(1) I.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to have a general idea about the following points: the spirit of the period; the major writers and their works. II.Teaching focus1. The sources and doctrines of Transcendentalism2. Emerson’s work and influence during the Transcendental periodIII.Teaching steps1.Points to be covered by the teacher1.1 the various sources of Transcendentalism, such as the idealisticphilosophy of Germany and France, and Oriental mysticism.1.2 the major features of Transcendentalism: Oversoul, importance ofindividual, and nature as symbolic of the Spirit or God.1.3 Emerson’s role in the Transcendentalist movement, the dean, the editor ofthe its major journal Dial, and the founder of the Transcendental club.1.4 Emerson’s Nature and The American Scholar, one is considered to be themanifesto of Transcendentalism, the other is considered to America’s declaration of intellectual independence.2.Read and analyze passages from Nature by Ralph EmersonIV.HomeworkRead TheAmerican Scholar by EmersonLecture Six American Transcendentalist Literature(2) I.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, students are expected to have a general idea about the following points: Thoreau and his experience; Thoreau’s masterpiece Walden II.Teaching focus1. Thoreau’s life experience2. Thoreau’s materialization of the doctrines of Transcendentalism in a smallhut on the bank of Walden pond3. The rediscovery and reevaluation of Walden in the twentieth centuryIII.Teaching steps1.Warming-up questionsDo you have any idea about what is Walden about?2.Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 Thoreau’s life style and the commentaries of his contemporaries to him2.2 rediscovery and reevaluation of Thoreau’s Walden in the twentiethcentury2.3 Walden and eco-criticism3. Read and analyze certain passages from WaldenIV.HomeworkRead Thoreau’s WaldenLecture Seven Hawthorne and MelvilleI. Teaching objectivesStudents are expected to learn something about the notorious Salem Witchcraft Trial and the major doctrines of Calvinism and their impacts on Hawthorne and his writings, they are also expected to know Melville’s profession as a sailor and the tremendous influence of his profession as a sailor on almost all his works.II. Teaching focus1.Hawthorne and his Scarlet Letter2.Melville and his Moby DickIII. Teaching steps1 warming up questions1.1 Do you have any knowledge about Moses’ten commandments in the Old Testament, and one of the commandments says that “Thou shaln’t commit adultery”, do you know the meaning of adultery?1.2 Say something about your understanding of alienation2.Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 A rough summary of Salem Witchcraft Trial of 1692 and the role played by one of Hawthorn’s preeminent ancestors2.2 Hawthorne pervading sense of sin and evil and the reflection of these themes in almost all his works, either short stories or novels.2.3 Analysis of the four major characters in The Scarlet Letter2.4 Melville’s experience as a whaler on the sea and its influence on his works2.5 An analysis of his highly symbolic work Moby Dick3. Read and analyze certain passages from The Scarlet LetterIV. HomeworkRead the novel The Scarlet Letter and see the film adapted from this novel, and then make a comparison between themLecture Eight Whitman and DickinsonI. Teaching objectivesStudents are expected to have a general idea about Whitman and Dickinson and the differences between the theme and style of their poems.II. Teaching focus1.Whitman and his Song of Myself2.Dickinson and several of her poemsIII. Teaching steps1.Points to be covered by the teacher1.1 Whitman’s gregarious habit and the democratic tendency reflected in his Leaves of Grass1.2 The different evaluation of Leaves of Grass by Whitman’s contemporaries and critics of the twentieth century.1.3 Dickinson’s reclusive living habit and meditation on death and immortality1.4 Rediscovery and reevaluation of Dickinson’s poems in the twentieth century1.5 Whitman and Dickinson’s influence on American modern poetry2. Read and analyze certain passages from Leaves of Grass and some poems by DickinsonIV. HomeworkTry to write a short poem of Dickinsonian styleLecture Nine American Realist Literature (1)I. Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to get some knowledge about the American Civil War and its impact on literary creation, and also the major doctrines and focus of American Realist literature.II. Teaching focus1. The American Civil War2. Doctrines and focus of American Realism3. William Dean Howells and his influence on the writings of other writers of thisPeriodIII. Teaching steps1. Warming-up questions2. Lecture by the teacher3. Read and analyze some passages from Criticism and Fiction by William DeanHowellsIV. HomeworkRead American Literary Realism by Barrish, Phillip Cambridge University Press, 2001Lecture Ten American Realist Literature (2)I. Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to get familiar with the writings and some realist writers such as Henry James and Mark Twain.II. Teaching focus1. Henry James and his The Portrait of a Lady2. Mark Twain and his Adventure of Huckleberry FinnIII. Teaching steps1. Warming-up questions2. Lecture by the teacher3. Read and analyze certain passages from Call of the Wild by Jack LondonIV. HomeworkRead The Ambassadors by Henry James and Life on the Mississippi River by Mark TwainLecture Eleven American Naturalist Literature (1)I.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to have a general idea about how Zola’s naturalistic philosophy, Charles Darwin’s evolution theory and the industrialization of the United States brought about the alienation of man with nature, man with man, and man with society, and as a result, the flourish of naturalist literature that reflected these trends.II.Teaching focus1. The social background of naturalist period2. The major features of Naturalism3. The major naturalist writers and their worksIII.Teaching procedures1.Warming-up questions2.Lecture by the teacher3.Group discussion by the studentsIV.HomeworkRead American Naturalism by Bloom HaroldLecture Twelve American Naturalist Literature (2)I. Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to get familiar with the major naturalistic writers and their representative works.II. Teaching focus1.Stephen Crane and his works2. Theodore Dreiser and his works3. Jack London and his worksIII. Teaching steps1. Warming-up questions2. Lecture by the teacher3. Read and analyze certain passages from Call of the Wild by Jack LondonIV. HomeworkRead The Red Badge of Courage by Crane, American Tragedy by Dreiser, and Martin Eden by Jack LondonLecture Thirteen Literature of the Lost Generation (1)I.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to have some knowledge about America’s role during the First World War, and the war’s impact on young people like Fitzgerald and Hemingway, and also the works that reflected the disillusion of the lost generation.II.Teaching focus1. The First World War and the Attitude of American youth toward the war2. The situation in America in the twenties of the 20th century3. Fitzgerald and his nearly autobiographical novelsIII.Teaching steps1.Warming-up questions2.Lecture by the teacher3. Read and analyze certain passages from The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald IV.HomeworkRead Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby and This Side of the ParadiseLecture Fourteen Literature of the Lost Generation (2) I.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to get some knowledge about the theme and style of the writings of Hemingway.II. Teaching focus1. Hemingway’s personal life2. His works3. His theory of “tip of an iceberg”III. Teaching steps1.Warming-up questions2.Lecture by the teacher3.Group discussion by the studentsIV. HomeworkRead Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms and The Old Man and the SeaLecture Fifteen American Literature of the SouthI.Teaching objectivesThrough this lecture, the students are expected to have a general idea about the history and current reality of the American South, and the slavery system before the Civil War, and how these combined together affected the general spirit of the southern Americans.II.Teaching focus1. The history of the American South, with slavery system as its focal point2. The situation in the south of America after the civil war3. Faulkner and his fictional world epitomized in his Yoknapatawpha county III.Teaching procedures1.Warming-up questions2.Lecture by the teacher3. Read and analyze certain passages from the Sound and the Fury byFaulknerIV.HomeworkRead Go down, Moses by FaulknerSee the film Gone with the WindLecture Sixteen Post-war American Novel (1)I. Teaching objectivesStudents are expected to have some knowledge about the situation in America after World War II, and the impact and influence of the Cold War, the Vietnam War and McCarthyism on the American people as a whole and American writers as a special group, and the pessimism and skepticism reflected in their works.II. Teaching focus1.The general situation in America after World War II2.J.D.Salinger and his Catcher in the RyeIII. Teaching steps1.Warming up questions1.1 Say something about your knowledge of World War Two1.2 Say something about the Cold War and the Vietnam War2.Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 the impact of World War Two on the consciousness of American intellectuals 2.2 the pessimism reflected in the writings of American writers2.3 the life experience of J.D.Salinger2.4 the one work that makes Salinger immortal (Catcher in the Rye)3. Read and analyze certain passages of Catcher in the RyeIV. HomeworkRead the novel Catcher in the Rye after classLecture Seventeen Post-war American Novel (2)I. Teaching objectivesStudents are expected to have a general idea about the social, political and artistic life in America, and the decline of artistic creation in the traditional style and the emergence of modern and post-modern style which was demonstrated in the absurd, metafiction, and avant-gardism; and students are also expected to have some knowledge about some of the representative writers and their most influential works of this period, such as Kurt V onnegut and his Slaughterhouse- Five, and Joseph Heller and his Catch-22.II. Teaching focus1.Modernism and post-modernism demonstrated in literary works2.Joseph Heller and his Catch-22III. Teaching steps1.Warming up questions1.1 What is modernism? And what is post-modernism1.2 Have you ever heard Catch-22, what does it mean?2.Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 a brief introduction of modernism and post-modernism and their similarities and differences.2.2 a brief introduction of Kurt V onnegut and his Slaughterhouse- Five2.3 a brief introduction of Joseph Heller and his Catch-223.Read and analyze the passages that most represent a Catch-22 situationIV. HomeworkRead Catch-22 after classLecture Eighteen American Multi-ethnic LiteratureI.Teaching objectives1.Through this lecture, the students are expected to have a general idea aboutthe following points: a survey of the situation of American blacks from ahistorical perspective; the images of blacks in the works of whiteAmericanBlack writers and the major theme of their worksII.Teaching focus1. A survey of the situation of American Blacks and other minority peoplefrom a historical perspective2. The images of the minority people like American Indians and the blacks inthe works of white Americans3. Major black writers and other minority group writers and theirrepresentative worksIII.Teaching steps1.Warming-up questions1.1 Do you know anything about the Civil Rights Movement that occurred inthe 1950s-60s in America, and what were the things that minority groups such as the blacks and the American Indians were fighting for:1.2 What is the meaning of invisible, if it is used before man, what does itconnote?2.Points to be covered by the teacher2.1 A general introduction of the Civil Rights Movement in America duringthe 1950s-60s2.2 A general survey of the images of blacks and American Indians in theworks of the whites2.3 A general introduction of the most influential writers of minority groupsand their representative works3. Read and analyze certain passages from the Invisible ManIV.HomeworkRead Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man。