IntroductionHow to define American Literature1. American literature is the literature produced in American English by American citizens.2. “The first American literature was neither American nor really literature. It was not American because it was the work mainly of immigrants from England. It was not literature as we know it---- in the form of poetry, essay, or fiction---- but rather an interesting mixture of travel accounts and religious wr itings.”Basic qualities of American Writers:Independent individualisticCritical innovative humorousChapter OneColonial Period (1607-1775)I.Historical Introduction1. people:Indians were native inhabitants.Now Americans are mainly immigrants mostly fromEurope, esp. from England.2. early history:1) America was first discovered by Columbus at the end ofthe 15th century.2) In 1607, Captain John Smith led some Englishmenacross the ocean. (Jamestown, Virginia)3) In 1620, 102 passengers sailed on the ship Mayfloweracross the sea and settled on the new continent “NewEngland.” (Plymouth, Massachusetts)3. Why did Puritans come to America?-to reform the Church of England- to have an entirely new church- to escape religious persecution* God’s chosen people* To seek a new Garden of Eden* To build “City of God on earth”4.What is the Puritan?Puritan is English protestant, one division of Protestant (one division of Christianity, appeared in the 16th c, against the rulingRoman Catholic. In England, there were many divisions in protestant,for instance, Quakers, Baptism). They regarded the reformation ofthe Church under Elizabeth as incomplete, and called for its further “purification” from what they considered to be unscriptural andcorrupt forms and ceremonies retained from the unreformed church.The 17th century American Puritans included two parts: one part of them were the creators of the Plymouth colony, called“Separatists”. They were so suppressed by the church of Englandthat they sought escape. Those Separatists first went into exile toHolland, then were aboard “Mayflower” in 1620 and settled down in Plymouth. America, therefore, as an infant was born. Theyconsidered that the Church of England had become hopeless andadvocated to separate from it since general reform would be useless.The other part was the Englishmen in the Massachusetts BayColony. Though they came later than those of Plymouth colony, they were richer and better-educated.5.What is the Puritanism?Puritanism is a religious and political movement that developed in England about the middle of the 16th century and later spread influence into the New England in America. Puritanism was a logical aftermath of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the establishment of the Church of England, and the growth of Presbyterianism. Through these movements, one sees emerging the right of the individual to political and religious independence.American PuritanismPuritanism is the practices and beliefs of the Puritans. ThePuritans were originally members of a division of the Protestant Church, who came into existence in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. The first settlers who became the founding fathers of the American nation were quite a few of them Puritans.Across the pages of American literature Puritanism is written large. It may almost be considered the ethical mode of American thought. As an extreme form of the Protestant sensibility, Puritanism exaggerated those protestant traits---especially industry, frugality, hardships. They favored a disciplined, hard, somber, ascetic, harsh life. All these, according to Max Weber and other analysts of social history contributed to the rise of capitalism.As a culture heritage, Puritanism did have a profound influence on the early American mind. American Puritanism also had an enduring influence on American literature. It had become, to some extent, so much a state of mind, so much a part of the national culturalatmosphere, rather than a set of tenets.6. Puritanism in America1) Doctrines:- Predestination- Original sin and total depravity (human beings are basically evil.)- Limited atonement (or the Salvation of a selected few)2) Puritan values (creeds):Hard work, thrift, piety, sobriety, simple tastes.Puritans are more practical, tougher, and to be ever ready for any misfortune and tragic failure.They are optimistic.7. InfluenceAmerican Puritanism was one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature.American literature is based on a myth, i.e. the Biblical myth of the Garden of Eden.- Puritanism can be compared with Chinese Confucianism. II. Early American Writers and Poets1. South, Jamestown, Virginia:Captain John Smith---first American writer; 8 worksContributions: his description of America were filled with themes, myths, images, scenes, characters and events that were a foundation for the nation’s literature. He lured the Pilgrims into fleeing here and creating a New land.2. North, New England, Puritan WritersWilliam Bradford: first governor of Plymouth,The History of Plymouth Plantation, simplicity, earnestness, direct reporting, readable, moving.John Winthrop: first governor of Boston, The History of New England,candid simplicity, honesty3. Two Poets: Anne Bradstreet, Edward TaylorFeatures of Colonial Poets1. They were servants of God.2. They faithfully imitated and transplanted English literary traditions III. The Writing Style of Colonial America Literature The writing style of this period is fresh, simple and direct; the rhetoric […retərik] is plain and honest, with a touch of nobility often traceable to the direct influence of the Bible. All this has left anobvious imprint on American writing.Revolutionary Period (1775-1783)“The Age of Reason”“American EnlightenmentI. Historical Background1. Relation between England and Colonies2. The Boston Tea Party3. The First Continental Congress4. The Second Continental CongressIndependence War(1776-1783):the industrial growth led to intense strain with Britain. The British government tried to suppress their growth economically, and ruled them from abroad politically and levied heavy tax on them. These aroused bitter resentment in colonies. Constant conflicts resulted in American revolutionary war.5. In the 18th century, people believed in man’s own nature and the power of human reason. With Franklin as its spokesman, the 18th century America experienced an age of reason.Words had never been so useful and so important in human history. People wrote a lot of political writings. Numerous pamphlets and printings were published. These works agitated revolutionary people not only in America but also around the world.The 18th-century American Enlightenment was a movement marked by an emphasis on rationality rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious dogma, and representative government in place of monarchy.Enlightenment thinkers and writers, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine, were devoted to the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man.The colonists who would form a new nation were firm believers in the power of reason; they were ambitious, inquisitive, optimistic, practical, politically astute, and self-reliant.In this period with the exception of outstanding political writing, such as Common sense, Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers and so on, few works of note appeared. Even if there appeared poetry and fiction, they were full of imitativeness and vague universality. So most Americans were painfully aware of their excessive dependence on English literary models. The search for a native literature became a national obsession.II.Leading writers and their worksBenjamin Franklin (1706-1790) The AutobiographyThomas Paine(1737-1809): Common Sense (1776)Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826):The Declaration of Independence (1776) Philip Freneau (1752-1832)“The Wild Honey Suckle”Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)An inventor, scientist, printer, political statesman, diplomat, exemplary self-made man, revolutionary hero, author.1) Life(1) a poor candle-maker’s family. had very little educationbut he was a voracious reader.(2) At 12, he was apprenticed to his elder half- brother, a printer.(3) He set himself up as an independent printer andpublisher. In 1727 he founded the Junto club.2) Major Works(1) The Autobiography《自传》(2) Poor Richard’s Almanack《格言历书》The Autobiographya. It is perhaps the first real post-revolutionary American writing as well as the first real autobiography in English.b. It gives us the simple yet immensely fascinating record of a man rising to wealth and fame from a state of poverty and obscurity into which he was born, the faithful account of the colorful career of America’s first self-made man.c. First of all, it is a puritan document. The most famous section describes his scientific scheme of self-examination and self-improvement.d. It is also an eloquent elucidation of the fact that Franklin was spokesman for the new order of eighteenth century enlightenment, and that he represented in America all its ideas, that man is basically good and free, by nature endowed by God with certain inalienable rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.e. It is the pattern of Puritan simplicity, directness, and concision. The plainness of its style, the homeliness of imagery, the simplicity of diction, syntax and expression are some of the salient features we cannot mistake.Poor Richard’s Almanac Maxims（谚语，格言）and axioms（哲理,言）(a) Lost time is never found again.(b) A penny saved is a penny earned.(c) God help them that help themselves.(d) Fish and visitors stink in three days.(e) Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a manhealthy, wealthy, and wise.(f) Ale in, truth out.(g) Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.(h) Diligence is the Mother of Good Luck.(i) One Today is worth two tomorrow.(j) Industry pays debts. Despair increases them.3)Franklin’s Contributions to Society(1) He helped found the Pennsylvania Hospital.(2) He founded an academy which led to the University of Pennsylvania.(3) And he helped found the American Philosophical Society.4) Franklin’s Contributions to Science(1) He was also remembered for volunteer fire departments, effective street lighting, the Franklin stove, bifocal glasses and efficient heating devices.(2) And for his lightning-rod, he was called “the new Prometheus whohad stolen fire from heaven.”5) Franklin’s Contributions to the U.S.He was the only American to sign the four documents that created the United States:(1) The Declaration of Independence,(2) The Treaty of Alliance with France,(3) The Treaty of Peace with England,(4) The Constitution6) Why Franklin is admired and read widely?(1) He is a typical American, model of the self-made man, a cultural hero whose life exemplified the American dream of the poor boy who made good.(2) He stressed the importance of working hard to make money, happiness depending in the first place on economic success and optimistically believed that every American could do so.(3) He was convinced that no man could be virtuous or happy unless he did his best to improve the life of his society and his own life.7) Summary---- Having faith in human accomplishment and Progress.---- Believing that an individual with industry and thrift will improve himself and his community, a self-mad man and an archetypal American success story that has since become part of American popularculture.---- Almost the first example of achieving the “American Dream”.Philip Freneau 菲力浦·弗瑞(1752-1832)Poet of the American Revolution;Father of American Poetry;A gifted and versatile lyric poet;A forerunner of AmericanRomanticism or a transitionalfigure towards Romanticism.1)Works(1)“The Rising Glory of America” (1772)《美洲光辉的兴起》(2)“The House of Night” (1779, 1786)《夜之屋》(3)“The British Prison Ship” (1781)《英国囚船》(4)“To the Memory of the Brave Americans” (1781)《纪念美国勇士》(5)“The Wild Honey Suckle” (1786)《野金银花》(6)“The Indian Burying Ground” (1788)《印第安人墓地》(7)“The Dying Indian: Tomo Chequi《奄奄一息的印第安人：托姆·察吉》2) Lifein New York. At 16, he entered the College of New Jersey (nowPrinceton University).While still an undergraduate, he wrote in collaboration with one of his friends (H. H. Brackenridge) a poem entitled “The Rising Glory of America”.It pronounced the virtues of a new nation progressing towards its freedom; America would be a land blessed with “sweet liberty!/Without whose aid the nobles genius fails,/And science irretrievable must die”) 3)EvaluationHe was the most significant poet of 18th century America.Some of his themes and images anticipated the works of such 19th century American Romantic writers as Cooper, Emerson, Poe and MelvillePoem AppreciationThe Wild HoneysuckleIt is a deistic celebration of nature, romantic use of simple nature imagery, inspired by themes of death and transience. Much of the beauty of the poem lies in the sounds of the words and the effects created through changes in rhythm. A lyrical lament for the mutability of nature and an expression of faith in man’s ability to learn universal truths from nature.Flower vs Human Being, Duration vs LifeShow us how to live an useful life.In a revolution, one should not do nothing for his country forfear of being hurt, harmed and destroyed.Stanza 1The first stanza of the poem treats the advantages as well as disadvantages of the flower’s modest retir ement—it is designed with beauty and well protected in solitude; whereas its beauty might be admired by few.Stanza 2The second stanza suggests that the honey suckle bears a special relationship with nature which has advised it to keep away from “vulgar eye”, it has sent the soft waters flowing gently by. However, in spite of all the nature’s kindness, the flower can not escape its doom. The best time of its life is fading, for death is waiting.Stanza 3:The third stanza reveals the indifference of nature---the “unpitying frosts” are as much a part of nature as the “soft waters”. Thus, the notion that nature has provid ed a “guardian shade” for the protection of the honey suckle is a sentimental fancy. It is relative, but death is absolute.Stanza 4:In the fourth stanza, the poet sees his fate mirrored in that of the flower. Human beings, as any other creatures or flowers, are a part of nature. They originated from nature and will surely return to naturesome day, thus their reduction to nature in the day ahead will constitute no real loss.。
