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1. American Transcendentalism
New England Transcendentalism was, in essence, romantic idealism on Puritan soil. It was a system of thought that originated from three sources. First William Ellery Channing (1780---1842) was an American Unitarian clergyman. His Unitarianism represented a thoughtful revolt against orthodox Puritanism. Unitarianism believed God as one being, rejecting the doctrine of trinity, stressing the tolerance of difference in religious opinion, and giving each congregation the free control of its own affairs and its independent authority. It laid the foundation for the central doctrines of transcendentalism. Secondly, the idealistic philosophy from France and Germany exerted enormous impact on American intellectuals. Thirdly, oriental mysticism as revealed in Hindu and Chinese classics reached America in English translations. As a result, New England Transcendentalism blended native American tradition with foreign influences.
2. American Realism Realism is the theory of writing in which familiar aspects of contemporary life and everyday scenes are represented in a straightforward or matter-of-fact manner. This is the theory that authors try to use and guide them in their writing. It stresses truthful treatment of material. It is anti-romantic, anti-sentimental, and without abstract interest in nature, death, etc. Mark Twain laughed at people who were caught up in the world of illusions, who were not mature enough to see real situations. This is one example of the truthful treatment of material.
3. American Romanticism
Romanticism was a rebellion against the objectivity of rationalism. It was a movement of conscious rebellion against being too objective. The romantic spirit was one of subjectivity of inward feelings that one could trust one‟s subjective responses. Romantics placed a high premium upon the creative function of imagination, and saw art as a formulation of intuitive and imaginative perceptions that tend to speak a nobler truth than that of fact.
4. Why are naturalists inevitably pessimistic in their view?
Please discuss the above question in relation to the basic principles of literary naturalism.
A. They accept the negative implication of Darwin‟s theory of evolution, and believe
that society is a "jungle" where survival struggles go on.
B. They believe that man‟s instinct, the environment and other social and economic
forces play an overwhelming role and man‟s fate is "determined" by such forces beyond his control.
5. Some of Hemingway‟s heroes are regarded as the Hemingway code heroes. Whatever the differences in experience and age，they all have something incommon Which Hemingway V alues．What are the characteristics of the Hemingway Code hero?
6. What are the major features of New England Transcendentalism?
7. What are the simil arities and differences between Whitman and Dickinson’s poetry?
1) Dickinson‟s poems are usually based on her own experiences, her sorrows and joys. But within her little lyrics Dickinson addresses those issues that concern the whole
