1 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 Values．What are the characteristics of the Hemingway Code
hero?
6. What are the major features of New England Transcendentalism?
7. What are the similarities 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
2 human beings, which include religion, death, immortality, love, and nature. (theme)
2) Her masterpiece -----"I heard a Fly buzz---when I died", she looked at death from
the point of view of both the living and the dying. She even imagined her own death,
the loss of her own body, and the journey of her soul to the unknown.
3) The style of Dickinson:
A: A particular stress pattern: dash“-------”
B: Capital letters as a means of emphasis;
C: Language: brief, direct, and plain;
D: Poem: short, always on single image or symbol (e.g. "I like to see it lap the
miles"---------describe a train in the personification of the literary device)
E: Her poems tend to be personal and meditative (e.g. “Because I could not stop for
Death”).
8. Reality reflected in realistic writings
Realism came as a reaction against „the lie‟ of romanticism and sentimentalism.
The battle between „idealists‟ and „realists‟ provided the major issue of American
literary history after the Civil war (1861-1865). Literature began to pay less attention
to general ideas and more to the immediate facts of life. As a way of writing, realism
has been applied in almost every literature throughout history. But as a literary
movement, realism is a period concept and it refers to the approach of realist fiction
occurred at the latter part of the 19th century.
In part, the rise of realism came as a protest against the falseness and
sentimentality seen in romantic literature. The realists were determined to create a
new kind of literature that was completely and totally realistic.
Major Features
1 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 in their writing. It stresses truthful
treatment of material. It is anti-romantic, anti-sentimental, and without abstract
interest in nature, death, etc.
2 In realist fiction characters from all social levels are examined in depth. The
realist writers hold on to characters and keep examining how these people relate
to each other.
3 Open ending is also a good example of the truthful treatment of material.
4 Realism focuses on commonness of the lives of the common people who are
customarily ignored by the arts. Realists are interested in commonplace, the
everyday, the average, the trivial, and the representative.
5 Realism emphasizes objectivity and offers an objective rather than an idealistic
view of human nature and human experience. The realist writers are detached
observers of life. They are like scientists, making an investigation.
Realism presents moral visions. The author has a purpose for presenting an objective
account of real life in order to express his moral sense. Realists are ethical writers,
interested in the problems of the individual conscience in conflict with social
institutions. Many of their works show the American businessman in the conflict over
whether he should accept a bribe, give a bribe, participate in unfair business practices,
