美国文学Early and Colonial.ppt

The Colonial Period and the Revolutionary Period Outline Puritanism Literature in the early periods Benjamin Franklin I. Historical Background 1.Early history: 1) In 1492, Christopher Columbus found the new continent called America. 2) In 1607, Captain John Smith led some Englishmen across the ocean. 3) In 1620, 102 passengers sailed on the ship Mayflower across the sea and settled on “New England” of the new continent. Historical Background 2. Reasons for coming to the new world wealth adventure religion: puritans Historical Background 3. Belief---Puritanism Puritans wanted to “purify the church” to its original state, because they thought the church was corrupted and had too many rituals Doctrines of Puritans taking religion as the most important thing; living for glorifying God; believing predestination（命运天定）, original sin(原罪，人生下来就是有罪的，因为人类的祖先亚当和夏娃是有罪的), total depravity(人类是完全堕落的，所以人要处处小心自己的行为，要尽可能做到最好以取悦上帝), limited atonement (有限救赎，只有被上帝选中的人才能得到上帝的拯救) American Puritanism Features of American Puritan Puritanism It is one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American Literature. First, it is a branch of Protestantism holding the teachings of Calvinism, believing that human beings are basically evil, and could do nothing about it, and many, although not all, will surely be condemned to hell. People should try to try to please God by working hard, being thrifty, pious, and sober. It is more a code of values, a philosophy of life and a point of view than a kind of religion, stressing hard work, thrift, piety, and sobriety. It is opposed to social pleasures and indulgences. American Puritanism Enduring shaping influence in literature ①Basis of American literature American Puritanism ②Contributing to the development of Symbolism（象征主义）: a technique, widely used American Puritanism ③Influencing the style of literature: simple, fresh and direct (just as the style of Holy Bible) II. Literature in the early periods: 1. main