early Romantics2.pptVIP

 James Fenimore Cooper (1789—1851） His life Born into a rich land-holding family of New Jersey Went to Yale at 14 but was expelled in junior due to improper behavior Spent 5 years at sea Inherited fortune and settled down Began writing by accident Wrote thirty-odd novels (11 of sea) Best known and remembered by Leatherstocking Tales His works Novels about the revolutionary past，sea novels and the American frontier novels. Themes: wilderness vs. civilization; freedom vs. law; order vs. change; aristocrat vs. democrat; natural rights vs. legal rights His style Highly imaginative Good at inventing tales Good at landscape description Conservative Characterization wooden and lacking in probability Language and use of dialect not authentic。 His contribution to Am. Lit. ①He was the first writer of sea novels. ② He was the first excellent writer of border novels. ③ He was the first writer of series novels. ④ He was the first romantic writer with rationalism-Cooper’s ambivalence.（go back to the themes) ⑤ He was the first writer in Am. appreciated by many writers of different nationalities and different generations. ⑥ He was a mythic writer and created a myth about the formative period of the Am. nation. Washington Irving His life Born into a wealthy New York merchant family Began writing from a very early age Studied law and led for a time the life of a gentleman lawyer Loved writing more and wrote his first book in 1809 Went to England in 1815 to take care of family business but failed Had to write to support himself The Sketch Book won him international fame His works The Sketch Book （1820）《见闻札记》---a collection of 33 essays and stories “Rip Van winkle” 《瑞普.凡.温克尔》 “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” 《睡谷的传说》 His style Graceful and refined； Sentimental； Write to amuse and entertain， not to moralize； Write with great humor; The theme of change and mutability His contribution to Am. Lit. ①He was the father of American literature ② He was t