《美国文学》课件二概要1.pptVIP

Christianity and religion in England  Christianity, the 1st century Catholicism, 1054 the Orthodox Eastern Church, 1054 in the 16th century, Protestantism, separated from Roman Catholicism spreading over Britain The Puritans The religious Reformation in Europe first occurred in Germany; since 1506, the papacy（罗马教廷）had been issuing indulgences, the proceeds of which were being used to construct the great Church of St. Peter’s at Rome. Puritans and the New World When they arrived and saw the virgin forests, the virgin land, and the vast expanse of wilderness in America, they became aware that God must have sent them there for a definite purpose and that, as Gods chosen people, they were meant to reestablish a commonwealth based on the teachings of the Bible, restore the lost paradise, and built the wilderness into a new Garden of Eden. The Influence of Puritanism in American Literature ① Encouraged by their firm belief that they are God’s chosen people and the wilderness can be built into a Garden of Eden, the Puritans looked even the worst of life in the face with a tremendous amount of optimism, which is obviously manifested in early American literature (Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman) Selected Stories of the Bible 1. Elizabeth and Zacharias Centuries passed. The country of Judah was conquered yet again and became part of the Roman Empire. It was called Judaea and remained a separate kingdom, ruled by a Jewish king named Herod. The real power, however, was in the hands of the Roman governor. Elizabeth and Zacharias During Herods reign a priest lived in Judaea whose name was Zacharias. He and his wife Elizabeth loved God and obeyed his commandments, but they were sad because they had no child. Oh God, give us a son, they prayed. One day Zacharias was taking part in a service in the Temple at Jerusalem when an angel appeared. Elizabeth and Zacharias Do not be afraid, Zacharias, the angel said. God has heard your prayer. You will