美国文学史第三讲_200903.pptVIP

Lecture III The Literature of Reason and Revolution（2/2）  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Right, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” 1.In the first section he gave a bold idea, that every person had natural rights which government could not take away. The rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were included. People should be able to enjoy these rights. 2.The second section was an accusation. It had 27 ways that King George III had abused his power. It accused him of taxing them without their consent and cutting of their trade. It also accused him of forcing the colonists to house and supply the British soldiers. 3.The third section was a statement of independence. It said that the colonists had asked King George III to stop his unfair treatment many times but he refused. It ended with We therefore declare that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states. On July 4, 1776, Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence, July, 4, 1776. Philip Freneau  (1752-1832) “Poet of the American Revolution” “Father of American Poetry” “Pioneer of the New Romanticism” “A gifted and versatile lyric poet” Smit with those charms, that must decay, I grieve to see your future doom, They died----nor were those flowers more gay, The flowers that did in Eden bloom; Unpitying frosts, and Autumn’s power Shall leave no vestige of this flower. From morning suns and evening dews At first thy little being came: If nothing once, you nothing lose, For when you die you are the same; The space between, is but an hour, The frail duration of a flower. This is the end of the Age of Reason and Revolution(Franklin, Paine，Jefferson) * * Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826) 《美洲光辉的兴起》 《夜之屋》 《英国囚船》 Works “The Rising Glory of America” (1772) “The House of Ni