[英语学习]Introduction to American Literature.ppt

Brief Introduction to the History of American Literature Colonial Period (Enlightenment Literature) Colonial Period (1600 – 1700) lasted from the European settlement in the early 17th century to the end of the 18th century. The major topic during this period is about American Puritanism which is arisen from dissatisfaction of Puritans with the Elizabethan Religious doctrines expressed by the Roman Catholic Church. Tenet of Puritanism Puritanism is the religious belief of the Puritans, who had intended to purify and simplify the religious ritual of the church of England. Puritans believe that God only helps those who help themselves. So hard work and simple life are most needed in everyone’s life. Beisides, they sincerely seek both individual and corporate conformance to the teaching of the Bible and to pursue moral purity to the highest level. Representative writers who strongly emphasized the moral value of Puritanism are: Benjamin Franklin: Poor Richard’s Almanac 《格言历书》； Autobiography 《自传》 Thomas Paine: Common Sense《常识》(1776) Thomas Jefferson (as one of the chief authors: Declaration of Independence《独立宣言》(July 4, 1776). American Romanticism(1800 – 1865) With the national independence from the UK, the America began to rise with its own ideals of democracy, equality, industrialization, and westward expansion. The famous American dream, which believes that everyone can become successful through hard work, was gradually formed during this period. Representative writers Washington Irving （华盛顿 · 欧文）: The Sketch Book 《见闻札记》 “Rip Van Winkle”, “瑞普凡温克尔” ; “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” “睡谷的传说” are just two well-known stories from it. James Fenimore Cooper: Leather Stocking Tales《皮袜子故事集》 Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leading New England writer of Transcendentalism: Nature 《论自然》 (1836) is called the manifesto or the Bible of American Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism, as an inseparable part of romanticism, is a philosophic and literary movement that flourishe