简写版笔记.docVIP

- PAGE 16 -I. The literature of colonial America (1590-1750)(1) Cultural background: 1 Early in 17th cen., most of the settlers in North America were the puritans who wanted to avoid the religious persecution of the Church of England and seek religious freedom in the new land. e.g. the Mayflower 1620 in PlymouthPuritans -- a “would-be purifier”, a radical sect of the Protestant reformers who wanted to purify the religious beliefs and practices of the Church of England净化宗教观念，简化仪式The Puritans in New England practiced theocracy　神权政治 Their way of life were based on their somber religion and stressed hard work, thrift, piety and sobriety（节制） They opposed arts and pleasure. They suspect joy and laughter as symptoms of sin. In people’s daily life, religious activities were a matter of first importance and all others should serve the religion.2 Their practices and beliefs (American Puritanism) greatly influenced the literature of this period (2) Major works and writers:1 The first writings in American literature were the narratives and journals of the early colonial settlements. 2 John Smith wrote about the exploration in A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting of That Colony《关于弗吉尼亚的真实描述》and became the first American Writer. 3 Poetry: Anne Bradstreet ’s The Tenth Muse Recently Sprung Up in America　the first poetess in AmericaThe literature of Reason and Revolution (1750-1810)While purtianism dominated the writings of the colonial times, politics政治论辩permeated the writing of the Revolution period. 1Background:{1} political backgroundIndustrial Revolution: spurred the economy in American colonies.Independence War: Around the war, many political writings were written to support and defend American independence and democracy.{2} Cultural backgroundThe Enlightenment: a literary movement which flourished in France swept through the whole Western Europe in 18th century. Its purpose was to enlighten the