美国文学第一节总论介绍.pptVIP

1. What is literature? The definition of 14th century: It means polite learning through reading. A man of literature or a man of letters = a man of wide reading, “literacy” The definition of 18th century: practice and profession of writing The definition of 19th century: the high skills of writing in the special context of high imagination Robert Frost’s definition: performance in words Modern definition: We can define literature as language artistically used to achieve identifiable literary qualities and to convey meaningful messages. Literature is characterized by beauty of expression and form and by universality of intellectual and emotional appeal. 2.Forms (genres) of literature? Poetry, novel (fiction), drama, prose, essay, epic, elegy, short story, journalism, sermon, (auto) biography, travel accounts, novelette, etc. Topics for discussion and research 1. What is American literature? 2. Why do we study American literature? 3. How are we going to study American literature? Definition of American Literature Definition: American literature is the literature produced in American English by American citizens. Basic qualities of American Writers: independent individualistic critical innovative humorous The Reason to read literature * For pleasure---sharing the realities of human situations, problems, feeling, and relationships in its imaginative and interpretative world. * For relaxation—leading readers into an exiting world to forget their problems and obligations in their daily life. * To acquire knowledge---giving readers an insight of the tradition, custom, belief, attitudes, folklore, human value, the nature of the reality etc. to broaden their eyes. The Reason to read literature * To confront experience —shedding light on the complexity and ambiguity of human experiences and thus broadens readers’ awareness of the possibilities of experiences, a wide range of human experiences they might have not experienced. * For artistic appreciation---well-structur