美国文学第二讲殖民地文学.pptVIP

Puritanism in America They follow the ideas of the Swiss reformer John Calvin. Doctrines:- Predestination- Original sin and total depravity (human beings are basically evil.)- Limited atonement (or the Salvation of a selected few) Puritan values (creeds):Hard work, thrift, piety, sobriety, simple tastes.Puritans are more practical, tougher, and to be ever ready for any misfortune and tragic failure.They are optimistic. Puritanism in America Why did Puritans come to America?- to reform the Church of England- to have an entirely new church- to escape religious persecution* God’s chosen people* To seek a new Garden of Eden* To build “City of God on earth” Puritanism in America Influence - American Puritanism was one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature.- American literature is based on a myth, i.e. the Biblical myth of the Garden of Eden.- Puritanism can be compared with Chinese Confucianism. Colonial Period (1607-1775) Three major poets in colonial period: Anne Bradstreet Michael Wigglesworth Edward Taylor 1. Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) 2. Michael Wigglesworth (1631-1705) the most popular poet in American Colonial Period Work: “The Day of Doom” (1662) Features of Colonial Poets They were servants of God. They faithfully imitated and transplanted English literary traditions. Chapter Two Revolutionary Period (1775-1783) In the 18th century, people believed in man’s own nature and the power of human reason. With Franklin as its spokesman, the 18th century America experienced an age of reason. Words had never been so useful and so important in human history. People wrote a lot of political writings. Numerous pamphlets and printings were published. These works agitated revolutionary people not only in America but also around the world. The 18th-century American Enlightenment was a movement marked by an emphasis on rationality rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious