安徽三联学院外语学院美国文学课件Chapter 4 Emerson and Thoreau.ppt

Emerson and Thoreau Content Ⅰ. Transcendentalism (P47-52) Ⅱ. Emerson (P52-55) Ⅲ. Thoreau (P55-60) Part Ⅰ Transcendentalism 1. Definition 2. Background 3. Features 4. Influence Flourished in New England from about 1836 to1860; marked the maturity of American Romanticism and the first Renaissance in the American literary history; derived from Latin, meaning to rise above or to pass beyond the limits; Emphasis on spirit, individual and nature; Representatives: Emerson and Thoreau Definition Background The product of the combination of Foreign influences Coleridge, Wordsworth German idealistic philosophy Kant, Hegel Neo-Platonism Oriental mysticism American native Puritan tradition Kant 康德 Hegel 黑格尔 In essence, romantic idealism on Puritan soil. Features (1) Emphasize spirit (Oversoul): the chief element of the universe; all-pervading power (2) Stress individual: the most important element of society; spiritual perfection; against capitalisms dehumanization; Human beings divine, against Puritans total depravity (3) Take nature as a symbol of the Spirit or God: not purely matter; has healthy and restorative influence on the human mind Influence New England Transcendentalism was important to American literature. Inspired a whole new generation of famous authors Inspired one of America’s most prolific literary periods in its history Marked the independence of American literature PartⅡ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Life Born in a clergymans family in Boston Graduate from Harvard A Unitarian minister 唯一神教派 Abandoned Unitarianism and went to Europe searching for truth Met Wordsworth, Carlyle and Coleridge Founded a transcendental club and published a journal Traveled and gave lectures; quite influential Aesthetic Ideas 1) In Emersons opinion, poets should function as preachers who gave directions to the mass.2) True poetry should serve as a moral purification.3) The argume