《美国文学》教学课件Herman Melville (1819-1891).ppt

Herman Melville Great American novelist of the late 19th. Century; author of the 1st American prose epic, Moby-Dick ----- one of the greatest novels of American literary history and a world classic. Herman Melville (1819-1891) I. life Born in New York city on August1,1819 His father died in 1832 , leaving large debts Dropped out of school after his father’s death ,went to work at the age of 15 in a variety of trades 1n 1839,became a seaman: at first on a merchant ship, then on a whaling cruise in 1841 II. Literary Career 1.works published 1844 marked the beginning of a new phase in his career 1846 , he published Typee 1847 Omoo 1849 Mardi 1849 Redburn 1850 White -Jacket 1.works published 1851 Moby Dick 1852 Pierre 1857 Confidence –Man 1886 Billy Budd 2.Brief introduction to his chief work Redburn (1849) A romantic and harrowing description of Melville’s voyage to Liverpool in 1839 as cabin boy, which cultivated in him a love for sea. Typee (1846) fictional narrative by Melville, published in 1846. It is based on the author’s experiences with the savages on the southern Pacific island when he deserted the whaler Acushnet (1842). 2. Brief introduction to his chief work Omoo (1847) a narrative of adventures in the South Seas by Melville. White-Jacket (1850) semi-autobiographical novel by Melville based on his service on the man-of-war United States (1843---1844) 3. three important things A. his marriage B his influence from Shakespeare and Emerson C. his friendship with Hawthorne III. The analysis of Moby Dick Moby-Dick (1851) Melville’s masterpiece, which is regarded as the first American prose epic and one of the world classics. It gives a detailed account of the operation of the whaling industry and illustrates the tragedy of man fighting against the overwhelming odds in an indifferent and even hostile world. The novel can be interpreted in the following perspectives. III. The analysi