PartIITheLiteratureofReasonandRevolution.docx

1、PartIITheLiteratureofReasonandRevolutionPart II. The Literature of Reason and Revolutionv I. Historical Introduction ()v II.Enlightenment()v III.Literature v IV.Thomas Painev V.Thomas Jefferson v VI.Philip Freneauv VII.Benjamin Franklin ()v VIII. The Autobiography()I.Historical Introduction ()In Eco

2、nomy: The Industrial Revolution: spurred the economy in American colonies.In Politics Theology dominated the Puritan phase of American writing. Politics was now the great subject to command the attention of the best minds. 1. The writers held vitally important places in the movement for American ind

3、ependence. Freedom was won as much by their fiery and inspiring speeches and writings as by the weapons of Washington and Lafayette. The 13 original American states were persuaded to become a single nation by the arguments of statesmen and men of letters.2. Strict rules made by English government ha

4、mpered the economic development of the colonies. The British wanted the colonies to remain politically and economically dependent on the mother country, which led to the colonies intense strain with England. So the American War for Independence broke out in 1775.Independence War(1775-1783): The indu

5、strial growth led to intense strain with Britain. The British government tried to suppress their growth economically, and ruled them from abroad politically and levied heavy tax on them. These aroused bitter resentment in colonies. Constant conflicts resulted in American revolutionary war.(1) 1775,

6、Lexington, beginning of the Independence War.(2) July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence.(3) 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army.(4) 1778, English army surrendered.(5) 1783, formal recognition by the British government.3. The procedures of the establishmen

7、t of the new nation(1) colony(2) state(3) federal republic- the United States of AmericaIn Ideology (Enlightenment)v Spiritual life of the coloniesEnlightenment, a philosophical and intellectual movement.v Advocated reason or rationality, the scientific method, equality and human beingsability to pe

8、rfect themselves and their society. v In favor of the revolutionary ideas and took actively in the war.v Opposed the puritan traditions and brought the secular education and literature to life.II. Enlightenment（the Age of Reason）1. Enlightenmentv The spiritual life in the colonies during the period

9、was to a great degree molded by the bourgeois Enlightenment.v (1) Originated in Europe in the 17th centuryv (2) Sources: Newtons theory; deism（自然神教派); French philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire)(3) Basic principles: stressing education; stressing Reason (Order) (The age has been called Age of Reason.); e

10、mploying Reason to reconsider the traditions and social realities; concerns for civil rights, such as equality and social justice; the idea of progress.v 2. At the initial period the spread of the ideas of the Enlightenment was largely due to journalism. All the leaders of the revolution were influe

11、nced by the Enlightenment;3. Representatives: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, etc.v The representatives of the Enlightenment set themselves the task of disseminating knowledge among the people and advocating revolutionary ideas. They also actively participated in the War for Indep

12、endence.2. An intellectual movement that originated in the 17th century EnglandFranceEuropeEnglish colonies in Americav An age of great discoveries and new menv Stressed the powers of human reason,the importance of scientific methods and discoveries instead of the omnipresence and omnipotence of God

13、v Inspired and enlightened by Isaac Newtons new scientific idea,believed that human society must operate by natural laws, that by discovering and approving laws, mankind could achieve almost infinite progressv In America, the Enlightenment contributed to freeing the Americans from the limitations of

14、 Puritanism and stimulating them to strive for the establishment of their independence and democratic nation.III. Literature1. Call for Americas independence in literaturev As soon as America became politically and economically independent, the call for its independence in literature started to emer

15、ge.v In 1783, Noah Webster declared, “America must be as independent as she is in politics, as famous for the arts as for arms”. Yet throughout the century American literature was largely patterned on the writing of 18th century Englishmen.2. The Development of Literaturev Principal features:v The m

16、en of letters were preoccupied with rationality and showed a profound love for the order and beauty of classical art.v In form, it was largely patterned on the writing of the 18th c English classical writers who were characterized by clarity, precision and order.v In content, it was characterized by

17、 its utilitarian tendency.v While imaginative literature in America remained derivative and dependent, the heroic and revolutionary ambitions of the age had created great political pamphleteering and state papers. Essayists and journalists had shaped the nations beliefs with reason dressed in clear

18、and forceful prose.3.Features of literaturev The prosperity of journalism: to spread ideas of Enlightenment.v The American reading public at the time displays great interest in the works of English scientist, philosophers and writers. v The secular ideals in Franklins works.v Essayists and journalis

19、ts shaped the nations beliefs with reason dressed in clear and forceful prose. 4.The Representative Enlightenersv Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790)v Poor Richards Almanacv The Autobiographyv Thomas Paine(1737-1809)v Common Sensev American Crisisv Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)v Declaration of Independencev

20、 Philip Freneau (1752-1832)v Poet of the American Revolution/The father of American poetry/Transitional role between neoclassicism and romanticismv The Wild Honey SuckleIV. Thomas Paine (1737-1809)v Revolutionary War patriot and pamphleteer, born in Thetford, England. Paine emigrated in 1774 to Penn

21、sylvania, where he gravitated toward those who supported colonial independence.Life and career v Paines pamphlet Common Sense appeared in January 1776 and caused an immediate sensation. In it, Paine both supported American independence and attacked the corruption of the British hereditary monarchy.

22、He fought in the Revolutionary War and continued to publish, including his 1776 essay The American Crisis. Major worksv 1.The Case of the Officers of the Excise (1772)v - his first pamphlet, a petition to Parliament for a living wage for the excise collectors.v 2. Common Sense (1776) - signed simply

23、 “By an Englishman”, to urge the colonies to declare independence; Pain became forthwith the most articulate spokesman of the American Revolution.v 3. The American Crisis (1776-1783)-Paines chief contribution was a series of 16 pamphlets (1776-1783) entitled The American Crisis and signed “Common Se

24、nse” which dealt directly with the military engagements to inspire the Continental Army.v 4. The Rights of Man (1791 - 92) - an answer to Burkes Recent Reflections on the French Revolution, which not only championed Rousseaus doctrines of freedom, but also suggested the overthrow of the British mona

25、rchy. Paine was indicted for treason and was forced to seek refuge in France.v 5. The Age of Reason (1795)v -a deistic treatise advocating a rationalistic view of religion.v 6. Analysis of The American Crisis(17761783)v -a series of pamphlets published in London from 17761783 during the American Rev

26、olution. It decried British actions and Loyalists, offering support to the Patriot cause. V. Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826)v Born: 13 April 1743 v Birthplace: Shadwell, Virginia v Died: 4 July 1826 (natural causes) v Best Known As: Author of the Declaration of Independence v 1. His mind ranged curious

27、ly over many fields of knowledgelaw, philosophy, government, architecture, education, religion, science, agriculture, mechanicsand whatever he touched, he enriched in some measure. 2. He was the third President of the United States (18011809), the principal author of The Declaration of Independence

28、(1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. High points of his presidency include the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon and the exploration of the west by Lewis and Clark (18041806). v 3. As a political philosopher, J

29、efferson was a man of the Enlightenment and knew many intellectual leaders in Britain and France. He idealized the independent yeoman farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states rights and a strictly limited federal government. Jefferson supported t

30、he separation of church and state and was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779, 1786). v He was the eponym（名祖，指姓名被用来命名某物）of Jeffersonian democracy and the co-founder and leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, which dominated American politics for a quarter-century and w

31、as the precursor of the modern-day Democratic Party. Jefferson served as the wartime Governor of Virginia (17791781), first United States Secretary of State (17891793) and second Vice President (17971801). v 4. A polymath (学识渊博的人), Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticultur

32、ist(园艺家), statesman, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist (古生物学者), author, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia. The Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies in North America were Free and Independent States and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.