美国文学史及选读上册复习资料记录材料.docx

1、美国文学史及选读上册复习资料记录材料美国文学史及选读复习笔记整理 by DaisyPart one. The literature of colonial AmericaI. Introduction of American literature1. Definition of American LiteratureLiterature produced in American English by American citizens 2. Basic Qualities of American Writers 1) Independent A. no close hold; free fro

2、m its control B. an independent action C. free-lance writer 自由作家 D. their independence and their right to make up their own minds2) Individualistic A. their own efforts for success B. the initiative; not give in easily C. free from political prejudice and ideological conformity D. their literary car

3、eer; successful through their individual efforts E. the rights of individuals; their own rights and interest F. a means of self-expression; a way of expressing their personal views about life and society, of advocating liberty, democracy and independent action of the individual. G. a devotion to sel

4、f-realization, to protection of environment and to suspicion of a mass society and power 3) Critical A. not satisfied with the contemporary society B. question the prevailing values C. discern flaws in society D. criticize American society E. a literary tradition in America4) Innovative A. the least

5、 restraints and bondage to the past B. the new ideas, new attitudes, and new cultural faces C. experiments in writing D. different from others as much as possible; a new trend almost every ten years E. Americas changing values 5) Humorous A. a strictly national characteristic; part of their life, th

6、eir character, and their style B. the ludicrous and mirthful C. enrich American literature with humor of all kindsII. Native American Literature1. Background 1) A rich store of oral literature 2) Different literary taste 2. Three stages of development 1) Traditional Indian Literature A. the category

7、 of oral literature B. a regularity of metric pattern C. an organic part of everyday life D. functional2) Transitional Indian Literature A. translations of the great Indian orators; memoirs of the Indian experience B. related by Indians to white audiences. 3) Modern Indian Literature A. novels, shor

8、t stories, and poetry B. more good Indian poets than fiction writers C. both their rich heritage and their tragic loss of identity III. Literature of Colonial Settlements 1. Background 1) Neither American nor really literature not American: the work mainly of immigrants from England not literature:

9、an interesting mixture of travel accounts and religious writings 2) The austere 简朴的Pilgrims to reform the Church of England2. Puritanism 1) The New England settlements: A. religious controversy B. an urge for religious freedom and determination C. fleeing from religious and political oppression and

10、persecution D. human thirst for greater economic opportunity, for land, and for adventure 2) Puritans -to “purify” the religious practice in the church 3) Their own religious and moral principles American Puritanism one of the enduring influences in American thought and American literature.4) Predes

11、tination, original sin, total depravity, and limited atonement 补偿from Gods grace 5) Their way of life hard work, thrift, piety, and sobriety 3. Literature (In the colonial period, much of the literature was produced by Puritan writers.) 1) A literary expression of the Puritan idealism The Puritan op

12、timism enormous impact on American literature 2) A literature of discovery The potentialities of the New World; The harsh reality. 3) The types of writing produced in the colonial settlements histories, travel accounts, biographies, diaries, letters, autobiographies, sermons and poems 4) The purpose

13、 of writing to record their experiences and to express their views and feelings 5) Writers in this period include William Bradford(1590-1657)，John Winthrop(1588-1631), Ann Bradstreet(1612-1672), one of the most interesting of the early poetsEdward Taylor(1642-1729). the best of the Puritan poets.A a

14、nd E: They can be called servants of God. Their writings served either God or colonial expansion. Some other colonial writers wrote for civil and religious freedom, and some wrote for America shaking off the fetters of the savage British colonial rule.4. Characteristics 1) utilitarian功利主义的, polemica

15、l好争论的, or didactic说教的 2) teach some kind of lesson 3) served either God or colonial expansion or both 4) a practical consideration of the sort impression each writer wanted to make upon a selected group of readers 5) symbolism as a technique 6) plainness 7) fresh, simple, direct, and with a touch of nobility 8) as much a product of continuities as an indigenous creation补充American PuritanismAmerican Puritanism is one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature.The term “puritan” was first applied to those Protes