南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学后浪漫主义.docx

1、南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学 后浪漫主义Nathanial Hawthorne/Herman Melville/Edgar Allan Poe/Walt WhitmanNathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)1. Worksa) Twice-Told Tales 1837 重述故事b) Mosses from an Old Manse 1843 古宅青苔c) The Scarlet Letter 1850 红字d) The House of the Seven Gables 1851 七个尖角阁的房子e）The Blithedale Romance 1852 福谷传奇f

2、) The Marble Faun 1860 大理石雕像g) “Young Goodman Brown” 好小伙布朗h) “The Ministers Black Veil” 教长的黑面纱i) “Dr. Rappacinis Daughter” 拉普奇尼博士的女儿 2. LifeLike James Fenimore Cooper, Hawthorne was extremely concerned with conventionality; his first pseudonymously published short stories imitated Sir Walter Scott,

3、as did his 1828 self-published Fanshawe. His later works show some Transcendentalist influence, including a belief in individual choice and consequence, and an emphasis on symbolism. As Americas first true psychological novel, The Scarlet Letter would convey these ideals; contrasting puritan moralit

4、y with passion and individualism. The Scarlet Letter represents the height of Hawthornes literary genius; dense with terse descriptions. It remains relevant for its philosophical and psychological depth, and continues to be read as a classic tale on a universal theme.3. Reasons for Hawthornes Curren

5、t Popularity One of the most modern of writers, Hawthorne is relevant in theme and attitude. According to H. H. Waggoner, Hawthornes attitudes use irony, ambiguity, and paradox. Hawthorne rounds off the puritan cycle in American writing - belief in the existence of an active evil (the devil) and in

6、a sense of determinism (the concept of predestination). Hawthornes use of psychological analysis (pre-Freudian) is of interest today. In themes and style, Hawthornes writings look ahead to Henry James, William Faulkner, and Robert Penn Warren 4. Influences on Hawthorne Salem - early childhood, later

7、 work at the Custom House. Puritan family background - one of his forefathers was Judge Hawthorne, who presided over the Salem witchcraft trials, 1692. Belief in the existence of the devil. Belief in determinism. 5. Major Themes in Hawthornes Fiction Alienation - a character is in a state of isolati

8、on because of self-cause, or societal cause, or a combination of both. Initiation - involves the attempts of an alienated character to get rid of his isolated condition. Problem of Guilt -a characters sense of guilt forced by the puritanical heritage or by society; also guilt vs. innocence. Pride -

9、Hawthorne treats pride as evil. He illustrates the following aspects of pride in various characters: physical pride (Robin), spiritual pride (Goodman Brown, Ethan Brand), and intellectual pride (Rappaccini). Puritan New England - used as a background and setting in many tales. Italian background - e

10、specially in The Marble Faun. Allegory - Hawthornes writing is allegorical, didactic and moralistic. Other themes include individual vs. society, self-fulfillment vs. accommodation or frustration, hypocrisy vs. integrity, love vs. hate, exploitation vs. hurting, and fate vs. free will. 6. Hawthorne

11、as a Literary Artist First professional writer - college educated, familiar with the great European writers, and influenced by puritan writers like Cotton Mather. Hawthorne displayed a love for allegory and symbol. He dealt with tensions involving: light versus dark; warmth versus cold; faith versus

12、 doubt; heart versus mind; internal versus external worlds. His writing is representative of 19th century, and, thus, in the mainstream due to his use of nature, its primitiveness, and as a source of inspiration; also in his use of the exotic, the gothic, and the antiquarian. 7. Features of his work

13、sSettings - Puritan New EnglandThemes - Evil & sinIdea -“black vision” toward human beingsFeature - AmbiguityTechnique - symbolism8. The Scarlet Letter Hester sin Chillingwhoth evil Dimmesdale sin Pearl - Adultery/Ability/AngelHerman Melville （1819-1891)and Moby DickWorks1. Redburn 18492. Typee 1846

14、3. Omoo 18744. Moby Dick 18515. Mardi 18496. White Jacket 18507. Pierre 18528. Billy Budd 1924LifeIn 1839, Melville began his affair with sea when he joined the crew of the St. Lawrence and set sail for Liverpool England. In 1840, Melville set sail aboard the Acushnet, a whaling ship headed for the

15、South Pacific. The rough conditions of the sea toughened the romantic New Englander and he took such a liking to sea life that he sailed around the globe four years aboard various ships. Melville was welcomed home by his family who was entertained by his tales of the high seas and encouraged him to

16、write them down. Herman wrote Typee quickly in 1845, and published it the next year. Typee became a critical and financial success To make himself more financially stable for his impending marriage, Melville sought a position with the U.S. Treasury and took on extra work writing book reviews. Moby D

17、ick published in November 1851, received poor reviews and did not sell. Despite this continued output and the fact his earlier novels continued to be reprinted and sold fairly well, Melvilles literary reputation was in rapid decline. His death from a heart attack on September 28, 1891 went entirely

18、unheeded by the general public. Melvilles literary reputation remained in decline until he was rediscovered in the 1920s, when a generation, disillusioned by the Great War began to appreciate the depth of Melvilles spiritual struggles and the modern experimental style of his stories. Moby Dick Type

19、of work: symbolic novel First publication: 1851 Setting: Most of the book takes place on various oceans, such as the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Pacific, in the early to mid 1800s. However, a good deal of the first part of the novel takes place in New England inside and around Nantucket. Principal

20、 Characters: Ishmael Schoolteacher and part-time sailor; a Presbyterian, like Melville, he projects Calvinistic thinking tempered by his background in literature and philosophy. He discusses such issues as free will, predestination, necessity, and damnation. He is the sole survivor of the Pequod. Ca

21、ptain Ahab A man who is obsessed with the killing of a white whale that has maimed him. He has a scar which extends from his head to his leg. Starbuck The first mate, is bold enough to criticize Ahabs vengeance, considers mutiny but fails. Stubb The second mate who is carefree, indifferent, and fata

22、listic. Moby Dick It is the White Whale; the worlds largest creature. It is powerful, legendary image of nature. It swims peacefully in the sea until disturbed by humans, then shows a terrible fury and anger. For Ahab, Moby Dick is the symbol of evil. Themes of Moby Dick Search for truth：The story d

23、eals with the human pursuit of truth and the meaning of existence. Conflict between Good and Evil. Conflict between Man and Nature. Isolation between man and man; man and nature; man and society. Solipsism（唯我论）.Symbols The Pequod The Pequod is a symbol of doom. It is painted a gloomy black and cover

24、ed in whale teeth and bones, literally bristling with the mementos of violent death. It is, in fact, marked for death. Adorned like a primitive coffin, the Pequod becomes one. Moby Dick Moby Dick possesses various symbolic meanings for various individuals. 1) Symbol of nature for human beings, becau

25、se it is mysterious, powerful, unknown. 2) Symbol of evil for the Captain Ahab. 3) Symbol of good and purity because of its whiteness.Voyage of the Pequod Symbol of the pursuit of ideals, adventure, and the hunt in the vast wilderness. Ahab Symbol of solipsism, revenge and then evil.Starbuck Symbol

26、of good and noble. the Doubloon Symbol of the lure of evil and enticements to greed. Sea Symbol of vastness, loneliness, and isolation.Evaluation Moby Dick is, critics have agreed, one of the worlds greatest masterpieces. To get to know the 19th century American mind and America itself, one has to r

27、ead this book. One of the classics of American Literature and even world literature. Moby Dick is an encyclopedia of everything, history, philosophy, religion, etc. in addition to a detailed account of the operations of the whaling industry.Walt WhitmanOne of the great innovators in American literat

28、ureHe gave America its first genuine epic poem: Leaves of Grass（Leaves of Grass(1855) a collection of poems by Walt Whitman, written in free verse (=poetry without regular patterns) , which strongly express his love of nature and his respect for freedom. These poems are important because they made f

29、ree verse more acceptable and influenced later US writers.）In 1855, Whitman took out a copyright on the first edition of Leaves of Grass, which consisted of twelve untitled poems and a preface. Whitman released a second edition of the book in 1856, containing thirty-three poems, a letter from Emerso

30、n praising the first edition, and a long open letter by Whitman in response. After suffering a stroke, Whitman found it impossible to return to Washington. He stayed with his brother until the 1882 publication of Leaves of Grass gave Whitman enough money to buy a home in Camden.In the simple two-sto

31、ry clapboard （装有护墙板的）house, Whitman spent his declining years working on additions and revisions to a new edition of the book and preparing his final volume of poems and prose, Good-Bye, My Fancy (1891).WORKSPoetry Drum Taps (1865) Good-Bye, My Fancy (1891) Leaves of Grass (1855) Leaves of Grass (1856) Leaves of Grass (1860) Leaves of Grass (1867) Leaves of Grass (1870) Leaves of Grass (1876) Leaves of Grass (1881) Leaves of Grass (1891) Passage to India (1870) Sequel to Drum Taps (1865)Prose Complete Prose Works (1892) Democratic Vistas (1871) Franklin Ev