美国文学史第一讲

1、Chapter I: Chapter 1（Lecturer:陈盛）陈盛）Captain John Smith (15801631)1.Background2. American Puritanism 3. Literature of the 18th Century1607-1775 Colonial Period1775-1865the Early National Period1828-1865Romantic Period in American1865-1914Realistic Period1914-1939Modern Literature1939-Contemporary Per

2、iodPeriod:Period:- 1492 ,Christopher Columbus - 1492 ,Christopher Columbus in. in. -The earliest settlers -The earliest settlers included Dutch, Swedes, included Dutch, Swedes, Germans, French, Spaniard, Germans, French, Spaniard, Italians, and Portuguese.Italians, and Portuguese. Frenchmen :Norther

3、n Colonies Frenchmen :Northern Colonies (along the St. Lawrence River)(along the St. Lawrence River)Swedes :along the DelawareSwedes :along the DelawareDutch : HudsonDutch : HudsonGermans and Scotch-Irish: New Germans and Scotch-Irish: New York and PennsylvaniaYork and PennsylvaniaSpanish :FloridaSp

4、anish :FloridaIn the 17In the 17thth century, pirates, century, pirates, adventurers, and explorers adventurers, and explorers opened the way to a second opened the way to a second wave of permanent colonists, wave of permanent colonists, bringing their wives, bringing their wives, children, farm im

5、plements children, farm implements and craftsmens tools. The and craftsmens tools. The e a r l y l i t e r a t u r e o f e a r l y l i t e r a t u r e o f exploration, made up of exploration, made up of diaries, letters, travel diaries, letters, travel journals, ships logs, and journals, ships logs,

6、 and reports to the explorers reports to the explorers financial backersfinancial backersEuropean European rulers or, in mercantile rulers or, in mercantile England and Holland, joint England and Holland, joint stock companiesstock companiesgradually gradually was supplanted by records of was suppla

7、nted by records of the settled colonies.the settled colonies.The first permanent English The first permanent English settlement in North America was settlement in North America was established at Jamestown, Virginia established at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. It endured starvation, in 1607. It endur

8、ed starvation, brutality, and misrule. However, brutality, and misrule. However, the literature of the period the literature of the period paints America in glowing colors paints America in glowing colors a s t h e l a n d o f r i c h e s a n d a s t h e l a n d o f r i c h e s a n d opportunity. op

9、portunity. Among the members of Among the members of the small band of Jamestown the small band of Jamestown settlers was Captain John Smith, settlers was Captain John Smith, an English soldier of fortune. His an English soldier of fortune. His reports of exploration, published reports of exploratio

10、n, published in the early 1600s, have been in the early 1600s, have been described as the first distinct described as the first distinct American literature written in American literature written in English.English. A l m o s t f r o m t h e A l m o s t f r o m t h e beginning, as the English beginn

11、ing, as the English settled along the Atlantic settled along the Atlantic coast of America, there coast of America, there were important differences were important differences between the Southern and between the Southern and the New England colonies. the New England colonies. In the South, enormous

12、 In the South, enormous farms or plantations used farms or plantations used the labor of black slaves the labor of black slaves to grow tobacco. The rich to grow tobacco. The rich and powerful plantation and powerful plantation o w n e r s w e r e s l o w t o o w n e r s w e r e s l o w t o develop

13、a literature of develop a literature of their own. They preferred their own. They preferred b o o k s i m p o r t e d f r o m b o o k s i m p o r t e d f r o m England. England. Mayflower,Mayflower, 1620 ,brought the Pilgrims from England to New England. Christopher JonesPlymouthBefore landing, an a

14、greement for the temporary government of the colony by the will of the majority was drawn up in the famous Mayflower Compact. But in New England, the Puritan But in New England, the Puritan settlers had come to the New settlers had come to the New World in order to form a World in order to form a s

15、o c i e t y b a s e d o n s t r i c t s o c i e t y b a s e d o n s t r i c t C h r i s t i a n b e l i e f s . T h e y C h r i s t i a n b e l i e f s . T h e y believed that society should be believed that society should be based on the laws of God. based on the laws of God. Therefore, they had a

16、far Therefore, they had a far stronger sense of unity. stronger sense of unity. Harvard, the first college in Harvard, the first college in the colonies, was founded near the colonies, was founded near Boston in 1636 in order to Boston in 1636 in order to train new Puritan ministers.train new Purita

17、n ministers. The first printing press in The first printing press in America was started there in America was started there in 1638, and Americas first 1638, and Americas first n e w s p a p e r , n e w s p a p e r , T h e B o s t o n T h e B o s t o n NewsletterNewsletter, appeared in 1704., appear

18、ed in 1704.Puritan ThoughtsThe Puritan definition of good The Puritan definition of good writing was that which brought writing was that which brought home a full awareness of the home a full awareness of the importance of worshipping God importance of worshipping God and of the spiritual dangers an

19、d of the spiritual dangers that the soul faced on Earth. that the soul faced on Earth. P u r i t a n s t y l e v a r i e d P u r i t a n s t y l e v a r i e d enormously-from complex enormously-from complex metaphysical poetry to homely metaphysical poetry to homely journals and crushingly journals

20、and crushingly pedantic(pedantic(学究气的学究气的) religious ) religious history. history. Whatever the style or genre, Whatever the style or genre, certain themes remained constant. certain themes remained constant. Life was seen as a test; failure Life was seen as a test; failure led to eternal damnation

21、(led to eternal damnation (永久的永久的惩罚惩罚)and hellfire, and success )and hellfire, and success to heavenly bliss. This world to heavenly bliss. This world was an arena of constant battle was an arena of constant battle between the forces of God and between the forces of God and t h e f o r c e s o f S a

22、 t a n , a t h e f o r c e s o f S a t a n , a formidable enemy with many formidable enemy with many disguises. Many Puritans disguises. Many Puritans excitedly awaited the millennium, excitedly awaited the millennium, when Jesus would return to earth, when Jesus would return to earth, end human mis

23、ery, and inaugurate end human misery, and inaugurate 1,000 years of peace and 1,000 years of peace and prosperity. prosperity. Scholars have long pointed out the link between Puritanism and capitalism: Both rest on ambition, hard work, and an intense striving for success. Although individual Puritan

24、s could not know, in strict theological terms, whether they were “saved” and among the elect who would go to heaven, Puritans tended to feel that earthly success was a sign of election. Wealth and status were sought not only for themselves, but also as welcome reassurances of spiritual health and pr

25、omises of eternal life.M o r e o v e r , t h e c o n c e p t o f M o r e o v e r , t h e c o n c e p t o f stewardship(stewardship(职责职责) encouraged ) encouraged success. The Puritans interpreted success. The Puritans interpreted all things and events as symbols all things and events as symbols with

26、deeper spiritual meaning, with deeper spiritual meaning, and felt that in advancing their and felt that in advancing their own profit and their communitys own profit and their communitys well being, they were also well being, they were also furtheringfurthering（促进）（促进） Gods plans. Gods plans. They d

27、id not draw lines of They did not draw lines of distinction between the secular distinction between the secular and religious spheres: All of and religious spheres: All of life was an expression of the life was an expression of the divine will-a belief that divine will-a belief that l a t e r r e s

28、u r f a c e s i n l a t e r r e s u r f a c e s i n Transcendentalism.Transcendentalism.Captain John SmithWilliam BradfordJohn WinthropCotton MatherAnne BradstreetEdward TaylorCaptain John Smith (15801631)A real adventurer, he had fought the Turks in A real adventurer, he had fought the Turks in Hun

29、gary, where he was wounded and taken Hungary, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was sold as a slave and escaped by prisoner. He was sold as a slave and escaped by killing his master. In 1607, he helped to set killing his master. In 1607, he helped to set up Jamestown, the first English col

30、ony in up Jamestown, the first English colony in America.America.Smith sent a letter to the Virginia Company in Smith sent a letter to the Virginia Company in London, defending the handling of the London, defending the handling of the settlement and proclaiming the merits of the settlement and procl

31、aiming the merits of the new land. In 1608, most part of his letter was new land. In 1608, most part of his letter was published, under the title published, under the title A True Relation of A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as

32、Hath Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting of That Colonyof That Colony. Thus, Captain John Smith became . Thus, Captain John Smith became the first American writer.the first American writer.True Relation of Virginia (1608)Description of New Engl

33、and (1616)General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624)Captain John Smith (1580-1631)William BradfordSmith published eight in all. Smith published eight in all. Some of them were dealing Some of them were dealing with New England, the coast with New England, the coast of whic

34、h he explored and of which he explored and mapped after his fortune mapped after his fortune faded with the Virginia faded with the Virginia Company. He sought a post as Company. He sought a post as guide to the Pilgrims but, guide to the Pilgrims but, though they made use of his though they made us

35、e of his publications and maps, they publications and maps, they did not want the man. He had did not want the man. He had t o o m u c h c o l o r a n d t o o m u c h c o l o r a n d flamboyance for sober flamboyance for sober Puritan tastes; moreover, he Puritan tastes; moreover, he was suspected o

36、f having less was suspected of having less than complete regard for the than complete regard for the exact truth.exact truth.Captain Smith may not have Captain Smith may not have been a modest man, but it is been a modest man, but it is clear that he contributed clear that he contributed more to the

37、 survival of the more to the survival of the Jamestown colony than did Jamestown colony than did anyone else. He tirelessly anyone else. He tirelessly explored the rivers and bays explored the rivers and bays around the Chesapeake region. around the Chesapeake region. A n d h e s a w f r o m t h e A

38、 n d h e s a w f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g w h a t w a s b e g i n n i n g w h a t w a s eventually to be a basic eventually to be a basic principle of American principle of American h i s t o r y , t h e n e e d o f h i s t o r y , t h e n e e d o f “workers” instead of “workers” instead of “ge

39、ntlemen” for the tough “gentlemen” for the tough job of planting colonies and job of planting colonies and pushing the frontiers pushing the frontiers westward.westward.Captain John Smith (1580-1631)His descriptions of America were filled with themes, myths, His descriptions of America were filled w

40、ith themes, myths, images, scenes, characters, and events that were a images, scenes, characters, and events that were a foundation as a land of endless bounty. His vision helped foundation as a land of endless bounty. His vision helped to lure the Pilgrims and the Puritans who saw themselves to lur

41、e the Pilgrims and the Puritans who saw themselves as new saints with a spiritual mission to flee the Old as new saints with a spiritual mission to flee the Old World and create a New Israel, a New Promised Land. We can World and create a New Israel, a New Promised Land. We can look on his descripti

42、on as a kind of fascinating look on his description as a kind of fascinating “advertisements” which try to persuade the reader to “advertisements” which try to persuade the reader to settle in the New World .settle in the New World .True Relation of Virginia (1608)True Relation of Virginia (1608)Des

43、cription of New England (1616)Description of New England (1616)Captain John Smith (1580-1631)General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624)In this work, John Smith created a romantic story, which In this work, John Smith created a romantic story, which seemed to have embroider

44、ed his adventures. Today we owe seemed to have embroidered his adventures. Today we owe the famous story to the Indian maiden, Pocahontas. The the famous story to the Indian maiden, Pocahontas. The tale is ingrained in the American historical imagination. tale is ingrained in the American historical

45、 imagination. The story recounts how Pocahontas, favorite daughter of The story recounts how Pocahontas, favorite daughter of Chief Powhatan, saved Captain Smiths life when he was Chief Powhatan, saved Captain Smiths life when he was a prisoner of the chief. Later, when the English a prisoner of the

46、 chief. Later, when the English persuaded Powhatan to give Pocahontas to them as a persuaded Powhatan to give Pocahontas to them as a hostage, her gentleness, intelligence, and beauty hostage, her gentleness, intelligence, and beauty impressed the English, and, in 1614, she married John impressed th

47、e English, and, in 1614, she married John Rolf, an English gentleman. The marriage initiated an Rolf, an English gentleman. The marriage initiated an eight-year peace between the colonists and the Indians, eight-year peace between the colonists and the Indians, ensuring the survival of the strugglin

48、g new colony.ensuring the survival of the struggling new colony.The story is probably untrue, The story is probably untrue, but it is the first famous but it is the first famous tale from American literature. tale from American literature. William Bradford (1590-1657)William Bradford was the long-Wi

49、lliam Bradford was the long-time governor of Plymouth time governor of Plymouth colony. He came to New England colony. He came to New England on the Mayflower in 1620 and in on the Mayflower in 1620 and in 1621, was chosen leader of the 1621, was chosen leader of the Pilgrims. Bradfords chronicle, P

50、ilgrims. Bradfords chronicle, Of Plimouth PlantationOf Plimouth Plantation, is an , is an invaluable record of early invaluable record of early English settlement in North English settlement in North America. America. John Winthrop (1588-1649)John Winthrop (1588-1649)John Winthrop was the first gove

51、rnor of John Winthrop was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and, like most Massachusetts Bay Colony and, like most of the Puritan writers, was a minister of the Puritan writers, was a minister all his life. He began to keep a journal all his life. He began to keep a journal on the Bay C

52、olonists voyage to on the Bay Colonists voyage to Massachusetts aboard the ship Arbella in Massachusetts aboard the ship Arbella in 1630. He maintained this practice for 1630. He maintained this practice for the rest of his life. Parts of his the rest of his life. Parts of his JournalJournal were fi

53、rst published in 1790. were first published in 1790. The complete work was at last printed in The complete work was at last printed in 1826 under the title 1826 under the title The History of New The History of New EnglandEngland. Yet, through a direct and . Yet, through a direct and vigorous prose

54、style, each account vigorous prose style, each account attained literary excellence.attained literary excellence.John Winthrop (1588-1649)Cotton MathervThe History of New England This work is in the “plain style”, but it is far This work is in the “plain style”, but it is far less cheerful. His writ

55、ing style is rather cold, less cheerful. His writing style is rather cold, because he rarely shows shock or sadness, even when because he rarely shows shock or sadness, even when he describes scenes of great unhappiness. Sometimes, he describes scenes of great unhappiness. Sometimes, the dryness of

56、his “plain style” is very effective. the dryness of his “plain style” is very effective. This is his description of the New England coast This is his description of the New England coast w h e n h e a r r i v e d o n J u n e 7 , 1 6 3 0 : w h e n h e a r r i v e d o n J u n e 7 , 1 6 3 0 : Like all

57、of the Puritan historians, Winthrop believed that most events could be seen as a sign from God. For example, when a snake was found and killed in a church, people saw this as the victory of New England religion over Satan.Cotton Mather (1663-1728)Cotton Mather, the master pedant, Son and grandson of

58、 influential Puritan ministers, Cotton Mather was himself a clergyman, involved in several important events in New England life including the trial of scores of people for witchcraft in the 1690s. He wrote at length of New England in over 500 books and pamphlets.Cotton Mather had an insane genius fo

59、r advertising himself. Whenever something happened to him in his life, he wrote a religious book. When his first wife died, he published a long sermon called Death Made Easy and Happy. When his little daughter died, he wrote The Best Way of Living, Which is to Die Daily. But some, such as his famous

60、 Magnalia Christi AmericanaMagnalia Christi Americana (1702), were very long and were published in many volumes. He was certain that his longest work, The Angel of Bethesda (1723), would “prove one of the most useful books that have been published in the World”(1). Cotton MatherCotton Mather (1663-1