《美国文学》教学课件 Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804~1864)

1、 Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)“Like Edgar Allan Poe, Hawthorne took a dark view of human Nature.”Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)Position The first great American novelist. A pioneer of the symbolic novels of American literature. Nathaniel Hawthorne (18041864)I. LifeBorn on July 4, 1804 into a fami

2、ly of long Puritan traditionAshamed of his ancestors notorious persecution of the Quakers & the Salem Witchcraft.the declining of the familys fortunehis extensive reading and ambition to be a writerstudying experience in the Bowdoin College in Main. Hawthornes life experienceHeld many jobs including

3、 writer, publisher, working at a Customs House, and consult in EnglandMarried Sophie Peabody in 1825Befriended Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, and President Franklin pierceNathaniel Hawthorne (18041864)II. Literary Career1828 Fanshaw 1837 Twice-

4、Told Tales1846 Mosses from an Old Manse1850 The Scarlet Letter1851 The House of the Seven Gables1860 The Marble FaunChief worksThe Twice-Told Tales (1837) Hawthornes first collection of short stories. It first brought his name to the attention of the public and the critical circle. Mosses from an Ol

5、d Manse (1846) His second collection of short stories. Finished while he was working as a surveyor of the Customs House. The Scarlet Letter (1850) His masterpiece and one of the worlds classics ,which established him as the Leading American native novelist of the 19th century.The Scarlet Letter (185

6、0) The House of the Seven Gables (1851) It is based on the tradition of a curse pronounced on the authors family when his great grandfather was a judge in the Salem witchcraft. The Marble Faun (1860 ) a story on the theme that evil educates and the confrontation with evil will elevate your soul- the

7、 tragic rise is born out of fortunate fall. Thematic ConcernsHawthornes fiction shows the effect of time and history, esp. the relationship between the past and the present. His fiction explores the source of evil; the inner world of man and examines the effect of sin and guilt.Thematic ConcernsHis

8、fiction reveals the moral isolation of the individual versus community. His fiction explores the tension between the head (the intellect ) and the heart (the feelings) as well as the destructive impulse of the human mind (id) .His fiction highlights the holiness of the individual and the necessity o

9、f human relationship. Major ThemesAlienation - a character is in a state of isolation 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 f

10、orced by the puritanical heritage or by society; also guilt vs. innocence. Major ThemesPuritan New England - used as a background and setting in many tales.Pride - Hawthorne treats pride as evil. He illustrates the following aspects of pride in various characters: physical pride ,spiritual pride and

11、 intellectual prideOther themesconflict impingement of past upon the present, the futility of comprehensive social reform,selfishness the dark side of human natureHypocrisylove vs. hate,fate vs. free will. StyleA man of literary craftsmanship, extraordinary in The use of symbol: symbols serve as a w

12、eapon to attack reality. It can be found everywhere in his writing.Revelation of characters psychology: he is good at exploring the complexity of human psychology. There isnt much physical movement going on in his works.The use of supernatural mixed with the actual.Style Hawthorne wrote in the form

13、of romance. He used ambiguity to help the reader in a world of uncertainty. To create the ambiguity, he often employed the technique of multiple views.His stories are parable (allegory)to teach a lesson.Hawthornes significance1.The primary significance of his major works dwells in the interest and t

14、he consistent vitality of his criticism of life.2. He used the New England regional past as subject and setting for his stories and he showed great concern about American past.3. He is significant for his themes.4.Hawthornes use of psychological analysis is of interest today. The reasons for Hawthor

15、ne to write evils1) Hawthorne lived in an age when the dynamic influence of Puritanism was gone and the impact of romanticism and Transcendentalism was largely felt among the intellectuals.2)His experience of living in a limited social background and his “seclusion” of thinking led to his exclusive

16、preoccupation with the inner world of man , where he believed was the source of social evils.The reasons for Hawthorne to write evils3)He was influenced by the Calvinist doctrine of “original sin” and total depravity.4) He was intensely aware of the misdeeds of his Puritan ancestors, which led to hi

17、s understanding of evil being at the core of human life and “ that blackness in Hawthorne”. Literary Terms Romance a form of narrative writing originated from the medieval time that deals with exciting and chivalric adventures by heroes. In modern times a romance is usually a love story, esp. a sentimental one, but it can also be any adventures that include a long theme.Allegory a form of narrative writing in which the people, objects or events are used symbolically to put across a particular meaning