美国文学史及选读课件

Choosethebestanswer.(2*20=40)Matchtheauthorandthework.(1*10=10)Explaintheliteraryterms.(2*5=10)

Puritanism;transcendentalism;internalrhyme;assonance;freeverse;oxymoron;anaphora;Americannaturalism;imagism;lostgeneration;localcolorism;O.Henryending;internationaltheme;Americanrealism;SocialDarwinism;icebergtheory;flashback;foreshadowing;HarlemRenaissance;jazzageChooseoneauthorfromthreeandmakecommentontheauthor.(1*10=10)Choosethreepassagesfromsixandwritedownthenameoftheauthorandthework,andmakecommentonthewholework.(3*10=30)Choosethebestanswer.(2*20=41TheLiteratureofColonialAmericaTheLiteratureofColonialAme2HistoricalIntroduction1.colonialsettlement(1607-1776)In1492,ChristopherColumbusdiscoveredAmericaandhemistookthenativepeopleonthenewcontinentforIndians.2.characterofcolonialliteraturecontent:religious,politicalform:diary,journal,letters,travelbooks,sermons,history(personalliterature)style:simple.direct,conciseoutofhumbleorigins

HistoricalIntroduction1.colo3ThefirstAmericanwriterCaptainJohnSmithTheGeneralHistoryofVirginiaThefirstAmericanwriterCapta4EarlyNewEnglandLiterature1.NewEngland:sixstatesinNorth-eastofAmerica:Maine,NewHampshire,Vermont,Massachusetts,RhodeIsland,Connecticut.2.WilliamBradford

TheHistoryofPlymouthPlantation

JohnWinthropTheHistoryofNewEngland

EarlyNewEnglandLiterature1.5PuritanThoughts1.God’schosenpeopleTheyweremeanttoreestablishacommonwealth,basedontheteachingsoftheBible,restorethelostparadiseandbuildthewildernessintoanewGardenofEden.PuritanThoughts1.God’schosen62.JohnCalvina.predestinationb.originalsinandtotaldepravityc.thesalvationofaselectedfew

2.JohnCalvin73.practical,optimistic，idealistic4.adoctrinaireopportunist5.AmericanPuritanscameunderviolentattacksfortheirkilljoywayoflife,religiousintolerance,bigotryandausterity.6.AmericanPuritanismandChineseConfucianism7.JonathanEdwards,BenjaminFranklin3.practical,optimistic，ide8theInfluenceofPuritanismtoAmericanLiteratureTheoptimisticPuritanhasexertedagreatinfluenceonAmericanliterature.TheAmericanPuritan’smetaphoricalmodeofperceptionwaschieflyimportantincallingintobeingaliterarysymbolismwhichisdistinctlyAmerican.WithregardtotechniqueonenaturallythinksofthesimplicitywhichcharacterizesthePuritanstyleofwriting.theInfluenceofPuritanismto9JohnCottonandRogerWilliamsAnneBradstreetandEdwardTaylor小虫小物尚扬声，难道吾便如哑子。造物主颂扬长空，不能唱得更动听？JohnCottonandRogerWilliam10

BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)ManofAction

BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)11

BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)A.Status:oneofthegreatestfoundingfathersoftheAmericanNationararegeniusinhumanhistoryJackofalltrades:essayist,autobiographicalwriter,printer,scientist,postmaster,almanacmaker,orator,statesman,philosopher,politicaleconomist,ambassador,parlorman,almosteverything

BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)12B.LifeandCareer(EarlyYears):1.CalvinistbackgroundinBoston2.Candle-maker’sfamily–“poorandobscure”3.LittleformaleducationSelf-taughtandself-made4.ApprenticetohishalfbrotherArunawayboyfromBostontoPhiladelphiatomakehisownfortuneB.LifeandCareer(EarlyYear13B.LifeandCareer(AStoryofSuccess)5.Asuccessfulprinterwhoretiredat426.HefoundedthePennsylvaniaHospital,theUniversityofPennsylvania,theAmericanPhilosophicalSociety,asubscriptionlibrary.7.Heinventedamusicalinstrumentcalledglassharmonica,theeffectivestreetlighting,theFranklinstove,bifocalglasses,efficientheatingsystem,andlightning-rodforwhichhewaspraisedas“thenewPrometheuswhohadstolenfirefromheaven”.B.LifeandCareer(AStoryof14B.LifeandCareer(PublicCareer)

8.AmemberofthePennsylvaniaAssemblyTheDeputyPostmaster-GeneralforthecoloniesRepresentativeofthecoloniesinLondonfor18years;MinistertoFrance;MinistertoSwedenAdelegatetotheContinentalCongress9.MemberoftheCommitteeofFivetodrafttheDeclarationofIndependence10.AmembertodraftthedocumentsthatcreatedtheUnitedStates:theDeclarationofIndependence,thetreatyofalliancewithFrance,theconstitution.B.LifeandCareer(PublicCar15C.HisMajorWritings:PoorRichard’sAlmanac

1.Time:almostaquarterofcentury2.Content:Literarypiecessuchaspoemsandessays,agoodmanyadages,commonsensewitticisms3.Sources:heborrowedthemfromfamouswriterssuchasRabelais,Defoe,SwiftandPopeandtriedtosimplifythesequotations4.Examples:Famoussayingssuchas“Losttimeisneverfoundagain”,“Godhelpthemthathelpthemselves”,“Fishandvisitorsstinkinthreedays”,etc..5.Function:practical,instructive,andamusingC.HisMajorWritings:16TheAutobiographyofBenjaminFranklin1.Nature:Probablythefirstofitskindinliterature.Asimpleyetfascinatingrecordofaman’ssuccess.AfaithfulaccountofthecolorfulcareerofAmerica’sfirstself-mademan.2.Structure:Thebookconsistsoffourparts,writtenatdifferenttimes.Franklinwas65whenhebegantowrite.3.Content:(a)Puritanism:ItisfirstofallaPuritandocument,arecordofself-examinationandself-improvement.(b)Enlightenment:Itembodiestheneworderofthe18thcenturyEnlightenment.(OrderandModeration)TheAutobiographyofBenjamin17

BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)C.HisMajorWritings:

TheAutobiographyofBenjaminFranklin4.Style:ThisworkiswritteninthepatternofPuritansimplicity,directness,andconcision.Themostsalientfeaturesaresuchastheplainnessofitsstyle,thehomelinessofimagery,thesimplicityofdiction,syntax,andexpression.5.Tone:OptimismTheAmericandreambeganwiththesettlementoftheAmericancontinent–thepromisedland–theGardenofEden–optimisticaboutthefuture

BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)18TheLiteratureofReasonandRevolutionTheLiteratureofReasonandR19ThomasPaine

1737-1809CommonSenseAmericanCrisisRightsofManTheAgeofReasonThomasPaine

1737-180920ThomasPaineBorninBritain,January291737SelftaughtImmigratedtoAmerica1774InvolvedinAmericanpoliticallifeThomasPaineBorninBritain,J21“ThebearerMrThomasPain[e]isverywellrecommendedtomeasaningeniousworthyyoungman.”

-BenjaminFranklin.

“ThebearerMrThomasPain[e]22

“Ioffernothingmorethansimplefacts,plainarguments,andcommonsense,”

ArguedstronglyforCOMPLETEAmericanIndependence,NotjustfreedomfromBritishTaxation

“Ioffernothingmorethans23ThomasJefferson1743-1826

TheDeclarationofIndependenceThomasJefferson24Majorevents1.mainwriterofTheDeclarationofIndependence2.writer

ofthelawforreligiousfreedominVirginiafounderofVirginiaUniversitythethirdpresidentofAmericapurchaseLouisianaMajorevents1.mainwriterof25PhilipFreneau

1752-1832“FatherofAmericanPoetry”PhilipFreneau

1752-1832“Fathe26◆Heisthemostimportantpoetinthe18thcentury.◆Hewasentitled“FatherofAmericanPoetry”.◆Hewascalled“ThepoetoftheRevolution”◆HewasborninNewYorkandgraduatedfromPrincetonUniversity.◆HewrotelotsofpoemssupportingAmericanRevolutionandhumanliberty.◆HewasthemostnotablerepresentativeofdawningAmericannationalisminliterature.◆Heisthemostimportantp27TheWildHoneySuckleThepoemisanindicationofthepoet’sdedicationtoAmericansubjectmatterandthenaturalscenesonthenewcontinent.HereinthispoemFreneaudealswiththethemesoflovelinessandthetransienceoflife.Thispoem,wellwithinthemelancholygenre,consistsofthepoet’spensivemusingsontheflower’sstory.TheWildHoneySuckleThepoem28Thefirsttwostanzaspicturetheadvantagesoftheflower’scountryretreat.Thenexttwostanzasunitethethemeoftheseasonswiththethoughtthatallmustdie.Deathanddecay,aswellascreation,aresocommon,somuchapartoftheuniversallaw.Thefirsttwostanzaspicture29野忍冬花俏丽的花，你长得这样秀媚，潜立在此间幽静之地，你甜蜜的花无人抚摸仍开放，你细嫩的枝无人观赏也致意；在这里，无漫游者会践踏你，无忙碌人会为你落泪。造化为你穿素装，嘱你躲避庸俗的目光，在此铺下庇荫地，让小溪在身边潺潺流去；就这样，你的夏天静静消逝，你的生命渐趋安息。野忍冬花俏丽的花，你长得这样秀媚，造化为你穿素装，30你那必定凋敝的妩媚令我颠倒，遇见你未来的末日惹我悲凄；妩媚已去也---伊甸展开的群芳，那些并不比你更秀丽；无情的白霜，秋天的威力，不容此花遗足迹。你细小的身躯最初，源于夜露与晨曦；既生自乌有，便一无所失，离世时也依然故你；生死之间，一个钟点而已，一枝脆嫩花朵的持续期。你那必定凋敝的妩媚令我颠倒，你细小的身躯最初，31陆游《卜算子·咏梅》驿外断桥边，寂寞开无主。已是黄昏独自愁，更著风和雨。无意苦争春，一任群芳妒。零落成泥碾作尘，只有香如故。陆游《卜算子·咏梅》驿外断桥边，寂寞开无主。已是黄昏独自愁32

AmericanRomanticism*Irving*CooperI.AmericanRomanticism1.IntellectualBackgroundTheRomanticperiodstretchesfromtheendofthe18thcenturythroughtheoutbreakoftheCivilWar.Politically:Democracyandpoliticalequalitybecametheidealofthenation;andthetwo-partypoliticalsystemwasinthemaking.

AmericanRomanticism*Irvi33Economically:Thespreadofindustrialism,thesuddeninfluxofimmigrants,andthepioneerspushingthefrontierfurtherwestleadtoaneconomicboom.Literarily:Thenewnationcriedfornewerliteraryexpressions;magazinesappearedinbignumberssuchasTheAmericanQuarterlyReview,TheSouthernReview,TheAtlanticMonthly,andHarper’sMagazine,facilitatingliteraryexpansioninthisnewcountry.Economically:Thespreadofin342.ForeignInfluence(DerivativeandImitative)TheRomanticmovement,whichhadflourishedearlierinthecenturybothinEnglandandEurope,provedtobeadecisiveinfluencewithoutwhichtheupsurgeofAmericanromanticismwouldhardlyhavebeenpossible.TheBritishromanticwriterssuchasWilliamWordsworth,TaylorColeridge,Byron,RobertBurns,ShelleyandSirWalterScottexertedagreatinfluenceupontheirAmericanbrothers.2.ForeignInfluence(Derivati35TheBritishRomanticliterarypiecessuchasLyricalBallads(1798)byWordsworthandColeridgeandWalterScott’sbordertaleswereesp.prevalentinAmerica.(Scott’sIvanhoe,RobRoy,TheLadyoftheLake,WaverleyandTheHeartofMidlothian)TheBritishRomanticliterary363.NativeFactors(DifferentandDistinctive)Althoughtheforeigninfluenceswerestrong,AmericanRomanticismexhibitedfromtheveryoutsetdistinctfeaturesofitsEnglishandEuropeancounterpart.Americanromanticismwasinessencetheexpressionof“arealnewexperience”and“anewsensibility”:

newplace;newfaces;newsight,smells,andsounds;newculturalfactor(AmericanIndians).3.NativeFactors(Differenta37AmericanPuritanismasaculturalheritagerenderedAmericanmoralvaluesbasicallypuritan.Publicatmosphereofthenationpredominantlyconditionedsociallife,culturaltaste,andliteraryexpression.OneofitsobviousmanifestationsisthefactthatAmericanRomanticwriterstendedmoretomoralizeandusesymbolsthantheirEnglishandEuropeanbrothers.Asalogicalresultoftheforeignandnativefactorsatwork,AmericanRomanticismwasbothimitativeanddistinctive,bothderivativeandindependent.AmericanPuritanismasacultu38thestarspangledbannerOh,saycanyousee,bythedawn'searlylightWhatsoproudlywehailedatthetwilight'slastgleaming?Whosebroadstripesandbrightstars,throughtheperilousfightO'ertherampartswewatched,weresogallantlystreaming?Andtherocket'sredglare,thebombsburstinginairGaveproofthroughthenightthatourflagwasstillthereOsay,doesthatstar-spangledbanneryetwaveO'erthelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave?Osay,doesthatstar-spangledbanneryetwaveO'erthelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave?thestarspangledbanner39II.WashingtonIrving(1783-1859)1.LiteraryStatusFatherofAmericanliteratureThefirstprofessionalAmericanwriterThefirstAmericanRomanticwriterThefirstAmericanshortstorywriterThefirstAmericanimaginativewritertoberecognizedbytheEuropeans

II.WashingtonIrving(1783-18402.Life

BornintoawealthyNewYorkmerchantfamilyReadwidelyfromveryearlyage–studiedlawCaredforhisfamilybusinessinEnglandWentbankrupt–wrotetosupporthimself2.Life41

AmericanRomanticism*Irving*Cooper3.HisWorks:

AHistoryofNewYork(1809)纽约外史TheSketchBook(1819-20)见闻札记TheHistoryoftheLifeandVoyagesofChristopherColumbus(1828)TheAlhambra(1832)阿尔罕伯拉LifeofGoldsmith,LifeofWashington

AmericanRomanticism*Irvi42TheshortstoryasagenreinAmericanliteratureprobablybeganwithIrving’sTheSketchBook,acollectionofessays,sketches,andtales,ofwhichthemostfamousandfrequentlyanthologizedare“RipVanWinkle”and“TheLegendofSleepyHollow”.4.Divisionofhiswritings:Irving’scareercanberoughlydividedintotwoimportantphases,theEnglishperiodwhichspanfromhisfirstbookupto1832andtheAmericanperiodstretchingovertheremainingyearsofhislife.

Theshortstoryasagenrein435.WritingStyleIrving’sstylecanonlybedescribedasbeautifulthoughimitative.

A.Irvingavoidsmoralizingasmuchaspossible:hewrotetoamuseandentertain.B.Hewasgoodatenvelopinghisstoriesinarichatmosphere,whichisoftenmorethancompensationfortheslimnessofplot.5.WritingStyle44C.Hischaractersarevividandtruesothattheytendtolingerinthemindofthereader.D.Hewassuchahumorouswriterthatitisdifficultnottosmileandoccasionallyevenchuckle.E.Hislanguagewasfinishedandmusical.C.Hischaractersarevividan456.HisMasterpieces“RipVanWinkle”gotsuggestionsfromaGermansource.IrvingchangedthesettingoftheoriginalandaddedconflictsofhisowntomakeitAmerican.Itisafantasytaleaboutamanwhosomehowsteppedoutsidethemainstreamoflife.

6.HisMasterpieces46RipVanWinkleisasimple,good-natured,andhen-peckedman.Hedoeseverythingexcepttakecareofhisownfarmandfamily.Hehelpseveryoneexcepthiswifeandhisownfolks.Soheiswelcomeeverywhereexceptathome.“Heisoneofthosehappymortals,whotaketheworldeasy,eatwhitebreadorbrown,whichevercanbegotwithleastthoughtortrouble,andwouldratherstarveonapennythanworkforapound.”RipVanWinkleisasimple,go47PlotSummeryof“RipVanWinkle”ThestoryofRipVanWinkleissetintheyearsbeforeandaftertheAmericanRevolutionaryWar.RipVanWinkle,avillagerofDutchdescent,livesinanicevillageatthefootofNewYork'sCatskillMountains.Anamiablemanwhosehomeandfarmsufferfromhislazyneglect,heislovedbyallbuthiswife.Oneautumndayheescapeshisnaggingwifebywanderingupthemountains.Afterencounteringstrangelydressedmen,rumoredtobetheghostsofHenryHudson’screw,whoareplayingnine-pin,andafterdrinkingsomeoftheirliquor,hesettlesdownunderashadytreeandfallsasleep.PlotSummeryof“RipVanWinkl48Hewakesuptwentyyearslaterandreturnstohisvillage.Hefindsoutthathiswifeisdeadandhisclosefriendshavediedinawarorgonesomewhereelse.HeimmediatelygetsintotroublewhenhehailshimselfaloyalsubjectofKingGeorgeIII,notknowingthatinthemeantimetheAmericanRevolutionhastakenplace.Anoldlocalrecognizeshim,however,andRip'snowgrowndaughtereventuallyputshimup.AsRipresumeshishabitofidlenessinthevillage,andhistaleissolemnlybelievedbytheoldDutchsettlers,certainhen-peckedhusbandsespeciallywishtheysharedRip'sluck.Hewakesuptwentyyearslater49美国文学史及选读课件50“TheLegendofSleepyHollow”narratesthememorableeventofanapparentlyheadlesshorsemanthrowinghisheadathisrivalinlove,andthememorablecharacterofIchabod.

PlotSummeryof“TheLegendofSleepyHollow”“TheLegendofSleepyHollow”51Thestoryissetabout1790intheDutchsettlementofTarryTown，NewYork，inasecludedglencalledSleepyHollow.IttellsthestoryofIchabodCrane,alean,lanky,andextremelysuperstitiousschoolmasterfromConnecticutwhocompeteswithAbraham"BromBones"VanBrunt,thetownrowdy,forthehandof18-year-oldKatrinaVanTassel,thedaughterandsolechildofawealthyfarmer.Thestoryissetabout1790in52AsCraneleavesapartyheattendedattheVanTasselhomeonanautumnnight,heispursuedbytheHeadlessHorseman，whoissupposedlytheghostofaHessiantrooperwhohadhisheadshotoffbyastraycannonballduring"somenamelessbattle"oftheAmericanRevolutionWar,andwho"ridesforthtothesceneofbattleinnightlyquestofhishead".Ichabodmysteriouslydisappearsfromtown,leavingKatrinatomarryBromBones,whowas"tolookexceedinglyknowingwheneverthestoryofIchabodwasrelated".AsCraneleavesapartyheatt53美国文学史及选读课件54III.JamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)1.LiteraryStatus:ThefirstAmericanFrontiernovelThefirstAmericanSeanovelThefirstAmericanSpyNovelThefirstAmericanHistoricalNovelHisLeatherstockingTalesastheAmericanNationalEpicIII.JamesFenimoreCooper(17552.Life:Locallyfamousfamily–YaleUniversityat14–fiveyearsatsea–comfortablelife–begantowriteaccidentally–failedinhisfirstnovelPrecaution–hissecondnovelTheSpy–firmlyestablishedwithhisTheLeatherstockingTales.2.Life:563.Hismajorworks:

Precaution(1820)TheSpy(1821)“TheLeatherstockingTales”includesThePioneers(1823)TheLastoftheMohicans(1826)ThePrairie(1827)ThePathfinder(1840)TheDeerslayer(1841)3.Hismajorworks:

573.Hismajorworks:3.A.TheLeatherstockingTalesisaseriesofnovelsbyAmericanwriterJamesFenimoreCooper,eachfeaturingthemainheroNattyBumppo,knownbyEuropeansettlersas"Leatherstocking","ThePathfinder",and"thetrapper"andbytheNativeAmericansas"Deerslayer,"and"Hawkeye".3.Hismajorworks:3.A.TheL58B.NattyBumppofirstappearstobearealfrontieersmaninhiscrubecabin,amanoffleshandbloodinthevirginforestsofNorthAmerica.ButashemovesoutofThePioneersintotheworldofTheLastoftheMohicans,ThePrairie,ThePathfinder,andTheDeerslayer,hedoessogatheringmoreandmoreofahaloofalegendaryandmythicnaturearoundhim.Hebecomesatype,arepresentationofanationstrugglingtobeborn,progressingfromoldagetorebirthandyouth.B.NattyBumppofirstappears59C.ThefiveCoopertalesconstituteamythicreproductionofthewholeprocess:theoldanddyingLeatherstockinginThePioneersandThePrairierelivesanotherphaseofmiddle-agematurityinTheLastoftheMohicansandThePathfinderandenjoysanotherleaseofyouthinTheDeerslayer.D.Bumppo’sgrowthandprogressembodiesnoneotherthantheAmericanquestforanidealcommunity;throughthischaracterCoopertriedtocreateanationalmythofhisown.C.ThefiveCoopertalesconst605.WritingFeatures:A.Plotconstruction:

Cooperwasgoodatinventingplots.Hisplotsaresometimesquiteincredible,buthisstoriesareimmenselyintriguing.B.Landscapedescription:HislandscapedescriptionsaremajesticandsuggestiveofsirWalterScott,thelegendaryspiritofwhosebordertalesmighthavebeenasourceofinspirationforhim.5.WritingFeatures:61C.Arichimagination:HehadneverbeentothefrontierandamongtheIndiansandyetcouldwritefivehugeepicbooksaboutthemwithhisrichimagination.Freefrominjustice,hetreatedtheAmericanIndiansasnoblesavages.D.

Clumsystyle:hisstyleisdreadful;hischaracterizationseemswoodenandlackinginprobability.C.Arichimagination:Hehad626.HisContributiona.Cooperhituponthenativesubjectoffrontierandwilderness.b.HecontributedtoAmericanliteraturedifferentsubgenresofnovels:spynovel,seanovel,frontiernovel,andhistoricalromance.6.HisContribution63c.HecreatedthefirstlegendaryfrontierheroNattyBumppoasthetypicalPioneeringfigure.d.HeintroducedtheWestandthefrontierasausablepastintoAmericanliterature,thususheringtheWesterntraditionintoAmericanworldofletters.c.Hecreatedthefirstlegend64TheLastoftheMohicansMajorDuncanandDavidGamutCoraandAliceHawkeyeandhisMohicanfriends,ChicachgookandhissonUncasHuronMaguaTheLastoftheMohicansMajor65EdgarAllanPoeEdgarAllanPoe66EdgarAllanPoe(1809-1849)I.LiteraryStatusPioneerofAmericanHorrorTalesPioneerofAmericanDetectiveTalesPioneerofAmericanPsycho-AnalyticfictionEditor,PoetandProfessionalliterarycriticEdgarAllanPoe(1809-1849)I.67II.LifeandCareerBorninanactorandactress’family–hisparentsdiedwhenhewasverysmall–adoptedbyaVirginiarichbusinessmanJohnAllan–enteredtheVirginiaUniversityat17–WestPointwherehebegantowritepoetry–thentales–editorofmagazinessuchasTheSouthernLiteraryMessenger,Graham’smagazine,etc.At27hemarriedhis13-year-oldcousinVirginiawhodiedveryyoungin1947.II.LifeandCareer68Poemarriedhis13-year-oldcousinVirginiaClemmPoemarriedhis13-year-oldco69Boston'sFortofIndependencewherePoewasstationedfirstinthearmyBoston'sFortofIndependence70

III.EdgarAllanPoe’sWorksTalesoftheGrotesqueandtheArabesque《奇异怪诞故事集》MS.FoundinaBottle 《瓶子里发现的手稿》TheMurdersintheRueMorgue 《毛格街杀人案》TheFalloftheHouseofUsher 《厄舍古屋的倒塌》TheMasqueoftheRedDeath 《红色死亡的化妆舞会》TheCaskofAmontillado 《一桶酒的故事》TheRaven 《乌鸦》Israfel 《伊斯拉菲尔》AnnabelLee 《安娜贝尔•李》ToHelen 《致海伦》ThePoeticPrinciple 《诗歌原理》ThePhilosophyofComposition《创作哲学》III.EdgarAllanPoe’sWorksT71IV.ControversialCommentsonPoeProbablythemostcontroversialandmostmisunderstoodliteraryfigureinAmericanliteraryhistoryReasons:HiscriticismsagainstHenryWadsworthLongfellowNegativecomments

Emerson–“jingleman”MarkTwain–Poe’sunreadableHenryJames–“enthusiasmforPoeisthemarkofadecidedlyprimitivestateofdevelopment”IV.ControversialCommentson72Poe'sNationalHistoricSiteinPhiladelphia,oneofhisformerresidencePoe'sNationalHistoricSitei73V.Poeasaliterarycritic(hisaesthetics)1.Aestheticwritings:“ThePhilosophyofComposition”“ThePoeticPrinciple”2.Aestheticideas:A.Brevity:thepoemshouldbeshort,readableatonesittingB.Beauty:thechiefaimisbeauty,namelytoproduceafeelingofbeautyinthemindsofthereaderThemelancholyisthemostlegitimateofallpoetictones;thedeathofabeautifulwomanisthemostpoetictopicintheworld.V.Poeasaliterarycriti74C.Purity:Poeisopposedtotheheresyofthedidacticandcalledforpurepoetry.Whatheseemstobesayingisthatartliesnotsomuchinwhatisbeingsaidasinthewayitsaysit.Besides,hestressesrhythm,definestruepoetryas“therhythmicalcreationofbeauty”anddeclaresthat“musicistheperfectionofthesoul,orideas,ofpoetry.”Hecitedhisownpoem“TheRaven”of108linestoshowhisaesthetics:asenseofmelancholyoverthedeathofabelovedbeautifulyoungwomanpervadesthewholepoem.C.Purity:Poeisopposedtot75美国文学史及选读课件76VI.Poe’sWritingFeatures1.Poewasafascinatingmanofimagination.2.Intheme,Poeanticipated20thcenturyliteratureinhistreatmentofthedisintegrationoftheselfinaworldofnothingness.3.Poewassensitiveenoughtofeelthepressureofaworldwherescienceandreasonreignsupreme,where“thereisneitherjoy,norlove,norlight,norcertitude,norpeace,norhelpfrompain.”VI.Poe’sWritingFeatures1.P774.BaudelairefirsttooknoteofthepsychologicalcontentofPoe’stalesandregardedPoeas“awriterofnerves”,andErichHellersawPoe’scontributiontothe“discoveryandcolonizationofthemind”;whatinterestsPoemostisthedeepabyssoftheunconsciousandsubconsciousmentalactivityofthepeople.5.Poe’sassumptionseemstobethateverymindishalfmadorcapableofslippingintoinsanity.Asaresultofthis,hisfictionalcharactersaremostlyneurotics.6.Poe’sheroesaremostly“isolatoes”,withnosenseofidentity,nonameseven,alienationfromsociety.4.Baudelairefirsttooknote787.Poewasalsoafullrationalhumanbeingwithanintuitivefaculty;hewasimmenselyinterestedindeductionandinduction.Hewrotehalfadozendetectivestories.7.Poewasalsoafullrationa79Bronx,NewYork,wherePoespenthislastfewyearsBronx,NewYork,wherePoespe80Poe'sGravestoneinBaltimore,MarylandPoe'sGravestoneinBaltimore,81ToHelenBackgroundEdgarAllanPoewrote“ToHelen”asareflectiononthebeautyofMrs.JaneStithStanard,ofRichmond,Va.,whodiedin1824.ShewasthemotherofoneofPoe’sschoolclassmates,RobertStanard.WhenRobertinvitedEdgar,then14,tohishome(at19thandEastGraceStreetsinRichmond)in1823,Poewasgreatlytakenwiththe27-year-oldwoman,whoissaidtohaveurgedhimtowritepoetry.Hewaslatertowritethatshewashisfirstreallove.

ToHelenBackground82Helen:AnallusiontoHelenofTroyinGreekmythology.Nicean:OforfromNicea(alsospelledNicaea),acityinancientTurkeynearthesiteoftheTrojanWar.barks:smallsailingvessels.Endrhyme:A,B,A,B,B.1stanzaHelen:AnallusiontoHelenof832stanzawont:accustomedtoNaiad:NaiadswereminornaturegoddessesinGreekandRomanmythology.Theyinhabitedandpresidedoverrivers,lakes,streams,andfountains.Naiadairs:Peaceful,gentlebreezesorqualitiestheglorythat...Rome:Theselasttwolines,beginningwiththeglorythatwas,areamongthemostfrequentlyquotedlinesinworldliterature.Endrhyme:A,B,A,B,A.

Halfrhyme:FaceandGreece2stanzawont:accustomedto843stanzaPsyche:InGreekandRomanmythology,Psychewasabeautifulprincessdeartothegodoflove,Eros(Cupid),whowouldvisitherinadarkenedroominapalace.Onenightsheusedanagatelamptodiscoverhisidentity.L