美国文学简史笔记(常耀信)及美国文学流派整理

文学流派背景主要思想写作特点作家代表作AmericanPuritanism(1607-1820)“theMayflower”TotalDepravityLimitedAtonementOriginalSinPredestinationSimplicitySymbolismOptimismSalvationJonathanEdwards(1703-1758)“SinnersintheHandsofanAngelGod”BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)TheAutobiographyofBenjaminFranklinAmericanRomanticism(1820-1865)IndustrializationDemocracySirWaltScottLyricalBallads(1798)Puritanism清Newexperience新MoralizesymbolizeWashingtonIrving(1783-1859)TheSketchBook(1819-1820)“RipVanWinkle”,“TheLegendofSleepHollow”JamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)TheLeatherstockingTales(NattyBumppo-thepathfinder)NewEnglandTranscendentalism(1836-1855)1836NaturebyEmersonIdealismOversoulIndividualSelf-RelianceNatureMoralRalphWaldoEmerson(1803-1882)NatureTheAmericanScholarHenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862)“CivilDisobedienceorResistancetotheCivilGovernment”Walden(1854)AmericanRealism(1865-1910)AmericanCivilWarIndustrializationTheFrontier西进运动GildedAge镀金时代RealityExperienceRealisticWilliamDeanHowells(1837-1920)TheRiseofSilasLapham(1885)HenryJames(1843-1916)DalsyMiller(1879)ThePortraitofaLady(1881)TheBostanians(1886)MarkTwain(1835-1910)LocalColorismTheAdventuresofYomSawyer(1876)LifeontheMississippi(1883)non-fictionAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn(1884)AmericanNaturalismIndustrializationPolarizationGodlessRealismSocialDarwinismTruthfulObjectiveAccuracyStephenCrane(1871-1900)Maggie:AGirloftheStreet(1893)FrankNorris(1870-1902)McTeague(1870-1902)“thetextbook”TheOctopus(1901)TheodoreDreiser(1871-1945)SisterCarrie(1900)AnAmericanTragedy(1925)E.A.Robinson(1860-1935)TheManAgainsttheSky(1916)RichardCoryMiniverCheevyJackLondon(1876-1916)TheCalloftheNature(1903)MartinEden(1909)autobiographicalO.Henry(1862-1910)(WilliamPorter)“TheGiftoftheMagi”“TheCopandtheAnthem”UptonSinclair(1878-1968)TheJungle(1906)AConciseHistoryofAmericanLiteratureWhatisliterature?Literatureislanguageartisticallyusedtoachieveidentifiableliteraryqualitiesandtoconveymeaningfulmessages.Chapter1ColonialPeriodBackground:PuritanismfeaturesofPuritanismPredestination:Goddecidedeverythingbeforethingsoccurred.Originalsin:Humanbeingswereborntobeevil,andthisoriginalsincanbepasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.TotaldepravityLimitedatonement:Onlythe“elect”canbesaved.InfluenceAgroupofgoodqualities–hardwork,thrift,piety,sobriety(seriousandthoughtful)influencedAmericanliterature.Itledtotheeverlastingmyth.Allliteratureisbasedonamyth–gardenofEden.Symbolism:theAmericanpuritan’smetaphoricalmodeofperceptionwaschieflyinstrumentalincallingintobeingaliterarysymbolismwhichisdistinctlyAmerican.Withregardtotheirwriting,thestyleisfresh,simpleanddirect;therhetoricisplainandhonest,notwithoutatouchofnobilityoftentraceabletothedirectinfluenceoftheBible.Overviewoftheliteraturetypesofwritingdiaries,histories,journals,letters,travelbooks,autobiographies/biographies,sermonswritersofcolonialperiodAnneBradstreetEdwardTaylorRogerWilliamsJohnWoolmanThomasPainePhilipFreneauJonathanEdwardslifeworksTheFreedomoftheWillTheGreatDoctrineofOriginalSinDefendedTheNatureofTrueVirtueideas–pioneeroftranscendentalismThespiritofrevivalismRegenerationofmanGod’spresencePuritanidealismBenjaminFranklinlifeworksPoorRichard’sAlmanacAutobiographycontributionHehelpedfoundthePennsylvaniaHewascalled“thenewPrometheuswhohadstolenfire(electricityinthiscase)fromheaven”.Everythingseemstomeetinthisoneman–“Jackofalltrades”.HermanMelvillethusdescribedhim“masterofeachandmasteredbynone”.Chapter2AmericanRomanticismSection1EarlyRomanticPeriodWhatisRomanticism?AnapproachfromancientGreek:PlatoAliterarytrend:18cinBritain(1798~1832)SchlegelBros.Preview:Characteristicsofromanticismsubjectivityfeelingandemotions,findingtruthemphasisonimaginationemphasisonindividualism–personalfreedom,noheroworship,naturalgoodnessofhumanbeingsbacktomedieval,espmedievalfolkliteratureunrestrainedbyclassicalrulesfullofimaginationcolloquiallanguagefreedomofimaginationgenuineinfeelings:answertheircallforclassicsbacktonaturenatureis“breathinglivingthing”(Rousseau)AmericanRomanticismBackgroundPoliticalbackgroundandeconomicdevelopmentRomanticmovementinEuropeancountriesDerivative–foreigninfluencefeaturesAmericanromanticismwasinessencetheexpressionof“arealnewexperienceandcontained“analienquality”forthesimplereasonthat“thespiritoftheplace”wasradicallynewandalien.ThereisAmericanPuritanismasaculturalheritagetoconsider.Americanromanticauthorstendedmoretomoralize.ManyAmericanromanticwritingsintendedtoedifymorethantheyentertained.The“newness”ofAmericansasanationisinconnectionwithAmericanRomanticism.Asalogicalresultoftheforeignandnativefactorsatwork,Americanromanticismwasbothimitativeandindependent.WashingtonIrvingseveralnamesattachedtoIrvingfirstAmericanwriterthemessengersentfromthenewworldtotheoldworldfatherofAmericanliteraturelifeworksAHistoryofNewYorkfromtheBeginningoftheWorldtotheEndoftheDutchDynastyTheSketchBookofGeoffreyCrayon,Gent.(Hewonameasureofinternationalrecognitionwiththepublicationofthis.)TheHistoryoftheLifeandVoyagesofChristopherColumbusAChronicleoftheConquestofGranadaTheAlhambraLiterarycareer:twoparts1809~1832SubjectsareeitherEnglishorEuropeanConservativelovefortheantique1832~1859:backtoUSstyle–beautifulgentility,urbanity,pleasantnessavoidingmoralizing–amusingandentertainingenvelopingstoriesinanatmospherevividandtruecharactershumour–smilingwhilereadingmusicallanguageJamesFenimoreCooperlifeworksPrecaution(1820,hisfirstnovel,imitatingAusten’sPrideandPrejudice)TheSpy(hissecondnovelandgreatsuccess)LeatherstockingTales(hismasterpiece,aseriesoffivenovels)TheDeerslayer,TheLastoftheMohicans,ThePathfinder,ThePioneer,ThePrairiepointofviewthethemeofwildernessvs.civilization,freedomvs.law,ordervs.change,aristocratvs.democrat,naturalrightsvs.legalrightsstylehighlyimaginativegoodatinventingtalesgoodatlandscapedescriptionconservativecharacterizationwoodenandlackinginprobabilitylanguageanduseofdialectnotauthenticliteraryachievementsHecreatedamythabouttheformativeperiodoftheAmericannation.IfthehistoryoftheUnitedStatesis,inasense,theprocessoftheAmericansettlersexploringandpushingtheAmericanfrontierforeverwestward,thenCooper’sLeatherstockingTaleseffectivelyapproximatestheAmericannationalexperienceofadventureintotheWest.HeturnedthewestandfrontierasauseablepastandhehelpedtointroducewesterntraditiontoAmericanliterature.Section2SummitofRomanticism–AmericanTranscendentalismBackground:foursourcesUnitarianismFatherhoodofGodBrotherhoodofmenLeadershipofJesusSalvationbycharacter(perfectionofone’scharacter)ContinuedprogressofmankindDivinityofmankindDepravityofmankindRomanticIdealismCenteroftheworldisspirit,absolutespirit(Kant)OrientalmysticismCenteroftheworldis“oversoul”PuritanismEloquentexpressionintranscendentalismAppearance1836,“Nature”byEmersonFeaturesspirit/oversoulimportanceofindividualismnature–symbolofspirit/Godgarmentoftheoversoulfocusinintuition(irrationalismandsubconsciousness)InfluenceItservedasanethicalguidetolifeforayoungnationandbroughtabouttheideathathumancanbeperfectedbynature.Itstressedreligioustolerance,calledtothrowoffshacklesofcustomsandtraditionsandgoforwardtothedevelopmentofanewanddistinctlyAmericanculture.Itadvocatedidealismthatwasgreatneededinarapidlyexpandedeconomywhereopportunityoftenbecameopportunism,andthedesireto“geton”obscuredthemoralnecessityforrisingtospiritualheight.IthelpedtocreatethefirstAmericanrenaissance–oneofthemostprolificperiodinAmericanliterature.RalphWaldoEmersonlifeworksNatureTwoessays:TheAmericanScholar,ThePoetpointofviewOnemajorelementofhisphilosophyishisfirmbeliefinthetranscendenceofthe“oversoul”.Heregardsnatureasthepurest,andthemostsanctifyingmoralinfluenceonman,andadvocatedadirectintuitionofaspiritualandimmanentGodinnature.Ifmandependsuponhimself,cultivateshimselfandbringsoutthedivineinhimself,hecanhopetobecomebetterandevenperfect.ThisiswhatEmersonmeansby“theinfinitudeofman”.Everyoneshouldunderstandthathemakeshimselfbymakinghisworld,andthathemakestheworldbymakinghimself.aestheticideasHeisacompleteman,aneternalman.Truepoetryandtrueartshouldennoble.Thepoetshouldexpresshisthoughtinsymbols.Astotheme,EmersoncalleduponAmericanauthorstocelebrateAmericawhichwastohimalonepoeminitself.hisinfluenceHenryDavidThoreaulifeworksAWeekontheConcordandMerrimackRiverWaldenAPleaforJohnBrown(anessay)pointofviewHedidnotlikethewayamaterialisticAmericawasdevelopingandwasvehementlyoutspokenonthepoint.Hehatedthehumaninjusticeasrepresentedbytheslaverysystem.LikeEmerson,butmorethanhim,Thoreausawnatureasagenuinerestorative,healthyinfluenceonman’sspiritualwell-being.Hehasfaithintheinnervirtueandinward,spiritualgraceofman.Hewasverycriticalofmoderncivilization.“Simplicity…simplify!”Hewassorelydisgustedwith“theinundationsofthedirtyinstitutionsofmen’sodd-fellowsociety”.Hehascalmtrustinthefutureandhisardentbeliefinanewgenerationofmen.Section3LateRomanticismNathanielHawthornelifeworksTwocollectionsofshortstories:Twice-toldTales,MossesfromandOldManseTheScarletLetterTheHouseoftheSevenGablesTheMarbleFaunpointofviewEvilisatthecoreofhumanlife,“thatblacknessinHawthorne”Wheneverthereissin,thereispunishment.Sinorevilcanbepassedfromgenerationtogeneration(causality).Heisoftheopinionthatevileducates.Hehasdisgustinscience.aestheticideasHetookagreatinterestinhistoryandantiquity.Tohimthesefurnishthesoilonwhichhismindgrowstofruition.HewasconvincedthatromancewasthepredestinedformofAmericannarrative.Totellthetruthandsatirizeandyetnottooffend:ThatwaswhatHawthornehadinmindtoachieve.style–typicalromanticwritertheuseofsymbolsrevelationofcharacters’psychologytheuseofsupernaturalmixedwiththeactualhisstoriesareparable(parableinform)–toteachalessonuseofambiguitytokeepthereaderintheworldofuncertainty–multiplepointofviewHermanMelvillelifeworksTypeeOmioMardiRedburnWhiteJacketMobyDickPierreBillyBuddpointofviewHeneverseemsabletosayanaffirmativeyestolife:Hisistheattitudeof“EverlastingNay”(negativeattitudetowardslife).Oneofthemajorthemesofhisisalienation(farawayfromeachother).Otherthemes:loneliness,suicidalindividualism(individualismcausingdisasteranddeath),rejectionandquest,confrontationofinnocenceandevil,doubtsoverthecomforting19cideaofprogressstyleLikeHawthorne,Melvillemanagestoachievetheeffectofambiguitythroughemployingthetechniqueofmultipleviewofhisnarratives.Hetendstowriteperiodicchapters.Hisrichrhythmicalproseandhispoeticpowerhavebeenprofuselycommenteduponandpraised.Hisworksaresymbolicandmetaphorical.Heincludesmanynon-narrativechaptersoffactualbackgroundordescriptionofwhatgoesonboardtheshiporontheroute(MobyDick)RomanticPoetsWaltWhitmanlifework:LeavesofGrass(9editions)SongofMyselfThereWasaChildWentForthCrossingBrooklynFerryDemocraticVistasPassagetoIndiaOutoftheCradleEndlesslyRockingthemes–“CatalogueofAmericanandEuropeanthought”HehadbeeninfluencedbymanyAmericanandEuropeanthoughts:enlightenment,idealism,transcendentalism,science,evolutionideas,westernfrontierspirits,Jefferson’sindividualism,CivilWarUnionism,Orientalism.Majorthemesinhispoems(almosteverything):equalityofthingsandbeingsdivinityofeverythingimmanenceofGoddemocracyevolutionofcosmosmultiplicityofnatureself-reliantspiritdeath,beautyofdeathexpansionofAmericabrotherhoodandsocialsolidarity(unityofnationsintheworld)pursuitofloveandhappinessstyle:“freeverse”nofixedrhymeorschemeparallelism,arhythmofthoughtphoneticrecurrencethehabitofusingsnapshotstheuseofacertainpronoun“I”alooserandmoreopen-endedsyntacticstructureuseofconventionalimagestrongtendencytouseoralEnglishvocabulary–powerful,colourful,rarelyusedwordsofforeignorigins,someevenwrongsentences–cataloguetechnique:longlistofnames,longpoemlinesinfluenceHisbestworkhasbecomepartofthecommonpropertyofWesternculture.HetookoverWhitman’svisionofthepoet-prophetandpoet-teacherandrecastitinamoresophisticatedandEuropeanizedmood.HehasbeencomparedtoamountaininAmericanliteraryhistory.ContemporaryAmericanpoetry,whateverschoolorform,bearswitnesstohisgreatinfluence.EmilyDickensonlifeworksMyLifeClosedTwicebeforeItsCloseBecauseICan’tStopforDeathIHeardaFlyBuzz–WhenIdiedMine–bytheRightoftheWhiteElectionWildNights–WildNightsthemes:basedonherownexperiences/joys/sorrowsreligion–doubtandbeliefaboutreligioussubjectsdeathandimmortalitylove–sufferingandfrustrationcausedbylovephysicalaspectofdesirenature–kindandcruelfreewillandhumanresponsibilitystylepoemswithouttitlessevereeconomyofexpressiondirectness,brevitymusicaldevicetocreatecadence(rhythm)capitalletters–emphasisshortpoems,mainlytwostanzasrhetorictechniques:personification–makesomeofabstractideasvividComparison:Whitmanvs.DickinsonSimilarities:Thematically,theybothextolled,intheirdifferentways,anemergentAmerica,itsexpansion,itsindividualismanditsAmericanness,theirpoetrybeingpartof“AmericanRenaissance”.Technically,theybothaddedtotheliteraryindependenceofthenewnationbybreakingfreeoftheconventionoftheiambicpentameterandexhibitingafreedominformunknownbefore:theywerepioneersinAmericanpoetry.differences:Whitmanseemstokeephiseyeonsocietyatlarge;Dickinsonexplorestheinnerlifeoftheindividual.WhereasWhitmanis“national”inhisoutlook,Dickinsonis“regional”.Dickinsonhasthe“cataloguetechnique”(direct,simplestyle)whichWhitmandoesn’thave.EdgarAllenPoeLifeWorksshortstoriesratiocinativestoriesMsFoundinaBottleTheMurdersintheRueMorgueThePurloinedLetterRevenge,deathandrebirthTheFalloftheHouseofUsherLigeiaTheMasqueoftheRedDeathLiterarytheoryThePhilosophyofCompositionThePoeticPrincipleReviewofHawthorne’sTwice-toldTalesThemesdeath–predominantthemeinPoe’swriting“Poeisnotinterestedinanythingalive.EverythinginPoe’swritingsisdead.”disintegration(separation)oflifehorrornegativethoughtsofscienceAestheticideasTheshortstoriesshouldbeofbrevity,totality,singleeffect,compressionandfinality.Thepoemsshouldbeshort,andtheaimshouldbebeauty,thetonemelancholy.Poemsshouldnotbeofmoralizing.Hecallsforpurepoetryandstressesrhythm.Style–traditional,butnoteasytoreadReputation:“thejingleman”(Emerson)HisinfluencesChapter3TheAgeofRealismBackground:FromRomanticismtoRmercialgentility1880’surbanization:fromfreecompetitiontomonopolycapitalismtheclosingofAmericanfrontierCharacteristicstruthfuldescriptionoflifetypicalcharacterundertypicalcircumstanceobjectiveratherthanidealized,closeobservationandinvestigationoflife“Realisticwritersarelikescientists.”open-ending:Lifeiscomplexandcannotbefullyunderstood.Itleavesmuchroomforreaderstothinkbythemselves.concernedwithsocialandpsychologicalproblems,revealingthefrustrationsofcharactersinanenvironmentofsordidnessanddepravityThreeGiantsinRealisticPeriodWilliamDeanHowells–“DeanofAmericanRealism”RealisticprinciplesRealismis“fidelitytoexperienceandprobabilityofmotive”.Theaimis“talkofsomeordinarytraitsofAmericanlife”.ManinhisnaturalandunaffecteddullnesswastheobjectofHowells’sfictionalrepresentation.Realismisbynomeansmerephotographicpicturesofexternalsbutincludesacentralconcernwith“motives”andpsychologicalconflicts.Hecondemnsnovelsofsentimentalityandmorbidself-sacrifice,andavoidssuchthemesasillicitlove.Authorsshouldminimizeplotandtheartificialorderingofthesenseofsomething“desultory,unfinished,imperfect”.Charactersshouldhavesolidityofspecificationandbereal.Interpretingsympatheticallythe“commonfeelingsofcommonplacepeople”wasbestsuitedasatechniquetoexpressthespiritofAmerica.Heurgedwriterstowinnowtraditionandwriteinkeepingwithcurrenthumanitarianideals.Truthisthehighestbeauty,butitincludestheviewthatmoralitypenetratesallthings.Withregardtoliterarycriticism,Howellsfeltthattheliterarycriticshouldnottrytoimposearbitraryorsubjectiveevaluationsonbooksbutshouldfollowthedetachedscientistinaccuratedescription,interpretation,andclassification.WorksTheRiseofSilasLaphamAChanceAcquaintanceAModernInstanceFeaturesofHisWorksOptimistictoneMoraldevelopment/ethicsLackingofpsychologicaldepthHenryJamesLifeLiterarycareer:threestages1865~1882:internationalthemeTheAmericanDaisyMillerThePortraitofaLady1882~1895:inter-personalrelationshipsandsomeplaysDaisyMiller(play)1895~1900:novellasandtalesdealingwithchildhoodandadolescence,thenbacktointernationalthemeTheTurnoftheScrewWhenMaisieKnewTheAmbassadorsTheWingsoftheDoveTheGoldenBowlAestheticideasTheaimofnovel:representlifeCommon,evenuglysideoflifeSocialfunctionofartAvoidingomniscientpointofviewPointofviewPsychologicalanalysis,forefatherofstreamofconsciousnessPsychologicalrealismHighly-refinedlanguageStyle–“stylist”Language:highly-refined,polished,insightful,accurateVocabulary:largeConstruction:complicated,intricateMarkTwain(seenextsection)LocalColorism1860s,1870s~1890sAppearanceunevendevelopmentineconomyinAmericaculture:flourishingoffrontierliterature,humouristsmagazinesappearedtoletwriterpublishtheirworksWhatis“LocalColour”?Tasksoflocalcolourists:towriteorpresentlocalcharactersoftheirregionsintruthfuldepictiondistinguishedfromothers,usuallyaverysmallpartoftheworld.Regionalliterature(similar,butlargerinworld)Garland,Harte–thewestEggleston–IndianaMrsStoweJewett–MaineChopin–LouisianaMarkTwain–MississippilifeworksTheGildedAge“thetwoadvantages”LifeontheMississippiAConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur’sCourtTheManThatCorruptedHardleybugstylecolloquiallanguage,vernacularlanguage,dialectslocalcoloursyntacticfeature:sentencesaresimple,brief,sometimesungrammaticalhumourtalltales(highlyexaggerated)socialcriticism(satireonthedifferentuglythingsinsociety)Comparisonofthethree“giants”ofAmericanRealismThemeHowells–middleclassJames–upperclassTwain–lowerclassTechniqueHowells–smiling/genteelrealismJames–psychologicalrealismTwain–localcolourismandcolloquialismChapter4AmericanNaturalismBackgroundDarwin’stheory:“naturalselection”Spenser’sidea:“socialDarwinism”FrenchNaturalism:ZoraFeaturesenvironmentandheredityscientificaccuracyandalotofdetailsgeneraltone:hopelessness,despair,gloom,uglysideofthesocietysignificanceItpreparesthewayforthewritingof1920s’“lostgeneration”andT.S.Eliot.TheodoreDreiserlifeworksSisterCarrieThetrilogy:Financier,TheTitan,TheStoicJennieGerhardtAmericanTragedyTheGeniuspointofviewHeembracedsocialDarwinism–survivalofthefittest.Helearnedtoregardmanasmerelyananimaldrivenbygreedandlustinastruggleforexistenceinwhichonlythe“fittest”,themostruthless,survive.Lifeispredatory,a“game”ofthelecherousandheartless,ajunglestruggleinwhichman,being“awaifandaninterloperinNature”,a“wispinthewindofsocialforces”,isamerepawninthegeneralschemeofthings,withnopowerwhatevertoasserthiswill.Nooneisethicallyfree;everythingisdeterminedbyacomplexofinternalchemismsandbytheforcesofsocialpressure.SisterCarriePlotAnalysisStyleWithoutgoodstructureDeficientcharacterizationLackinimaginationJournalisticmethodTechniquesinpaintingChapter5TheModernPeriodSection1The1920sIntroductionThe1920sisafloweringperiodofAmericanliterature.Itisconsidered“thesecondrenaissance”ofAmericanliterature.Thenicknamesforthisperiod:Roaring20s–comfortDollarDecade–richJazzAge–JazzmusicBackgroundFirstWorldWar–“awartoendallwars”Economically:becamerichfromWWI.Economicboom:newinventions.Highly-consumingsociety.Spiritually:dislocation,fragmentation.wide-spreadcontemptforlaw(lookingdownuponlaw)Freud’stheoryFeaturesoftheliteratureWriters:threegroupsParticipantsExpatriatesBohemian(unconventionalwayoflife)–on-lookersTwoareas:FailureofcommunicationofAmericansFailureoftheAmericansocietyImagismI. Background ImagismwasinfluencedbyFrenchsymbolism,ancientChinesepoetryandJapaneseliterature“haiku”II. Development:threestages1908~1909:London,Hulme1912~1914:England->America,Pound1914~1917:AmyLowellIII. Whatisan“image”? AnimageisdefinedbyPoundasthatwhichpresentsanintellectualandemotionalcomplexinaninstantoftime,“avortexorclusteroffusedideas”“endowedwithenergy”.Theexactwordmustbringtheeffectoftheobjectbeforethereaderasithadpresenteditselftothepoet’smindatthetimeofwriting.IV. PrinciplesDirecttreatmentofthe“thing”,whethersubjectiveorobjective;Touseabsolutelynowordthatdoesnotcontributetothepresentation;Asregardingrhythm,tocomposeinthesequenceofthemusicalphrase,notinthesequenceofametronome.V. SignificanceItwasarebellionagainstthetraditionalpoeticswhichfailedtoreflectthenewlifeofthenewcentury.ItofferedanewwayofwritingwhichwasvalidnotonlyfortheImagistpoetsbutformodernpoetryasawhole.Themovementwasatrainingschoolinwhichmanygreatpoetslearnedtheirfirstlessonsinthepoeticart.ItisthismovementthathelpedtoopenthefirstpagesofmodernEnglishandAmericanpoetry.VI. EzraPoundlifeliterarycareerworksCathayCantosHughSelwynMauberleypointofviewConfidentinPound’sbeliefthattheartistwasmorallyandculturallythearbiterandthe“saviour”oftherace,hetookituponhimselftopurifytheartsandbecametheprimemoverofafewexperimentalmovements,theaimofwhichwastodumptheoldintothedustbinandbringforthsomethingnew.Tohimlifewassordidpersonalcrushingoppression,andcultureproducednothingbut“intangiblebondage”.PoundseesinChinesehistoryandthedoctrineofConfuciusasourceofstrengthandwisdomwithwhichtocounterpointWesterngloomandconfusion.Hesawachaoticworldthatwantedsettingtorights,andahumanity,sufferingfromspiritualdeathandcosmicinjustice,thatneededsaving.HewasforthemostpartofhislifetryingtoofferConfucianphilosophyastheonefaithwhichcouldhelptosavetheWest.style:verydifficulttoreadPound’searlypoemsarefreshandlyrical.TheCantoscanbenotoriouslydifficultinsomesections,butdelightfullybeautifulinothers.Fewhavemadeseriousstudyofthelongpoem;fewer,ifanyoneatall,havehadthecouragetodeclarethattheyhaveconqueredPound;andmanyseemtoagreethattheCantosisamonumentalfailure.ContributionHehashelped,throughtheoryandpractice,tochartoutthecourseofmodernpoetry.TheCantos–“theintellectualdiarysince1915”Features:Language:intricateandobscureTheme:complexsubjectmattersForm:nofixedframework,nocentraltheme,noattentiontopoeticrulesVII. T.S.EliotlifeworkspoemsTheLoveSongofJ.AlfredPrufrockTheWasteHollowManAshWednesdayFourQuartersPlaysMurderintheCathedralSweeneyAgonistesTheCocktailPartyTheConfidentialClerkCriticalessaysTheSacredWoodEssaysonStyleandOrderElizabethanEssaysTheUseofPoetryandTheUseofCriticismsAfterStrangeGodspointofviewThemodernsocietyisfutileandchaotic.Onlypoetscancreatesomeorderoutofchaos.Themethodtouseistocomparethepastandthepresent.StyleFreshvisualimagery,flexibletoneandhighlyexpressiverhythmDifficultanddisconnectedimagesandsymbols,quotationsandallusionsEllipticalstructures,strangejuxtapositions,anabsenceofbridgesTheWasteTheBurialoftheDeadAGameofChessTheFireSermonDeathbyWaterWhattheThunderSaidVIII. RobertFrostlifepointofviewAllhislife,Frostwasconcernedwithconstructionsthroughpoetry.“amomentarystayagainstconfusion”.Heunderstandstheterrorandtragedyinnature,butalsoitsbeauty.UnliketheEnglishromanticpoetsof19thcentury,hedidn’tbelievethatmancouldfindharmonywithnature.Hebelievedthatserenitycamefromworking,usuallyamidnaturalforces,whichcouldn’tbeunderstood.Heregardedworkas“significanttoil”.works–poemsthefirst:ABoy’sWillcollections:NorthofBoston,MountainInterval(mature),NewHampshirestyle/featuresofhispoemsMostofhispoemstookNewEnglandassetting,andthesubjectswerechosenfromdailylifeofordinarypeople,suchas“mendingwall”,“pickingapples”.Hewritesmostoftenaboutlandscapeandpeople–thelonelinessandpovertyofisolatedfarmers,beauty,terrorandtragedyinnature.Healsodescribessomeabnormalpeople,e.g.“deceptivelysimple”,“philosophicalpoet”.Althoughhewaspopularduring1920s,hedidn’texperimentlikeothermodernpoets.Heusedconventionalforms,plainlanguage,traditionalmetre,andwroteinapasturedtradition.IX. e.e.cummings “ajugglerwithsyntax,grammaranddiction”–individualism,“painterpoet”Novelsinthe1920sF.ScottFitzgeraldlife–participantin1920sworksThisSideofParadiseFlappersandPhilosophersTheBeautifulandtheDamnedTheGreatGatsbyTenderistheNightAlltheSadYoungManTheLastTycoonpointofviewHeexpressedwhattheyoungp