美国文学课件

AmericanLiterature:Lecture7REALISM(1865-1914)退出AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008AmericanLiterature:Lecture7退1ObjectivesToenabletheSstoknowwhatLocalColorismisandwhotheleadersofLocalColorismare;ToenabletheSstoknowwhatNaturalismisandwhotheleadersofNaturalismareToenabletheSstocomprehendthemajorwritingtechniquesofJackLondonAmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008ObjectivesToenabletheSsto2TeachingMaterialsMarkTwain

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnJackLondon(1876-1916)LoveofLifeAmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008TeachingMaterialsMarkTwainA3TeachingMethodologyLecturingText-analysisAmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008TeachingMethodologyLecturingA4Realism---asaliteraryterm

Atermappliedtoliterarycompositionthataimsataninterpretationoftheactualitiesofanyaspectoflife,freefromsubjectiveprejudice,idealism,orromanticcolor.Asawayofwriting,realismhasbeenappliedinalmosteveryliteraturethroughouthistory.Asanattitudeofthewritertowardhismaterials,itisrelative,andnochronologicalpointmaybeindicatedasthebeginningofrealism.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Realism---asaliteraryterm5I.IntroductionThereasonsforthecomingofAmericanrealism:TheCivilWarwhichbrokeoutin1861taughtmenthatlifewasnotsogood,manwasnotandGodwasnot.Thewarmarkedachange,inthequalityofAmericanlife,adeterioration,infact,ofAmericanmoralvalues.Itledpeopletoquestiontheassumptions:naturalgoodness,theoptimisticviewofnatureandman,benevolentGod.Inpost-bellumAmericaincreasingindustrializationandmechanizationofthecountryinfullswingproducedsoonextremesofwealthandpoverty.Wealthandpowerweremoreandmoreconcentratedinthehandsofthefew“captainsofindustry”or“robberbarons”,butlifeforthemillionswasfastbecomingaveritablestruggleforsurvival.退出AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008I.IntroductionThereasonsfor6Thefrontierwasabouttocloseandthesafetyvalvewasceasingtooperate,areexaminationoflifebegan.Beneaththeglitteringsurfaceofprospectivetherelaysufferingandunhappiness,Disillusionmentandfrustrationwerewidelyfelt.TheageofRomanticismandTranscendentalismwasbyandlargeover.Meanwhileyoungerwritersappearedonthescene,suchasWilliamDeanHowells,HenryJames,MarkTwain,andsoon,whichmeansthecomingofnewliteraryage,Americanrealism.退出Thefrontierwasabouttoclos7MajorFeatures

Realismisthetheoryofwritinginwhichfamiliaraspectsofcontemporarylifeandeverydayscenesarerepresentedinastraightforwardormatter-of-factmanner.Itinsistsonprecisedescription,authenticactionanddialogue,moralhonesty,andademocraticopennessinsubjectmatterandstyle.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008MajorFeaturesRealismisthe8Openendingisalsoagoodexampleofthetruthfultreatmentofmaterial.Realismfocusesoncommonnessofthelivesofthecommonpeoplewhoarecustomarilyignoredbythearts.Realismemphasizesobjectivityandoffersanobjectiveratherthananidealisticviewofhumannatureandhumanexperience.Realismpresentsmoralvisions.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Openendingisalsoagoodexa9

2.TheCoreofAmericanrealism?

Asaliterarymovementrealismcameinthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcenturyasareactionagainst“thelie”ofromanticismandsentimentalism.Itexpressedtheconcernfortheworldofexperience,ofthecommonplace,andforthefamiliarandthelow.TheAmericanrealistsadvocated“verisimilitudeofdetailderivedfromobservation,”theefforttoapproachthenormofexperience——arelianceontherepresentativeinplot,setting,andcharacter,andtoofferanobjectiveratherthananidealizedviewofhumannatureandexperience.退出AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008

2.TheCoreofAmericanreali103.TheschoolsofAmericanRealism:FrontierHumorMidwesternrealism(Howells)CosmopolitanNovelist(HenryJames)Regionalism(LocalColor)NaturalismTheChicagoSchoolofpoetsTheriseofblackAmericanliterature退出AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn20083.TheschoolsofAmericanRea11LocalColor

Termappliedtoliteraturewhichemphasizesitssetting,beingconcernedwiththecharacterofadistrictorofanera,asmarkedbyitscustoms,dialects,costumes,landscapeorotherpeculiaritiesthathaveescapedstandardizingculturalinfluences.ThelocalcolormovementcameintoparticularprominenceinAmaftertheCivilWar,perhapsasanattempttorecapturetheglamourofapastera,ortoportraythesectionsofthereunitedcountry.InlocalAmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008LocalColorTermappliedtoli12colorliterature,onefindsthedualinfluenceofromanticismandrealismsincetheauthorfrequentlylooksawayfromordinarylifetodistantlands,strangecustoms,orexoticscenes,butretainsthroughminutedetailasenseoffidelityandaccuracyofdescription.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008colorliterature,onefinds13MarkTwain(1835-1910)AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008MarkTwain(1835-1910)Americ14

Life

ClemenswasbornonNovember30,1835inFlorida,Missouri,ofaVirginianfamily.HewasbroughtupinHannibal,Missouri.Afterhisfather'sdeathin1847,hewasapprenticedtoaprinterandwroteforhisbrother'snewspaper.HelaterworkedasalicensedMississippiriver-boatpilot.TheCivilWarputanendtothesteamboattrafficandClemensmovedtoVirginiaCity,whereheeditedtheTerritorialEnterprise.OnFebruary3,1863,'MarkTwain'wasbornwhenClemenssignedahumoroustravelaccountwiththatpseudonym,whichisanauticaltermusedbysailorstodenoteaparticulardepthoftheriver.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008LifeAmericanLiterature(I)15

In1864TwainleftforCalifornia,andworkedinSanFranciscoasareporter.HevisitedHawaiiasacorrespondentforTheSacramentoUnion,publishinglettersonhistripandgivinglectures.Hesetoutonaworldtour,travelinginFranceandItaly.Hisexperienceswererecordedin1869inTheInnocentsAbroad,whichgainedhimwidepopularity,andpokedfunatbothAmericanandEuropeanprejudicesandmanners.ThesuccessasawritergaveTwainenoughfinancialsecuritytomarryOliviaLangdonin1870.TheymovednextyeartoHartford.TwaincontinuedtolectureintheUnitedStatesandEngland.Between1876and1884hepublishedseveralmasterpieces,TomSawyer(1881)andThePrinceAndThePauper(1881).LifeOnTheMississippiappearedin1883andHuckleberryFinnin1884.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008In1864TwainleftforCalifo16

Inthe1890sTwainlostmostofhisearningsinfinancialspeculationsandinthefailureofhisownpublishingfirm.Torecoverfromthebankruptcy,hestartedaworldlecturetour,duringwhichoneofhisdaughtersdied.TwaintouredNewZealand,Australia,India,andSouthAfrica.HewrotesuchbooksasTheTragedyOfPudd'headWilson(1884),PersonalRecollectionsOfJoanOfArc(1885),AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt(1889)andthetravelbookFollowingTheEquator(1897).Duringhislongwritingcareer,Twainalsoproducedaconsiderablenumberofessays.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Inthe1890sTwainlostmost17Thedeathofhiswifeandhisseconddaughterdarkenedtheauthor'slateryears,whichisseeninhisposthumouslypublishedautobiography(1924).TwaindiedonApril21,1910.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Thedeathofhiswifeandhis18Style

Broad,oftenirreverenthumororbitingsocialsatire,realismofplaceandlanguage,memorablecharacters,hatredofhypocrisyandoppression.Simpleandplaindiction,precise,direct.Hisearlierworksarelight,humorous,optimistic.Hislaterworksbecomedarkerandmoreobscure,showinghisdiscontentanddisappointmenttowardthesocialreality.Hislastworksshowshisacutepessimism,despair,skepticismdeterminism.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008StyleBroad,oftenirreverent19ArtisticFeatures

First,hepossessedutterclarityofstyle.Heevolvedastylesoclearandeconomicalthatothercontemporarystylesseemedslightlyarchaic,rusty,andredundant.Second,hehadasupremecommandofvernacularAmericanEnglish.BeforehimtherehadbeenonlyAmericandialect;afterhimtherewasanAmericanlanguage.Americandialecthadbeenusedverywellbysomeotherwriters,butintheirhandsitwassurroundedandconditionedbya“literary”languagethatwittinglyorunwittinglypatronizedit.MarkTwainremovedthesurroundingframe.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008ArtisticFeaturesFirst,hepo20

Third,therewasMarkTwain’shumor,whichresistsexplanation.InTwain’stime,humor,thoughitwasseenasgreatlyvaluable,remainedclearlysubordinateinthevaluesystemofthe19thcentury.Thefunctionofhumorwastoentertain,butitwasnotexpectedtoparticipateinthehighseriousnessthatMatthewArnoldandhisageaskedofliterature.ButTwainliberatedhumor,raisingittohighart—aliberationthatparallelshiscreationofvernacularAmericanEnglish.Insteadofsubduinghishumortoseriousness,twaininvadedthecitadels(大本营)ofseriousnessandfreedthehumorheldcaptivethere.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Third,therewasMarkTwain’s21HisWorks:TheCelebratedJumpingFrogofCalaverasCounty,andOtherSketches(1867)TheGildedAge:ATaleofToday(1873)MarkTwain'sSketches:NewandOld(1876)TheAdventuresofTomSawyer(1876)ThePrinceandthePauper(1881)LifeontheMississippi(1883)TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn(1884)AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt(1889)The1,000,000PoundBank-Note,andOtherNewStories(1893)AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008HisWorks:TheCelebratedJumpi22Hismasterpiece:

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnMuchofthebookisconcernedwithHuck’sinnerstrugglebetweenthissenseofguiltinhelpingJimtoescapeandhisprofoundconvictionthatJimisahumanbeing.Thebookiswritteninthecolloquialstyle,inthegeneralstandardspeechofuneducatedAmericans.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Hismasterpiece:

TheAdventur23ThisnoveltellsastoryalongtheMississippiRiverbeforethecivilwar.HereliesanAmericawithitsgreatnationalfaults,fullofviolenceandevencruelty,yetstillretainingthevirtuesof“somesimplicity,someinnocence,somepeace”.Thisnovel,throughHuck’sadventures,presentedthechangeofthewhiteboyHuck’sattitudetowardtherun-awayblackslaveJim.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Thisnoveltellsastoryalon24

ItshowsMarkTwain’ssatireonsouthernculturebeforetheCivilWar.Heexposedtheproblemsofslavery,themistreatmentofhumansbyhumansandtheninadeeplevelcondemnedracialdiscrimination.Heshowedthereadershowthepoorwhitesthoughttheywerebetterthanblackslaves.Theonlythingthatmadethemfeelgoodaboutthemselveswasthattheywerewhite.AndTwainmadethereaderslaughatthisidea.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008ItshowsMarkTwain’ssatire25Thesecondobjectofsatireistheupper-classsoutherners.Theshepherdson-Grangerfordfeudisagoodexample.Thefeudhasbeengoingonforgenerations.Itscausehasbeenforgotten.Thesatireismerciless,notbecausethesepeopleareviolent,butbecausetheyaccepttheirviolenceasright.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Thesecondobjectofsatireis261.PlotSummaryHuckliveswithMissWatsonwhoistryingtocivilizehim.HeandTomSawyerbecomefriendswithherslaveJim.Huck'sdrunkfatherreturnstotryandtakeHuckback,butHuckfakeshisownmurderandrunsawaywithJimtoanearbyisland.JimandHuckdiscoveraraft,whichtheymaketheirnewhomeandsetouttosaildowntheMississippiRiverwheretheywillbothbefree.JimandHucktravelbynighttoavoidbeingcaught,andsleepoutinthewoodsduringthedaytime.Duringthejourney,HuckandJim'sfriendshipgrowsconsiderably,andthetwobecomelikefamily.HuckandJimareseparatedwhentheirrafthitsasteamboatandHuckgoesashoretostaywithafamily,theGrangerford's.Hucksoonbecomesinvolvedintheirongoingfeudandleaveswhenseveralfamilymembersarekilled.HuckalsoplayswiththeconceptofmoralityanddebatesoverthequestionofwhethertoturnJiminorriskbeingshunnedbysocietyifheiscaughtwitharunaway.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn20081.PlotSummaryHuckliveswith27

TheDukeandtheKingsoonjoinHuckandJimontheraft,andthefourscamseveralcitiesoutofmoneybyperformingplaysandcircuses.TheystayattheWilkes'housewheretheystealmoneyfromafamilyofgirlswhosefatherjustdied,bypretendingtobetheiruncles.Huckeventuallyconfessestothegirls,andabandonstheDukeandtheKingwhentheytrytosellJim.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008TheDukeandtheKingsoonjo28

EventuallyHuckwindsupatAuntSally'shouseandpretendstobeTomSawyer,whotheyareexpecting.HesoonlearnsthatsheiskeepingJimhostageuntilhismastercomestogethim,andtriestothinkofawaytofreehisfriend.WhentherealTomcomestoAuntSally's,thetwoformanintricateplaninvolvingransomnotesanddiggingholesinordertofreeJim.Whentheplanisactivated,HuckandTomarecaughtbyangrytownspeopleandareforcedtoconfesstheiridentityandreasonfordisturbingtheslave.HucklearnsthatMissWatsonsetJimfreeinherwill,andheisnolongeraslave.Huckplanstoescapebeingcivilizedoncemore,andsuggeststhathewillfleetoliveinIndianterritory.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008EventuallyHuckwindsupatA292.MajorThemesMaturity:Huckisforcedtotakecareofhimselfbecausehehasnoparents.Althoughheisayoungboy,hefacesmanyproblemsthatadultsstrugglewith,andisforcedtodealwiththemmaturely.Friendship:HuckneverreallyhadanytruefriendbeforeJim,butthetimespentwithhimallowedthetwotobecomeveryclose.Legalityvs.Morality:HuckfacesthequestionofwhetherheshouldobeythelawandturninJim,orifheshouldriskabadreputationandkeephisfriendhappy.Love:JimlovesHuckandhehasbeenatruefriendandbeenthroughmanytoughsituations.HucklearnstolovethroughhisfriendshipwithJim,whoisdevotedandwillingtodoanythingforHuck.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn20082.MajorThemesMaturity:Huck30Racism:ThenovelissetintheSouth.Blacksareslaveswithnolegalrightsandarefacedwithhighdegreesofdiscrimination.Theirstatusislowerthanthatofawhiteperson,andHuckgrowsupdebatingthatreality.ItisabarrieratfirstbetweenhimselfandJim,whichtheyeventuallyrealizeandovercome.Freedom:Literally,Jimseeksfreedomfromslavery.Figuratively,Huckseekstobefree,andnothavetoliveinfearofhisfather,orbeingcivilized.Lessons:Hucklearnsthatalthoughsocietyhastaughthimtoregardblacksasinferior,heshouldlistentohisownopinion,evenifitmeanssacrificinghisreputationandbeinglabeled.HerealizedthiswhenhebefriendedJimandwentoutofhiswaytosecureJim'sfreedom,byriskinghisownsafetyandname.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Racism:Thenovelissetinth31Morals:Huckalsolearnedthatalthoughpeopleinhislifemayhavehurthim,heisabletobelovedandtoloveback.HelearnsthiswhenhisfriendshipwithJimevolves,andtheybecomelikefamily.HuckisabletoloveJimback,andiswillingtohelphimescapeslaveifitwillattainhappiness.Applications:HuckrealizesthatTom'sintricateplansforsolvingproblemssometimesarefun,butarenotusuallythebestanswers.Huckisamorerealisticcharacterandunderstandsthateffortandefficiencyarebetterthanconfusionandcomplication.HedepictsthiswhenTom'splantofreeJimbecomesinvolvedandeventuallybackfires.Huck'splanatthebeginningwasmorereasonable,butheusedTom'splaninstead.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Morals:Huckalsolearnedthat32Conflictbetweencivilizationand"naturallife":Theprimarythemeofthenovelistheconflictbetweencivilizationand"naturallife."Huckrepresentsnaturallifethroughhisfreedomofspirit,uncivilizedways,anddesiretoescapefromcivilization.Hewasraisedwithoutanyrulesordisciplineandhasastrongresistancetoanythingthatmight"sivilize"him.ThisconflictisintroducedinthefirstchapterthroughtheeffortsoftheWidowDouglas:shetriestoforceHucktowearnewclothes,giveupsmoking,andlearntheBible.Throughoutthenovel,Twainseemstosuggestthattheuncivilizedwayoflifeismoredesirableandmorallysuperior.DrawingontheideasofJean-JacquesRousseau,Twainsuggeststhatcivilizationcorrupts,ratherthanimproves,humanbeings.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Conflictbetweencivilization33

Honor:Thethemeofhonorpermeatesthenovelafterfirstbeingintroducedinthesecondchapter,whereTomSawyerexpresseshisbeliefthatthereisagreatdealofhonorassociatedwiththieving.Robberyappearsthroughoutthenovel,specificallywhenHuckandJimencounterrobbersontheshipwreckedboatandareforcedtoputupwiththeKingandDauphin,bothofwhom"rob"everyonetheymeet.Tom'soriginalrobberbandisparalleledlaterinthenovelwhenTomandHuckbecometruethieves,buthonorableones,attheendofthenovel.TheyresolvetostealJim,freeinghimfromthebondsofslavery,whichisanhonorableact.Thus,theconceptofhonorandactingtoearnitbecomesacentralthemeinHuck’sadventures.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Honor:Thethemeofhonorper34

Food:Foodplaysaprominentroleinthenovel.InHuck’schildhood,heoftenfightspigsforfood,andeatsoutof"abarrelofoddsandends."Thus,providingHuckwithfoodbecomesasymbolofpeoplecaringforandprotectinghim.Forexample,inthefirstchapter,theWidowDouglasfeedsHuck,andlateronJimbecomeshissymboliccaretaker,feedingandwatchingoverhimonJackson'sIsland.FoodisagaindiscussedfairlyprominentlywhenHuckliveswiththeGrangerford'sandtheWilks's.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Food:Foodplaysaprominent35

MockeryofReligion:AthemeTwainfocusesonquiteheavilyoninthisnovelisthemockeryofreligion.Throughouthislife,Twainwasknownforhisattacksonorganizedreligion.HuckFinn’ssarcasticcharacterperfectlysituateshimtoderidereligion,representingTwain’spersonalviews.Inthefirstchapter,Huckindicatesthathellsoundsfarmorefunthanheaven.Lateron,inaveryprominentscene,the"King",aliarandcheat,convincesareligiouscommunitytogivehimmoneysohecan"convert"hispiratefriends.Thereligiouspeopleareeasilyledastray,whichmockstheirbeliefsanddevotiontoGod.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008MockeryofReligion:Atheme36

Superstition:Superstitionappearsthroughoutthenovel.Generally,bothHuckandJimareveryrationalcharacters,yetwhentheyencounteranythingslightlysuperstitious,irrationalitytakesover.ThepowersuperstitionholdsoverthetwodemonstratesthatHuckandJimarechild-likedespitetheirapparentmaturity.Inaddition,superstitionforeshadowstheplotatseveralkeyjunctions.Forinstance,whenHuckspillssalt,Papreturns,andwhenHucktouchesasnakeskinwithhisbarehands,arattlesnakebitesJim.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Superstition:Superstitionap37Money:Theconceptofwealthorlackthereofisthreadedthroughoutthenovel,andhighlightsthedisparitybetweentherichandpoor.TwainpurposelybeginsthenovelbypointingoutthatHuckhasoversixthousanddollarstohisname;asumofmoneythatdwarfsalltheothersumsmentioned,makingthemseeminconsequentialincontrast.Huckdemonstratesarelaxedattitudetowardswealth,andbecausehehassomuchofit,doesnotviewmoneyasanecessity,butratherasaluxury.Huck'sviewsregardingwealthclearlycontrastwithJim’s.ForJim,whoisonaquesttobuyhisfamilyoutofslavery,moneyisequivalenttofreedom.Inaddition,wealthwouldallowhimtoraisehisstatusinsociety.Thus,Jimisonaconstantquestforwealth,whereasHuckremainsapathetic.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Money:Theconceptofwealtho38Slavery:Thethemeofslaveryisperhapsthemostwellknownaspectofthisnovel.Sinceit’sfirstpublication,Twain’sperspectiveonslaveryandideassurroundingracismhavebeenhotlydebated.Inhispersonalandpubliclife,Twainwasvehementlyanti-slavery.Consideringthisinformation,itiseasytoseethatTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnprovidesanallegorytoexplainhowandwhyslaveryiswrong.TwainusesJim,amaincharacterandaslave,todemonstratethehumanityofslaves.Jimexpressesthecomplicatedhumanemotionsandstruggleswiththepathofhislife.Topreventbeingsoldandforcedtoseparatefromhisfamily,Jimrunsawayfromhisowner,MissWatson,andworkstowardsobtainingfreedomsohecanbuyhisfamily’sfreedom.Allalongtheirjourneydownriver,JimcaresforandprotectsofHuck,notasaservant,butasafriend.Thus,Twain'sencouragesthereadertofeelsympathyandempathyforJimandoutrageatthesocietythathasenslavedhimandthreatenedhislife.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Slavery:Thethemeofslavery39

However,althoughTwainattacksslaverythroughisportrayalofJim,heneverdirectlyaddressestheissue.HuckandJimneverdebateslavery,andalltheotherslavesinthenovelareveryminorcharacters.OnlyinthefinalsectionofthenoveldoesTwaindevelopthecentralconflictconcerningslavery:shouldHuckfreeJimandthenbecondemnedtohell?Thisdecisionislife-alteringforHuck,asitforceshimtorejecteverything"civilization"hastaughthim.HuckchoosestofreeJim,basedonhispersonalexperiencesratherthansocialnorms,thuschoosingthemoralityofthe“naturallife”overthatofcivilization.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008However,althoughTwainattac40

MississippiRiver:

Themajorityoftheplottakesplaceontheriveroritsbanks.ForHuckandJim,theriverrepresentsfreedom.Ontheraft,theyarecompletelyindependentanddeterminetheirowncoursesofaction.Jimlooksforwardtoreachingthefreestates,andHuckiseagertoescapehisabusive,drunkardofafatherandthe“civilization”ofMissWatson.However,thetownsalongtheriverbankbegintoexertinfluenceuponthem,andeventuallyHuckandJimmeetcriminals,shipwrecks,dishonesty,andgreatdanger.Finally,afogforcesthemtomissthetownofCairo,atwhichpointtherewereplanningtoheaduptheOhioRiver,towardsthefreestates,inasteamboat.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008MississippiRiver:AmericanL41

Originally,theriverisasafeplaceforthetwotravelers,butitbecomesincreasinglydangerousastherealitiesoftheirrunawaylivessetinonHuckandJim.Oncereflectiveofabsolutefreedom,theriversoonbecomesonlyashort-termescape,andthenovelconcludesonthesafetyofdryland,where,ironically,HuckandJimfindtheirtruefreedom.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008Originally,theriverisasa423.writingtechnique

Thisnovelshowshistwofamouswritingtechniques:

localcolorandcolloquiallanguage.Thenovelisatruerecreationoflivingmodels.Thoughalocalandparticularbook,ittouchesuponthehumansituationinageneralindeed“universal”way:Humanismultimatelytriumphs.

Thisbookiswritteninthecolloquialstyle,approximatingtheactualspeechhabitofanuneducatedboyfromtheAmericanSouthofmid-nineteenthcentury.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn20083.writingtechniqueThisn43KeytoQuestionsforChapter11Q1:P344Line3&lastpara.Q2:P350thewoman’swordsQ3:P347line8&line17Q4:p345&P348Q5:p349lines19----29Q6:p348lastpara.Q7:ppt56Q8:openAmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008KeytoQuestionsforChapter1444.Hiscontributionsandachievement:MarkTwain,pseudonymofSamuelLanghorneClemens,isaveryfamoushumorist,whosebestworkischaracterizedbybroad,oftenirreverenthumororbitingsocialsatire.Hiswritingisalsoknownforrealismofplaceandlanguage,memorablecharacters,andhatredofhypocrisyandoppression.OneofhissignificantcontributionstoAmericanliteratureliesinthefactthathemadecolloquialspeechanaccepted,respectableliterarymediumintheliteraryhistoryofthecountry.Insocialcriticismhelovedlife,people,freedomandjustice,feltaprideonhumandignityandadvocatedbrotherhoodofman.Hehatedtyrannyandiniquity,despisedmeannessandcruelty,andtookhisroleasasocialcriticinaseriousandresponsiblemanner.HewasnotindifferenteithertotheChineseimmigrantspersecutedinAmericaortoaChinasufferingintenseagoniesofhumiliationanddismembermentbyimperialistpowers.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn20084.Hiscontributionsandachie45AssignmentSearchforinformationaboutAmericanNaturalismonthenetorelsewhereandgiveanoralpresentationaboutfeaturesofnaturalismorworksofanynaturalistnexttime.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008AssignmentSearchforinformati46VI.NaturalismandMuckraking

ThereasonsofthecomingofAmericanNaturalism:Industrialismproducedfinancialgiants,butatthesametimecreatedanindustrialproletariatentirelyatthemercyofexternalforcesbeyondtheircontrol.Slumsappearedingreatnumberswhereconditionsbecamesteadilyworse.Newideasaboutmanandman’splaceintheuniversebegantotakerootinAmerica.Livinginacold,indifferent,andessentiallyGodlessworld,manwasnolongerfreeinanysenseoftheword.Darwinianconceptslike“thesurvivalofthefittest”and“thehumanbeast”becamepopularcatchwordsandstandardsofmoralreferenceinanamoralworld.Frenchnaturalism,withitsnewtechniqueandnewwayofwriting,appealedtotheimaginationoftheyoungergeneration.AmericanLiterature(I)Autumn2008VI.NaturalismandMuckraking472.Themaincharacteristicsofnaturalism:Thewritersofnaturalismtorethemask