常耀信《美国文学简史》考研考点讲义.pdf

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《美国文学简史》考点精讲及复习思路
1 
ForewordTheDivisionofU.SLiterature
TheDivisionofAmericanLiterature
I.TheAmericanIndianVoices
I.TheEnglishColonialYears(16201820)
Chapters12
II.TheRomanticPeriod(18201865)
Chapters37
IV.TheRealisticPeriod(18651914)
Chapters810
V.TheModernPeriod(19141945)
Chapters1118
VI.ContemporaryAmericanLeters(1945)
Chapters18
I.TheEnglishColonialYears(16201820)
A.PuritanisticInfluence
B.EarlyLiteraryForms
Leters,journals,historicalrecords,poemsandearlynovels
C.Content:Religious,Secularorpolitical
D.Namesdeservementioning
CaptainJohnSmith’sADescriptionofNewEngland
WiliamBradford’sOfPlymouthPlantation
ThomasJeferson’sNotesonVirginia
AnneBradsteetas“TheTenthMuseinNorthAmerica”
MichaelWigglesworth’sTheDayofDoom(1662)
2 
PhilipFreneau’spatriotic/naturepoetry
WiliamHilBrown,PowerofSympathy,1789
HughHenryBrackenridge,ModernChivalry,(17921815)
CharlesBrockdenBrownandhisgothicnovels:Wieland(1798)
BenjaminFranklin’sTheAutobiography
JonathanEdwards’s“SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod”
II.AmericanRomanticPeriod(18201865)
A.RomanticFathers:
WashingtonIrvingandJ.F.Cooper
B.NewEnglandTranscendentalists(18361855):
RalphWaldoEmersonandHenryDavidThoreau
C.TwogiantnovelistsintheFirstLiteraryRenaissanceHawthorneandMelvile
D.AControversialmanofleters:E.A.Poe
E.TheEpitomesofAmericanPoetry:
WaltWhitmanandEmilyDickinson
IV.TheRealisticPeriod(18651914)
Realists:HenryJamesandhispsychologicalrealism
WiliamDeanHowelsandhismoralrealism
LocalColorists:
MarkTwainandotherLocalcolorists(regionalism)
FrancesBretHarte
HamlinGarland
Naturalists:
FrankNoris,StephanCrane,JackLondon
TheodoreDreiserandhisnaturalistnovels
E.A.Robinsonandnaturalistpoetry:
V.TheModernEra(19141945)
5.1ModernPoetry(ModernistGiants)(A)
1.EzraPound
2.T.S.Eliot
3.WalaceStevens
《美国文学简史》考点精讲及复习思路
3 
4.W.C.Wiliams
5.RobertFrost
6CarlSandburg
7.HartCrane
8.e.e.cummings
5.2ModernNovelists
1.TwoNovelistsintheTransitionalera
SherwoodAndersonandWilaCather
2.ThefirstNobelPrizeWinner:
SinclairLewis
3.FemaleEuroResidingGenius
GertrudeStein
4.RepresentativesoftheLostGeneration:
A.ErnestHemingway(18991961)
B.F.S.Fitzgerald(18961940)
5.EpitomeoftheSouthernRenaissance:
WiliamFaulkner
6.Faulkner’sSouthernFolowers:
a.AnnePorter
b.EudoraWelty
c.CarsonMcCulers
7.PearlBuck,thefirstWomanNobelPrizeWinner
8.TheBlackNovelistsintheHarlemRenaissance:
a.ZoraNealeHurston
b.LangstonHughes
c.RichardWright
9.TheLeftistNovelists:
JohnDosPassos
Steinbeck
10.TheJewishAmericanNovelistsinthisPeriod:
NathanielWest
4 
HenryRoth
MichaelGold
5.3ModernAmericanDrama
EugeneO’NeilandAmericanTheatricalRenaissance
MaxwelAnderson:O’Neil’sOnlyMatch
ElmerRiceandhisTheAddingMachine
LilianHelman
ThorntonWilde
T.S.Eliot(thepoeticdrama)
VI.ContemporaryAmericanLiterature
A.Novelssince1945
1.WarNovels
JamesJones
HermanWouk
NormanMailer
Postmodernwarnovels:
JosephHeler
KurtVonnegut,Jr.
ThomasPynchon
2.JewishAmericanNovelists
SaulBelow
BernardMalamud
IssacBashevisSinger
PhilipRoth
CynthiaOzick
3.SouthernNovels
RobertPennWaren
TrumanCapote
WiliamStyron
FlanneryO’Connor
4.NovelsAgainsttheCulturalNorm
《美国文学简史》考点精讲及复习思路
5 
JeromeDavidSalinger
WiliamBuroughs
JackKerouac
5.ExperimentalNovels
JohnHawks(1925)
JohnBarth(1930)
DonaldBarthelme(193189)
WiliamGaddis(1922)
JosephHeler(1923)
ThomasPynchon(1937)
KurtVonnegut(1923)
VladimirNabokov(18991977)
6.NeoRealistnovelists
RobertStone(1937)
E.L.Doctorow(1931)
RobertCoover(1932)
DonDeLilo(1936)
7.AfroAmericannovelists
Fromthe194os1950s)
(1)RalphElison(191494)
(2)JamesBaldwin(19241987)
(3)IsmaelReed(1938)
(4)AlexHaley(1921)
(5)AliceWalker(1944)
(6)ToniMorison(1931)
IshmaelReed
AliceWalker
ToniMorison
8.ThelistofContemporaryWomenNovelists
AfroAmericanwomenwriters:WalkerandMorison
ChineseAmericanwomennovelists:AmyTan,MaxineHongKingston
6 
NativeWomenNovelists:LouisErdrich
MaryMcCarthy
JoyceCarolOates
JoyceCarolOates(1938)
violence,sex,mariage,family
7 
第一章
LiteratureintheColonialPeriod(16071820)
!"#$%&$'(% )(*+,'-$./0
DiscoveryofAmericaandearlysetlers
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1.Puritans
!
AmericanPuritans
!
AmericanPuritanism
2.Calvinism:Predestination,OriginalSin,TotalDepravity,LimitedAtonement
3.ItsinfluenceuponAmericanwritings:
a.(technique):symbolism
b.(tone):optimism
c.(language):simplicity
d.(theme):redemptionandsalvation
8 
Ⅲ" 783 94&3'(': 4. &83 #-%-.4(% 53'4-/
1.Generalfeatures:OfHumbleorigin;documentary;personal
2.LiteraryForms:histories,leters,journals,sermons,naratives,poetry,novels,etc.
A.histories:
CaptainJohnSmith’sADescriptionofNewEngland
WiliamBradford’sOfPlymouthPlantation
JohnWinthrop’sAModelofChristianCharity
ThomasJeferson’sNotesonVirginia
B.Personalaccount:Slavenaratives,prisoner’s
naratives,etc.
e.g.MaryRowlandson’spersonalaccount
C.Sermons:JonathanEdwards’Sinnersinthe
HandsofAnAngryGod
9 
TheJefersonMemorialinWashington,D.C.
LiteratureintheColonialPeriod(16071820)
D.Poetry:
AnneBradstreetandherreligiousandsecularpoetry
“Contemplations”“ToMyDearandLovingHusband”,
MichaelWigglesworth’sTheDayofDoom(1662)
EdwardTaylor'sreligiouspoetry:“Huswifery”
PhilipFreneau’spatriotic/naturepoetry:
“TheWildHoneySuckle”,“TheIndianBurialGround”
PhilisWheatleythefirstAfroAmericanpoetess:
1.WiliamHilBrown,ThePowerofSympathy,1789(Sentimentalepistolarynovel).
2.HughHenryBrackenridge,ModernChivalry,(17921815)(Picaresquenovel)
3.CharlesBrockdenBrownandhisgothicnovels
10 
E.Novels:
Wieland(1798),EdgarHuntly(1799),Ormond(1799),ArthurMervyn(1800)
11 
第二章
1.TheIntelectualBackgroundsforthe18thCentury:
A.AmericanPuritanism
B.TheGreatAwakeningin1730sand1740s
JonathanEdwardsastheleadingadvocate
C.Deism:aCompromisebetweenScienceandReligion
Newtonandhisfamousprincipleofuniversalgravitation
D.TheInfluenceofTheEnlightenmentMovement
(inFrance:Montesquieu,Rousseau,Voltaire)
(inEngland:AlexanderPope,DanielDefoe)
JonathanEdwards(17031758)
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
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1.Status:apuritanwriter,theologian,colonialAmericanpreacherandmissionarytoN
ativeAmericans
2.Comments:
Edwards“iswidelyacknowledgedtobeAmerica'smostimportantandoriginalphilosophi
caltheologian".
12 
HeisknownasoneofthegreatestandmostprofoundofAmericantheologiansandreviv
alists.(bornforreligionanddiedforscience)
3.Works:
“PersonalNarative”and“SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod”arehisfrequentlyan
thologizedpieces.
4.Criticism:
Hisworkisverybroadinscope,butheisoftenassociatedwithhisdefenseofCalvinist
theology,themetaphysicsoftheologicaldeterminism,andthePuritanheritage.Hisfamous
sermon“SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod,”emphasizedthejustwrathofGodagainstsin
andcontrasteditwiththeprovisionofGodforsalvation;theintensityofhispreachingsome
timesresultedinmembersoftheaudiencefainting,swooning,andothermoreobtrusivereac
tions.
BenjaminFranklin(17061790)
!!!")3.F(24. G'(.+%4.
A.Status:
oneofthegreatestfoundingfathersof theAmericanNation
araregeniusinhumanhistory
Jackofaltrades:essayist,autobiographicalwriter,printer,scientist,postmaster,alma
nacmaker,orator,statesman,philosopher,politicaleconomist,ambassador,parlorman,al
mosteverything
B.LifeandCareer(EarlyYears):
1.CalvinistbackgroundinBoston
2.Candlemaker’sfamily“poorandobscure”
13 
3.Litleformaleducation
Selftaughtandselfmade
4.Apprenticetohishalfbrothercomposer
HismaidenwritinginthepseudonameSilenceDogood
A.runawayboyfromBostontoPhiladelphiatomakehisownfortune
B.LifeandCareer(AStoryofSuccess)5.Asuccessfulprinterwhoretiredat42
6.HefoundedthePennsylvaniaHospital,theUniversityofPennsylvania,theAmerican
PhilosophicalSociety,asubscriptionlibrary,volunteerfiredepartments
7.Heinventedglassharmonica,theefectivestreetlighting,theFranklinstove,bifocal
glasses,eficientheatingsystem,andlightningrodforwhichhewaspraisedas“thenewPro
metheuswhohadstolenfirefromheaven”byImmanuelKant
8.AmemberofthePennsylvaniaAssembly
TheDeputyPostmasterGeneralforthecolonies
RepresentativeofthecoloniesinLondonfor18years;MinistertoFrance;Minister
toSweden
9.MemberoftheCommiteeofFivetodrafttheDeclarationofIndependence
10.TheonlyAmericantosignthefourdocumentsthatcreatedtheUnitedStates:theDe
clarationofIndependence,thetreatyofaliancewithFrance,theconstitution
C.HisMajorWritings:
PoorRichard’sAlmanac
1.Time:almostaquarterofcentury
2.Content:Literarypiecessuchaspoemsandessays,agoodmanyadages,commensense
witicisms
3.Sources:heborowedthemfromsuchfamouswriterssuchasRabelais,Defoe,Swift
andPopeandtriedtosimplifythesequotations
4.Examples:Famoussayingssuchas“Losttimeisneverfoundagain”,“Godhelpthem
thathelpthemselves”,“Fishandvisitorsstinkinthreedays”,etc..
5.Function:practical,instructive,andamusing
TheAutobiographyofBenjaminFranklin
1.Nature:Probablythefirstofitskind.Asimpleyetfascinatingrecordofaman’ssuc
cess.AfaithfulaccountofthecolorfulcareerofAmerica’sfirstselfmademan.
14 
2.Structure:
Fourpartswritenatdiferenttimes.Beginningat65.
3.Content:
(a)Puritanism:aPuritandocument,arecordofselfexaminationandselfimprovement,
ameticulouschartof13virtues.
(b)Enlightenment:OrderandModeration
4.Style:ThisworkiswriteninthepaternofPuritansimplicity,directness,andconci
sion.Themostsalientfeaturesaresuchastheplainnessofitsstyle,thehomelinessofimage
ry,thesimplicityofdiction,syntax,andexpression.
5.Tone:Optimism
TheAmericandreambeganwiththesetlementoftheAmericancontinentthepromised
landtheGardenofEdenoptimisticaboutthefuture.
15 
第三章
I.AmericanRomanticism
1.IntelectualBackground
Stretchingfromtheendofthe18thcenturythroughtheoutbreakoftheCivilWar(1820
1865)
Politicaly:Democracyandpoliticalequality;thetwopartypoliticalsysteminthemaking
Economicaly:Thespreadofindustrialism,thesuddeninfluxofimmigrants,andthepio
neerspushingthefrontierfurtherwestleadtoaneconomicboom.
Literarily:NewerliteraryexpressionsinmagazinessuchasTheSouthernReview,TheAt
lanticMonthly,andHarper’sMagazine
2.ForeignInfluence(DerivativeandImitative)
TheRomanticmovementinEnglandandEuropeprovedtobeadecisiveinfluenceupon
Americanromanticism.
TheBritishromanticwriters:WiliamWordsworth,TaylorColeridge,Byron,Robert
Burns,SheleyandSirWalterScot.
TheBritishRomanticliterarypiecessuchasLyricalBalads(1798)andWalterScot’
sbordertaleswereesp.prevalentinAmerica.(Scot’sIvanhoe,RobRoy,TheLadyofthe
LakeandWaverley).
3.NativeFactors(Diferentandistinctive)
Distinctfeatures:Americanromanticismwasinessencetheexpressionof“arealnewex
perience”and“anewsensibility”:
newplace;newfaces;newsight,smels,andsounds;newculturalfactor(AmericanIn
dians).
AmericanPuritanismasaculturalheritagerenderedAmericanmoralvaluesbasicalypu
16 
ritan.
AmericanRomanticwriterstendedmoretomoralizeandsymbolizethantheirEnglishand
Europeanbrothers.
Asalogicalresultoftheforeignandnativefactorsatwork,AmericanRomanticismwas
bothimitativeandistinctive,bothderivativeandindependent.
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
?DCJE
1.LiteraryStatus
FatherofAmericanliterature
Thefirstprofessionalwriter
ThefirstRomanticwriter
Thefirstshortstorywriter
ThefirstAmericanimaginativewriter
recognizedbytheEuropeans
2.Life
AwealthyNewYorkmerchantfamilyReadwidelystudiedlaw
CaredforhisfamilybusinessinEnglandWentbankruptwrotetosupporthimself
3.HisWorks:
AHistoryofNewYork(1809)
TheSketchBook(181920)
TheAlhambra(1832)
LifeofGoldsmith,LifeofWashington
TheshortstoryasagenreinAmericanliteratureprobablybeganwithIrving’sTheSketch
Book,acolectionofessays,sketches,andtales,ofwhichthemostfamousare“RipVan
Winkle”and“TheLegendofSleepyHolow”.
4.Divisionofhiswritings:
TheEnglishperiodfromhisfirstbookupto1832
TheAmericanperiodovertheremainingyearsofhislife.
5.WritingStyle
beautifulthoughimitative.
A.avoidingmoralizing;writingtoamuseandentertain.
常耀信《美国文学简史》考点精讲及复习思路
17 
B.envelopinghisstoriesinarichatmosphere
C.hisplotisslimandsimple
D.vividandtruecharacterization
E.suchahumorouswriterthatitisdificultnottosmileandoccasionalyevenchuckle
F.hisfinishedandmusicallanguage
6.HisMasterpieces
“RipVanWinkle”:
astoryfromGermansourceaddedAmericanbackdrops
afantasytaleaboutamanwhosomehowsteppedoutsidethemainstreamoflife.
RipVanWinkleisasimple,goodnatured,andhenpeckedman.Hedoeseverythingexcept
takecareofhisownfarmandfamily.Hehelpseveryoneexcepthiswifeandhisownfolks.
Soheiswelcomeeverywhereexceptathome.“Heisoneofthosehappymortals,who
taketheworldeasy,eatwhitebreadorbrown,whichevercanbegotwithleastthoughtortrou
ble,andwouldratherstarveonapennythanworkforapound.”
PlotSummeryof“RipVanWinkle”
ThestoryissetbeforeandaftertheAmericanRevolutionaryWar.RipVanWinkle,a
Dutchdescent,livesinanicevilageatthefootofNewYork'sCatskilMountains.Anamiable
manwhosehomeandfarmsuferfromhislazyneglect,heislovedbyalbuthiswife.Oneau
tumndayheescapeshisnaggingwifebywanderingupthemountains.Afterencountering
strangelydressedmenwhoareplayingninepin,andafterdrinkingsomeoftheirliquor,he
setlesdownunderashadytreeandfalsasleep.
Hewakesuptwentyyearslaterandreturnstohisvilage.Hefindsoutthatithas
changedsomuchandhiswifeisdead.Hedidn’tknowtheAmericanRevolutionhastaken
place.Anoldlocalrecognizeshim,andRip’sgrowndaughtereventualyputshimup.Rip’
staleissolemnlybelievedbytheoldDutchsetlers,certainhenpeckedhusbandsespecialy
wishtheysharedRip'sluck.
PlotSummeryof“TheLegendofSleepyHolow”
“TheLegendofSleepyHolow”naratesthememorableeventofanapparentlyhead
lesshorsemanandthememorablecharacterofIchabod.
Setaround1790inasecludedglencaledSleepyHolow,NewYork,thisstoryiscon
cernedwithIchabodCrane,asuperstitiousschoolmasterfromConnecticutwhocompeteswitha
18 
localguy,“BromBones,”forthehandof18yearoldKatrinaVanTassel,abeautifuldaugh
terofalocalwealthyfarmer.
Afteratendingapartyheldatthegirl’shomeonenight,heispursuedbytheHead
lessHorseman,supposedlytheghostofaHessiantrooperwhoseheadwasshotofbyacan
nonbalduring"somenamelessbatle"oftheAmericanRevolutionWar.AfterthatIchabod
mysteriouslydisappearsfromthetown.
!!!" ;(236 G3.42-'3 #--K3' >?@DJ

?DC?E
1.LiteraryStatus:
ThefirstAmericanFrontiernovel
ThefirstAmericanSeanovel
ThefirstAmericanSpyNovel
ThefirstAmericanHistoricalNovel
LeatherstockingTales:theAmericanNationalEpic
2.Life:
LocalyfamousfamilyYaleUniversityat14fiveyearsatseabegantowriteaccidentaly
hisfirstnovelPrecautionhissecondnovelTheSpy(HarveyBirch)firmlyestablishedwithhis
TheLeatherstockingTales
3.Hismajorworks:
Precaution(1820)
TheSpy(1821)
“TheLeatherstockingTales”includes
ThePioneers(1823)
TheLastoftheMohicans(1826)
ThePrairie(1827)
ThePathfinder(1840)
TheDeerslayer(1841)
4.HisMasterpieces:
A.TheLeatherstockingTales:eachfeaturingthemainheroNatyBumppo,knownby
Europeansetlersas"Leatherstocking,"'ThePathfinder",and"thetrapper"andbytheN
ativeAmericansas"Deerslayer,""LaLongueCarabine"and"Hawkeye".
19 
B.NatyBumppofirstappearstobearealfrontieersmaninhiscrubecabin,amanof
fleshandbloodinthevirginforestsofNorthAmerica.ButashemovesoutofThePioneersin
totheworldofTheLastoftheMohicans,ThePrairie,ThePathfinder,andTheDeerslayer,
hedoessogatheringmoreandmoreofahaloofalegendaryandmythicnaturearoundhim.
Hebecomesatype,arepresentationofanationstrugglingtobeborn,progressingfrom
oldagetorebirthandyouth.
4.HisMasterpieces:
C.ThefiveCoopertalesconstituteamythicreproductionofthewholeprocess:theold
anddyingLeatherstockinginThePioneersandThePrairierelivesantherphaseofmiddleage
maturityinTheLastoftheMohicansandThePathfinderandenjoysanotherleaseofyouthin
TheDeerslayer.
D.Bumppo’sgrowthandprogressembodiesnoneotherthantheAmericanquestforani
dealcommunity;throughthischaracterCoopertriedtocreateanationalmythofhisown.
5.WritingFeatures:
A.Plotconstruction:Cooperwasgoodatinventingplotswhicharesometimesincredible,
buthisstoriesarequiteintriguing.
B.Landscapedescription:Hislandscapedescriptionsaremajesticandsuggestiveofthe
legendaryspiritofScot’sbordertales.
C.Arichimagination:HavingneverbeentothefrontierandamongtheIndiansandyet
stilabletowritefivehugeepicbooksaboutthemwithhisrichimagination.Freefrominjus
tice,hetreatedtheAmericanIndiansasnoblesavages.
D.Clumsystyle:hisstyleisdreadful;hischaracterizationseemswoodenandlackingin
probability.
6.HisContribution
a.Cooperhituponthenativesubjectoffrontierandwilderness.
b.Hecontributeddiferentsubgenresofnovels:spynovel,seanovel,frontiernovel,
andhistoricalromance.
c.HecreatedthefirstlegendaryfrontierheroNatyBumppoasthetypicalPioneeringfig
ure.
d.HeintroducedtheWestandthefrontierasausablepastintoAmericanliterature,thus
usheringintheWesterntraditionintoAmericanworldofleters.
20 
第四章
I.NewEnglandTranscendentalism
(When?Where?Who?What?How?)
I.RalphWaldoEmerson
(hismajorworks,hismajorideas)
II.HenryDavidThoreau
(hismajorworks,hismajorideas)
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
?DCCE
1.Time:18361855:In1836,NaturebyRalphWaldoEmersonwaspublished,making
atremendousimpactontheintelectuallifeofAmerica.
anewvoiceituteredandawholenewwayofthinking
pushingAmericanRomanticismintothephaseofNewEnglandTranscendentalism,the
summitofAmericanRomanticism.
2.Essence:“Transcendentalismisidealism”
3.Background:SomeNewEnglandersnotquitehappyaboutthematerialisticorientedlife
oftheirtimeformedtheTranscendentalistclub,andmettodiscussmatersofinteresttothe
lifeofthenationasawhole.Theyexpressedtheirviews,publishedtheirjournal,theDial,
andmadetheirvoiceheard.
4.Representativefigures:some30peoplesuchasEmerson,Thoreau,BronsonAlcot,
andMargaretFuler,mostofthemteachersorclergymen
5.MajorFeatures:
A.Emphasisonspirit,orOversoulomnipresent,omniscient,omnipotent
B.theindividualasthemostimportantelementofsociety
Theregenerationofthesocietycouldonlycomeaboutthroughtheregenerationoftheindi
21 
vidual:selfperfection,selfculture,selfimprovement,selfreliance
C.NatureassymbolicoftheSpiritorGod
Naturewasnotpurelymater.ItwasthegarmentoftheOversoul.
6.TheproductofacombinationofforeigninfluencesandtheAmericanPuritantradition.
Germanphilosophy:Scheling,Fichte,Kant
FrenchEclecticism:Cousin,Colard,Gerando,Joufroy
Englishcritics:ThomasCarlyle’sSartorResartusColeridge'sAidstoReflection
Orientalmysticism:Hinduworks
Upanishads(奥义书)
BhagavadGita(薄伽梵歌)
ChineseConfuciusandMencius
NewEnglandTranscendentalism Emerson
I.RalphWaldoEmerson(18031882)
1.LiteraryStatus:
“FatherofAmericanEssay”,TheConcordSageEssayist,poet,philosopher,orator,
criticLeaderandspokesmanofTranscendentalism
2.Life:
MassachusetsalineofNewEnglandclergymenHarvardColegerejectingCalvinistte
netsUnitarianismrunaschoolforyoungladiesabandonaUnitarianministertourinEurope
returntoAmericapromulgatingTranscendentalism
BostonLatinSchoolwhereEmersongothisearlyeducation
HarvardUniversity
HarvardUniversityFreshmen'sdormitory
Emerson'sManse
ChapterFourRalphWaldoEmerson
3.Hisphilosophicalideas
22 
A.firmbeliefinthetranscendenceoftheOversoul
B.theindividualasthemostimportant.(theinfinitudeofman)
C.NatureisemblematicofGod,mediatingbetweenmanandGod
4.Aesthetics:(“ThePoet”“TheAmericanScholar”)
A.Emerson’spoetisnoordinaryperson
Apoetisalsoaphilosopher(acomplete,eternalmantoseeintothedeepsofinfinite
time)
B.Truepoetryandtrueartshouldennoble.(moralpurificationapassagetowardorganic
unityandhigherreality)
C.Theargumentofthepoetshoulddecidetheformofthepoem.
D.Thepoetshouldusesymbolswhichareuniversalthings.
E.AmericanwritersshouldcelebrateAmericawhichwasalongpoemitself.
5.Hismajorworks:
A.Colections
Poems(1847);RepresentativeMen(50);EnglishTraits(56)
TheConductofLife(60);SocietyandSolitude(70)
B.Essays
“SelfReliance”“TheOverSoul”“ThePoet”“Experience”
Nature
(theBibleoftheNewEnglandTranscendentalism)
“TheAmericanScholar”
(IntelectualDeclarationofIndependence)
C.Poems
"ConcordHymn"and"TheRhodora"
ChapterFourHenryDavidThoreau
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
?DMPE
1.LiteraryStatus:
TheProphetofNonViolenceMovement
AdvocateofNewEnglandTranscendentalism
Americannaturalist,transcendentalist,taxresister,developmentcriticandphilosopher
23 
2.Life:
pencilmaker’sfamilyHarvardfriendshipwithEmersontripontheConcordandMer
rimackRiversin1839acabinonWaldenPondandmovedinonJuly4andlivedthereforover
2yearssince1845anightinjailforapoltaxof$2
3.MajorWorks:
“CivilDisobedience”(1849)
AWeekontheConcordandMerimackRivers(1849)
Walden(1854)
4.Walden,Thoreau’sMasterpiece
A.agreatTranscendentalistworkandThoreau’smasterpiece
B.afaithfulrecordofhisreflectionsinsolitarycommunionwithnature(thepantheistic
qualityofnature)
C.abookonselfcultureandselfperfection;abookaboutman,whatheisandwhathe
shouldbeandmustbe.
D.prophetofindividualism
E.acriticof“degradingandenslaving”moderncivilization“Civilizedmanistheslave
ofmater”
“Simplicity,Simplify”
!
apanaceaforthefatalmoderncrazeformonetarysuccess(
modernmechanizationandcommercialization)
F.Impatientwiththeoverstressontheexternaldevelopmentofhumanbeingssuchas
railroad,telegraph
G.RegenerationbecameamajorthematicconcernofWaldenanddecidedthestructural
framework:Waldenunfoldsinasingleyear,andprogressesthroughsummerandautumnto
winter,andfinalytoaclimaxintherenascenceofspring.
H.WaldenexhibitsThoreau’scalmtrustinthefutureandhisardentbeliefinanewgen
erationofmen.Thebookconcludesonaclearnoteofoptimismandhope.
5.MenofthelikeMind
ThomasCarlyle(17951881);JohnRuskin(18191900)
MathewArnold(18221888);SorenAabyeKierkegaard(18131855)
24 
第五章
NathanielHawthorne(18041864)
!" 94&3'(': Q&(&$6
GreatestRomancewriter
Pioneeringpsychologicalnovelist
Moralnovelist
!!" 94R3
1804,July4,inSalem,Massachusets,aPuritanfamily
Ancestors’roleintheSalemWitchcraftTrialin1692
BowdoinColegereadwidelywritingtalesandnovels
SalemCustomHousewhereHawthorneworked
NathanielHawthorne(18041864)
!!!" S(F-' H-'+6
Shortstorycolection:
TwiceToldTales(1837)
MosesfromanOldManse(1846)
25 
Romances:
TheScarletLeter(1850)
TheHouseoftheSevenGables(1851)
TheBlithedaleRomance(1852)
TheMarbleFaun(1860)
!T" N(=&8-'.3
’
6 )%(*+ T464-. -R 94R3
Hawthorneseemstobehauntedbyhissenseofsinandevilinlife.Mostofhisworksdeal
withevilonewayoranother.
A.Evilexistsinthehumanheart(“EarthyHolocaust”)
B.Everyonepossessessomeevilsecret(“YoungGoodmanBrown”)
C.Everyoneseemstocoveruphisinnermostevil(“TheMinister’sBlackVeil”)
D.Evilseemstobeman’sbirthmark.
E.Evilcomesoutofevilthoughitmaytakemanygenerations
F.Onesourceofevilisoverweeningintelect.Hawthorne’sintelectualcharactersareu
sualyvilains,dreadfulbecausedevoidoffelowfeelings.
(Holingsworth,Chilingworth,Dr.RappacciniHawthorne’snegativeatitudetoward
science).
V.Hawthorneandhisromance
RomanceisinHawthorne’smindthepredestinedformofAmericannarative.
VI.TheanalysisofhismasterpieceTheScarletLeter
1.StoryandPlot:anEnglishscholarChilingworthhiswifeHesterPrynneyoungand
promisingpriestArthurDimmesdalePearl
2.Theme:
A.RomanticorPuritan?loveorsin?moralorimmoral?
B.theadaptationofAmericanRomanticismtoAmericanPuritanmoralismtheloadofdi
dacticismthedesiretoelevate
C.Hawthorne’spredominantconcernwasthemoral,emotional,andpsychologicalefect
ofthesinonthepeopleingeneral
3.Theanalysisofthecharacters
A.HesterPrynne:NotapraiseofHesterPrynnesinning,butahymnonthemoral
26 
growthofthewomanwhensinnedagainst.
Acquiringarealsignificancewhilereestablishingameaningfulrelationshipwithherfel
lowmen.
Symbolicofhermoraldevelopmentisthechangewhichthescarletleterundergoesin
meaning.A“Adultery”“Able”,“Angel”(“Adamic”theoriginalsinor“America”)
B.ArthurDimmesdalebanisheshimselffromthesocietyandlivesastrangeramonghis
admirers.Heundergoesthetragicexperienceofphysicalandspiritualdisintegration.
C.RogerChilingworth,therealvilainembodingpureintelect,whocommits“theun
pardonablesin”(theviolationofheart)
4.Structuralfeatures
The24chaptersofTheScarletLeterarecloselyknitedtogetherbymeansofthescafold
sceneswhichappear3times,almostsymmetricaly,inthebeginning,inthemiddle,andthe
endofthebook,eachtimebringingthefourmajorcharacters(Hester,Dimmesdale,Chiling
worth,andPearl)together.ChaptersII,XIandXVIIserveasthepropsholdingupthe
frameofthenovel.
5.Psychologicalcomplexities
Althemajorcharactershavecomplexpsychologies;thereisasemblanceofinteriormon
ologueswhichrevealtheirstatesofmind.
6.Ambiguity
OnesalientfeatureofHawthorne’sartishisambiguity,ofwhichthetechniqueofmulti
pleviewemployedinthebook.
T!!" N(=&8-'.3
’
6 Q:2U-%462
(TheScarletLeter)thenamesofthecharacters,Dimmesdale,Chilingworth,litle
Pearl,theflowerattheprisondoor,etc.
(TheHouseoftheSevenGables)thehouse,theriseandfalofthefamilyfortune,the
chickensdwindlinginsize,thelovebetweenthetwoyoungpeople
(“TheYoungGoodmanBrown”)nightlyjourneytheinnerurgeoftheyoungtogrowup
andgetinitiatedintotheadultworldthemurkinessofnightengendersasenseofuncertainty
andfearthegrownupsituationFaithyoungGoodmanBrown(Everyman)
T!!!" N(=&8-'.3
’
6 4.R%$3.*3
HermanMelvileHenryJamesHemingwayWiliamFaulkner...
27 
StatueinSalem,Massechussets
SleepyHolowCemetryinConcord,Massechussets
HermanMelvile(18191891)
!" 94&3'(': Q&(&$6
seanovelists,cannibalnovels,etc.
!!" 94R3 (./ #('33'
Litleeducationbegantoworkearly
bankclerk,salesman,afarmhand,schoolteacher
A.Goingouttosea
B.hismariage
C.friendshipwithHawthorne(1850)
!!!" N46 T43= -R &83 H-'%/
Tragichumanism
!T" N46 2(F-' =-'+60
Hisnovels:
Typee(1846);Omoo(47);Mardi(1849);Redburn(1849);WhiteJacket(1850)
MobyDick(1851)
Piere(1852);ConfidenceMan(1857)
BilyBudd(unfinished)
28 
Hispoeticwork:Clarel
Hisshortstories:“Bartleby”,“BenitoCereno”
T" N46 2(6&3'K43*30 S-U: O4*+
1.Essence:
a.HermanMelvile’smasterpieceisMobyDick,oneoftheworld’sgreatestmasterpiec
es.
b.Togettoknowthe19thcenturyAmericanmindandAmericaitself,onehastoread
thisbook.
c.Itisanencyclopediaofeverything,history,philosophy,religion,etc.inadditiontoa
detailedaccountoftheoperationsofthewhalingindustry.
d.ButitisfirstaShakespearetragedyofmanfightingagainstoverwhelmingoddsinan
indiferentandevenhostileuniverse.
2.Content:
Ishmael,Pequod,Ahab,MobyDick
3.Idea:hisbleakviewoftheworld
TheworldisatonceGodlessandpurposeless.
Maninthisuniverselivesameaninglessandfutilelife,meaninglessbecausefutile.
Mancanobserveandmanipulatenatureinaprudentway,andheisatthemercy
ofnature.
Mancannotinfluenceandovercomenatureatitssource.Onceheatemptstoseekpower
overnature,heisdoomed.
Theideathatmancanmaketheworldforhimselfisnothingbutatranscendentalistfoly.
Melvileneverseemsabletosayanafirmativeyestolife:hisistheatitudeof“Everlast
ingNay”.
ThelosoffaithandthesenseoffutilityandmeaninglesneswereexpressedinMelvile’
sworks.
4.Themesandsubjects:
A.Alienation:ondiferentlevels,betweenmanandman,manandsociety,andman
andnature.(e.g.Ahab)
B.criticismagainstEmersonianselfreliantindividual:
29 
Ahabistoomuchofaselfreliantindividualtobeagoodhumanbeing.Hestandsalone
onhisownonelegamongthemilionsofthepeopledearth.Forhimtheonlylawishisown
wil.Hisselfhoodmustbeassertedattheexpenseofalelse.
C.RejectionandQuest:
IshmaelresembleshisnamesakeintheBibleinthatheisawanderer.Rejectinghisearlyli
festyle,hetriedtoseekforahappyandideallife.Hebeginstofeelthesignificanceofloveand
fraternityamongmortalbeings.VoyagingforIshmaelhasbecomeajourneyinquestofknowl
edgeandvalues.
5.SymbolisminthenovelMobyDick
A.thevoyageitselfisametaphorfor“searchanddiscovery,thesearchfortheultimate
truthofexperience.”
B.thePequodistheshipoftheAmericansoulandconsciousness.
C.MobyDickisasymbolofeviltosome,ofgoodnesstoothers,andofbothtostiloth
ers.
D.ThewhitenessofMobyDickisaparadoxicalcolor,signifyingdeathandcoruptionas
welaspurity,innocenceandyouth;itrepresentsthefinalmysteryoftheuniverse.
6.Themultipleviewofpoint:
Chapter36,awardofadoublonanddiferentresponsesofdiferentmenTashtego(theA
mericanIndian),Daggoo(theAfricanAmericangiant),Queequeg(thePolynesian)—Star
buck
7.TherevivalofMelvile
Adedicatedartist
Therewas,tobesure,agreatdealofAhabinhim.
“Ihavewritenawickedbook”
Borninthe19thcentury,Melviledidnotreceiverecognitionuntilthe20thcentury.
Inthe1920s,aColumbiascholar,G.M.Weaver,didsolidworkinrevivinghim.
30 
第六章
WhitmanandDickinson
———RomanticPoetry
WhitmanandDickinson
Similarities:BothofthemweredistinctivelyAmericanpoetsinthemeandtechnique.
BothofthemwerepartofAmericanRenaissance.
A.Themes:bothextoledintheirdiferentways,anemergentAmerica,itsexpansion,its
individualism,anditsAmericanness.
B.Techniques:breakingfreeofthepoetictraditionandpioneeringAmericanmodernist
poetrywiththeirpoeticinnovation.
Diferences:
A.WhitmankepthiseyeonsocietyatlargewhileDickinsonexploredtheinnerlifeofthe
selfandindividual.
B.WhereasWhitmanisnationalinhisoutlook,Dickinsonisregional.
C.Informalterms,Whitmanischaracterizedbyhisendless,alinclusivecatalogswhile
Dickinsonbyherconcise,direct,andsimpledictionandsyntax.
!" H(%& H84&2(. >?D?J

?DJPE
1.LiteraryStatus
FatherofAmericanPoetry
PrecursorofModernAmericanPoetry
FatherofAmericanFreeVerse
CelebrantofAmericaasaPoem
2.Life
31 
WorkingclassbackgroundonLongIsland,NewYork
Fiveyearsofschooling,loafingandreading
Richlifeexperience:oficeboy,carpenter,schoolmaster,printer,editor(of8succes
sivepapers),andjournalist
3.ThePublicationofLeavesofGrassWhitman’shislifetimeliteraryendeavor
A.Itfirsteditionof12poemsin1855
!
brokewiththepoeticconvention
!
sexualityandexoticandvulgarlanguage
harshcriticismsonit:“noxiousweeds”,
“poetryofbarbarism”,“amassofstupidfilth”
B.Nineeditionsinal
(1855,56,60,67,71,76,81,89,9192)
Begantobecelebratedwiththefifthedition
C.Hisdeathbededitioncontainingalofhis400oddpoems
4.Hisideas:
“acatalogandgreatacceptor”
A.Enlightenment,humanitarianismandcosmopolitanism
B.IdealismandTranscendentalism
C.GermanphilosophyandNewtonianpantheism
D.JacksonianlaissezfaireindividualismandCivilWarUnionism
E.EmersonandWhitman
Emerson’sleterofpraiseofthefirstedition
“themostextraordinarypieceofwitandwisdomthatanAmericanhasyetcontributed”
Whitman:“dearMaster,”“Iwassimmering,simmering,simmering,Emersonbrought
metoaboil”
HesharedmanysimilarideaswithEmerson:
Americaitselfwasapoem;thegreatestpoetisaseer,completeinhimself.(P.90)
32 
5.Whitman’sPoeticExperimentation
Adaringexperimentalistwho“brokethenewwood”;acompletebreakwithtraditional
poetics.
Features:
A.paralelismorrhythmicalunit(theBible)
B.phoneticrecurence
(systematicrepetitionofwordsandphrases)
C.hislongcatalogsoflines,hispilingupofnouns,verbs,oradjectives,
Whitmanbrokefreefromthetraditionaliambipentameterandwrote“freeverse”.
6.Masterpieces:
“SongofMyself”
“TherewasaChildWentForth”
“InCrossingBrooklynBridge”
“OutoftheCradleEndlesslyRocking”(p.93)
“WhenLilacsLastintheDooryardBloomed”(p.94)
7.Whitman’sInfluence
HisbestworkhasbecomepartofthecommonpropertyofWesternculture.
ManypoetsinEngland,France,Italy,andLatinAmericaareinhisdebt,esp.byhis
optimismandinnovationasapoetprophetandpoetteacher.
T.S.Eliot,Pound,HartCrane,CarlSandburg
WaltWhitman’sPoetry
SongofMyself
Icelebratemyself,andsingmyself,
36 
Wetwotogethernomore.
Theariasinking,…
Theboyecstatic,withhisbarefeetthewaves,withhishairtheatmospheredalying,
Theloveintheheartlongpent,nowloose,nowatlasttumultuouslybursting,
Thearia’smeaning,theears,thesoul,swiftlydepositing,
Thestrangetearsdownthecheekscoursing,
Thecoloquythere,thetrio,eachutering,
Theundertone,thesavagemotherincessantlycrying,
Totheboy’ssoul’squestionssulenlytiming,somedrown’dsecrethissing,
Totheoutsetingbard.
!!" <24%: O4*+4.6-. >?DBA

?DDME
1.Literarystatus
Asecludedpoetess
“Mother”ofAmericanPoetryandAmericanModernPoetry
2.Life
aCalvinistfamily
Herfather,aWhiglawyerandtreasurerofAmherstColege
ReadwidelysuchastheBible,Shakespeare,Keats
Beganwritingseriouslyinhertwenties
1775poemsaltogether,7publishedinherlife
3.HerIdeas
Calvinism;Tragicinbasictone
Deathleadstoimmortality.
Doubt;thelossoffaithandthereligiousuncertainty
4.Themes:life,death,immortality,love,nature
5.Analysisofhermasterpieces
“MyLifeClosedTwicebeforeitsClose”(p.98)
“WildNightsWildNights”(p.99)
“BecauseIcouldnotstopforDeath”
“IheardaflybuzzwhenIdied”(p.99)
37 
“ANarowFelowintheGrass”
EmilyDickinson’sPoem:
WildNightsWildNights!
WildNightsWildNights!
WereIwiththee
WildNightsshouldbe
OurLuxury!
FutiletheWinds
ToaHeartinport
DonewiththeCompass
DonewiththeChart!
RowinginEden
Ah,theSea!
MightIbutmoorTonight
InThee!
465(IheardaFlybuzzwhenIdied)
IheardaFlybuzzwhenIdied
TheStilnessintheRooms
WasliketheStilnessintheAir
BetweentheHeavesofStorm
TheEyesaroundhadwrungthemdry
AndBreathsweregatheringfirm
38 
ForthatlastOnsetwhentheKing
BewitnessedintheRoom
IwiledmyKeepsakesSignedaway
Whatportionofmebe
Assignableandthenitwas
ThereinterposedaFly
WithBlueuncertainstumblingBuzz
Betweenthelightandme
AndthentheWindowsfailedandthen
Icouldnotseetosee
6.Dickinson’sAesthetics
Sheholdsthatbeauty,truthandgoodnessareultimatelyone.
7.Herpoeticinnovation
A.Shebrokefreeoftheconventionaliambicpentameter
B.Sheexploredtheinnerlifeoftheindividual
C.Shewasregional(NewEnglander)
D.Shewasidiosyncraticinherfrequentuseofdashesanduniqueuseofcapitals.
E.herconcise,direct,andsimpledictionandsyntax
39 
第七章
EdgarAlanPoe(18091849)
!" 94&3'(': Q&(&$6
PioneerofAmericanHororTales
PioneerofAmericanDetectiveTales
PioneerofAmericanSouthernwritings
PioneerofAmericanPsychoAnalyticfiction
Editor,PoetandProfessionalliterarycritic
I.LifeandCareer
Borninanactress’sfamilyhisparentsdied
!
adoptedbyarichbusinessmanJohnAl
lantheVirginiaUniversityWestPointeditorofmagazinessuchasTheSouthernLiteraryMes
senger,etc.
at27hemariedhis13yearoldcousinVirginiawhodiedveryyoungin1947
40 
!!!" 846 (36&83&4*6E
1.Aestheticwritings:
“ThePhilosophyofComposition”“ThePoeticPrinciple”
2.Aestheticideas:
A.Brevity:thepoemshouldbeshort,readableatonesiting
B.Beauty:beauty,afeelingofbeautyinthemindsofthereader(Themelancholy—the
deathofabeautifulwomanasthemostpoetictopicintheworld.)
C.Purity:purepoetry.
artliesnotsomuchinwhatisbeingsaidasinthewayitsaysit.
hestressesrhythm,definestruepoetryas“therhythmicalcreationofbeauty”andde
claresthat“musicistheperfectionofthesoul,orideas,ofpoetry.”
hisownpoem“TheRaven”(108lines)showshisaesthetics:asenseofmelancholyo
verthedeathofabelovedbeautifulyoungwomanpervadesthewholepoem.
TheRaven
Onceuponamidnightdreary,whileIpondered,weakandweary,
Overmanyaquaintandcuriousvolumeofforgotenlore,
WhileInodded,nearlynapping,suddenlytherecameatapping,
Asofsomeonegentlyrapping,rappingatmychamberdoor.
“’Tissomevisitor,”Imutered,“tappingatmychamberdoor
Onlythis,andnothingmore.”
Ah,distinctlyIrememberitwasinthebleakDecember,
Andeachseparatedyingemberwroughtitsghostuponthefloor.
42 
EagerlyIwishedthemorow;vainlyIhadtriedtoborow
FrommybookssurceaseofsorowsorowforthelostLenore
FortherareandradiantmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore
Namelesshereforevermore.
Andthesilkensaduncertainrustlingofeachpurplecurtain
Thriledmefiledmewithfantasticterorsneverfeltbefore;
Sothatnow,tostilthebeatingofmyheart,Istoodrepeating
“’Tissomevisitorentreatingentranceatmychamberdoor
Somelatevisitorentreatingentranceatmychamberdoor;
Thisitisandnothingmore.”
Presentlymysoulgrewstronger;hesitatingthennolonger,“Sir,”saidI,"orMadam,
trulyyourforgivenessIimplore;ButthefactisIwasnapping,andsogentlyyoucamerap
ping,Andsofaintlyyoucametapping,tappingatmychamberdoor,ThatIscarcewassureI
heardyou”
!
hereIopenedwidethedoor;—
Darknessthere,andnothingmore.
Deepintothatdarknesspeering,longIstoodtherewondering,fearing,
Doubting,dreamingdreamsnomortaleverdaredtodreambefore;
Butthesilencewasunbroken,andthedarknessgavenotoken,
Andtheonlywordtherespokenwasthewhisperedword,“Lenore!”
ThisIwhispered,andanechomurmuredbacktheword,“Lenore!”
Merelythis,andnothingmore.
Thenintothechamberturning,almysoulwithinmeburning,
SoonIheardagainatappingsomewhatlouderthanbeore.
“Surely,”saidI,“surelythatissomethingatmywindowlatice;
Letmesee,then,whatthereatis,andthismysteryexplore
Letmyheartbestilamomentandthismysteryexplore;
‘Tisthewind,andnothingmore!”
OpenhereIflungtheshuter,when,withmanyaflirtandfluter,
Intheresteppedastatelyravenofthesaintlydaysofyore;
Nottheleastobeisancemadehe;notaninstantstoppedorstayedhe;
But,withmienoflordorlady,perchedabovemychamberdoor
43 
PercheduponabustofPalasjustabovemychamberdoor
Perched,andsat,andnothingmore.
Thenthisebonybirdbeguilingmysadfancyintosmiling,
Bythegraveandsterndecorumofthecountenanceitwore,“Thoughthycrestbeshorn
andshaven,thou,”Isaid,“artsurenocraven,
GhastlygrimandancientravenwanderingfromtheNightlyshore
TelmewhatthylordlynameisontheNight’sPlutonianshore!”
Quoththeraven,“Nevermore.”
MuchImarveledthisungainlyfowltoheardiscoursesoplainly,
Thoughitsanswerlitlemeaninglitlerelevancybore;
Forwecannothelpagreeingthatnosublunarybeing
Everyetwasblessedwithseeingbirdabovehischamberdoor
Birdorbeastuponthesculpturedbustabovehischamberdoor,
Withsuchnameas“Nevermore.”
T!" 5-3 (6 ( 5-3&
HisPoetry
“ADreamWithinADream”
“AnnabelLee”“TheBels”
"Lenore"
“SonnetToScience”
"TheRaven""Ulalume"
“Israfel”
T!!" 5-3 (6 ( 68-'& 6&-': ='4&3'
1.Histheoriesofshortstorywritings
A.Brevity:asshortastobereadatonesiting,soastoensurethetotalityofimpres
sion.
B.ASingleEfecttheaimoftheshortstory
2.Hisshortstorycreation:
Twocategories:thehorortalesandthedetectivetales
Horortales:
44 
“TheFaloftheHouseofUsher”
“Ligeia”“TheMasqueoftheRedDeath”
Detectivetales:
“TheBlackCat”“TheCaskofAmontilado”“TheMurdersintheRueMorgue”“The
PurloinedLeter”“TheTelTaleHeart”
T!!!" 5-3
’
6 H'4&4., G3(&$'36
1.Poewasafascinatingmanofimagination.
2.Intheme,Poeanticipated20thcenturyliteratureinhistreatmentofthedisintegration
oftheselfinaworldofnothingnessandnada.
3.Poewassensitivetothepressureofaworldreignedbyscienceandreason:“thereis
neitherjoy,norlove,norlight,norcertitude,norpeace,norhelpfrompain.”
4.BaudelairefirstnoticedPoe’spsychologicalcontentandregardedPoeas“awriterof
nerves;whatinterestsPoemostisthedeepabyssoftheunconsciousandsubconsciousmental
activityofthepeople.
5.Poeassumedthateverymindishalfmadorcapableofslippingintoinsanity.Asare
sultofthis,hisfictionalcharactersaremostlyneurotics.
6.Poe’sheroesaremostly“isolatoes”,withnosenseofidentity,nonameseven,alien
ationfromsociety.
7.Afulrationalandintuitivemanimmenselyinterestedindeductionandinduction.He
wrotehalfadozendetectivestoriesontheratiocinativebasis.
151 
RobertPennWaren(190589)(NewCriticism)
AltheKing’sMen(46);
TrumanCapote(192484)
OtherVoices,OtherRooms(48);InColdBlood(66)
WiliamStyron(1925)
TheConfesionsofNatTurner(67);Sophie’sChoice(79)
FlanneryO’Cannor(192564)
Novels:WiseBlood(52)
Colections:AGoodManisHardtoFind(55);
WiliamClarkStyron,Jr.(19252006)
AnoutstandingAmericannovelistandessayist
HisNovels:
LieDowninDarknes(1951)
hisacclaimedfirstnovel
TheConfesionsofNatTurner(1967)
naratedbyNatTurner,theleaderofan1831Virginiaslaverevolt
Sophie'sChoice(1979)
astorytoldthroughtheeyesofayoungaspiringwriterfromtheSouth,aboutaPolish
CatholicsurvivorofAuschwitzandherbriliantbuttroubledJewishloverinpostwarBrooklyn.
TheConfessionsofNatTurner(1967)
A1967PulitzerPrizewinningnovel
PresentedasafirstpersonnarativebyhistoricalfigureNatTurner,itconcernstheslave
revoltinVirginiain1831.
ItisbasedonTheConfessionsofNatTurner:TheLeaderoftheLateInsurectionin
Southampton,Virginia,afirsthandaccountofTurner'sconfessionspublishedbyalocallaw
yer,ThomasRufinGray,in1831.
4.NovelsAgainstCulturalNorm
J.D.Salinger(1919)
TheCatcherintheRye(51);
FannyandZooey(61);
WiliamBuroughs(1914)
152 
BeatNovels:Junky(1953);NakedLunch(1959)
JackKerouac(192269)
OntheRoad(57);
TheDharmaBums(58);
4.1J.D.Salinger(19192010)
BornonJanuary1,1919,inNewYorkCity
Aliterarygiantdespitehisslimbodyofworkandreclusivelifestyle
Hislandmarknovel,TheCatcherintheRye,setanewcourseforliteratureinpost
WWIAmericaandvaultedSalingertotheheightsofliteraryfame.
In1953,SalingermovedfromNYCandledasecludedlife,onlypublishingonenewsto
rybeforehisdeath.
J.D.SalingerandTheCatcherintheRye(1951)
TheCatcherintheRyerelatesthepainfulstoryofahighschoolboygrowingupinthe
worldofdecadentNewYork.Thenoveldepictsanadolescent’sdisgustanddespairatthecor
ruptedadultworldaroundhim.Itisaworldofjerks(idiots)andperverts,withdecadenceas
itssalientfeature.
HoldenCaulfieldisexpeledfromschoolbecauseofpooracademicrecords.Afraidto
meethisparents,hecheckshimselfintoahotel,butfindsthatitisfulofprostitutesandho
mosexuals.Verysoon,hehaslearnedthefactthattheworldofadultsisafalseonesuroun
dedbyjerksofalkinds.Hequarelswithoneofthemwhotriestocheathimoutofhispock
et,andisbeatenup.Theseconddayhemovesonslowly,sadandweary.Ameetingwitha
friendendswithanotherquarel.
Hegetsdrunkandfeelslonesomeanddepressed.Nightfals,hesneaksbackhometo
seehissister.Buthisparentscomebackhome,soheleaveshomesecretly,andgoestohis
formerteacher,onlytofindthatthemanisahomosexual.Heescapeshastilyfromtheteach
er’shome.Nowheisthinkingofgoingwestandspendingtherestofhislifethere.Hegoesto
saygoodbyetohissister.Butsheinsistsongoingwithhim.Thisunexpectedactoflovejostles
himoutofhisdreamandhisnightmarishthreedayadventureinNewYork.Hegoeshome,
falsil,andrecoversinamentalhome.Itistherethatherecountshissadstoryofgrowingup
inTheCatcherintherye.
Theimplicationofthetitle:
153 
Realizingthatalkidslikehimareindangeroflosingtheirinnocence,hewishestobea
“catcherintherye”.
Whilemanychildrenareplayingsomegameinabigfieldofryenearaclif,hewouldtry
tocatcheveryoneiftheystarttogoovertheclif,thatis,tosavechildrenfromlosingtheirin
tegrityandgoodness.
Themes:maturation,escape,andquest
TheThemeofTheCatcherintheRye
Thethemeofmaturation
Thethemeofescape
(frommodernwasteland,thealienation,theadultandobscenesociety)
Thethemeofquest
(forselfidentity,formeaningfulcommunication,forloveandinnocence)
4.2The“Beat”novelistsinthe1950s
JackKerouac:OntheRoad(1957)
WiliamS.Buroughs:NakedLunch(1959)
5.ExperimentalNovels
JohnBarth(1930)
TheFloatingOpera(56);TheSotWeedFactor(60);LostintheFunhouse(68)
DonaldBarthelme(193189)
SnowWhite(67)
JosephHeler(1923)
Catch22(1961);
ThomasPynchon(1937)
V(63);TheCryingofLot49(66);Gravity’sRainbow(73);
KurtVonnegut(1923?)
SlaughterhouseFive(69);BreakfastofChampion(73)
VladimirNabokov(18991977)
Lolita(1955)
5.1JosephHelerandBlackHumor
Catcher22《第22条军规》
Itmarkedthebeginningofanewperiod,thatoftheabsurd.
154 
ItprotestedagainsttheabsurdityofmodernAmericaasembodiedbythemilitarypower
structure.
IttakesplaceinaUnitedStatesAirForcebaseinwartimeItaly.Asarule,anypilotwho
hasfinished25missionscanreturnhome.Butbeingeagertobepromoted,ColonelCathcart
andKornincreaseitfrom25to40,eventualyto80.PilotYossarianrefusestoflymoreand
protestsagainstit.Ifhestays,hewilmaketroublefortheColonel,becauseotherswilfolow
him.SotheydecidetosendhimbacktoAmericaasahero,butthereisadeal:AfterYossari
anreturnshome,heissupposedtosaysomethingpositiveaboutthem.
Catch22isamilitaryrule:Althebomberpilotsareafraidofflyingbombingmissions
andwishedtobegroundedandescapedeath.Alapilothastodoistoasktobegrounded.
Butassoonashestartsasking,heisnolongerconsideredcrazyandmustflymorebombing
missions.ThisisthesimplelogicofCatch22.(more:Ifheagreestofly,hemustbecrazy.
Ifherefuses,hewilnotbeconsideredcrazy,andmustflyagain.)
TheabsurdityofAmericanbureaucraticcoruption,thechaosandcrazinessoftheAmeri
cansociety
TheAmericantroopasaminiatureofAmericansociety
Theoficersinthetroopareselfish,greedyandmoneyorienting.Thesuperiorsemploy
alkindsofmethodstoachievetheirpurposeevenatthepriceofotherpeople’slives.
Thesuferingsanddeathofordinarypeople
Theselfishnessoftherulingmilitaryclassisthebiternessanddeaththatarebroughtto
thecommonpeople.Whathahappenedtocommonpeoplemakestheworldseemchaotic,crazy
andgrotesque.
ThemesInvolved
TheAbsolutePowerofBureaucracy
LossofReligiousFaith
Theimpotenceoflanguage
TheInevitabilityofDeath
5.2ThomasPynchon(1937)
Hislife:
physicsatCornelUniversity atechnicalwriterfiction.
HisWorks:
157 
RobertCoover(1932)
ThePublicBurning(77)
DonDeLilo(1936—)
EndZone(72);WhiteNoise(85);Libra(88);
6.1EdgarLawrenceDoctorow(1931)
AnAmericanauthorfamousforhisuniqueworksofhistoricalfiction
HisNovels:
(1960)WelcometoHardTimes
(1971)TheBookofDaniel
historicalfictionaboutJuliusandEthelRosenbergexecutedin1953forgivingnuclearse
cretstotheSovietUnion
(1975)Ragtime
(1980)LoonLake
(1985)World’sFair
(1989)BilyBathgate
(1994)TheWaterworks
DonDeLilo(1936)
Americanessayist,novelist,playwright,shortstorywriter
Hisworkshavecoveredsubjectsasdiverseastelevision,nuclearwar,sports,thecom
plexitiesoflanguage,performanceart,theColdWar,mathematics,theadventofthedigital
age,andglobalterorism.
WhiteNoise(1985),hisbreakthroughwork,broughthimwidespreadrecognition.
PEN/FaulknerAwardforMaoIin1992;thePEN/SaulBelowAwardforAchievement
inAmericanFictionin2010.
DeLilohasbeingconcernedwith"livingindangeroustimes",anddeclared,"Writers
mustopposesystems."
Hisnovels
Americana(1971)
EndZone(1972)
Ratner'sStar(1976)
Amazons(1980)
158 
TheNames(1982)
WhiteNoise(1985)
Libra(1988)
MaoI(1991)
Underworld(1997)
TheBodyArtist(2001)
7.AfroAmericannovelists
A.RalphElison(191494):
InvisibleMan(52)
B.JamesBaldwin(19241987)
ToTelItontheMountain(53)
TheFireNextTime(63)
C.IsmaelReed(1938)
MumboJumbo(72):FlighttoCanada(76)
D.AliceWalker(1944)TheColorPurple(82)
E.ToniMorison(1931)
TheBluestEye(70);Beloved(87)
Herlife
Bornin1931inLorain,Ohio
hergrandfatherwasbornaslave;
herfamilylosttheirland
herfamilyhadtoworkintheminesoftheindustrializedNorth
B.A.inEnglishfromHowardUniversityin1953andM.A.fromCornelUniversity
in1955
TeachingatTexasSouthernUniv.andCornelUniversity
workingasaneditorinNewYorkinthe60s.
gotmariedin1958andgotdivorcedin1964
HerWritingCareer
beganherwritingcareerinthe60s
awardedtheNobelPrizeinliteraturein1993:
“ToniMorison,whoinnovelscharacterizedbyvisionaryforceandpoeticimport,gives
159 
lifetoanessentialaspectofAmericanreaty.
19892006:atPrincetonUniversity
In2005,awardedasanhonoraryDoctorofLetersdegree.
PartI.HerMajorNovelsandAwards
Novels
1970 TheBluestEye
1973 Sula
1977 SongofSolomon
1981 TarBaby《柏油孩子》/《黑宝贝》  
1988 Beloved《宠儿》/《娇女》/《蒙爱》 
1992 Jaz  
1993 Love 
1999 Paradise
2008 AMercy
TheBluestEye(1970)
Morison'sfirstnovel,writenwhileteachingatHowardUniversityandraisinghertwo
sonsonherown
Itisaboutayearinthelifeofayoungblackgirl,namedPecola,whodevelopsaninferi
oritycomplexduetohereyeandskinappearancewithAmerica'sMidwestandtheyearsfolow
ingtheGreatDepressionasthebackdrop.
ItistoldfromtheperspectiveofClaudiaMacTeerasachildandanadult,aswelasfrom
athirdperson,omniscientviewpoint.
Theme:racism,incest,andchildmolestation
SongofSolomon1977
SongofSolomonfolowsthelifeofMacon“Milkman”DeadII,anAfricanAmerican
malelivinginMichigan,frombirthtoadulthood.
ThisbookwontheNationalBooksCriticsAwardandwascitedbytheSwedishAcademy
inawardingMorisonthe1993NobelPrizeinliterature.
Themes:
FlightasaMeansofEscape
AbandonedWomen
160 
TheAlienatingEfectsofRacism
Sula(1973)
Sulaportraystwoblackwomen,NelandSula,whochoosediferentpathsinlife.
Nelistheproductofafamilythatbelievesdeeplyinsocialconventions.
Sula'sfamilyisverydiferent:sheliveswithhergrandmother,Eva,andhermother,
Hannah,bothofwhomareseenbythetownaseccentricandloose.
Despitetheirdiferences,SulaandNelbecomefiercelyatachedtoeachotherduringado
lescence.
Afterhighschool,Nelchoosestomaryandsetlesintotheconventionalroleofwifeand
mother.Sulafolowsawildlydivergentpathandlivesalifeoffierceindependenceandtotal
disregardforsocialconventions.
TarBaby(1981)
ThisnovelportraysaloveafairbetweenJadineandSon,twoBlackAmericansfromvery
diferentworlds.
JadineisabeautifulSorbonnegraduateandfashionmodelwhohasbeensponsoredbythe
Streets,awealthywhitefamilywhoemployJadine'sauntanduncleasdomesticservants.
Sonisanimpoverished,strongmindedmanwhowashesupattheStreets’estateona
Caribbeanisland.
AsJadineandSoncometogether,theirafairrupturestheilusionsandselfdeceptions
thatheldtogethertheworldandrelationshipsattheestate.
Itrevealsthepain,struggle,andcompromisesconfrontingBlackAmericansseekingto
liveandlovewithintegrityintheUnitedStates.
Itisanovelaboutcontentionsandconflictsbasedonlearnedbiasesandprejudices.
Thesebiasesexistonaracelevel,genderlevel,andaclasslevel.
Beloved(1988)
Morison’sbestnovel,winningherthePulitzerPrizeforFiction
Sourceofthestory:
SetaftertheAmericanCivilWar,itisinspiredbythestoryofanAfricanAmerican
slave,MargaretGarner,whotemporarilyescapedslaveryduring1856inKentuckybyfleeing
toOhio,afreestate.ApossearivedtoretrieveherandherchildrenundertheFugitiveSlave
Actof1850,whichgaveslaveownerstherighttopursueslavesacrossstateborders.Margaret
161 
kiledhertwoyearolddaughterratherthanalowhertoberecaptured.
Plotofthestory:
Beloved'smaincharacter,Sethe,kilsherdaughterandtriestokilherotherthreechil
drenwhenapossearivesinOhiotoreturnthemtoSweetHome,theplantationinKentucky
fromwhichSetherecentlyfled.Awomanpresumedtobeherdaughter,caledBeloved,re
turnsyearslatertohauntSethe'shomeat124BluestoneRoad,Cincinnati.Thestoryopens
withanintroductiontotheghost:“124wasspiteful.Fulofababy'svenom.”
Responses:
ThenovelwonthePulitzerPrizeforFictionin1988(1998intoamovie).During2006a
NewYorkTimessurveyofwritersandliterarycriticsrankeditasthebestworkofAmerican
fictionofthepast25years.
Themes
Motherdaughterrelationships
ThematernalbondsbetweenSetheandherchildreninhibitherownindividuationandpre
ventthedevelopmentofherself.Sethedevelopsadangerousmaternalpassionthatresultsin
themurderofonedaughter,herown“bestself,”andtheestrangementofthesurviving
daughterfromtheblackcommunity.
Psychologicalimpactofslavery
Becauseoftheexperiencesofslavery,mostslavesrepressedthesememoriesinanatempt
toforgetthepast.Thisrepressionanddissociationfromthepastcausesafragmentationofthe
selfandalossoftrueidentity.Sethe,PaulD.andDenveralexperiencethislossofself,
whichcouldonlyberemediedbytheacceptanceofthepastandthememoryoftheiroriginali
dentities.
AwardsforToniMorrison
1977NationalBookCriticsCircleAward:SongofSolomon
1977AmericanAcademyandInstituteofArtsandLetersAward
1988AmericanBookAwardforBeloved
1988PulitzerPrizeforFictionforBeloved
1993NobelPrizeforLiterature
1994PearlBuckAward
2000NationalHumanitiesMedal
162 
Writingfeatures
1.Magicrealism
2.Powerfulfictionalstyle
3.Provocativethemes
4.Sophisticatednarativetechniques
5.Poeticstyle
MagicRealism
Akindofthemodernfictioninwhichfabulousandfantasticaleventsareincludedina
narativethatotherwisemaintainsthe"reliable"toneofobjectiverealisticreport.
Fantasticatributesgiventocharactersinsuchnovelslevitation,flight,telepathy,teleki
nesisareamongthemeansthatmagicrealismadoptsinordertoencompasstheoftenphantas
magoricpoliticalrealitiesofthe20thcentury.
8.ChineseAmericanwomennovelists
AmyTan(1952)
TheJoyLuckClub(1987/9)
TheKitchenGod'sWife(1991)
TheBoneseter'sDaughter(2000)
TheJoyLuckClub(1989)
TheJoyLuckClub(1989)focusesonfourChineseAmericanimmigrantfamiliesin
Washington,Pen.whostart"theJoyLuckClub,"playingtheChinesegameofmahjongfor
moneywhilefeastingonavarietyoffoods.Thebookisstructuredsomewhatlikeamahjong
game,withfourpartsdividedintofoursectionstocreatesixteenchapters.The3mothersand
4daughterssharestoriesabouttheirlivesintheformofvignetes.Eachpartisprecededbya
parablerelatingtothegame.In1993,thenovelwasadaptedintoafeaturefilmdirectedby
WayneWang.
MaxineHongKingston(1940)
MajorWorks:
TheWomanWarior,1976
ChinaMen,1980;
TripmasterMonkey,1989
TheWomanWarrior
163 
TheWomanWariorisamemoir,orcolectionofmemoirs.Althoughtherearemany
scholarlydebatessuroundingtheoficialgenreclassificationofthebook,itcanbestbede
scribedasaworkofcreativenonfiction.Throughoutthefivechapters,Kingstonblendsauto
biographywitholdChinesefolktales.Whatresultsisacomplexportrayalofthe20thCentury
experiencesofChineseAmericanslivingintheU.S.Ithasbeenthemostcommonlytaught
textinmodernuniversityeducationandwontheNationalBookCriticsCircleAward.
9.womenwriters
JoyceCarolOates(1938)violence,sex,mariage,family
BytheNorthGate(63);Wonderland(71);Them(69,psychologicalnovel)
MaryMcCarthy(19121989)Southern,Catholic,andnewwomen
Oasis(49);TheGrovesofAcademe(52);

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