美国文学 重点和归纳.docVIP

The American Character Practical, Religious, Work Ethic,The American Dream. Freedom and liberty Purity Faithfulness .optimism. Idealist .Practical and hardworking Enthusiasm in and call for business investment Enthusiasm in charity-work Respect for Education the puritan beliefs Colonial American literature The first American writer Captain John Smith General features Types of writing: diaries, histories, letters etc. Content: serving either God or colonial expansion or both Form: imitating English literary traditions Anne Bradstreet The first American female poet A Puritan poet, “Tenth Muse” “Contemplations”《沉思录》 The literature of reason and revolution Benjamin Franklin Jack of all trades, Spokesman of Enlightenment , Autobiography《自传》 Poor Richard’s Almanac 《穷理查德历书》 Edwards and Franklin made the whole of a true puritan, an America Thomas Paine American Crisis These are the times that try men’s souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. Common Sense 常识 Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence 1976/7/4 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,--That to secure their Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed ,--That whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Rights of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Philip Freneau fa