美国文学简史常耀信版讲义1课件.pptVIP

American Literature Outline of American Literature Colonial Period Background information Writers and works New England New England s composed of six states, including from north to south : Maine缅因州, New Hampshire新罕布什尔州, Vermont佛蒙特州, Massachusetts马萨诸塞州, Rhode Island罗德岛州, Connecticut康涅狄格州. Historical Background American literature begins with the orally transmitted myths, legends, tales, and lyrics (always songs) of Indian cultures. ---- no written literature The Indian’s contribution to America Indian words in everyday American English today such as “canoe”, “tobacco”, “potato”, “moccasin” 软鞋，鹿皮鞋, “raccoon” 浣熊 “persimmon” 柿子 “moose” 麋鹿 “tomahawk” 战斧 “totem” 图腾 the famous voyage of an Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus in 1492. European settlers came to American continent. The first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Puritanism Puritans was the name given in the 16th century to the more extreme Protestants（新教徒，基督教徒） who thought the English Reformation （英国宗教改革）had not gone far enough. They wanted to purify their national church. In the 17th century many Puritans emigrated to the New World, where they sought to found a holy Commonwealth in New England. Puritanism remained the dominant cultural force in that area into the 19th century. 1. Features of Puritanism (1) Predestination: God decided everything before things occurred. (2) Original sin: Human beings were born to be evil, and this original sin can be passed down from generation to generation. (3) Total depravity (4) Limited atonement: Only the “elect” can be saved. 2. Influence (1) A group of good qualities – hard work, thrift, piety, sobriety (serious and thoughtful) influenced American literature. (2) It led to the everlasting myth. All literature is based on a myth – garden of Eden. (3) Symbolism: the American puritan’s metaphorical mode of pe