美国文学课件1The Literature of the Colonial Period教程文件.pptVIP

Chapter 1 The Literature of the Colonial Period Office time: Mon1,2,7; Tue5,6,7Office address: Room 409 in the second teaching building Course Aims 1) to have a survey of American literature, focusing on genres, literary periods, and movements as well as some important political and social issues 2) to be acquainted with important writers of different periods and their major works 3) to study closely some specific literary texts of different genres by important writers. 4) to comment on the artistic features and achievements of the writers and poets concerned Requirements 1) Class Attendance 10% 2) Class Performance 20% 3) Homework assignments 10% 4) Final Examination 60% A Brief Outline of American Literature 1. Colonial and Revolutionary Period (early 17th century—end of 18th century) 2. American Romanticism (first half of 19th century) 3. The Age of Realism (after the civil war—end of 19th century) 4. The Modernist Period (20th century) 5. The Post-war Literature (after World War Ⅱ) Ⅰ. The New World Discoveries of America Christopher Columbus in 1492 Controversial reputation Ⅱ. The Literature of Colonial America 1. In the Colonial Period In 1620, Pilgrims’ settlement in Plymouth, Massachusetts 13 colonies along the Appalachian Mountains in 1763 2. American Puritanism The story of the Puritans The first landing of the Pilgrims, 1620 In 1620, a tiny ship called the “May flower” sailed from England for the New world, with 102 passengers. 50% were Pilgrims. Landed in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts on the fourth Thur. in Nov. (Thanksgiving Day) Puritan beliefs The redeemed “elect” group “original sin”; “grace” The Biblical myth of the Garden of Eden World: a symbol of God 3. Puritan and Pilgrim writers For utilitarian purpose Diaries, sermons, journals, essays, letters, poems, satires, etc. Plain style Ann Bradstreet (1612-1672) to America in 1630, in the group led by John Winthrop; “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung in America” (1650)