American literature in Colonial and Revolutionary periodds

American Literature 美国文学

Chapter 1

American Literature in theColonial and Revolutionary Periods

(17th - 18th centuries)

1 Literature of the Colonial America (1607-1765)

2 Literature of Reason and Revolution (1765-End of 18th C)

1.1 Historical BackgroundIn 1492, Christopher Columbus found America. Spanish (the first town on the new continent) Dutch (New York city) English (first settled in Jamestown of Virginia in 1607;The 1st permanent English settlement in North America) In1620, the famous “May Flower” shipped 102 Puritans to Plymouth.

Christopher Columbus discovered the American continent in 1492. Columbus claimed possession of the New World

Why the British Emigrated to America Economic Reason: In the 1620s severe economic

depression in England (enclosure movement) Religious Reason: The ascension of Charles I to the

throne-who was known to be sympathetic to Roman Catholicism and impatient with Puritan reformers was taken as an ominous sign for Puritans. Political Reason: In the 1630s, arbitrary rule by England's

Charles I gave impetus to the migration. Most European emigrants left their homelands to escape political oppression.

1.2 Puritan ThoughtPuritanism: the practices and beliefs of the Puritans ◆ Puritans: Calvinists.加尔文主义 John Calvin, a theologian, Puritans believed most doctrines preached by him, so they were also called Calvinists ◆ Puritans wanted to “purify the church” to its original state. ◆ To be a Puritan: religion—the most important thing; living for glorifying God; believing predestination, original sin, total depravity,

The Puritan Values hard work (diligence)

thrift节俭 piety虔诚 sobriety节制

18世纪中叶,清教徒约翰· 卫斯理用一句

话概括了清教徒精神： 拼命地挣钱，是因为清教徒以创造财富 为天职，以此作为上帝选民的证据； 拼命地省钱，是因为他们克制禁欲，始 终过一种圣洁、理性的生活，并将赚取 的财富用在扩大再生产上； 拼命地捐钱，是因为他们需要关照精神 信仰、关照社区国家和等人类共同体， 他们通过捐钱捐物，在对世间的爱中得 到永恒。

1.3 Colonial LiteratureCharacteristicsForm: diaries, travel books, letters, journals, sermons, histories etc. Content: the voyage, the new land, unfamiliar climates and crops, dealing with Indians

Literature of Colonial America

I Historical Introduction

II Native American Literature

III The First Writings

IV Early New England Literature

V Puritan Thoughts

VI The Early Poems

Captain John Smith

William Bradford

John Winthrop

John Cotton

Roger Williams

How to Analyze Poetry

Anne Bradstreet

Edward Taylor

● Representatives

◆ Captain John Smith: the first American Writer, A Description of New England ◆ William Bradford: The History of Plymouth Plantation ◆ John Winthrop: The History of New England, A Model of Christian Charity

◆ Anne Bradstreet: 1st American womanpoet; a Puritan poet; once called “Tenth Muse”; her first collection of poems, “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America” was the first book written by a woman to be published in the US; her poems mainly about religious experience, family life and early settlers’ lives; her work also serves as a document of the struggles of a Puritan wife against the hardships of New England colonial life, and in some way is a testament to plight of the women of the age;

2 Literature of Revolution (1765-End of 18th C)2.1 Historical Background

2.2 Representatives in the period of Reason and Revolution

● American Revolution: ◆ 1775, Lexington, beginning of the Independence War ◆ June 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence ◆ 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army ◆ 1778, English army surrendered ◆ 1783, formal recognition from Britain <<back government

American Literatuer of Revolutionary Period Characteristic of literary works Political

Many political pamphlets appeared. Patriotism is one of the main themes of this period. Include less Puritan elements The literary works include less puritan elements compared with those works of colonial American period.