美国文学名词解释

美国文学名词解释1、AmericanPuritanism:PuritanismisthepracticesandbeliefsofthePuritans.ThePuritanswereoriginallymembersofadivisionoftheProtestantChurch.ThefirstsettlerswhobecamethefoundingfathersoftheAmericannationwerequiteafewofthem.Theywereagroupofserious,religiouspeople,advocatinghighlyreligiousandmoralprinciples.Astheworditselfhints,Puritanswantedtopuritytheirreligiousbeliefsandpractices.Theyacceptedthedoctrineofpredestination,originalsinandtotaldepravity,andlimitedatonementthroughaspecialinfusionofgraceformGod.Asacultureheritage,PuritanismdidhaveaprofoundinfluenceontheearlyAmericanmind.AmericanPuritanismalsohadaenduringinfluenceonAmericanliterature. 2、AmericanRealism:InAmericanliterature,theCivilWarbroughttheRomanticPeriodtoanend.TheAgeofRealismcameintoexistence.Itcameasareactionagainstthelieofromanticismandsentimentalism.Realismturnedfromanemphasisonthestrangetowardafaithfulrenderingoftheordinary,asliceoflifeasitisreallylived.Itexpressestheconcernforcommonplaceandthelow,anditoffersanobjectiveratherthananidealisticviewofhumannatureandhumanexperience. 3、Transcendentalism:InNewEngland,anintellectualmovementknownastranscendentalismdevelopedasanAmericanversionofRomanticism.ThemovementbeganamonganinfluentialsetofauthorsbasedinConcord,MassachusettsandwasledbyRalphWaldoEmerson.LikeRomanticism,transcendentalismrejectedboth18thcenturyrationalismandestablishedreligion,whichforthetranscendentalistsmeantthePuritantraditioninparticular.Thetranscendentalistscelebratedthepowerofthehumanimaginationtocommunewiththeuniverseandtranscendthelimitationsofthematerialworld.Theyfoundtheirchiefsourceofinspirationinnature.Emerson’sessayNaturewasthemajordocumentofthetranscendentalschoolandstatedtheideasthatweretoremaincentraltoit. 4、Freeverse:freeverseistherhymedorunrhymedpoetrycomposedwithoutattentiontoconventionalrulesofmeter.FreeversewasfirstwrittenandlabeledbyagroupofFrenchpoetsofthelate19thcentury.Theirpurposewastodeliverpoetryfromtherestrictionsofformalmetricalpatternsandtorecreatethefreerhythmsofnaturalspeech.WaltWhitmanwastheprecursorwhowrotelinesofvaryinglengthandcadence,usuallynotrhymed.Theemotionalcontentormeaningoftheworkwasexpressedthroughitsrhythm.FreeversehasbeencharacteristicoftheworkofmanymodernAmericanpoets,includingEzraPoundandCarlSandburg. 5、Naturalism:Amoredeliberatekindofrealisminnovels,storiesandplays,usuallyinvolvingaviewofhumanbeingsaspassivevictimsofnaturalforcesandsocialenvironment.Naturalismwasanewandharsherrealism.Itdevelopedonthebasisofrealismbutwentastepfurtherthanitinportrayingsocialreality.6、LostGeneration:AlsotermedtheSadYoungMen,whichwascreatedbyF.S.FitzgeraldinhisbookAlltheSadYoungMen.Thetermingeneralreferstothepost-WorldWarIgeneration,butspecificallyagroupofUSwriterswhocameofageduringthewarandestablishedtheirreputationinthe1920s.ItstemsfromaremarkmadebyGertrudeSteintoErnestHemingway,“Youareallalostgeneration.”HemingwayuseditasanepigraphtoTheSunAlsoRises,anovelthatcapturestheattitudesofahard-drinking,fastlivingsetofdisillusionedyoungexpatriatesinpostwarParis.Thegenerationwas“lost”inthesensethatitsinheritedvalueswerenolongerrelevantinthepostwarworldandbecauseofitsspiritualalienationfromUS,theyseemedhopelesslyprovincial,materialistic,andemotionallybarren.ThetermembracesHemingway,Fitzgerald,DosPassos,E.E.Cummingsandsoon.7、Internationaltheme：ThemeetingofAmericaandEurope,AmericaninnocenceincontrastwithEuropeandecadenceandthemoralandpsychologicalcomplicationsarisingtherefore.ThetypicalpatternoftheconflictbetweenthetwoculturescouldbethatofayoungAmericanmanorgirlwhogoestoEuropeandaffrontshisorherdestiny.MarriageandloveareusedbyJamesasthefocalpointoftheconfrontationbetweenthetwovalueSystems,andtheprotagonistusuallygoesthroughapainfulprocessofspiritualgrowth,gainingknowledgeofgoodandevilfromtheconflict.8、Symbolism:ItisamovementinliteratureandthevisualartsthatoriginatedinFranceinthepoetryofCharlesBaudelaireinthelate19thcentury.Inliterature,symbolismwasanaestheticmovementthatencouragedwriterstoexpresstheirideas,feelings,andvaluesbymeansofsymbolsorsuggestionsratherthanbydirectstatements.HawthorneandMelvillearemastersofsymbolisminAmericainthe19thcentury.美国文学名词解释1.Puritans:isEnglishprotestant,onedivisionofProtestant(onedivisionofChristianity,appearedinthe16thc,againsttherulingRomanCatholic.InEngland,thereweremanydivisionsinprotestant,forinstance,Quakers,Baptism,震颤派，喧嚣派).TheyregardedthereformationoftheChurchunderElizabethasincomplete,andcalledforitsfurther“purification”fromwhattheyconsideredtobeunscripturalandcorruptformsandceremoniesretainedfromtheunreformedchurch.Theyobjected,forinstance,tothewearingofthesurpliceandtogovernmentbytheprelates,andtheydemandedtherighttopartakeofthecommunioninasittingposture.TheirMillenaryPetition(1603)requestedareformofthechurchcourts,adoingawaywith“superstitious”customs,adiscardingoftheuseofapocryphalbooksoftheBible,aseriousobservanceoftheSabbath,andvariousecclesiasticalreforms.The17thcenturyAmericanPuritansincludedtwoparts:onepartofthemwerethecreatorsofthePlymouthcolony,called“Separatists”.TheyweresosuppressedbythechurchofEnglandthattheysoughtescape.ThoseSeparatistsfirstwentintoexiletoHolland,thenwereaboard“Mayflower”in1620andsettleddowninPlymouth.America,therefore,asaninfantwasborn.TheyconsideredthattheChurchofEnglandhadbecomehopelessandadvocatedtoseparatefromitsincegeneralreformwouldbeuseless.TheotherpartwastheEnglishmenintheMassachusettesBayColony.ThoughtheycamelaterthanthoseofPlymouthcolony,theywerericherandbetter-educated.TheydevotedthemselvestothereformoftheChurchofEnglandandmeanttoclearawaytheritualsoftheRomanCatholicChurchinit.Inreality,onlythispartofthemweretruePuritans.Theyacceptedthedoctrineoforiginalsinandtotaldepravity,andpredestination,andlimitedatonementthroughaspecialinfusionofgracefromGod.ThemaindoctrineofCalvinismPuritansbelievedinwasfirstshownin“totaldepravity”.Theybelievedinthe“originalsin”inwhichAdamthefirstmanGodcreatedsinnedandwhichledtotheconclusionthat“inAdam’sfall,wesinnedall.”Theyconsideredthatmanwasbornsinful,wasasinnerandcouldnotredeemhisoriginalsinfulness.Moreover,theycouldnotsavethemselves.SecondlyPuritansunderscoredthatmanwouldbechosenbyGodunconditionally.TheythoughtthatGodoccupiedadominantposition.Hecouldsaveapartofpeoplewillfully,madethemrisetotheHeavenafterdeath,andcouldalsodestroysomeotherpartofpeoplewantonly,madefallintothehellafterdeath.Therefore,determinismtookfirmrootintheirminds.Theybelievedinman’sdestiny,everythingofmanwasdisposedinthehandsofGod,onlyGodknewwhowere“chosenpeople”aftertheydied.Manhimselfwaspredestinedandcouldnotmasterhisowndestiny.TheythoughtthatGodwillfullygrantedpeoplethefavorthatmancouldneitherstrivetogain,norrefusetoaccept.TheobtainingoftheGod’sspecialkindnessorGod’sprovidenceforhimmeanthis“rebirth”or“beingsainted.”Inthissense,theystrivedtobesaintswhiletheywerestillalive.MandidnotknowwhethertheycouldbeGod’schosenpeople,butshouldliveasaint-likelifeatordinarytimesaccordingtoGod’swill.TheHolyBiblewastheguidebooktoman’sbehaviors.InNewEnglandwherePuritanismwaspopular,one’slifewasonlythecourseofmoraltrainingandthatofhisstrugglebetweenGodanddevils.Peoplehadanaustereandrigidwayoflifegovernedbythechurch.Therefore,clergymenwerethedominantauthorities.Puritanstendedtosuspectjoyandlaughterassymptomsofsin:theydidn’tdance,didnotgototheatre,butsangchantinchurchandlistenedtothemusic.However,theyalloweddrinking,smokingandputtingonbeautifulclothes.Puritanismencouragedpeopletostruggleintheircareers.Ifone’sbusinesswasbooming,itprovedthathehadgainedGod’sprovidence.Theyheldextremeopinions.Theyregardedthemselvesas“chosenpeople”ofGod.ThosewhochallengedtheirwayoflifewereopposingGod’swill.Theywerezealousindefenseoftheirownbeliefs,intolerantofothers.Theydroveoutorpersecutedthosewhoseopinionsseemeddangeroustothem.Theyembracedhardships,industryandfrugality.Theyfavoredadisciplined,hard,somber,ascetic,harshlife.Theyopposedpleasureandarts.Theysuspectjoyandlaughterassymptomsofsin.Theymadelawsaboutprivatemoralityaswellaspublicbehavior.TheyemphasizedawrathfulGodandtoforgetHismercy.Theyweremuchconcernedwithauthoritythanwithdemocracy.2.Puritanism:areligiousandpoliticalmovementthatdevelopedinEnglandaboutthemiddleofthe16thcenturyandlaterspreadinfluenceintotheNewEnglandinAmerica.PuritanismwasalogicalaftermathoftheRenaissance,theReformation,theestablishmentofthechurchofEngland,andthegrowthofPresbyterianism.Throughthesemovements,oneseesemergingtherightoftheindividualtopoliticalandreligiousindependence.AcrossthepagesofAmericanliteraturePuritanismiswrittenlarge.ItmayalmostbeconsideredtheethicalmodeofAmericanthought.AsanextremeformoftheProtestantsensibility,Puritanismexaggeratedthoseprotestanttraits---especiallyindustry,frugality,hardships.Theyfavoredadisciplined,hard,somber,ascetic,harshlife.Allthese,accordingtoMaxWeberandotheranalystsofsocialhistorycontributedtotheriseofcapitalism.3.EnlightenmentMovement:In18thcentury,therewasadramaticchangeinthemindsofEuropeans,beforethebourgeoisrevolutionbrokeout.Inspiredbythedevelopmentofscience,philosophershopedtoapplyreasontoallaspectsofsocialandpoliticallife---government,law,economics,religionandeducation.Thisperiodtherefore,cametobecalledtheAgeofReasonortheEnlightenment.Itbeganwithsomekeyideasthatwereputforthinthe17thcenturybyEnglishpoliticalthinkerssuchas:ThomasHobbes,JohnLocke.AccordingtoLocke,thepurposeofgovernmentistoprotectwhathecalledthe“naturalrights”ofitscitizens.Allpeople,saidLocke,arebornfreeandequal,witharighttolife,libertyandproperty.Anothernaturalrighthebelieved,was“thepursuitofhappiness”,theindividual’sprivaterightsandchoices.Ifagovernmentfailstoprotecttherightsofitscitizens,theleadersofthegovernmenthave“putthemselvesintoastateofwarwiththepeople”.Thepeoplehavetherightordutytooverthrowthatgovernmentandestablishedabetterone.governmentderivesitspowerfromtheconsentofthepeople.(foundationofmoderndemocracy)Enlightenmentphilosophersheldthatpowerfulgovernmentisindispensable,asadeviceforprogress.Theystronglyarguedfortheeducationofcommonpeople,questionedreligiousauthority.Theyadvocatedfreeandindependentthought.Enlightenment:aphilosophicalandintellectualmovementofthe18thcentury,itadvocatedreasonorrationality,thescientificmethod,equalityandhumanbeings’abilitytoperfectthemselvesandtheirsociety.Themovementbroughtaboutarevivalofinterestintheoldclassicalworks.Itwasalsotheoutgrowthofanumberof17thcintellectualattainmentsandcurrents:thediscoveriesofSirIssacNewton,therationalismofDescartesandPierreBayle,andtheempiricismofFrancisBaconandJohnLocke.Enlightenmentphilosophersmadeacriticalexaminationofpreviouslyacceptedinstitutionsandbeliefsfromtheviewpointofreasonandwithaconfidentfaithinnaturallawsanduniversalorder.Theyagreedonfaithinhumanrationalityandexistenceofdiscoverableanduniversallyvalidprinciplesgoverninghumanbeings,natureandsociety.Theyopposedintolerance,restraint,spiritualauthority,andrevealedreligion.EnglandEnlighteners:Addison,Steele,Swift,Pope,EdwardGibbon,HumeAdamSmith,JerenyBentham.Americanenlighteners:BenjaminFranklin,ThomasPaine,ThomasJefferson.EnlightenmentgavephilosophicalshapetoAmericanrevolutionandtwobasicdocumentsoftheUSA:TheDeclarationofIndependenceandTheConstitution.Inthe18thcentury,theEnlightenmentcenteredinFrance.(Voltaire,Montesquieu,Diderot,Rousseau)itsinfluencewassopowerfulthatitcouldbefeltinthenew-bornBritishcoloniesinAmerica.Peopleopposedtheoldcolonialorder(failtogivefreedom)andreligiousobscurantism(failtoprovideeducation),andfavoredtheeducationandfreedomofthoughts.Americanenlightenmentfirstseverelyattackedthepuritantraditionswhichopposedpleasureandarts,enforcedtheuniformandrigidsomber,asceticlife,andpersecutedthosewhohelddifferentideas.Theylongedtoseekpleasurethroughone’shardwork.Soatthattime,booksonenlightenmentwerewidelyread.Thedemandforeducationandreadinggreatlyrose.Thecolonialmenoflettersmustworkhardtomeettherequirement.Almostallthegreatwritersatthattimewereinfluencedorinspiredbytheenlightenmentcampaign.Theirworkssparkledwithitsspirits.TherepresentativewasBenjaminFranklin.4.Neoclassicism:atypeofclassicismwhichdrawsitsnameformitsfindinginclassicalliteratureofancientGreekandRomanwritersandincontemporaryFrenchneoclassicalwritingsthemodelsforitsliteraryexpressionsandagroupofattitudestowardlifeandart.ItdominatedEnglishliteratureintherestorationageandinthe18thcentury.Neoclassicidealshadconcreteeffectsonliterature.Theneoclassicistsbelievedthattheartisticidealsshouldbeorder,logic,restrainedemotionandaccuracy.Theyfollowedsomefixedlawsandrules.Poetryshouldbylyrical,epical,didactic,satiricordramatic.Proseshouldbeprecise,direct,smoothandflexible.Dramashouldbewritteninheroiccouplet;thethreeunitiesoftime,spaceandactionshouldbestrictlyobserved.5.Deism:deisticbeliefs,areligion.ItsfollowersbelieveinGodwhorulestheworldbyestablishedlawsbutnotinthedivinityofChristortheinspirationoftheBible.Itisa“Natural”religion,basedonreasonandastudyofnatureopposedto“revealed”religion.ItdevelopedarationalisticideologythatmoreandmoretendedtorelyonreasoninsteadofrevelationintheconsiderationoftherelationofhumanbeingstoGodandtheuniverse.Whenrationalismwasappliedtotheology,itledtotheappearanceofDeism.DeistheldthatfirstonlyoneGodwasworthworshipping,secondlymancouldkeepmakingprogressbymakinguseofhisownmoralsenseandofhisownintelligenceandwisdom,thirdlymanshouldlovetruthanddogood;fourthlyeducationandsciencewasanimportantmeanstocreateman’shappiness;fifthlythefreedomofcitizen’sspeech,action,andfaithembodiedman’sbasicbenefits;andlastlytoserveGodbestwastodogoodforthemankind.6.Poetryisanartoftransforminganintenselypersonalmoment/experience/emotion(subjective,inward)intoanimpersonalandcommunicableimage(objective,outward)throughlanguage,withacertainformandcontext,line-length,rhyme-scheme,regularmeter.Apoemisaverbaldevicethatwouldpreserveanexperienceindefinitelybyreproducingitinwhoeverreadthepoem.(PhilipLarkin)诗歌强调拟物寄情，把凝结在大众可普遍接受的客观世界的物上，找到一种内情和外露，个人体验与大众审美都能兼顾，相结合的一种途径、方法。Concentrationandintensityaretwoofthequalitiesthatdistinguishthepoetictreatmentofasubjectfromitstreatmentonprose.Poetryischaracterizedbythefollowingelements:amusicaleffectcreatedbyrhythmandsounds,apreciseandfreshimagery,andmultiplelevelsofinterpretationsuggestedbytheconnotationofthecloserwordsandallusions.(theultimateaimofapoet,istointegratealloftheseelementsinordertoproduceaverbalstatementinwhicheverythingformoverallshapetoindividualword-choiceisorganicallyrelatedinthemostprecisewaypossible.)Imageryistheuseofdescriptivelanguagetore-createsensoryexperiences.Animageisaverbalpictureofanobject,action,abstractidea,orsensation.Itisoftencreatedbyusingfiguresofspeech.Therearewaysmakinganideaorpicturecomecloserintofocusbyrelatingtheideaorexperiencetoanotherthatmaybemorefamiliartothereader.Toneisinferredbythereaderthroughthewordchoice,theconnotationofthosewords,theverseform,therhyme,thefigurativelanguageandtheallusions.7.RomanticismhadappearedinEnglandinthelastyearsoftheeighteenthcentury.ItspreadtocontinentalEuropeandthencametoAmericaearlyinthenineteenthcentury.ItcameintobeingasareactionagainsttheprevailingneoclassicalspiritandrationalismduringtheAgeofReason.Romanticismopposedneoclassicismwhichunderlinedformality,order,andauthority,(rebelliousinspirit)andstressedimaginationandpassionandindividuality.Itwaspluralistic;itsmanifestationswereasvaried,asindividualistic,andasconflictingastheculturesandtheintellectsfromwhichitsprang.Yetromanticsfrequentlysharedcertaingeneralcharacteristics:1.moralenthusiasm,2.faithinthevalueofindividualismandintuitiveperception,and3apresumptionthatthenaturalworldwasasourceofgoodnessandman’ssocietiesasourceofcorruption.(Itstressedthepursuitoffreedom,individualism,arelianceuponthegoodofnatureand“natural”manandanabidingfaithintheboundlessresourcesofthehumanspiritandimagination.)1.stressemotion,passion,imaginationandfancy,richinmysticcolor,dealwithmoraltheme.2.Itexaltedtheindividualismandencouragedpeopletofightforindividualrightandhumanhappinessbravely.Itdisplayspersonalities,expressesfeelingsandthoughtsofcommonpeople.Itstressesman’sabilitytomastertheworldbyone’sconscienceorintuition.Theybelievedthathumannaturewasofgood-will.Oneformofitistranscendentalism.3.Theromanticshowedaprofoundadmirationandlovefornature,thebeautyandperfectionofnaturecouldproduceinhimanunspeakablejoyandexaltation;theromanticbelievedthathewasthechosenandfavoredcreatureinnature,hencehewasfreeinusinghistalenttoeulogizenature.Natureissymbolizedinliteraryworks,markedbymen’ssubjectivemood.(Transcendentalism)Theliteraryworksofromanticismmostlyreflectedthefantasticandthrillingstoriestakingplace“longago”and“faraway”asanescapefromthecivilizedsociety,andwererichinmysticcolor.Theromanticalsohadapersistentinterestintheprimitiveliterature,suchasepics,ballads,andotherformsoffolkliterature,inwhichhefoundinspirationofvariouskinds.Itsprogresswasshownbysingingtheordinaryperson,propagatingdemocraticthinkingandhumanitarianism,andadvocatingtoloveeverythinginnatureandtoliveasimplelifeneartonature.8.Transcendentalism:Followingtheriseofromanticism,Transcendentalism,whichappearedafter1830,markedthematurityofAmericanromanticismandthefirstrenaissanceintheAmericanliteraryhistory.theterm“transcendentalism”wasderivedfromtheLatinverbtranscendere,meaningtoriseabove,ortopassbeyondthelimits.InageneralsenseitmaybeusedinEnglishtorefertoanyphilosophywhichteachesthetranscendentnatureofultimatereality.Transcendentalismwasaromanticidealism,orphilosophicalromanticism.Itmayalsoberegardedasaconsiderable-scaleideologicalandculturalrevolutionafterAmericanpeoplestruggledtogetfreefromtheEnglishcolonialrule.RiseofTranscendentalism:NewEnglandTranscendentalismwasasystemofthoughtthatfoundexpressioninmanyforms.Itwastheproductofacombinationofforeigninfluence(TranscendentalismbasedonthedoctrinesofancientandmodernEuropeanphilosophers,particularlyImmanuelKant,tooktheirideasfromtheromanticliteraturesofEurope,fromneo-Platonism,fromGermanidealisticphilosophyandrevelationofOrientalmysticism)andAmericannativePuritantradition.(1)Therewastheeffectoforientalthoughtonthewesternworld.EnglishtranslationoftheHindooEpicHarivansaandChineseancientphilosopherssuchasConfuciusandMenciusbegantoappearandtoberead.ThemajorAmericanauthorsofthistimewerealmostallacquaintedwiththoseorientalworks.(2)SinceAmericantranscendentalistswereunhappyaboutthematerialistic-orientedlifeoftheirtimeafterAmericanswontheirindependencefromBritain.TheyturnedtothePuritanprincipleofself-cultureandself-improvementasbestexemplifiedbythesuccessstoryofAmerica’sfirstself-mademan,BenjaminFranklin.Transcendentalismisaphilosophicalandliterarymovement.Itexaltedfeelingoverreason,individualexpressionovertherestraintsoflawandcustom.Itexpressedanewoutlookornewideasonlife.Itbelievedindividualism,humanbeings’divinity,nature,spirituallife,dignityofmanuallabor,self-trust/self-reliance,democracy.(1)TheylaidemphasisonspiritorOversoul.“TheUniverseiscomposedofNatureandSoul.”“Spiritispresenteverywhere.Ithadaconsiderableinfluenceontheconsciousnessofman.Theybelievedintranscendenceofthe“Oversoul”,anall-pervadingpowerforgoodnessfromwhichallthingscomeandofwhichallthingsareapart.(2)Itplacedemphasisontheimportanceoftheindividual—themostimportantelementinthesociety,sincesocietywascomposedofindividualsanditsdevelopmentreliedontheregenerationoftheindividuals.Thus,theindividual’sperfection,hisself-cultureandself-improvement,notmeaningthefrenziedefforttogetrich,andhisself-reliancewereofthefirstimportance,sincethesouloftheindividualcommunedwiththeOversoul(God)andwasthereforedivine,andonlyinthiswaycouldacountrybereallyindependent.ItwasareactionagainstCalvinistconceptthatmanwassinfulandagainstdehumanizationofdevelopingcapitalismwhentheindustrializationofNewEnglandwasturningmanintononhumanoraccessoryofmachineandmanwasbecominguniform.Inaword,itemphasizedthesignificanceofmanandregainedhislostindividuality.(3)TranscendentalismlaidstressonNatureassymbolicoftheSpiritofGod.TranscendentalistssaidthatNaturewasthegarmentoftheOversoulandhadahealthyandrestorativeinfluenceonthehumanmind.ItwasgenerallybelievedthatNaturewastheconnectinglinkbetweenGodandman,andthephysicalworldwasasymbolofthespiritual.(idealism)ThisinturnaddedtothetraditionofliterarysymbolisminAmeri