American LiteratureAmerican Literature

Colonial Period, the Period of Colonial Period, the Period of Independence and the 18th Independence and the 18th

CenturyCentury

• Literature of the Colonial Period (1607-Literature of the Colonial Period (1607-1765)1765)– religious essays, pamphlets, journals, religious essays, pamphlets, journals,

diaries, poetrydiaries, poetry– John Smith: John Smith: A Description of New EnglandA Description of New England– William Bradford:William Bradford: Of Plymouth Plantation Of Plymouth Plantation– John Winthrop:John Winthrop: A Model of Christian A Model of Christian

CharityCharity– Poets: Anne Bradstreet, Edward TaylorPoets: Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor

• (1765-1783) struggle for independence(1765-1783) struggle for independence– 1. political independence1. political independence

•Thomas Paine: Thomas Paine: Common Sense, American Common Sense, American Crisis (The harder the conflict, the more Crisis (The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph), The Age of Reason, The glorious the triumph), The Age of Reason, The Rights of Man, Rights of Man,

•Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence (We hold these truths to be self-evident, that (We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ))

– 2. literary independence2. literary independence•Philip Freneau: Philip Freneau: The Rising Glory of AmericaThe Rising Glory of America

• The Philosophical Idea in the 18The Philosophical Idea in the 18thth CenturyCentury

• Newton’s “Mathematical principles of Newton’s “Mathematical principles of natural philosophy”& Universal natural philosophy”& Universal gravitationgravitation

• Rousseau: Rousseau: Social Contract Social Contract

• DeismDeism

• Persistent religious beliefPersistent religious belief– Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards– Great Awakening(1730s,1740s)Great Awakening(1730s,1740s)

• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)• scientist, writer, diplomat, printer, scientist, writer, diplomat, printer,

philosopher, inventor. philosopher, inventor. – Spokesman of the age of enlightenment, reason Spokesman of the age of enlightenment, reason

– The enlightenment: France, the chief means for improving The enlightenment: France, the chief means for improving the society is the enlightenment or education of peoplethe society is the enlightenment or education of people

– Calvinist backgroundCalvinist background– Poor Candle maker’s familyPoor Candle maker’s family– apprenticed to his half-brother apprenticed to his half-brother – going to Philadelphia going to Philadelphia – 1732 Poor Richard’s Almanac1732 Poor Richard’s Almanac

Poor Richard’s AlmanacPoor Richard’s Almanac

– There are three things extremely hard, steel, a diamond, and tThere are three things extremely hard, steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.o know one's self.

– Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disapBlessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed pointed

– Early to bed and early to rise,Early to bed and early to rise,Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

– Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults. Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults. – To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.– Fish and visitors stink in three days. Fish and visitors stink in three days. – God helps them that help themselves. God helps them that help themselves. – Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.– AllAll things are easy to Industry. things are easy to Industry. AllAll things are difficult to things are difficult to slothsloth– Diligence is the Mother of Good Luck.Diligence is the Mother of Good Luck.– No gains without pains.No gains without pains.– Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.– Lend money to an Enemy, and thou'lt gain him, to a Friend anLend money to an Enemy, and thou'lt gain him, to a Friend an

d thou'lt lose him.d thou'lt lose him.

AutobiographyAutobiography• Purpose Purpose • StyleStyle• Self-examination (Puritan)Self-examination (Puritan) Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution,

Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, Humility. Chastity, Humility.

• Illustration of American dreamIllustration of American dream (“the most accomplished American of his (“the most accomplished American of his

age and the most influential in inventing age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would the type of society America would become.”) become.”)

• Significance for American literature Significance for American literature • What can we learn from it?What can we learn from it?

– Having emerged from the poverty and obscHaving emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred to a state urity in which I was born and bred to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation iof affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through n the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity, the life with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my pthe blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find sosterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situationome of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated. (s, and therefore fit to be imitated. ( 与与 JonatJonathan Edwardshan Edwards 对比对比 ))

• And now I speak of thanking God, I desire And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to the mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence, which led me to the His kind providence, which led me to the means I used and gave them success.means I used and gave them success.

• It was about this time I conceived the bold It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection.perfection.

S.S. M.M. T.T. W.W. T.T. F.F. S.S.T(emperance)T(emperance)

S(ilence)S(ilence) ＊＊ ＊＊ ＊＊ ＊＊O(rder)O(rder) ＊ ＊＊ ＊

R(esolution)R(esolution)

F(rugality)F(rugality)

I(ndustry)I(ndustry)

S(incerity)S(incerity)

JusticeJustice

ModerationModeration

C(leanliness)C(leanliness)

T(ranquility)T(ranquility)

C(hastity)C(hastity)

H(umility)H(umility)

• The Morning.The Morning.

Question. What good shall I do this day?Question. What good shall I do this day?

5,6,7 Rise, wash and address powerful 5,6,7 Rise, wash and address powerful Goodness! Contrive day’s business, and take Goodness! Contrive day’s business, and take the resolution of the day; prosecute the the resolution of the day; prosecute the present.present.

8,9,10,11 Study, and breakfast Work8,9,10,11 Study, and breakfast Work

The Noon 2,3,4,5 WorkThe Noon 2,3,4,5 Work

Evening. Question. What good have I done Evening. Question. What good have I done today?today?

6,7,8,9 Put things in their places. Supper. Music 6,7,8,9 Put things in their places. Supper. Music or diversion, or conversation. Examination of or diversion, or conversation. Examination of the day.the day.

Night. 10,11,12,1,2,3,4 SleepNight. 10,11,12,1,2,3,4 Sleep

Different comments on Different comments on AutobiographyAutobiography

• Mark Twain’s “The Late Benjamin Franklin" Mark Twain’s “The Late Benjamin Franklin" (1870) provides a less exalted reaction, albeit s(1870) provides a less exalted reaction, albeit somewhat tongue-in-cheek (for example, claimomewhat tongue-in-cheek (for example, claiming that his example had "brought affliction to ing that his example had "brought affliction to millions of boys since, whose fathers had read millions of boys since, whose fathers had read Franklin's pernicious biography”)Franklin's pernicious biography”)

• Middle-sized, sturdy, snuff-coloured Doctor FrMiddle-sized, sturdy, snuff-coloured Doctor Franklin“, “Franklin's attempt at crafting precanklin“, “Franklin's attempt at crafting precepts of virtue and at perfecting himself”. (D.H.epts of virtue and at perfecting himself”. (D.H. Lawrence) Lawrence)

gloomy voice amid gloomy voice amid optimismoptimism

• Crevecoeur’s Crevecoeur’s Letters from an Letters from an American FarmerAmerican Farmer

Questions:Questions:1.What’s the influence of Puritanism on 1.What’s the influence of Puritanism on

American literature?American literature?

2. What are the two poles of puritan 2. What are the two poles of puritan personalities for which Jonathan personalities for which Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin are Edwards and Benjamin Franklin are the best representatives?the best representatives?

3. Some laws of the literary 3. Some laws of the literary evolvementevolvement