《美国文学史》Chapter 4 The Literature of realism

Chapter IV The Literature of realism 2021/221

2021/2/21 1 Chapter Ⅳ The Literature of Realism

A Review of American Realistic Literature 2021/221

2021/2/21 2 A Review of American Realistic Literature

he Background f American Realis o The fifty years between the end of the Civil War to the outbreak of the first World War o Changes in every aspect of American life o Industrialization and the urbanization ●“ The Gilded Age Tired of sentimental feelings of Romanticism o Interest in reality of life 2021/221

2021/2/21 3 The Background of American Realism ⚫ The fifty years between the end of the Civil War to the outbreak of the First World War ⚫ Changes in every aspect of American life ⚫ Industrialization and the urbanization, ⚫ “The Gilded Age” ⚫ Tired of sentimental feelings of Romanticism ⚫ Interest in reality of life

William Dean Howells. I confess I do not care to judge any work of the imagination without first applying this test to it. We must ask ourselves before anything else. Is it true? true to the motives, the impulses, the principles that shape the life of actual men and women?” 2021/221

2021/2/21 4 William Dean Howells: “ I confess I do not care to judge any work of the imagination without first applying this test to it. We must ask ourselves before anything else. Is it true? –true to the motives, the impulses, the principles that shape the life of actual men and women?

The Characteristic American Realis o Interpretation of the actualities of any aspect of life free from subjective prejudice, idealism, or romantic color 2021/221

2021/2/21 5 The Characteristic of American Realism ⚫ Interpretation of the actualities of any aspect of life, free from subjective prejudice, idealism, or romantic color

1. Historical Background ●“ The Gilded Age’ In the period between the end of the civil War and the beginning of World War I, the country developed rapidly in various fields By the 1870s the New England Renaissance had waned. A host of new writers appeared They sought to portray american life as it really was o Local color fiction reached its peak of popularity in the 1880s Naturalism dominated american literature of the first decade of 20th century 2021/221

2021/2/21 6 1. Historical Background: ⚫ “The Gilded Age”. ⚫ In the period between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War I, the country developed rapidly in various fields. ⚫ By the 1870s the New England Renaissance had waned. A host of new writers appeared. ⚫ They sought to portray American life as it really was. ⚫ Local color fiction reached its peak of popularity in the 1880s. ⚫ Naturalism dominated American literature of the first decade of 20th century

2. Walt Whitman(1819-1892): the poet of American democracy Major Works: The Free Man(1848-1849);Leaves of Grass(1865) ● General themes: Sidney Lanier: As nearly as I can make it out, Whitmans argument seems to be that... because the Mississippi is long therefore every American is God o Whitman identified himself with the common man “ celebrate myself and sing myself-but"“ here is everyone 2021/221

2021/2/21 7 2. Walt Whitman (1819-1892) : ⚫ the poet of American democracy ⚫ Major Works: The Free Man (1848-1849); Leaves of Grass (1865) ⚫ General themes: ⚫ Sidney Lanier: “As nearly as I can make it out, Whitman’s argument seems to be that…because the Mississippi is long, therefore every American is God.” ⚫ Whitman identified himself with the common man. ⚫ “I celebrate myself and sing myself”—but “I “here is everyone

Whitmans subjects o The range of whitman s subjects is remarkable and intentional for he set out to include and celebrate everything o Against the victorian reticence concerning physical relations, he urged honest recognition of sensuality without shame, all in the name of the glory of the individual and the senses 2021/221

2021/2/21 8 Whitman’s subjects: ⚫ The range of Whitman’s subjects is remarkable and intentional, for he set out to include and celebrate everything. ⚫ Against the Victorian reticence concerning physical relations, he urged honest recognition of sensuality without shame, all in the name of the glory of the individual and the senses

Whitman's Poetic Style o Original, revolutionary, indisputably American: Fee-verse: Whitman created nicknames for mean of different states o His habit of using vignettes-snapshots as some critics have called them -brief pictures, often complete in a single line 2021/221

2021/2/21 9 Whitman’s Poetic Style: ⚫ Original, revolutionary, indisputably American; Fee-verse; Whitman created nicknames for mean of different states. ⚫ His habit of using vignettes—snapshots as some critics have called them—brief pictures, often complete in a single line

3. Emily Dickinson(1830-1886) ●“ The recluse of amherst” o She was born in amherst Massachusetts She never married and seldom left her hometown o She wrote over 1000 lyrics in her life, which were published posthumously o Dickinson writes about love, mortality and immortality . She is a writer of great power and beauty 2021/221 10

2021/2/21 10 3. Emily Dickinson (1830—1886): ⚫ “The recluse of Amherst” ; ⚫ She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. She never married and seldom left her hometown. ⚫ She wrote over 1000 lyrics in her life, which were published posthumously. ⚫ Dickinson writes about love, mortality and immortality…She is a writer of great power and beauty