常耀信美国文学简史考研网课复习方法重点笔记

Ⅰ. American Puritanism（美国清教主义）

The British began to immigrate to North America in the first half of the 17th century. The first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. In 1620, the ship Mayflower carried about one hundred Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts.Many early American immigrants were Puritans, and they came to the United States for a variety of reasons. The Puritanism they believed in later took root in the New World and had a profound impact on American thought and American literature.

英国向北美的移民活动开始于17世纪上半叶。英国于1607年在北美建立了第一个永久性海外殖民区：弗吉尼亚州的詹姆斯敦。1620年“五月花”号载运100余名移民抵达马萨诸塞州的普利茅斯。很多美国早期的移民是清教徒，他们出于多种原因来到美国。他们信奉的清教主义后来在新大陆生根发芽，并对美国思想和美国文学产生了根深蒂固的影响。

1 Doctrines of Puritanism（清教主义的教义）

The Puritans believed in the doctrine predestination put forward by the theologian John Calvin, including original sin, complete depravity, and limited redemption.

清教徒信奉神学家约翰·加尔文宣扬的预设定论，原罪，彻底的堕落，有限制的救赎等神学主张。

2 The influence of Puritanism on American literature（清教主义对美国文学的影响）

(1) The idealism of Puritan had exerted a great influence on American writers.

Overall, American literature, at least white American literature, is based on the myth of the Garden of Eden in the Bible. To a large extent, it is a literary form of pious idealism as the legacy of American Puritanism. The Puritans longed to live in a perfect order. With great courage, they hope to establish a new Garden of Eden in the United States so that they can finally live an ideal life. Encouraged by this sense of mission, they were very optimistic in the face of difficulties and obstacles. These have become important nourishment for the production and development of American literature. Optimism is embodied in the works of many American writers.

(1) 清教徒的理想主义对美国作家的文学创作产生了深远的影响。

从总体来看，美国文学——至少是白人的美国文学——是建筑在《圣经》伊甸园神话基础上的文学。在很大程度上，它是美国清教主义遗产——虔诚理想主义的一种文学形式。清教徒梦想着生活在一种完善的秩序之下，怀着勇气和希望在美国建立新的伊甸园，以使得他们能最终过上理想的生活。在这种使命感的鼓舞下，他们面对艰难险阻却充满乐观主义情绪。这些都成为美国文学产生发展的重要滋养。乐观主义弥漫在许多美国作家的作品里。

(2) American Puritans’ metaphorical way of observing things led to the emergence of symbolism, which is typical in American literature.

Puritan theology and Puritan literary practice are the main reasons for the development of native symbolism in the United States. To the pious Puritans, the reality of the world is just the symbol of God. All phenomena in life are part and concrete manifestation of God’s intention. It is easy to spot this symbolic process which often

occurred in Puritan thinking. Over time, this process became part of the cultural traditions on which the American people and writers grew up. Symbolism is commonly used by Jonathan Edwards, Emerson, Hawthorne, and Melville. This unique way of observing the world by the Puritans is a basic component of their education.

(2) 美国清教徒形象地观察事物的方式导致了具有典型美国文学特点的象征主义的产生。

清教神学和清教徒的文学实践是美国本土象征主义发展的主要原因。在虔诚的清教徒看来，现实的大千世界只是上帝的象征而已。生活中的一切现象都是上帝意图的组成部分和具体表现。很容易发现这种在清教徒思维中经常发生的象征过程。随着时间的推移，这一过程便成为美国人民和作家赖以成长的文化传统的一部分。乔纳森·爱德华兹，爱默生，霍桑，麦尔维尔来说，象征主义已成为一种常用的技巧。清教徒这种独特的观察世界的方式是他们所受教育的一个基本构成部分。

(3) In terms of the writing skills, the conciseness of Puritan works also profoundly affected American literature.

The works of Puritan writers show a fresh and concise style. They use simple and sincere rhetoric, with the noble temperament under the direct influence of the Bible. Their works have left a lasting influence on American literature.

(3) 在写作技巧方面，清教徒作品的朴实无华也深刻地影响了美国文学。

清教徒作家的写作风格是语言清新、简单、直接；修辞简朴、诚挚，带有圣经直接影响下的高贵气质。这些都给美国文学留下了持久的印迹。

Ⅱ. Overview of the colonial literature（殖民地文学简介）

American literature grew out of humble origins. Diaries, histories, journals, letters, commonplace books, travel books, sermons, in short, personal literature in its various forms, occupied a major position in the literature of the early colonial period.

美国文学由很多粗糙的文体发展而来。日记、稗史、札记、书信、备忘录、游记及布道文稿等在内的各种形式的私人文字，在早期殖民时期的文学中占据着主要地位。

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