1. American Naturalism ( 自然主义 ) & Stephen Crane

2. Naturalism 1. Origin 1. OriginOrigin 2. Definition 2. DefinitionDefinition 3. Significance 3. SignificanceSignificance 4. Theoretical basis 4. Theoretical basisTheoretical basisTheoretical basis 5. Representatives 5. RepresentativesRepresentatives

3. Origin (1)Industrialism: create a large group of very poor people; live in slums and cannot control their lives; self-reliance disappeared in the fast development of economy (1)Industrialism: create a large group of very poor people; live in slums and cannot control their lives; self-reliance disappeared in the fast development of economy (2)The Origin of Species (Charles Darwin, 1859, godless world, human beast, the survival of the fittest, cruel natural law correspond with cruel social realities (2)The Origin of Species (Charles Darwin, 1859, godless world, human beast, the survival of the fittest, cruel natural law correspond with cruel social realities (3)Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism (human controlled by heredity and outside social power) (3)Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism (human controlled by heredity and outside social power) (4)Howell ’ s “ smiling aspect ” realism seems too genteel and even false. Thus the influence of French naturalism, Tolstoy and Turgenev came to American literature. (4)Howell ’ s “ smiling aspect ” realism seems too genteel and even false. Thus the influence of French naturalism, Tolstoy and Turgenev came to American literature.

4. Definition As a genre, naturalism emphasized heredity and environment as important deterministic forces shaping individualized characters who were presented in special and detailed circumstances. At bottom, life was shown to be ironic, even tragic. As a genre, naturalism emphasized heredity and environment as important deterministic forces shaping individualized characters who were presented in special and detailed circumstances. At bottom, life was shown to be ironic, even tragic.

5. Significance Breaking through some forbidden area in literature (violence, death, sex etc.) Breaking through some forbidden area in literature (violence, death, sex etc.) Greatly influencing the 20th century writers such as Hemingway and Faulkner Greatly influencing the 20th century writers such as Hemingway and Faulkner

6. Theoretical basis Darwin ’ s Evolutionary Theory Darwin ’ s Evolutionary Theory “ The survival of the fittest ” (environment; heredity; desire for money & sex) “ The survival of the fittest ” (environment; heredity; desire for money & sex)

7. American Representatives Stephen Crane ’ s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893) is the first naturalistic novel in America. Stephen Crane ’ s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893) is the first naturalistic novel in America. Frank Norris ’ McTeague is the “ first full- bodied naturalistic American novel ” and “ a consciously naturalistic manifesto. ” Frank Norris ’ McTeague is the “ first full- bodied naturalistic American novel ” and “ a consciously naturalistic manifesto. ” Theodore Dreiser ’ s Sister Carrie is the greatest naturalistic work. Theodore Dreiser ’ s Sister Carrie is the greatest naturalistic work.

8. Stephen Crane (1871-1900) Life Life Works Works Evaluation Evaluation Conclusion Conclusion

9. Life Stephen's father, Jonathan Crane, was a Methodist minister who died in 1880, leaving Stephen, the youngest of 14 children, to be reared by his devout, strong-minded mother. Stephen's father, Jonathan Crane, was a Methodist minister who died in 1880, leaving Stephen, the youngest of 14 children, to be reared by his devout, strong-minded mother. After attending preparatory school at the Claverack College (1888-90). After attending preparatory school at the Claverack College (1888-90). Crane spent less than two years at college and then went to New York City to live. Crane spent less than two years at college and then went to New York City to live. Crane wrote his first book, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893), a sympathetic study of an innocent and abused slum girl's descent into prostitution and her eventual suicide. Crane wrote his first book, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893), a sympathetic study of an innocent and abused slum girl's descent into prostitution and her eventual suicide. At that time so shocking that Crane published it under a pseudonym and at his own expense, Maggie left him to struggle as a poor and unknown freelance journalist, until he was befriended by Hamlin Garland and the influential critic William Dean Howells. At that time so shocking that Crane published it under a pseudonym and at his own expense, Maggie left him to struggle as a poor and unknown freelance journalist, until he was befriended by Hamlin Garland and the influential critic William Dean Howells. Suddenly in 1895 the publication of The Red Badge of Courage and of his first book of poems, The Black Riders, brought him international fame. Suddenly in 1895 the publication of The Red Badge of Courage and of his first book of poems, The Black Riders, brought him international fame. War and other forms of physical and mental violence fascinate Crane. War and other forms of physical and mental violence fascinate Crane. After he wrote Red Badge of Courage, which earned Crane international acclaim at age 24, he was hired as a reporter in the American West and Mexico. After he wrote Red Badge of Courage, which earned Crane international acclaim at age 24, he was hired as a reporter in the American West and Mexico. In 1899 Crane returned to Cuba, to cover the Spanish-American War. Due to poor health he was obliged to return to England. Crane died on June 5, 1900 at Badenweiler in Germany of tuberculosis. In 1899 Crane returned to Cuba, to cover the Spanish-American War. Due to poor health he was obliged to return to England. Crane died on June 5, 1900 at Badenweiler in Germany of tuberculosis.

10. Works (1)Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (resistance of her slum life and at last suicide) (1)Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (resistance of her slum life and at last suicide) (2)The Red Badge of Courage (changes of a young man ’ s psychological state in the civil war) (2)The Red Badge of Courage (changes of a young man ’ s psychological state in the civil war) A. Against the Romantic view of war as a symbol of courage and heroism; A. Against the Romantic view of war as a symbol of courage and heroism; B. Telling the alarming truth and horrible sides of war as a mass slaughter; B. Telling the alarming truth and horrible sides of war as a mass slaughter; C. First realistic novel which took the war as the subject matter; C. First realistic novel which took the war as the subject matter; D. Influenced Hemingway and Dos Passos and so on D. Influenced Hemingway and Dos Passos and so on (3)The Black Riders (poem collection) 1855 《黑衣骑士》 诗 集 (3)The Black Riders (poem collection) 1855 《黑衣骑士》 诗 集 A. Concise, unrhymed, impressive images A. Concise, unrhymed, impressive images Crane and Emily Dickinson were two forerunners of Imagism. Crane and Emily Dickinson were two forerunners of Imagism.

11. Evaluation Crane was a great stylist and a master of the contradictory effect. Crane was a great stylist and a master of the contradictory effect. The Red Badge of Courage (1895) is a short novel (or a long short story) by Stephen Crane about the meaning of courage, as it is discovered by Henry Fleming, a recruit in the Civil War. The Red Badge of Courage (1895) is a short novel (or a long short story) by Stephen Crane about the meaning of courage, as it is discovered by Henry Fleming, a recruit in the Civil War. It is often considered one of the best American war stories ever written, even though the author was born after the events and never saw battle himself. His purpose in writing the book was to explore fear and courage in the face of the most daunting trial imaginable: battle. It is often considered one of the best American war stories ever written, even though the author was born after the events and never saw battle himself. His purpose in writing the book was to explore fear and courage in the face of the most daunting trial imaginable: battle. The book won international acclaim for its realism and psychological depth in telling the story of an old soldier. Crane had never experienced battle personally, but had conducted interviews with a number of veterans, some of whom may have suffered from what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. The book won international acclaim for its realism and psychological depth in telling the story of an old soldier. Crane had never experienced battle personally, but had conducted interviews with a number of veterans, some of whom may have suffered from what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

12. Conclusion Basic motif: environment and heredity overwhelm men Basic motif: environment and heredity overwhelm men Pioneer of naturalism Pioneer of naturalism

13. The Red Badge of Courage Plot (p471) Plot (p471) Characters Characters Characters Themes Themes Themes

14. Characters Henry Fleming Henry Fleming Henry Fleming Henry Fleming Jim Conklin Jim Conklin Jim Conklin Jim Conklin Wilson Wilson Wilson The tattered soldier The tattered soldier The tattered soldier The tattered soldier The lieutenant The lieutenant The lieutenant The lieutenant Henry's mother Henry's mother Henry's mother Henry's mother

15. Henry Fleming The novel's protagonist; a young soldier fighting for the Union army during the American Civil War. Initially, Henry stands untested in battle and questions his own courage. As the novel progresses, he encounters hard truths about the experience of war, confronting the universe's indifference to his existence and the insignificance of his own life. Often vain and holding extremely romantic notions about himself, Henry grapples with these lessons as he first runs from battle, then comes to thrive as a soldier in combat. The novel's protagonist; a young soldier fighting for the Union army during the American Civil War. Initially, Henry stands untested in battle and questions his own courage. As the novel progresses, he encounters hard truths about the experience of war, confronting the universe's indifference to his existence and the insignificance of his own life. Often vain and holding extremely romantic notions about himself, Henry grapples with these lessons as he first runs from battle, then comes to thrive as a soldier in combat.

16. Jim Conklin Jim Conklin Henry's friend; a tall soldier hurt during the regiment's first battle. Jim soon dies from his wounds, and represents, in the early part of the novel, an important moral contrast to Henry. Henry's friend; a tall soldier hurt during the regiment's first battle. Jim soon dies from his wounds, and represents, in the early part of the novel, an important moral contrast to Henry.

17. Wilson A loud private; Henry's friend in the regiment. Wilson and Henry grow close as they share the harsh experiences of war and gain a reputation as the regiment's best fighters. Wilson proves to be a more sympathetic version of Henry, though he does not seem to be troubled by Henry's tendency to endlessly scrutinize his own actions. A loud private; Henry's friend in the regiment. Wilson and Henry grow close as they share the harsh experiences of war and gain a reputation as the regiment's best fighters. Wilson proves to be a more sympathetic version of Henry, though he does not seem to be troubled by Henry's tendency to endlessly scrutinize his own actions.

18. The tattered soldier A twice-shot soldier whom Henry encounters in the column of wounded men. With his endless speculation about Henry's supposed wound, the tattered soldier functions as a nagging, painful conscience to Henry. A twice-shot soldier whom Henry encounters in the column of wounded men. With his endless speculation about Henry's supposed wound, the tattered soldier functions as a nagging, painful conscience to Henry.

19. The lieutenant Henry's commander in battle, a youthful officer who swears profusely during the fighting. As Henry gains recognition for doing brave deeds, he and the lieutenant develop sympathy for each other, often feeling that they must work together to motivate the rest of the men. Henry's commander in battle, a youthful officer who swears profusely during the fighting. As Henry gains recognition for doing brave deeds, he and the lieutenant develop sympathy for each other, often feeling that they must work together to motivate the rest of the men.

20. Henry's mother Encountered only in a brief flashback, Henry's mother opposed his enlisting in the army. Though her advice is only briefly summarized in Henry's flashback, it contains several difficult themes with which Henry must grapple, including the insignificance of his life in the grand scheme of the world. Encountered only in a brief flashback, Henry's mother opposed his enlisting in the army. Though her advice is only briefly summarized in Henry's flashback, it contains several difficult themes with which Henry must grapple, including the insignificance of his life in the grand scheme of the world.

21. Themes Courage Courage Courage Manhood Manhood Manhood Self-Preservation Self-Preservation Self-Preservation The Universe's Disregard for Human Life The Universe's Disregard for Human Life The Universe's Disregard for Human Life The Universe's Disregard for Human Life

22. Courage Given the novel's title, it is no surprise that courage — defining it, desiring it, and, ultimately, achieving it — is the most salient element of the narrative. As the novel opens, Henry's understanding of courage is traditional and romantic. He assumes that, like a war hero of ancient Greece, he will return from battle either with his shield or on it. Henry's understanding of courage has more to do with the praise of his peers than any internal measure of his bravery. Within the novel's first chapter, Henry recalls his mother's advice, which runs counter to his own notions. She cares little whether Henry earns himself a praiseworthy name; instead, she instructs him to meet his responsibilities honestly and squarely, even if it means sacrificing his own life. Given the novel's title, it is no surprise that courage — defining it, desiring it, and, ultimately, achieving it — is the most salient element of the narrative. As the novel opens, Henry's understanding of courage is traditional and romantic. He assumes that, like a war hero of ancient Greece, he will return from battle either with his shield or on it. Henry's understanding of courage has more to do with the praise of his peers than any internal measure of his bravery. Within the novel's first chapter, Henry recalls his mother's advice, which runs counter to his own notions. She cares little whether Henry earns himself a praiseworthy name; instead, she instructs him to meet his responsibilities honestly and squarely, even if it means sacrificing his own life. The gap that exists between Henry's definition of courage and the alternative that his mother suggests fluctuates throughout The Red Badge of Courage, sometimes narrowing (when Henry fights well in his first battle) and sometimes growing wider (when he abandons the tattered soldier). At the end of the novel, as the mature Henry marches victoriously from battle, a more subtle and complex understanding of courage emerges: it is not simply a function of other people's opinions, but it does incorporate egocentric concerns such as a soldier's regard for his reputation. The gap that exists between Henry's definition of courage and the alternative that his mother suggests fluctuates throughout The Red Badge of Courage, sometimes narrowing (when Henry fights well in his first battle) and sometimes growing wider (when he abandons the tattered soldier). At the end of the novel, as the mature Henry marches victoriously from battle, a more subtle and complex understanding of courage emerges: it is not simply a function of other people's opinions, but it does incorporate egocentric concerns such as a soldier's regard for his reputation.

23. Manhood Throughout the novel, Henry struggles to preserve his manhood, his understanding of which parallels his understanding of courage. At first, he relies on very traditional, even clich é d, notions. He laments that education and religion have tamed men of their natural savagery and made them so pale and domestic that there remain few ways for a man to distinguish himself other than on the battlefield. Having this opportunity makes Henry feel grateful to be participating in the war. As he makes his way from one skirmish to the next, he becomes more and more convinced that his accumulated experiences will earn him the praise of women and the envy of men; he will be a hero, a real man, in their eyes. These early conceptions of manhood are simplistic, romantic, adolescent fantasies. Throughout the novel, Henry struggles to preserve his manhood, his understanding of which parallels his understanding of courage. At first, he relies on very traditional, even clich é d, notions. He laments that education and religion have tamed men of their natural savagery and made them so pale and domestic that there remain few ways for a man to distinguish himself other than on the battlefield. Having this opportunity makes Henry feel grateful to be participating in the war. As he makes his way from one skirmish to the next, he becomes more and more convinced that his accumulated experiences will earn him the praise of women and the envy of men; he will be a hero, a real man, in their eyes. These early conceptions of manhood are simplistic, romantic, adolescent fantasies. Jim Conklin and Wilson stand as symbols of a more human kind of manhood. They are self-assured without being braggarts and are ultimately able to own up to their faults and shortcomings. Wilson, who begins the novel as an obnoxiously loud soldier, later exposes his own fear and vulnerability when he asks Henry to deliver a yellow envelope to his family should he die in battle. In realizing the relative insignificance of his own life, Wilson frees himself from the chains that bind Henry, becoming a man of “ quiet belief in his purposes and abilities. ” By the novel's end, Henry makes a bold step in the same direction, learning that the measure of one's manhood lies more in the complex ways in which one negotiates one's mistakes and responsibilities than in one's conduct on the battlefield. Jim Conklin and Wilson stand as symbols of a more human kind of manhood. They are self-assured without being braggarts and are ultimately able to own up to their faults and shortcomings. Wilson, who begins the novel as an obnoxiously loud soldier, later exposes his own fear and vulnerability when he asks Henry to deliver a yellow envelope to his family should he die in battle. In realizing the relative insignificance of his own life, Wilson frees himself from the chains that bind Henry, becoming a man of “ quiet belief in his purposes and abilities. ” By the novel's end, Henry makes a bold step in the same direction, learning that the measure of one's manhood lies more in the complex ways in which one negotiates one's mistakes and responsibilities than in one's conduct on the battlefield.

24. Self-Preservation An anxious desire for self-preservation influences Henry throughout the novel. When a pinecone that he throws after fleeing from battle makes a squirrel scurry, he believes that he has stumbled upon a universal truth: each being will do whatever it takes, including running from danger, in order to preserve itself. Henry gets much mileage out of this revelation, as he uses it to justify his impulse to retreat from the battlefield. His conceits — namely that the good of the army and, by extension, the world, requires his survival — drive him to behave abominably. He not only runs from battle, but also abandons the tattered soldier, though he knows that the soldier is almost certain to die if he does not receive assistance. Soon after his encounter with the squirrel, Henry discovers the corpse of a soldier. This sets in motion Henry's realization that the world is largely indifferent to his life and the questions that preoccupy him. Courage and honor endow a man with a belief in the worth of preserving the lives of others, but the pervasiveness of death on the battlefield compels Henry to question the importance of these qualities. This weighing of values begs consideration of the connection between the survival instinct and vanity. An anxious desire for self-preservation influences Henry throughout the novel. When a pinecone that he throws after fleeing from battle makes a squirrel scurry, he believes that he has stumbled upon a universal truth: each being will do whatever it takes, including running from danger, in order to preserve itself. Henry gets much mileage out of this revelation, as he uses it to justify his impulse to retreat from the battlefield. His conceits — namely that the good of the army and, by extension, the world, requires his survival — drive him to behave abominably. He not only runs from battle, but also abandons the tattered soldier, though he knows that the soldier is almost certain to die if he does not receive assistance. Soon after his encounter with the squirrel, Henry discovers the corpse of a soldier. This sets in motion Henry's realization that the world is largely indifferent to his life and the questions that preoccupy him. Courage and honor endow a man with a belief in the worth of preserving the lives of others, but the pervasiveness of death on the battlefield compels Henry to question the importance of these qualities. This weighing of values begs consideration of the connection between the survival instinct and vanity.

25. The Universe's Disregard for Human Life Henry's realization that the natural world spins on regardless of the manner in which men live and die is perhaps the most difficult lesson that Henry learns as a soldier. It disabuses him of his na ï ve, inexperienced beliefs regarding courage and manhood. Shortly after his encounter with the squirrel in the woods, Henry stumbles upon a dead soldier, whose rotting body serves as a powerful reminder of the universe's indifference to human life. As the drama of the war rages on around him, Henry continues to occupy his mind with questions concerning the nature of courage and honor and the possibilities of gaining glory. Death, he assumes, would stop this drama cold. Yet, when he encounters the corpse, he finds that death is nothing more than an integral and unremarkable part of nature. As he reflects at the end of the novel: “ He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. ” Henry's realization that the natural world spins on regardless of the manner in which men live and die is perhaps the most difficult lesson that Henry learns as a soldier. It disabuses him of his na ï ve, inexperienced beliefs regarding courage and manhood. Shortly after his encounter with the squirrel in the woods, Henry stumbles upon a dead soldier, whose rotting body serves as a powerful reminder of the universe's indifference to human life. As the drama of the war rages on around him, Henry continues to occupy his mind with questions concerning the nature of courage and honor and the possibilities of gaining glory. Death, he assumes, would stop this drama cold. Yet, when he encounters the corpse, he finds that death is nothing more than an integral and unremarkable part of nature. As he reflects at the end of the novel: “ He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. ” Together, Henry's encounters with the squirrel and the corpse form one of the most important passages in the novel, for it is here that Crane establishes the formidable opposing forces in Henry's mind: the vain belief that human life deserves such distinctions as courage and honor, and the stark realization that, regardless of such distinctions, all human life meets the same end. Together, Henry's encounters with the squirrel and the corpse form one of the most important passages in the novel, for it is here that Crane establishes the formidable opposing forces in Henry's mind: the vain belief that human life deserves such distinctions as courage and honor, and the stark realization that, regardless of such distinctions, all human life meets the same end.

26. The End