1. American Literature

2. Chapter Eight The Age of Realism Howells & James Howells & James

3. Romanticism (late 18 th C- ) Realism (1865-1918) Realism (1865-1918) Civil War

4. American Realism (1865-1918) Political and social events influence writers in both theme and technique. The Reasons for the Coming of American Realism:

5. American Realism (1865-1918) The Reasons for the Coming of American Realism: American Civil War (1861-1865)American Civil War (1861-1865) conflict of capitalist system versus slavery systemconflict of capitalist system versus slavery system Slavery was abolished.Slavery was abolished. American Capitalism developed more rapidly.American Capitalism developed more rapidly.

6. American Realism (1865-1918) The Reasons for the Coming of American Realism: Great Changes happened to the country:Great Changes happened to the country: 1). In post-bellum America, commerce took the lead in the national economy. 商业成为国民经济 的主导1). In post-bellum America, commerce took the lead in the national economy. 商业成为国民经济 的主导

7. American Realism (1865-1918) Manifestations: Railroads tripled; Petroleum was discovered; Half the population in the east lived in towns; Movement away from the farm became obvious. Increasing industrialization and mechanization,in full swing after the civil war, soon produced extremes of wealth and poverty.

8. American Realism (1865-1918) Manifestations: Wealth and power were more and more concentrated in the hands of few “captains of industry” such as Rockefeller. Now they became dominant in the social and economic life of the nation. The spirit of self-reliance that Emerson had preached became perverted into admiration for driving ambition, a lust for money and power.

9. American Realism (1865-1918) Manifestations: Children were brought up on the “captains”’ success stories which said that a person with ambition could make his own world. Too few people recognized the chicanery and graft going on around them. In the meantime, life for the millions was fast becoming a veritable struggle for survival.

10. American Realism (1865-1918) The Reasons for the Coming of American Realism: Great Changes happened to the country:Great Changes happened to the country: 2).Added to this was the fact that the frontier was closing.2).Added to this was the fact that the frontier was closing.

11. American Realism (1865-1918) Explanations: The important place of “frontier” in American life: The deterioration of the original “frontier life” Suffering and unhappiness Disillusionment and frustration “Golden Age” “Gilded Age”

12. American Realism (1865-1918) The Reasons for the Coming of American Realism: Great Changes happened to the country:Great Changes happened to the country: 3). By the 1870s New England Renaissance had waned.3). By the 1870s New England Renaissance had waned. Many literary celebrities ceased creation, and meanwhile, younger writers appeared on the scene. Many literary celebrities ceased creation, and meanwhile, younger writers appeared on the scene.

13. Material Rise Fall of Value Material Rise Fall of Value Golden Age Gilded Age Golden Age Gilded Age Prosperity of Material Prosperity of Material Disillusionment and Frustration

14. Realism Definition: p117Definition: p117 Realism: As a literary movement, Realism came in the latter half of the nineteenth century as a reaction against “ the lie ” of Romanticism and Sentimentalism.Realism: As a literary movement, Realism came in the latter half of the nineteenth century as a reaction against “ the lie ” of Romanticism and Sentimentalism.

15. Realism Features:Features: 1. truthful description of life—truthful treatment of material;1. truthful description of life—truthful treatment of material; 2. typical character under typical circumstance;2. typical character under typical circumstance; 3. open-ending;3. open-ending; 4. concerned with social and psychological problems, revealing the frustrations of characters in an environment of harshness.4. concerned with social and psychological problems, revealing the frustrations of characters in an environment of harshness.

16. Realism Three Giants in Realistic PeriodThree Giants in Realistic Period 1. William Dean Howells “ Dean of American Realism ”1. William Dean Howells “ Dean of American Realism ” 2.Henry James international theme2.Henry James international theme psychological realism psychological realism 3. Mark Twain Local Colorism3. Mark Twain Local Colorism

17. William Dean Howells (1837-1920) 威廉 迪恩 豪威尔斯 As a prolific writer, Howells is regarded as “ the Father of American Realism. ”As a prolific writer, Howells is regarded as “ the Father of American Realism. ”

18. Life of William Dean Howells Born in a small town in Ohio;Born in a small town in Ohio; Had little formal education but was widely read;Had little formal education but was widely read; In his teens, he had both literary passions and literary ambitions;In his teens, he had both literary passions and literary ambitions; At the age of 23, he went to Boston and published his poems in Atlantic Monthly;At the age of 23, he went to Boston and published his poems in Atlantic Monthly; He made friends with many famous literary men ;He made friends with many famous literary men ; Married into an eminent New England family.Married into an eminent New England family.

19. Works Most successful works:Most successful works: A Modern Instance, 1881A Modern Instance, 1881 The Rise of Silas Lapham, 1885The Rise of Silas Lapham, 1885 Criticism and FictionCriticism and Fiction Literature and LifeLiterature and Life 《现代婚姻》 《赛拉斯 · 拉帕姆的发迹》 《批评和小说》 《文学与生活》

20. Literary-aesthetic ideas Most of those ideas are best stated in his Criticism and Fiction; Most of those ideas are best stated in his Criticism and Fiction; To him realism is by no means mere photographic pictures of external but includes a central concern with “motives and psychological conflicts.”To him realism is by no means mere photographic pictures of external but includes a central concern with “motives and psychological conflicts.” Realism, interpreting sympathetically the “common feelings of commonplace people.” is best suited as a technique to express the spirit of America.Realism, interpreting sympathetically the “common feelings of commonplace people.” is best suited as a technique to express the spirit of America.

21. About literary criticism:About literary criticism: The critic’s job was “to identify the literary species and explain the weaknesses of a work in the light of the author’s intentions.”The critic’s job was “to identify the literary species and explain the weaknesses of a work in the light of the author’s intentions.”

22. Analysis of The Rise of Silas Lapham Please read the general plot of this novel in Page 121 and the love subplot in Page 122.Please read the general plot of this novel in Page 121 and the love subplot in Page 122.

23. Major Theme Lapham ’ s moral rise begins with his financial fall; both are dramatized by the irretrievable destruction of the house.Lapham ’ s moral rise begins with his financial fall; both are dramatized by the irretrievable destruction of the house.

24. Howells’ ideas reflected in this novel Interpreting the “common feelings of the commonplace people”;Interpreting the “common feelings of the commonplace people”; Emphasis on ethics;Emphasis on ethics; “the greatest happiness for the greatest number”.“the greatest happiness for the greatest number”.

25. The House—its symbolic meaning To Lapham successTo Lapham success To Mrs. Lapham selfish individualismTo Mrs. Lapham selfish individualism The burning down of the houseThe burning down of the house the victory of Howells ’ s idealized view of man and society the victory of Howells ’ s idealized view of man and society

26. Influence As a critic of eminent standing and as a prolific writer, Howells helped to mould public taste and became the champion of literary realism in America.As a critic of eminent standing and as a prolific writer, Howells helped to mould public taste and became the champion of literary realism in America.

27. Henry James (1843-1916) 亨利 詹姆斯 novelist, literary critic, playwright and essayistnovelist, literary critic, playwright and essayist

28. Life Henry James was born into a wealthy cultured family of New England.Henry James was born into a wealthy cultured family of New England. His father, Henry James, Sr. was an eminent philosopher and reformer, and his brother, William James, was to be the famous philosopher and psychologist.His father, Henry James, Sr. was an eminent philosopher and reformer, and his brother, William James, was to be the famous philosopher and psychologist. Henry James was one of the few authors in American literary history who did not have to worry about money.Henry James was one of the few authors in American literary history who did not have to worry about money.

29. He was exposed to the cultural influence of Europe at a very early age.He was exposed to the cultural influence of Europe at a very early age. Later he met and developed a life-long friendship with William Dean Howells.Later he met and developed a life-long friendship with William Dean Howells. For a while he attended the Harvard Law School.For a while he attended the Harvard Law School.

30. He toured England, France and Italy, and met Flaubert 福楼拜 (1821-1880, 法国小说 家 ) and Turgenev (1818-1883, 屠格涅夫，俄国作家 ) who was then staying in Paris.He toured England, France and Italy, and met Flaubert 福楼拜 (1821-1880, 法国小说 家 ) and Turgenev (1818-1883, 屠格涅夫，俄国作家 ) who was then staying in Paris. He settled down in London in 1876 and spent the rest of his life there. In 1915, he became a naturalized British citizen.He settled down in London in 1876 and spent the rest of his life there. In 1915, he became a naturalized British citizen.

31. Three periods of his creative life The first period:The first period: The American 《美国人》The American 《美国人》 Daisy Miller 《戴茜 米勒》Daisy Miller 《戴茜 米勒》 The Portrait of a Lady 《贵妇人画像》The Portrait of a Lady 《贵妇人画像》 Results of these works:Results of these works: Won him international fame and reveal his “international theme”Won him international fame and reveal his “international theme” Q: What is “international theme”?Q: What is “international theme”?

32. The International Theme the meeting of America and Europe, American innocence in contact and contrast with European decadence and the moral and psychological complications arising from there. For the American it was a process of progression from inexperience to experience, from innocence to knowledge and maturity. James presented, through his fiction, the superiority of at least some of the values of the New World to those of the Old.the meeting of America and Europe, American innocence in contact and contrast with European decadence and the moral and psychological complications arising from there. For the American it was a process of progression from inexperience to experience, from innocence to knowledge and maturity. James presented, through his fiction, the superiority of at least some of the values of the New World to those of the Old.

33. Three periods of his creative life The second period:The second period: The Bostonians 1886The Bostonians 1886 The Princess Casamassima 1886The Princess Casamassima 1886 Results of these works:Results of these works: Dropped his “international theme” and wrote his tales of subtle studies of inter-personal relationships, he turned to play-writing after his failed novelsDropped his “international theme” and wrote his tales of subtle studies of inter-personal relationships, he turned to play-writing after his failed novels

34. Three periods of his creative life The third period:The third period: “ What Maisie Knew ” 《梅西所知道的》“ What Maisie Knew ” 《梅西所知道的》 The Wings of the Dove 《鸽翼》The Wings of the Dove 《鸽翼》 The Ambassadors 《奉使记》The Ambassadors 《奉使记》 The Golden Bowl 《金碗》The Golden Bowl 《金碗》 “ The Art of Fiction ” 《小说的艺术》“ The Art of Fiction ” 《小说的艺术》 Results of these works:Results of these works: these tales dealt with childhood and adolescence, these works represent the summit of his art and he returned to his “international theme”.these tales dealt with childhood and adolescence, these works represent the summit of his art and he returned to his “international theme”.

35. James ’ preference He enjoyed juxtaposing American moral innocence with the somber decadence of Europe, in other words, American innocence caught in the toils of European duplicity. James ’ fictional world is peopled almost always by American heroes and heroines who confronting European sophistication, either triumph over it or are overwhelmed. In his works, James stresses mutual undertanding and sympathy.

36. James ’ contribution to literary criticism For half a century, James helped perfect the art of writing. He also stresses the intimate relationship between art and life. In his “ The Art of Fiction ”, he revealed the aim of novel. He was deemed as one of the three advocates of American realism due to his idea od freedom in novel-writing and inclusion of the disagreeable, the ugly, and the commomplace.

37. Evaluation Henry James was a prolific writer. He composed novels, travel papers, critical essays, literary portraits, plays, autobiographies and a series of critical prefaces on the art of fiction.Henry James was a prolific writer. He composed novels, travel papers, critical essays, literary portraits, plays, autobiographies and a series of critical prefaces on the art of fiction. Henry James produced a number of international novels. He was fascinated with his “ international theme ”. P125Henry James produced a number of international novels. He was fascinated with his “ international theme ”. P125

38. Daisy Miller won him international fame.Daisy Miller won him international fame. The last 3 ones represent the summit of his art.The last 3 ones represent the summit of his art. James ’ contribution to literary criticism is immense. Page 126James ’ contribution to literary criticism is immense. Page 126 In his whole writing career James was concerned with “ point of view ” which is at the center of his aesthetic of the novel. The author should avoid artificial omniscience as much as possible. Page 128In his whole writing career James was concerned with “ point of view ” which is at the center of his aesthetic of the novel. The author should avoid artificial omniscience as much as possible. Page 128

39. He is, today, a world literary figure, one of the “largest” to come out of America during the 19th century and the early 20th century, a remarkable New World bridge.He is, today, a world literary figure, one of the “largest” to come out of America during the 19th century and the early 20th century, a remarkable New World bridge.

40. In this Class, you should know:!!!In this Class, you should know:!!! What is American Realism ?What is American Realism ? What are the features of American Realism?What are the features of American Realism? Who are the representatives or major authors of American Realism?Who are the representatives or major authors of American Realism? What is International theme ?What is International theme ?