2. HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF LITERATURE 美国文学史及选读 American Literature

3. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Two Greatest Realists Henry JamesMark Twain

4. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Henry James  Life experience  Major works  Features of Jamesian Novel  Appreciation

5. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 1. Life of Henry James 1843 born in New York City grew up in New York 1862 attended Harvard Law School 1875 made his permanent home in Europe 1915 became a British citizen 1916 passed away  Father philosopher—William James—left the US in early 70s—settled permanently in 1876 in England—didn’t come back until 1904— revival in mid 20th century—one helped shape the modern novel

6. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Three Stages One Theme : the International Theme Two Conflicts: native Americans V.S Europeans Three Stages : I.the idealistic phase; early realist stage(1871- 1880) II.the experimental phase; his mature period of “ psychological realism ” (1881-1890) III.the psychological phase; final “ difficult ” or experimental period (1897-late)

7. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Stage one (1871-1880) The American ( 美国人 ) The Europeans ( 欧洲人 ) Daisy Miller ( 黛西. 密勒 ) Washington Square ( 华盛顿广场 ) the theme of innocent America versus urbane Europe

8. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Stage two 19 th c 80y—90y The Portrait of a Lady ( 贵妇画像 ) The Bostonians ( 波士顿人 ) The Tragic Muse ( 悲惨的缪丝 )

9. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Stage Three The Wings of the Dove ( 鸽翼 ) The Ambassadors ( 专 使 ) The Golden Bowl ( 金碗 )

10. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Psychological Realism Henry James is considered the founder of psychological realism. He believed that reality lies in the impressions made by life on the spectator.Such realism is therefore only the obligation that the artist assumes to represent life as he sees it,which may not be the same life as it “really” is. “The Ambassadors” is considered to be a masterpiece of psychological realism.

11. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 2. His main works  The American(1877)  Daisy Miller(1878)  Washington Square(1880)  The Portrait of a Lady(1881)  The Tragic Muse(1890)  The Wings of the Dove(1902)  The Ambassador(1903)  The Golden Bowl(1904)

12. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 3. Features of Jamesian Novel  1. Inner Life Instead of Plot  The conflict has shifted from outside events to the inner life. There are limited actions in his novels. Each scene is presented to the readers as a “case” or “situation” to understand the character’s consciousness.  2. Absence of the Hero  A reflection of contemporary ideology—God is dead, let alone heroes

13. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  3. Intellectualized and Highly Sensitive Female Protagonists  Most protagonists are females, such as Daisy in Daisy Miller, Isabel in The Portrait of a Lady, Milly in The wings of the Dove, and Maggie in The Golden Bowl.  They are often wealthy enough to have wide freedom of choice in their personal lives, leisure for minute self scrutiny, and usually with enough intelligence to express subtle feelings and moral hesitation.

14. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Thematic Concerns  1. Innocent America Vs Sophisticated Europe  In his novels, Europe was full of history, tradition, and culture in contrast to an apparent vacuity in America. Americans came to Europe adoring it, but they are too innocent to adapt to the European society, therefore often find themselves devastated by its sophistication.

15. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  In The American, James produced an innocent American named Newman who adores Europe comes to find nobility. But all he encounters in Europe is rigidity and artificiality. In the end he proves himself far more noble than those so-called noblemen..  2. Artist in conflict with Society  3. Pilgrim in Search of a Society

16. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Style  1. Constant Viewpoint (point of view)  Omniscient (knowing all)—first person (autobiographical)  James’ line of narration come from and toward one character. Nothing should enter the narrative unless it was the perception of his character.

17. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 2. Symbolism—later two periods  In The Winds of the Dove, the dove is the heroine Milly which symbolizes the transfiguring grace; and the wings symbolize the eager to soar in defiance of weakness and death.  In The Golden Bowl, the gilded crystal bowl which the heroine Maggie wants to receive as a gift for her marriage with Prince Amerigo, is a symbol of her romantic illusions of life— beautiful but false. The breaking of the bowl symbolizes the shattering of her illusion which permits her to begin a true marriage.

18. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 4. The Portrait of a Lady(novel)  It is a representative of the best of Jame’s mature work.The plot concerns the courtship, marriage, and development of the character of Isabel Archer, a young American girl who has been left penniless by the death of her father.

19. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Plot I. After her father ‘ s death, Isabel was taken to Europe by her aunt (Ms. Touchett) who hoped her could study there, and Isabel lived with her aunt. II. Ralph, Isabel ’ s cousin, who was at that time very ill,fell in love with her.Being aware of his illness and the impossibility of marrying her, he gave all his heritage to Isabel.

20. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  III. As a rich and beautiful lady, Isabel was pursued by three men ----  Casper Goodwood, a American millionaire, Lord Warburton, an English nobility and Gillbert Osmond who finally married her. But in fact Gilbert was a liar. He only coveted Isabel ’ s wealth. IV. After two years ’ marriage life, Isabel gradually realized her husband was nothing but a rascal( 流氓 ). The most painful thing was that Gillbert had a lover---Madame Merles who persuaded Isabel to marry Gillbert. Even they had a daughter named Pansy.

21. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  V. Although Warburton and Caspar still loved Isabel deeply, she determined to come back to her husband Gillbert. Because she hold her belief to the wedding oath and she decided to take the custody of Pansy.

22. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Characters Isabel Archer (heroine) Ralph Touchett (cousin) Carspar Goodwood (suitor 1) Lord Warburton (suitor 2) Gilbert Osmond (suitor 3)

23. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Questions 1. What are the major differences between Mark Twain and Henry James as major writers in the school of realism?

24. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Answer  The two great writers share the same literary realistic attitude and differed drastically in subject matters, themes and style.  Mark Twain got his greatest inspiration from the Mississippi. His works are full of witty humor, but they also carry the bitter satire on human.He brought the Southern dialect to life, yet his regional flavor has gained a universal appeal.

25. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Local Colorism  Local Colorism as a trend became dominant in American literature in the late 1860s and early 1870s. It is a variation of American literary realism.  Generally, the writings of local colorists are concerned with the life of a small, well-defined region or province. They were consciously nostalgic historians of a vanishing way of life, recorders of a present that faded before their eyes. Yet for all their sentimentality, they dedicated themselves to minutely accurate descriptions of the life of their regions.  Mark Twain is a local colorist. Hamlin Garland's "Under the Lion's Paw" is a good example of local color fiction.

26. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  As an American who chose to live in Europe, James often wrote about conflicts, both amusing and serious, between American and European manners and customs. His contributions to the art of fiction lie in his chronicles of the psychological perceptions. James wrote many of his novels from the point of view of one or more of the main characters.

27. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Comment I. Portrait fully displays a common theme in Henry ’ s works---- the conflict and the contradiction between American and European due to the different cultural background. II. Its subtle depiction of Isabel ’ s psychological activity and intricate diction makes this novel indigestible. However, it gains fames for Henry.

28. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  Isabel is the typical image of American woman in most Henry ’ s works. He highly appreciated all Americans ’ virtues ---- innocence, loyalty, selflessness and generosity through the characterization of Isabel. Thus Isabel is the incarnation of all virtues while her husband (Gillbert) is the devil. Henry also showed his praise toward the European culture.

29. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 1. Review  Define the term “Psychological Realism”

30. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Psychological Realism  It is the realistic writing that probes deeply into the complexities of characters’ thoughts and motivations. And Henry James is considered the founder of psychological realism.  He believed that reality lies in the impressions made by life on the spectator, and not in any facts of which the spectator is unaware. Such realism is therefore merely the obligation that the artist assumes to represent life as he sees it, which may not be the same life as it “really” is. Henry James’ novel “The Ambassadors” is considered to be a masterpiece of psychological realism.

31. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Theodore Dreiser and Naturalism  I Biography  Poor German family—legend about his father—family sandal—Chicago—Sister Carrie—editor—involvement in Socialism— Trilogy of Desire

32. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE 2. Theodore Dreiser (1871—1945)  2.1 Life and Major Works (Presentation topic)  left-oriented / literary naturalist  “man was merely a mechanism moved by chemical & physical forces beyond his control”/ “merely an animal driven by greed and lust in a struggle for existence”.

33. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE II. Works of Theodore Dreiser(1871-1945) 1. Sister Carrie(1900) 2. Genius(1915), autobiographical novel 3. Trilogy of Desire:The Financier(1912) The Titan(1914) The Stoic(1947) 4. An American Tragedy(1925)

34. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE III Critical Heritage—Naturalism American naturalism was a new and harsh realism,and like realism, it had come from Europe.In naturalist fiction people are often caught within forces of nature or society that are beyond their understanding or control.In T. Dreiser’s novels the characters’ actions are determined by uncontrollable social and physical factors.

35. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE  American naturalists writers are Stephen Crane, Frank Norris, Jack London and Theodore Dreiser. Dreiser’s Sister Carrie is the work in which naturalism attained maturity.

36. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Chief Arguments:  1) Man has no free will. Human destiny is determined by natural and social forces such as biology, psychology, and economics.  2) Life is grim, the universe is cold and spiritless, and the individual is a hapless victim of heredity, society, and natural forces.  3) Chanciness — if we are in the right place at the right time, good things will happen, or if we are in the wrong place, bad things happen.

37. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE A believer in the evolutionary “Survival of the fittest”, T. Dreiser was a lifelong skeptic who found it difficult to believe in anything for very long. If there is any blame to be attached, it is society Dreiser would have bear the blame.  Critics regard naturalism as a kind of pessimistic determinism. It’s generally believed that it grows out of scientific discoveries of 19th century, esp. Darwinism and Freudian psychology. Naturalistic novelists applied these theories to their presentation and interpretation of human existence. French Naturalism—Emile Zola

38. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Naturalistic Elements in Dreiser’s Works  1) Biological Laws  2) Social Laws  “That’s the way it has to be, I guess” he said to himself, “That squid wasn’t quick enough”. He had figured it out. “Things lived on each other—that was it. Lobster lived on squids. What lived on lobsters? Man of Course! Sure, that was it!”  3) An Indifferent or Hostile Universe  “Nature never did betray the heart that loved her”—Wordsworth

39. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Compliant Personal Strategy  characteristics:  Overemphasis on helplessness  Neurotic need for affection, approval, intimacy, belonging  Motivated by need to feel safe  Characteristics (sensitive, unselfish, self- sacrificing, etc.)  Inhibitions (assertiveness, criticism, demands, ambitions, etc.)  Self-image (weak, helpless, "poor little me," self- effacing)  Self-esteem (rises and falls with others’ approval and disapproval)  Repressed aggression

40. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Sister Carrie  Chicago is the scene of Sister Carrie, in which Carrie is a pretty young girl whom Dreiser uses to express his own longings for wealth and affection, for the glitter and excitement of the city which has come to symbolize the possibility for the realization of the American Dream.

41. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Analysis of Sister Carrie  A. About Sister Carrie  Carrie / small town / Chicago background/ pretty / sex appeal/ train / a salesman / sister& her husband / a job/ $4.50 / $4.00 / salesman /romantic man / divorces / steals / “kidnaps” / Canada/ New York/ declines / goes up/ famous actress / suicide  Q. From Dreiser’s viewpoint, is Carrie an immoral person?

42. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE Analysis of Sister Carrie  B. About Chapter One  Chicago: the scene / the American Dream  It shows Carrie leaving home and taking the train to the city/thoughts about Carrie & the salesman / describes them minutely  Text Analysis: Carrie / little control over her life/ opportunist

43. College of Foreign Languages, CTGU College of Foreign Languages, CTGU H ISTORY AND A NTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN L ITERATURE