美国文学简史完全笔记 Chapter 3

时间：2008-10-08 06:05:53

（单词翻译:单击）

Chapter 3 The Age of Realism

　　I. Background: From Romanticism to Realism

　　1.the three conflicts that reached breaking point in this period

　　（1）industrialism vs. agrarian1

　　（2）culturely-measured east vs. newly-developed west

　　（3）plantation gentility vs. commercial gentility

　　2.1880＊s urbanization: from free competition to monopoly capitalism2

　　3.the closing of American frontier

　　II. Characteristics

　　1.truthful3 description of life

　　2.typical character under typical circumstance

　　3.objective rather than idealized, close observation and investigation4 of life

　　※Realistic writers are like scientists.§

　　4.open-ending:

　　Life is complex and cannot be fully5 understood. It leaves much room for readers to think by themselves.

　　5.concerned with social and psychological problems, revealing the frustrations6 of characters in an environment of sordidness7 and depravity

　　III.    Three Giants in Realistic Period

　　1.William Dean Howells 每 ※Dean of American Realism§

　　（1）Realistic principles

　　a. Realism is ※fidelity to experience and probability of motive§.

　　b. The aim is ※talk of some ordinary traits of American life§.

　　c. Man in his natural and unaffected dullness was the object of Howells＊s fictional9 representation.

　　d. Realism is by no means mere10 photographic pictures of externals but includes a central concern with ※motives§ and psychological conflicts.

　　e. He condemns11 novels of sentimentality and morbid12 self-sacrifice, and avoids such themes as illicit13 love.

　　f.  Authors should minimize plot and the artificial ordering of the sense of something ※desultory, unfinished, imperfect§.

　　g. Characters should have solidity of specification15 and be real.

　　h. Interpreting sympathetically the ※common feelings of commonplace people§ was best suited as a technique to express the spirit of America.

　　i.He urged writers to winnow16 tradition and write in keeping with current humanitarian17 ideals.

　　j.Truth is the highest beauty, but it includes the view that morality penetrates18 all things.

　　k. With regard to literary criticism, Howells felt that the literary critic should not try to impose arbitrary or subjective19 evaluations20 on books but should follow the detached scientist in accurate description, interpretation21, and classification.

　　（2）Works

　　a. The Rise of Silas Lapham

　　b. A Chance Acquaintance

　　c. A Modern Instance

　　（3）Features of His Works

　　a. Optimistic tone

　　b. Moral development/ethics

　　c. Lacking of psychological depth

　　2.Henry James

　　（1）Life

　　（2）Literary career: three stages

　　a. 1865~1882: international theme

　　l   The American

　　l   Daisy Miller22

　　l   The Portrait of a Lady

　　b. 1882~1895: inter-personal relationships and some plays

　　l   Daisy Miller （play）

　　c. 1895~1900: novellas and tales dealing23 with childhood and adolescence24, then back to international theme

　　l   The Turn of the Screw

　　l   When Maisie Knew

　　l   The Ambassadors

　　l   The Wings of the Dove

　　l   The Golden Bowl

　　（3）Aesthetic ideas

　　a. The aim of novel: represent life

　　b. Common, even ugly side of life

　　c. Social function of art

　　d. Avoiding omniscient25 point of view

　　（4）Point of view

　　a. Psychological analysis, forefather26 of stream of consciousness

　　b. Psychological realism

　　c. Highly-refined language

　　（5）Style 每 ※stylist§

　　a. Language: highly-refined, polished, insightful, accurate

　　b. Vocabulary: large

　　c. Construction: complicated, intricate

　　3.Mark Twain （see next section）

　　Local Colorism 1860s, 1870s~1890s

　　I. Appearance

　　1.uneven27 development in economy in America

　　2.culture: flourishing of frontier literature, humourists

　　3.magazines appeared to let writer publish their works

　　II. What is ※Local Colour§?

　　Tasks of local colourists: to write or present local characters of their regions in truthful depiction28 distinguished29 from others, usually a very small part of the world.

　　Regional literature （similar, but larger in world）

　　lGarland, Harte 每 the west

　　lEggleston 每 Indiana

　　lMrs Stowe

　　lJewett 每 Maine

　　lChopin 每 Louisiana

　　III.    Mark Twain 每 Mississippi

　　1.life

　　2.works

　　（1）The Gilded30 Age

　　（2）※the two advantages§

　　（3）Life on the Mississippi

　　（4）A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur＊s Court

　　（5）The Man That Corrupted31 Hardleybug

　　3.style

　　（1）colloquial language, vernacular32 language, dialects

　　（2）local colour

　　（3）syntactic feature: sentences are simple, brief, sometimes ungrammatical

　　（4）humour

　　（5）tall tales （highly exaggerated）

　　（6）social criticism （satire33 on the different ugly things in society）

　　IV.     Comparison of the three ※giants§ of American Realism

　　1.Theme

　　Howells 每 middle class

　　James 每 upper class

　　Twain 每 lower class

　　2.Technique

　　Howells 每 smiling/genteel realism

　　James 每 psychological realism

　　Twain 每 local colourism and colloquialism


分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 agrarian qKayI     
adj.土地的，农村的，农业的
参考例句：
  • People are leaving an agrarian way of life to go to the city.人们正在放弃农业生活方式而转向城市。
  • This was a feature of agrarian development in Britain.这是大不列颠土地所有制发展的一个特征。
2 capitalism er4zy     
n.资本主义
参考例句：
  • The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
  • Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。
3 truthful OmpwN     
adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的
参考例句：
  • You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
  • I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
4 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
5 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地
参考例句：
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
6 frustrations 7d9e374b9e145ebadbaa8704f2c615e5     
挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意
参考例句：
  • The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
  • Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。
7 sordidness 108aaccfde4e589aa1ed8b70b99d5a76     
n.肮脏；污秽；卑鄙；可耻
参考例句：
8 fidelity vk3xB     
n.忠诚，忠实；精确
参考例句：
  • There is nothing like a dog's fidelity.没有什么能比得上狗的忠诚。
  • His fidelity and industry brought him speedy promotion.他的尽职及勤奋使他很快地得到晋升。
9 fictional ckEx0     
adj.小说的，虚构的
参考例句：
  • The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
  • The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。
10 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
11 condemns c3a2b03fc35077b00cf57010edb796f4     
v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地
参考例句：
  • Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
12 morbid u6qz3     
adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的
参考例句：
  • Some people have a morbid fascination with crime.一些人对犯罪有一种病态的痴迷。
  • It's morbid to dwell on cemeteries and such like.不厌其烦地谈论墓地以及诸如此类的事是一种病态。
13 illicit By8yN     
adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的
参考例句：
  • He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
  • Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。
14 desultory BvZxp     
adj.散漫的，无方法的
参考例句：
  • Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎，成为没有明确方向的漫谈。
  • The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。
15 specification yvwwn     
n.详述；[常pl.]规格，说明书，规范
参考例句：
  • I want to know his specification of details.我想知道他对细节的详述。
  • Examination confirmed that the quality of the products was up to specification.经检查，产品质量合格。
16 winnow Yfrwy     
v．把（谷物）的杂质吹掉，扬去
参考例句：
  • You should winnow out the inaccuracies of this paper this afternoon.你今天下午把这篇文章中不精确的内容删掉。
  • We should winnow out the errors in logic.我们应该排除逻辑中的错误。
17 humanitarian kcoxQ     
n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者
参考例句：
  • She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
  • The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。
18 penetrates 6e705c7f6e3a55a0a85919c8773759e9     
v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 )；刺入；了解；渗透
参考例句：
  • This is a telescope that penetrates to the remote parts of the universe. 这是一架能看到宇宙中遥远地方的望远镜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dust is so fine that it easily penetrates all the buildings. 尘土极细，能极轻易地钻入一切建筑物。 来自辞典例句
19 subjective mtOwP     
a.主观(上)的，个人的
参考例句：
  • The way they interpreted their past was highly subjective. 他们解释其过去的方式太主观。
  • A literary critic should not be too subjective in his approach. 文学评论家的看法不应太主观。
20 evaluations a116c012e4b127eb506b6098697095ab     
估价( evaluation的名词复数 )； 赋值； 估计价值； [医学]诊断
参考例句：
  • In fact, our moral evaluations are merely expressions of our desires. 事实上，我们的道德评价只是我们欲望的表达形式。 来自哲学部分
  • Properly speaking, however, these evaluations and insights are not within the concept of official notice. 但准确地讲，这些评估和深远见识并未包括在官方通知概念里。
21 interpretation P5jxQ     
n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理
参考例句：
  • His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
  • Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。
22 miller ZD6xf     
n.磨坊主
参考例句：
  • Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
  • The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。
23 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法，待人态度
参考例句：
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
24 adolescence CyXzY     
n.青春期，青少年
参考例句：
  • Adolescence is the process of going from childhood to maturity.青春期是从少年到成年的过渡期。
  • The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence.这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。
25 omniscient QIXx0     
adj.无所不知的；博识的
参考例句：
  • He's nervous when trying to potray himself as omniscient.当他试图把自己描绘得无所不知时，内心其实很紧张。
  • Christians believe that God is omniscient.基督教徒相信上帝是无所不知的。
26 forefather Ci7xu     
n.祖先；前辈
参考例句：
  • What we are doing today is something never dreamed of by our forefather.我们今天正在做的是我们祖先所不敢想的。
  • These are the customs of forefather hand down to us.这些都是先辈传给你们的习俗。
27 uneven akwwb     
adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的
参考例句：
  • The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
  • The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。
28 depiction f490e01c7396351ff1441f8162831f34     
n.描述
参考例句：
  • Double rhythms, resounding through the lyric depiction and connecting with each other, indicate the thespian place of mankind and the cognition of the writer to this thespian place. 这双重旋律互为表里，表明了人类的某种悲剧性处境以及作家对这种悲剧性处境的感受和认识。
  • A realistic depiction of scenes from everyday domestic life. 日常家居生活的写实画。
29 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的
参考例句：
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
30 gilded UgxxG     
a.镀金的，富有的
参考例句：
  • The golden light gilded the sea. 金色的阳光使大海如金子般闪闪发光。
  • "Friends, they are only gilded disks of lead!" "朋友们，这只不过是些镀金的铅饼！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
31 corrupted 88ed91fad91b8b69b62ce17ae542ff45     
（使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏
参考例句：
  • The body corrupted quite quickly. 尸体很快腐烂了。
  • The text was corrupted by careless copyists. 原文因抄写员粗心而有讹误。
32 vernacular ULozm     
adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名
参考例句：
  • The house is built in a vernacular style.这房子按当地的风格建筑。
  • The traditional Chinese vernacular architecture is an epitome of Chinese traditional culture.中国传统民居建筑可谓中国传统文化的缩影。
33 satire BCtzM     
n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品
参考例句：
  • The movie is a clever satire on the advertising industry.那部影片是关于广告业的一部巧妙的讽刺作品。
  • Satire is often a form of protest against injustice.讽刺往往是一种对不公正的抗议形式。

©2005-2010英文阅读网