美国文学论文.docx

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1、美国文学论文美国文学论文美国文学是世界上最年轻的文学之一,从其诞生之时起,就因其尖锐的批判性、持续的独创性和精彩的多元性而独树一帜。下面是学习啦我为大家整理的美国文学论文，供大家参考。美国文学论文范文一：AnalysisofthemaincharacterAhabinMobyDick摘要:白鲸讲述了饱经风霜的亚哈船长与他的仇敌白鲸之间触目惊心的故事，亚哈身上体现了令人敬仰的正义品质:坚定不移、英勇无畏、经历丰富，同时还具有令人恐惧的邪恶气力:偏执、自私、专横。他集正义与邪恶与一身，具有鲜明的双重性。关键词:正义;邪恶;性格双重性Abstract:MobyDicktellsusathrillin

2、gtalebetweenCaptainAhabandhisenemywhalecalledMobyDick.Ahabscharacterisamphibious.Ononehand,heisindomitable、braveandexperienced.Ontheotherhand,heisbigoted,selfishandpresuming.Keywords:justice;evil;charactersamphibiousnessMobyDickwrittenbyHermanMelvilleisregardedasthefirstAmericanproseepic.Itsanencycl

3、opediaofeverything,history,philosophy,religion,etc.ButitisfirstaShakespeareantragedyofmanfightingagainoverwhelmingoddsinanindifferentandevenhostileuniverse.Thestorygoesroughlyasfollows.Ishmael,feelingdepressed,seeksescapebygoingouttoseaonthewhalingship,Pequod.ThecaptainisAhab,themanwithoneleg.MobyDi

4、ck,thewhitewhale,hadshearedoffhislegonthemostasarewardforanyonewhosightsthewhalefirst.ThePequodmarkedagoodcatchofwhalesbutAhabrefusestoturnbackuntilhehaskilledhisenemy.Eventually,thewhitewhaleappears,andthePequodbeginsitsdoomedfightwithit.Onthefirstdaythewhaleoverturnsaboat;Onthesecond,itswampsanoth

5、er.Whenthethirddaycomes,Ahabandhiscrewmanagetoplungeaharpoonintoit,butthewhalecarriesthePequodalongwithittoitsdoom.Allonboardthewhalergetdrowned,exceptone,Ishmael,whosurvivestotellthetale.Fromthestory,wecanseethatcaptainAhabisaherowhodarestofightthoughhefailedatlast.AhabisByronichero,amanwithconsumi

6、ngdesiretotakerevengeagainstthewhalewhichhascrippledhim.Heisbrave.Thoughheknowsthatithasdifficultyinkillingwhale,henevergivesup.Hethinksthatmancanmaketheworldforhimselfandhetrieshisbesttokillthewhale.Althoughhefailsatlast,hisspiritualisrespectableandweshouldalsobeindomitable.WeknowthatAhabscharacter

7、isamphibious,andwenowmorefocusonthebleakview.Astheauthorisnegative,thestoryisfulloftragedy,includingtheending.CaptainAhabisatypicalMelvilleanisolato,andatypicalBartlebywhoselipsareseteverforanIprefernotto.Hecutshimselfofffromhiswifeandkid,andstaysawaymostofthetimefromhiscrew.HehatesMobyDickwhichisan

8、embodimentofnature.Heisangrybecausehisprideiswounded.Afterthelossofhisleginhisencounterwiththewhitewhale,heseemstoholdGodresponsibleforthepresenceofevilintheuniverse.Thushisangerassumestheproportionsofacosmisnature.Inhisegocentricobsession.Heloveshissanity,andhumanityandbecomesadevilishcreaturerushi

9、ngheadlongtowardhisdoom.CaptainAhabbelievedinhisownpower,heistoomuchofaself-reliantindividualtobeagoodhumanbeing.Hisselfhoodmustbeassertedattheexpenseofallelse:livesmaybesacrificed,andnaturemaybesacrificed,andnaturemayhavetobevanquishedinorderthathemaydowhathewills.Ahabis,tobemoreexact,avictimofsoli

10、psism,Histragedystemminginthemainfromextremeindividualism,selfishwill,aspirittoomuchwithdrawntoitselftowarrantsalvation.Inconclusion,weshouldobservethetwosidesoftheCaptainscharacter.Weneedbebraveandconfident.Wehavetoremindthatmanisinsociety,andwecantlivewithoutsociety.Weshouldrespectthenature.美国文学论文

11、范文二：ThereviewabouttheLiteratureofRomanticism.BackgroundFromtheearly1800stothecivilwar，Americanwasalandofparadoxes,alandstirredbyspiritualdreamsandshapedbytherealitiesofagrowingmaterialism.theUnitedStateshadbeguntochangeintoanindustrialcausesociety,technologywouldbringvastmaterialbenefitsandcauseover

12、whelmingsocialdisorders.Americanshadsoughtnewlibertiesandnewideasinlifeandart,butconflictsoftheirsocietyhadculminatedinabloodycivilwar.InthefirsthalfofthenineteenthcenturytheproportionofAmericanswholaboredonfarmsdeclinedasincreasingmembersleftthelandtoworkinurbanbusinessesandfactories.NewYorkbecameA

13、mericanslargestcity,supplantingBostonandPhiladelphiaastheeconomicandculturalcapitalofthenation.Thoughthefirsthalfofthecenturythepursuitofsimplicity,utility,andperfectionremainedanAmericancharacteristic.IntheyearsprecedingtheCivilWarrelativelyfewvolumesofimaginativeliteraturewerepublishedintheUnitedS

14、tates.Mostbookwerealmanacs,schoolbooks,self-helpmanuals,orworksonreligion,medicine,orthelaw.Fewerthanadozenvolumesofpoetrywerepublishedannually.Fictionwasaprimecomponentofladiesmagazines.Novelswereincreasinglypopular,especiallyhistoricalromanceswrittenbyEuropeans,mostnotablybythemonarchandmasterofmo

15、dernfiction,SirWalterScott.Butasthecenturyprogressed,nativeAmericanwriterswonincreasingnationalandinternationalfame.WashingtonIrvingsSketchBook(1819-1820)becamethefirstworkbyanAmericanwritertowinfinancialsuccessonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.ThedefinitionofRomanticismRomanticismisamovementprevailingthe19t

16、hcenturyinWesternWorldinliterature.artmusicandphilosophybeginningasareactionandprotestagainstthebondageofrulesandcustomsofneo-classicism.Itwasmarkedandisalwaysmarkedbyastoryreaction.Itreturnedtonatureandplainhumanityformaterial.Itbroughtaboutarenewedinterestinmedievalliterature.Itwasalsomarkedbysymp

17、athyforpoorpeopleandthusadeepunderstandingtowardcommonpeople.Itwasamovementexpressionofindivdualorignalityanddifferentpoetsrealizedtheirvariety.Adreamofgoldenageisestablishedagainststernrealities.Imaginationisthekeypoint.TheCharacteristicsoftheRomanticLiteratureThemaintrendsofthoughtoftheliteratureo

18、fromanticismisRomanticism,Transcendentation,Anti-slavery.Transcendentationasamoralphilosophy,transcendentalismwasneitherlogicalnorsystematized.Itexaltedfeelingoverreason,individualexpressionovertherestraintsoflawandcustom.TheybelievedinthetranscendenceoftheOversoul,anall-pervadingpowerforgoodnessfro

19、mwhichallthingscomeandofwhichallthingsareapart.Romanticism,attitudeorintellectualorientationthatcharacterizedmanyworksofliterature,painting,music,architecture,criticism,andhistoriographyinWesterncivilizationoveraperiodfromthelate18thtothemid-19thcentury.Romanticismcanbeseenasarejectionofthepreceptso

20、forder,calm,harmony,balance,idealization,andrationalitythattypifiedClassicismingeneralandlate18th-centuryNeoclassicisminparticular.ItwasalsotosomeextentareactionagainsttheEnlightenmentandagainst18th-centuryrationalismandphysicalmaterialismingeneral.Romanticismemphasizedtheindividual,thesubjective,th

21、eirrational,theimaginative,thepersonal,thespontaneous,theemotional,thevisionary,andthetranscendental.AmongthecharacteristicattitudesofRomanticismwerethefollowing:adeepenedappreciationofthebeautiesofnature;ageneralexaltationofemotionoverreasonandofthesensesoverintellect;aturninginupontheselfandaheigh

22、tenedexaminationofhumanpersonalityanditsmoodsandmentalpotentialities;apreoccupationwiththegenius,thehero,andtheexceptionalfigureingeneral,andafocusonhispassionsandinnerstruggles;anewviewoftheartistasasupremelyindividualcreator,whosecreativespiritismoreimportantthanstrictadherencetoformalrulesandtrad

23、itionalprocedures;anemphasisuponimaginationasagatewaytotranscendentexperienceandspiritualtruth;anobsessiveinterestinfolkculture,nationalandethnicculturalorigins,andthemedievalera;andapredilectionfortheexotic,theremote,themysterious,theweird,theoccult,themonstrous,thediseased,andeventhesatanic.Mainwr

24、iterandmasterpiece.WashingtonIrving(1783-1851)HewastheFatherofAmericanImaginativeLiterature;theFatherofAmericanShortStories.HewasthefirstgreatprosestylistofAmericanromanticismfamiliarstyle.Theapparenteaseofhiswritingisnotsimplythatofthegiftedamateur;itresultsfromhispurposefulidentificationofhiswhole

25、personalitywithwhathewrote.Hewasurbaneandworldly,yethumorousandgentle,hisgreatandgracefulstylecombinewithAmericanrootsshapedhisindependentliterarypersonality.Hewasthefirstgreatbelletrist,writingalwaysforpleasure,andtoproducepleasure.In1819-1820,hisSketchBookappearedthefirstmodernshortstoriesandthefi

26、rstgreatAmericanjuvenileliteraturetowritegoodhistoryandbiographyasliteraryentertainment.ThemoststoryofhisSketchBookisTheLegendofSleepHollowandRipVanWinkle.HeintroducedthefamiliaressaytoAmerica.Hisbest-knownstoriesawakenedaninterestinthelifeofAmericanregions.In1819,AHistoryofNewYorkbyDiedrichKnickerb

27、ockerarollickingburlesqueofacurrentserioushistoryoftheearlyDutchsettlers,hasbecomeaclassicofhumor.BracebridgeHallfollowedin1822;thenhefirstwenttoGermanyinpursuitofaninterestinGermanromanticism,whichflavoredtheTalesofTraveller(1824),inParishewithJohnHowardPaynewrotethebrilliantsocialcomedyCharlestheS

28、econdorTheMerryMonarch.AHistoryoftheLifeandVoyagesofChristopherColumbus(1828);AChronicleoftheConquestofGrandada(1829);VoyagesandDiscoveriesoftheCompanionsofColumbus(1831);afamousvolumeofstoriesandsketchesTheAlhambra(1832)andLegendsoftheConquestofSpain(1835)andsoon.JamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)Hewas

29、thefirstimportantAmericannovelistbeganhisliterarycareeronadare.In1821,TheSpywassuccessful,itwasarousingtaleaboutespionageagainsttheBritishduringtheRevolutionaryWar.Cooperlaunchedtwokindsofimmenselypopularstories:theseaadventuretale,andthefrontiersaga.ThePilotisthebestofhismanysearomances(1824).Hewro

30、tethefirstofficialhistoryoftheU.S.Navyin1839.HisfrontierstoriesLeatherStockingTalesincludingfivenovels:TheDeerslayer;TheLastoftheMohicans,ThePathfinder,ThePioneers,ThePrairie.AllanNevinscallsthesefivenovelsthenearestapproachyettoanAmericanepic.withavastgroupofsupportingcharacters,virtuousorvillainou

31、s,CoopermadetheAmericanconsciousofhispast,andmadetheEuropeanconsciousofAmerican.AndtheTextbooksworksisTheLastofTheMohicans.EdgarAllanPoe(1809-1849)PoewasborninBoston.HewastheFatherofModernShortStories;theFatherofDetectiveStory;andtheFatherofPsychoanalyticCritism.Hewasthejingleman.Hewonacontestwithhi

32、sstoryMs.FoundinaBottle.ThenhegotajobaseditorwiththeSouthernLiteraryMessengerin1833.Heshowedhistruetalentsasaneditor,apoet,aliterarycritic,andawriteroffiction.AndhealsoissuedTheFalloftheHouseofUsher.In1840,HisfirstcollectionofshortstoriesTalesoftheGrotesqueandArabesque.TheRavenwaspublishedasthetitle

33、poemofacollectionin1845.InEurope,hewashailedasapioneerinpoeticandfictionaltechniques.HisinfluencewasespeciallystrongonmanyFrenchwriters.ThemostfamousworkswereToHelen;TheRaven;AnnabelLee;TheFalloftheHouseofUsher.RalphWaldoEmerson(1803-1882)HewasresponsibleforbringingTranscendentalismtoNewEnglandandwa

34、srecognizedthroughouthislifeastheleaderofthemovement.Hebelievedaboveallinindividualism,independenceofmindandself-reliance.Headmiredcourage,hewasnotafraidofchangingorclashingideas.Likemanyoriginalminds,hewasoftenseveraljumpsaheadofwhathisfollowersthoughtwashispositionorphilosophy.Hewasoneofthemostinf

35、luentialAmericanthinkers,yethehadnoelaborate,formalsystemofthoughtandheneverattemptedtocreateone.Emersonbelievedaboveallinindividualism,independenceofmind,andself-reliance.In1836,heissuedthefirstbookNature,whichmetwithamildreception.However,twospeechesinthenexttwoyears,TheAmericanScholarandTheDivini

36、tySchoolAddress,madehimfamous.ManyofhislectureswerelaterdistilledintohisfamousEssays.AmonghismostimportantworksareRepresentativeMen(1850)andEnglishTraits(1856).HisPoemappearedin1847.Inhisday,Emersonspoemswerecriticizedfortheirlackofformandpolish.Inrecentyears,hover,hispoetryhasreceivedhighpraise.His

37、harshrhythmsandstrikingimagesappealtomanymodernreadersasartfultechniques.Hisprosestyleissometimesashighlyindividualashispoetry.Manyofhisessayswereputtogetherfromhisjournalentries,speeches,andrandomnotes,andtheyareoftensomewhatdisorganized.Yethisskillinpolishingeachsentenceintoastrikingthoughtmakeshi

38、swritingmemorable.OneofhisgreatstatementswasinTheAmericanScholar.ThattitleisnowcarriedbyoneofthefinestmagazinesinAmerican.OliverWendellHolmescalledthespeechourintellectualDeclarationofIndependence.Heistheworldseye.Heistheworldsheart.HenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862)HewasEmersonstruestdisciple,whoputintop

39、racticemanyofEmersonstheories.Walden,thesuperbbookcameoutofhistwo-yearsresidenceatWaldenPond.Heexplainedmanyofthebeliefsthatledhimtotrythiskindoflife.Hethoughtitbetterforamantoworkonedayaweekandtherestoftheweekcouldbedevotedtothought.ForThoreau,asforEmerson,self-relianceandindependenceofmindrankedab

40、ovealleachshouldfindouthisownwayofliving.In1849,FromhisexperienceinjailcamehisfamousessayCivilDisobedience,whichstatedThoreausbeliefthatnomanshouldviolatehisconscienceatthecommandofagovernment.HisfamousbookisWaldenWhereILived,andWhatILivedFor.NathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)TheHouseoftheSevenGablesdeal

41、swiththeeffectsofacurse,andthoughthetaleitselfisfiction,thegermofthestorysprangfromtheauthorsfamilyhistory.HawthornegatheredhismaterialbyobservingandlisteningtootherswhosetalkwasfilledwithNewEnglandLore,legend,andsuperstition.HisfamousbookisTheScarletLetter.Hawthornesuniquegiftwasforthecreationofstr

42、onglysymbolicstorieswhichtouchthedeepestrootsofmansmoralnature.ThefinestexampleistherecreationofPuritanBoston,TheScarletLetter.Inthisnoveleachword,image,andeventworkstowardasingleeffect.Itisacomplexstoryofguilt,itseffectsuponvariouspersons,andhowdeliveranceisobtainedforsomeofthem.Hisabilitytocreatev

43、ividandsymbolicimagesthatembodygreatmoralquestionsappearstronglyinhisshortstories.ItwasHawthornesabilitytomakeastoryexistinitsownrightbutatthesametimeappearasamoralsymbol.HawthorneshareswithEdgarAllanPoethedistinctionofadvancingtheartoftheshortstory,givingtotheformqualitiesthatareuniquelyAmerican.To

44、HawthorneandMelville,however,thetellingofatalewasawayofinquiringintothemeaningoflife.HisstoriesalsohaveTheBlithedaleRomance(1852);splendidstoriescalledMossesfromanOldManse(1846);TheMarbleFaun(1860).HermanMelville(1819-1891)MobyDick,atremendouschronicleofawhalingvoyageinpursuitofaseeminglysupernatura

45、lwhitewhale.Thebookissteepedinsymbolism,anotherstrongappealtoreadersofhiscentury.In1846,Typeebecameknownasthemanwholivedamongcannibals.ThebookwasbasicallyfactualbutwasnodoubtelaboratedsomewhatandbuiltupfromMelvillesreadingaswellashisexperience.Equallysuccessfulwasasequel,Omoo(1847),abouthisadventure

46、sonTahitiandotherisland.LaterMelvillebasedBedburn(1849)onhisfirstvoyagetoEngland,andWhite-Jacket(1850)onhisbriefcareerinthenavy.HedrewuponhisnavalexperienceagainforBillyBudd(1891).HehastwootherphilosophicalnovelsMardi,Pierre.twocelebratedshortnovelsBenitoCerenoandBillyBudd.Thestoryusesashipassymbolo

47、fsocietyandsearchinglyexaminestheproblemsofgoodandevil.Ahabsshipwaslikeaworldinminiaturewithcharactersfromallwalksoflife.HenryWadsworthLongfellow(1807-1882)LongfellowwasborninPortland,Maine,onFebruary27,1807anddiedonMarch24,1882inCambridge,Massachusetts,themostbelovedAmericanpoetofhistime.Hismainboo

48、ksareLongfellowsfirstcollectionofpoemsentitledVoicesoftheNight(1838);Hyperiontheproseromance(1839);BalladsandotherPoems(1841);PoemsonSlavery(1842);Evangeline(1847);SongofHiawath(1855);TheCourtshipofMilesStandish(1858)Afterhisdeath,hebecametheonlyAmericantobehonoredwithabustinthePoetscornerofWestmins

49、terAbbey.Thegentleness,sweetness,andpurityforwhichhispoetrywaspopularduringhislifetime.SummaryFromtheendofthe18thcenturytotheoutbreakofheCivilWar.ItstartedwiththepublicationofWashingtonIrvingsTheSketchBookandendedwithWhitmansLeavesofGrass.ItisalsocalledtheAmericanRenaissance.ThedesireforanescapefromsocietyandareturntonaturebecameapermanentconventionofAmericanliterature.TheAmericanPuritanismasaculturalheritageexertedgreatinfluencesoverAmericanmoralvalues.Besides,apreoccupat