【优质】American Literature 美国文学讲义.doc

American Literature Lecturer Cao Liangcheng Undergraduates Grade 2005 Department of English, FTC. American Literature Based on History and Anthology of American Literature. Compiled by Wu Weiren. Beijing: Foreign Languages Teaching and Research Press, 2003. Book 2 (pp. 1-286) Part IV The Literature of Realism (1865—1914) Teaching Duration: EIGHT periods Teaching Aims and Demands: 1. The students should learn the history, cultural background of the 19th century literature.  2. They should know the basic characteristics, ideas and its influence. 3. They should learn the main literary career of the writers in this period and understand the contents and artistic characteristics of the selected works. Key points: realism; naturalism; local colorism realistic writers and their main works. Teaching Methods: presentation and discussion. Teaching Aids: Computer and PPT Teaching Procedures: STAGE ONE INTRODUCTION TO REALISMA. Realism I. Background: From Romanticism to Realism the three conflicts that reached breaking point in this period industrialism vs. agrarian culturely-measured east vs. newly-developed west plantation gentility vs. commercial gentility 1880’s urbanization: from free competition to monopoly capitalism the closing of American frontier II. Characteristics truthful description of life typical character under typical circumstance objective rather than idealized, close observation and investigation of life “Realistic writers are like scientists.” open-ending: Life is complex and cannot be fully understood. It leaves much room for readers to think by themselves. concerned with social and psychological problems, revealing the frustrations of characters in an environment of sordidness and depravity B. Psychological realism Psychological realism is the realistic writing that probes deeply into the complexities of characters’ thoughts and motivations.