Lecture3美国文学选读.ppt

Study Points New England Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau American Transcendentalism （1836-1855） 1. The first American intellectual movement to inspire a number of literary classics 2. It stresses the unity of being—Viewing God, man and nature as sharers in a universal soul—Oversoul Leading Transcendentalists 1. Ralph Waldo Emerson – the leader 2. Henry David Thoreau – the doer What do they do? 1. Talk and discuss – intellectual companionship and interests 2. Work – living closer to nature and dignity of manual labor 3. Believe – human rights are divine in their right 4. Write – The Dial (1840-1844) 5. Reform – human rights, women’s rights, social changes Ralph Waldo Emerson “Father of American Essay” Leader and spokesman of New England Transcendentalism Essayist, poet, philosopher, orator, critic Ralph Waldo Emerson （1803-1882） A. born in a clergyman’s family in New England B. graduated from Harvard C. became a minister to the Second Church of Boston, but not for long D. left the job as minister, went to Europe and met Coleridge and Wordsworth and made friends with them, and brought back the influence of European Romanticism E. founded a Transcendentalists’ Club and published a journal, The Dial F. became the most eloquent spokesman of Transcendentalism Major Works Journals and speeches are the forms of communication most natural to Emerson. His essays are usually derived from lectures he had already delivered. Nature (1836) The American Scholar (1837) Self-Reliance (1841) The Over-Soul (1841) The Poet (1844) Works that have changed Americans 1. Nature 《论自然》 The Bible of American Transcendentalism Forceful romantic individualism that places man over nature, and identifies him with God. Nature 1. In the woods, we return to reason and faith. 2. A nobler want of man is served by nature, namely, the love of Beauty. 3. Nature is the vehicle of thought. 4. Nature is the symbol of spirit. Works that have changed Americans 2. The American Schol