论美国民主期末论文.doc

班级：2010级英语九班 姓名：卫武红 学号：20100201426The influence of democratic ideals on early American literature and the characteristics of literature under this particular social condition Abstract: Literature is the product of social condition and cultural tradition, as well as the manifestation of history. A nation’s literature is always subordinated to its social state and political constitution. It may exhibit some of its influence at least. This is also true if we make a full investigation of eighteenth-century American literature when the idea of democracy began to take foot on this new land. This paper is supposed to expose how the democratic ideas exert its influence on early American literature and the characteristics of literature under this particular social condition. Key words: democratic ideals; early American literature; characteristics of literature 摘要：文学是社会状态和文化传统的产物，同时也是历史的体现。一个国家的文学总是从属于它的社会形态和政治体制。至少文学能体现社会和政治某方面的影响。18世纪的美国，民主的种子在这块新大陆上生根发芽。所以仔细调查那时的美国文学，会发现民主思想对文学的极大影响。这篇文章旨在揭示民主思想怎样对早期的美国文学产生影响以及在此影响下早期美国文学的特征。 关键词：民主思想；早期美国文学；文学特征 1. Brief Backgrounds: After the first voyage of Columbus in 1492, the early 1600s witnessed the beginning of a great tide of emigration from Europe to North America. Spanning more than three centuries, this movement grew from a trickle of a few hundred English colonists to a flood tide of newcomers numbered in the millions. Impelled by powerful and diverse motivations, they built a new civilization on a once savage continent. People of the United States came from different continents. They had various origins. One of the most principal motivations that drove them to the new land is the pursuit of freedom, liberty, and equality, economically, mentally, or religiously. When they arrived and saw the virgin forests, the virgin land, and the vast expanse of wilderness that stretched miles around before them, they became aware that God must have sent them there for a definite purpose and that, as God’s chosen people, they were meant