(第一讲) Colonial Period殖民时期.ppt

Lecture 1 ;Main contents;1. Historical background;In 1620 ---?Puritans came to the New England area, by Mayflower and found Plymouth Colony (普利茅斯殖民地). ship of Mayflower roast turkey The origin of Thanksgiving Day;New England;2. American Puritanism;Why did Puritans come to America? --- to reform the Church of England and establish an entirely new church. --- Charles I (1603)---to escape religious and political oppression and persecution. --- to get greater economy opportunity for land and for adventure.;What is American Puritanism?;What are the features of Puritanism? 1. Predestination(宿命论): God decided everything before things occurred. 2. Original sin（原罪）: Human beings were born to be evil . “In Adam’s fall, we all sin” 3. Total depravity（彻底堕落）:Humanity’s absolute corruption since the Fall of Man. 4. Limited atonement（有限救赎）or the salvation of a selected few: Only the “elect” can be saved.;What are the influences of Puritanism on American thought and literature? 1. Root of American Spirit: piety, hard work, thrift, confidence, courage to face difficulties, individualism, forge ahead(进取) ,optimistic. “Every tub must stand on its own bottom.” “Every one is the architect of his own future.” “God helps those who help themselves.” ;2. Source of American Dream: To achieve freedom , prosperity and success through honest hard work. The ability to rise from rags to riches through hard work. life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement“ --- James Truslow Adams;Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) ; If you would not be forgotten , as soon as you are dead rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing. --- B. Franklin;America has never forgotten Benjamin Franklin because he did both. Today, we honor Ben Frankl