Part OneCOLONIAL PERIOD AND EARLY AMERICAN LITERATURE(1620-1800)I. Historical background1. The native American and their culture– Indiansno written language oral literatureno discourse power话语权Hegemonism and power politics霸权主义和强权政治2. The historical background of the colonial TimeChristopher Columbus discovered the American continent in 2:00am, Friday, October 12, 1492.Amerigo Vespucci1497, John Cabot claimed it for EnglandImmigrants from European: Spanish, Dutch, French, mostly English.question: Why travel all the way across the ocean to the New World?1). Profit motive1st Group 1580-1600 led by John SmithJamestown in Virginia in 1607Plantation way of lifePlanter in the south2). Religious motive2nd Group pilgrims1610-1620 May flower.Plymouth in Massachusetts in 1620;Bradford as governorPuritans in the north; called “First Americans”selected reading:The first view of AmericaBeing thus pa ssed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles…they had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succour援助者…savage barbarians were readier to fill their sides with arrows than otherwise. And for the reason it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country , know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms …the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wide and savage hue.--from William Bradford’s History of Plimmoth PlantationII. Puritanism1 Aims of Puritanism(Why did Puritans come to America?) :- to reform and purify the Church of England- to escape religious persecution- to build Theocracy神治国in the new world* God’s chosen people* To seek a new Garden of Eden* To build “City of God on earth”2. The Source and doctrines of PuritanismThey follow the ideas of the French reformer and theologian (神学家)John Calvin Doctrines: Calvinist=Puritan（Total depravity）彻底堕落。
“In Adam’s fall, we sinned all”（Unconditional election）无条件选择。
（Limited atonement）有限的代赎（Irresistible grace）不可抗拒的恩典（predestination）Tulip，即“郁金香”之义。
selected reading:Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God《愤怒的上帝手中的罪人》God “holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect, over the fire,…he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire.”如果你向上帝哭诉求救，他决不会理睬你可悲的境地，不会怜悯你，不会给你一丝一毫的恩惠，相反，他要把你踩在脚下。
……他会无情地将你踩碎，碾出你的鲜血，让它高高溅到他的衣服上。
他不仅会恨你，而且鄙视你，你无处可去，只有被他踩在脚下，踩在大街的泥潭之中。
Jonathan EdwardsNeed to glorify God, Need to debase man3) Creeds of Puritanism“life is a test. Failure led to eternal damnation and success to heavenly bliss”-to be ever ready for any misfortune and tragic failure. Do with best preparation and worst expectation-Hard-working, thrifty, pious, sober, simple, practical, tougher, and optimistic. Selected reading:Puritan“He was a visionary who never forget that two plus two equals four; he was a soldier of Jehovah who never came out on the losing side of a bargain… He was a practical idealist…his beliefs were handed down on high and his conduct wasregulated by expediency 私利. He was a doctrinaire and an opportunist.”4. Influence of Puritanism(1) myth– garden of Eden, American Dream(2) Symbolism: the physical world is a symbol of God.(3) Simplicity fresh, simple and direct; plain and honest; the Bible.selected reading: Puritanism In literary works我要讴歌基督教创造的奇迹。
为逃避欧洲的腐败堕落，他们来到美洲的海滩；……感谢上帝的庇佑，把印第安人的荒芜之地变得辉煌灿烂。
---科顿·马瑟五月花”号船上的乘客登上北美大陆海岸时的情景Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and bless the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast ocean, and delivered them from the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable ear th…他们双膝跪下，感激上帝带他们越过了浩瀚汹涌的大洋，把他们从危险和苦难中解救出来，使他们安全无恙地又一次踏上了坚实的大地……--William Bradford威廉·布雷德福总督，1620，11(God) will delight to dwell among us, as His own people, and will command a blessing upon us in all our ways… We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies…For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill(山巅之城). The eyes of all people are upon us---约翰·温思罗普John Winthrop “A Model of Christian Charity”(1630)The Vale (valley) of Plenty --John SmithQuestion: Why do Americans get air of superiority?加尔文教与清教的教义都强调一种精英思想Elitism，美国文化的“根”only certain persons, the elect, were chosen by God to be savedFired with a sense of mission optimistic; elected ;sacred task“上帝的工作”(1) the foundation of the U.S.A.;(2) the expansion of American Territory;(3)the spread of American democracyIII. Literature1. General Features of the Colonial Literature1) Utilitarian in Purposes:encourage more Englishmen to the New World, colonial expansionspread their Puritan ideas, to prove they are the God select, haven’t let down theholy mission.2) Humble in origins:personal writings like diaries, histories, journals, letters, biographies, travel books experience of Indians help etc.3) Imitating in form:imitating and transplanting English literary tradition faithfullyselected reading:A Wealth of Natural ResourcesHe is a bad fisher who cannot kill on one day with his hook and line, one, two, or three hundred Cods.--John Smith, A Description of New EnglandA sup of New England’s air is better than a whole draft of old England’s ale淡色啤酒.--Francis Higginson, New-England’s Planatation2. Captain John Smith1) introduction-first American writer-Adventurer, captain, officer, exploration and travels, a foundation for the nation’s literature; narratives about Indians, promoter of colonization, urgency to move westward.-Remembered now for the image Pocahontas波卡洪塔in his book The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles 《弗吉尼亚，新英格兰及夏日群岛通史》2) Summary of the selected readingOn the way of exploring the land, John Smith is confronted and captured by Indians. With his intelligence, he diverts them from surprising fort by giving them his compass and knowledge about the universe. the Indians were amazed by his talent and knowledge of civilization. But he is still brought to death. At last moment, he is saved by the Indian Princess Pocohontas. Later the Indians make friends with him and send him back to Jamestown; in return, he give them 2 guns, millstone, and presents.3) QuestionsJohn Smith always encouraged other to settle in New England. Can you find which part in the selected reading can lure people to the new world?Smith’s former works are written in the first person point of view, but The Generall Historie changes into third person point of view. Why?Pocahontas in reality is a 10-year old handsome, strong and smart boy who really help the communication between Indians and settlers. Why he had such a change?。