《新編美國(guó)文學(xué)史（第三卷）》課件lecture 4 washington irving

1、Lecture 4 Self-Fashioning of a New Nation (II) 1outline1. Early American Literature, 177618202. Washington Irving: life and career3. “Rip Van Winkle”: reading and discussion21820 “Rip Van Winkle”: An American Dream American Romanticism: (1800,1820,1830-1865)“Europe held forth all the charms of stori

2、ed and poetical association. There were to be seen the masterpieces of art, the refinements of highly cultivated society, the quaint peculiarities of ancient and local custom. My native country was full of youthful promise; Europe was rich in the accumulated treasures of age.”3the American Wordswort

3、h1. Early American Literature, 17761820Suggested topic How is “Rip Van Winkle” a prime example of a Romantic text? How is it different from the “Age of Reason”? Compare and contrast Rip Van Winkle to Benjamin Franklin to help with your response. 42. Washington Irving: Life and career“It has been a m

4、atter of marvel, to my European readers, that a man from the wilds of America should express himself in tolerable English.”Washington Irving “the first Ambassador from the New World of Letters to the Old.”-William Makepeace Thackeray5Life and career1783, merchant familyNYC: Descents of the Dutch6Kni

5、ckerbockers History of New York(1809)Hendrick Hudson and the city of New Amsterdam7Matilda HoffmanThe judgment ofWouter van Twiller. (1877)The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (1820)8Washington Irving: Rip Van Winkle 9Plot summary10Bring a provocative, intriguing question and a sentence or two

6、about why you would like the question to be discussed. Character, symbol, theme, narration, setting, style etc.11Group workDiscuss your questions with group members(5-6). Choose one best question.(3 mins)Each group will be assigned one random question.With your group, compose a well thought-out resp

7、onse to your question. Your response should be fully supported by the text. Be ready to explain/teach your classmates about your question. (10 mins)Ex: Describe Irvings view of marriage Is Irvings interpretation overly pessimistic or realistic? How is it different from Anne Bradstreets view of marri

8、age/love? Explain your answer. 12Characterization: Who is Rip? What does he look like?How does Irving represent Rip? 1. “Poor Rip”, “a simple good natured fellow”: with unfortunate error2. a boy: avoidance of “family duty”; fishing, sporting, playing with children3. an escapist (from reality/tyranny

9、womankind, England, civilization)4. Irvings picture: a representative of the old world13Narration: Who is the story-teller? Do you believe this story?Frame storyliterarinessThe Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.Geoffrey CrayonA late Diedrich Knickerbocker Papers A letter: “full belief” Rip “Tell

10、his story to every stranger”14Theme1. Attitude to ChangeAmerican revolution and world in transitionambivalent? 2. marriage and woman Who is Dame Van Winkle?“Tart temper” and “sharp tongue”15Ninepinvs. American revolutionthe most popular form of bowling in much of the United States from colonial time

11、s until the early nineteenth century; Sound: war Mood: Whimsical and seriousWhat is revolution to Irving? Playing a Game?Destroy-and-rebuild circleA dream: huge change16How creative is Irving?“It has been said that Irving lacked imagination. . . . Now, it seems to me that the transmutation of the cr

12、ude and heretofore unpoetical materials which he found in the New World into what is as absolute a creation as exists in literature, was a distinct work of the imagination.”Charles Dudley WarnerMystification: a new nation 1718Suggested topics Read “The Legend of the Sleep Hollow” 1. characters are symbolic: Who/What do Rip Van Winkle and Dame Van Winkle represent? Ichabod Crane & Brom Bones2. Do you think either “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” or “Rip Van Winkle