,Part II The Literature of Reason and Revolution,I. Historical introductionII.Important writers and their works,Historical introductionI. American revolutionII. American enlightenment,I. American RevolutionQ1: What changes took place in the colonies in the mid-eighteenth century?,1. colonial America: colony statea group of scattered, struggling settlementsa series of neighboring, flourishing colonies with rapidly expanding, mixed populations.,Q 2: What are the causes of the intense strain between the colonies and their mother country England?,Cause 1 : The growth, particularly the industrial growthCause 2 : The short-sighted British policies,a. Economically, they required Americans to ship raw materials abroad and to import finished goods at prices higher than the cost of making them in this country.b. Politically, the British government forced dependence by ruling the colonies from overseas and by taxing the colonies without giving them representation in Parliament.,Q 3: When did the War for Independence break out? And what is the result?,The War for Independence:the beginning year: 1776the ending year: 1783the result: the formation of a Federative bourgeois democratic republic-the United States of America.,II. American Enlightenment: progressive intellectual movement,The 18th-century American enlightenment as a movement marked by an emphasis on rationality rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious dogma, and representative government in place of monarchy. Enlightenment thinkers and writers were devoted to the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man.,1. opposing the old colonial order and religious obscurantism2. disseminating knowledge among the people and advocating revolutionary ideas3. dealing a decisive blow upon the puritan traditions4. bringing secular education and literature to life,Imortant writers and their works1. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790):The Autobiography 2. Thomas Paine (1737-1809): Common SenseThe American Crisis,3. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826): The Declaration of Independence4. Philip Freneau (1752-1832):The Wild Honey Suckle; The Indian Burying Ground; To a Caty-Did,Three Literary Features of the Timea: Precision, clarity and order. (p16),b: Imitative and derivative in imaginative literature (Being largely patterned in form on the writing of the 18th century English classical writers) (p17),c: In Content, it was largely secular and political. (Theology that dominated the puritan American writing gave way to politics and common sense.) (p17),1. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)a business man / a scientist / a statesman / a writer / the prototype of the American Dream,American Dream: From the settlement of the new continent, the Americans dreamed of building their own paradise in the wilderness, believing they could make individual success by self-reliance and hard work. Franklins success set them an example and fulfilled their dream, which was characterized by self-reliance, faith in the progress of society and the ideals of future, practical and optimistic attitude toward life, and final success.,His thoughts: an embodiment of Puritanism and enlightenmentPuritanism: hardworking, thrift, frugal, prudent, self-analysis (introspection)Enlightenment: education, liberty, rationality, self-improvement (Man is basically good.),代表作：“Poor Richards Almanac”-annual collection of proverbsIt soon became the most popular book of its kind, largely because of Franklins shrewd humor, and first spread his reputation.,Found the Junto, a club for informal discussion of scientific, economic and political ideas. 建立了一个秘密俱乐部，讨论的主题是政治、经济和科学等时事方面的问题。Establish Americas first circulating library, founded the college University of Pennsylvania. 建立了美国第一个可租借的图书馆，还创办了一所大学就是现在的宾夕法尼亚大学。, first apply the terms “positive” and “negative” to electrical charges. As a representative of the Colonies, he tried in vain to counsel the British toward policies that would let America grow and flourish in association with England. He conducted the difficult negotiations with France that brought financial and military support for America in the war.,As an author he had power of expression, simplicity, a subtle humor, sarcastic.“Autobiography” 自传18世纪美国唯一流传至今的自传,Franklins Autobiography: - the first of its kind in American literature- simple yet very fascinating record of a man rising to wealth and fame from a state of poverty and obscurity into which he was born,- the faithful account of the colorful career of Americas first self-made man- a Puritan document because it is a record of self-examination.,The book is a convincing illustration of the Puritan ethic that in order to get on in the world, one has to be industrious, frugal and prudent.,It is also an eloquent elucidation of the fact that Franklin is the spokesman of 18th century enlightenment.,He held that man was basically good and free by nature, endowed by God with certain inalienable rights of liberty and pursuit of happiness.,