南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学课件 美国文学史-霍桑与红字

南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学课件

The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne 1. An Introduction to the Author [1 ] The Independence Day of 1804 witnessed the birth of one of the greatest figures in American literature, Nathanial Hawthorne, the descendent of a long line of puritan forebears 有悠久清教传统的家庭) in Salem, Massachusetts, ( among whom were William and his son John Hawthorne, two notorious persecutors at the local witch trials. The family was on the decline. When Hawthorne was only four years old, his father died at sea, leaving the widow and three children in poverty. His mother overprotected him and pushed this innately introversive boy(性格内向)toward more secluded pursuits(更加自闭). [2 ] Having little contact with children of his own age, Hawthorne became interested in reading, especially when he was confined at home due to a foot injury in his early teens, he enjoyed his three free years reading many books, both the classics of Henry Fielding, John Bunyan and Shakespeare as well as his contemporary novelists like William Godwin and Sir Walter Scott, preparing him the life as a writer. In 1821 Hawthorne entered Bowdoin college in Maine, where he formed friendship with two men who later had great impact upon his life :

南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学课件

Henry Longfellow, the famous poet, and Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth president of the United States. [ 3 ] Graduated in 1825, Hawthorne returned Salem and spent nearly "twelve solitary years" at his mother's house, reading avidly (潜心阅读) and perfecting his writer's craft (完善..技巧). Hawthorne was intensely committed to books and the New England history, especially his own family history. Although he seldom left his upstairs room and hardly communicated even with the other family members, he kept in touch with some friends. During this often-called apprenticeship, Hawthorne had only a few short stories published, the first among which was Fanshawe (《范肖》), an unsuccessful book depicting his college life. Nathanial had added the "W" to his family name (在姓氏里加了一个 w)by the time the book was published in 1828, showing a distinction with his notorious ancestors (以示与臭名昭著的祖先之区别). In 1837, his college classmate Horatio Bridge gave him financial guarantee to publish his first collection of stories with the title Twice Told Tales 《重述的故事》 which , was quoted from Shakespeare's King John 3.4: "Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale/Vexing the dull cares of a drowsy man.(使人耳边烦扰昏 昏欲睡) " With Longfellow's highly favorable review, this book won Hawthorne critical attention both in England and in the United States and in his own words it signaled "an intercourse with the world. " (标志着与 世 界 交 流 的 开 始 ) However, it didn't bring him much income.

南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学课件

[4] During these years, Hawthorne also strived to earn his living as an editor'. He became tacquainted with the intellectual circle, which included Ral

ph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller who influenced him with the transcendental ideas.(超验主义思 想) In 1837, Hawthorne met his fellow transcendentalist Miss Sophia Peabody, a somewhat American Elizabeth Browning. They got married in i842 and settled in Concord where they rent the Old Manse and lived three extremely happy years. During this period, Hawthorne managed to write and publish, such as the second edition of Twice Told Tales and Mosses from an Old Manse 《古屋青苔》, but he was not able to bring his family out of poverty. [5] When Hawthorne was taking his new career as a husband and father rather than a writer, he "has no longer any right to a life of his own. " With the help of his Bowdoin friend, Franklin Pierce, he secured a well-paying appointment as surveyor (巡查员)at Salem Custom House (海关). As money raised its ugly head (经济 的需要压倒一切) , the talented writer had to abandon his pen and rubbed his nose in the grimy details of trade (埋头于繁琐的事务活动) . Nevertheless, he performed his duties uncommonly industrious and felt

南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学课件

comfortable among businessmen and politicians. However, as a faithful Democrat (热诚的民主党人), he was ousted of the office by the new Whig administration. (新当政的辉格党) His dismissal freed him to write The Scarlet Letter 《红字》, which was published in 1850 and brought him great fame as well as large fortune enough to make him financially comfortable. In the same year, he moved to Lenox for a temporary residence where he formed friendship with his "not-too-distant neighbor", Herman Melville, who was writing Moby Dick 《白鲸》and later dedicated this book to Hawthorne. [6] The Scarlet Letter launched Hawthorne's creation and success (带动 了创作和成功). The following years saw his series of famous works come out one on the heels of another : The House of the Seven Gables 《带有七个尖角阁的房子》 The Blithedale Romance 《福谷传奇》 , and a Wonder-Book 《一本奇妙的书》and The Tanglewood Tales《丛林故 事》. His last complete novel The Marble Faun 《玉石雕像》was published in 1860.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE SCARLET LETTER Heste Prynne has shocked the Puritans of Boston by committing adultery. Two years before the opening of the story, she was sent to America alone by her husband to await his coming. As far as the world knows, Hester's husband, Dr. Prynne (an elderly scientist), has

南开大学 外国语学院 美国文学课件

disappeared. All of Boston is anxious for Hester to tell the name of her secret lover, the father of her child named Pearl. Hester leaves the prison and walks to the market place where she mounts the step of a scaffold (登上绞刑台的台阶) The magistrates (地方法官) . have been merciful to her --she has not been condemned to death for her crime against society. However, she is to stand on the scaffold for several hours so that …… 此处隐藏：19465字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……