About 5000 words in British and American literature 1 A brief analysis of the comparison of romantic feelings in British and American literature
First of all, the similarity of romantic feelings in British and American literature.
(A) the era and historical background of literary works
The form of "romanticism" first appeared in Britain. (often share some general characteristics; Moral enthusiasm, belief in the value of individualism and intuition, and the assumption that the natural world is the source of kindness and humanity. Rsquo American society is the source of corruption. ) Romanticism is mostly interlinked, with emphasis on morality, individualistic values and intuitive feelings. It holds that nature is the source of beauty and human society is the root of corruption. Subsequently, the United States, France and other western countries have developed and innovated. /kloc-English romantic literature in the 0/9th century represented the peak of European romantic literature, and the works of the same period had a great influence on the United States. In terms of time, this romanticism occurred in Britain and America from the end of18th century to the beginning of19th century. Romantic literary works in Britain and America all took place in the turbulent social and historical background, expressing people's dissatisfaction with the real society, their yearning for revolution and their pursuit of a new life. The Romantic Period experienced the French Revolution and the British Revolution, while the United States was "expanding westward", and then romantic literary masterpieces sprang up like mushrooms after rain.
(B) the definition and theme of romantic feelings
To some extent, English romantic literature is the originator of this literary form, while other countries, such as the United States, take its essence on the basis of it, and then carry out corresponding innovation and development according to their social status and basic national conditions, in order to arouse people's outbreak of revolution and pursuit of a new life. So it is easy to see the shadow of English romantic literature from American romantic literature. Coleridge's romantic paranormal, Wordsworth's Anglican orthodoxy and Shelley's atheistic spirituality, as well as Scott's memory of the past, all fully show that the main color of romanticism is to oppose the darkness and filth of the real society and dissatisfaction with the rulers, but to pursue nature and justice and pay attention to practical morality and outlook on life. At the same time, if we look at American writers, such as Owen, Cooper, Poe and Bryant, we will oppose traditional cultural ideas, old feudal colonial ideas and pursue romantic feelings. From this perspective, British and American literature has the same effect on romantic feelings.
(C) the same characteristics of romantic feelings
If we have a deep understanding of American literature, it is easy to find that English literature has a vital influence on American romantic literature. Many American writers and British writers are in the same historical and cultural background, so they have many similar excellent cultural traditions and morals. Undoubtedly, there are many similarities in literary creation. The American Romantic Literature Movement originated from Transcendentalism in New England. It has no logic and no system, and only emphasizes personal expression beyond rational feelings and legal and secular constraints. Call for cultural revival and oppose money worship in American society; Believe in spiritual transcendence, believe in the omnipotent power of goodness, and emphasize that goodness is the source of all things. The main representative of this transcendentalist literature is Emerson, who believes that man is a part of absolute goodness, and Thoreau's nature is sacred and pure in the "innocence" of nature. Their masterpieces have a great influence on American literature. Transcendentalism holds that "human beings have the ability to instinctively know the truth and acquire knowledge." "The representative works of this period in the United States, such as Cooper's The Story of Leather Socks (? Leather socks story? )。 Mark & middot Twain's Harry Berry &; The adventures of middot Finn (? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? ) and other American romantic literary works show people's dissatisfaction with the real society at that time and have serious conflicts with traditional cultural concepts. Their hearts are full of longing for a new life and revolution, among which there is the shadow of English literature. Emerson once said, "Only the dignity of human mind is the most sacred. "This is also reflected in American literature.
Second, the differences of romantic feelings between British and American literature.
The romantic feelings in Britain originate from poetry. British poets Burns and Blake created romantic poetry, and then romanticism in poetry gradually merged into literary works. The most important stage of romantic feelings in the history of American literature is from the end of 18 to the outbreak of civil war. Moreover, American romantic feelings are greatly influenced by foreign countries. Although British and American cultural traditions are the same in many aspects, there are inevitably many similarities in romantic feelings in literature, but different national backgrounds, social development, regional differences and other factors lead to greater differences in romantic feelings in British and American literature than similarities.
(A) the time and historical background are different.
British romantic feelings originated from the European bourgeois revolution in the late18th century, which was a true reflection of the poet's social industrial revolution at that time. The romantic feelings expressed by the author are closely related to society. The first industrial revolution made the world's largest agricultural producer &; Mdash& ampmdash Britain has become the factory of the world and the largest industrial country in the world. The agricultural era was replaced by the industrial era, and the high-speed production of machinery made Britain a leader in the world production field during this period. At the same time, products are also facing the needs of various countries. Due to the limited energy in Britain, there is an unprecedented shortage of resources in production. Workers at the bottom of society and with the largest population began to exploit energy on a large scale to meet production needs. The hard work of workers is not directly proportional to the value they get. Regardless of the needs of the people, the rulers used the capital obtained by exploiting and squeezing workers to carry out endless colonial expansion and expand their territory abroad. At home, the government used severe criminal law to deal with the people, which eventually led to the high resistance of the people, the charter movement and parliamentary reform. Romantic poets have a deep feeling for such a social environment, which is shaped by poetry, thus showing unprecedented sharp romantic feelings.
American romantic feelings originated at the end of18th century and continued until the outbreak of the Civil War, which is the most important stage in the history of American literature. Due to the similarity of many British and American traditions, American romantic literary works in this period were deeply influenced by British romantic poets. However, due to the different national environment, American society was in turmoil during this period, and local movements broke out one after another. So write about the magnificent natural scenery of the United States during this period, and at the same time emphasize the role of nature on people. Human beings are sacred and inviolable, so people must fully trust and rely on themselves, and American romanticism with multiple characteristics was born. There are different schools of romanticism in Britain and America.
British romanticism can be roughly divided into two schools: one is a negative "lake poet" who mainly praises beautiful natural scenery and has an idyllic flavor, and the other is a positive romanticism who is full of the flavor of the times and dissatisfied with the real society, wants to break the hierarchy of feudal society and hopes that the revolution will bring a peaceful new life. Different schools represent different values and worldviews. Negative romantic feelings are full of all kinds of disappointments to society. Their fantasy in literary works created an ideal peaceful society in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and they escaped from reality. Positive romanticism is a positive and optimistic attitude towards the real society. Even though there is a lot of unfairness and darkness in society, it can still face the setbacks of life and the pressure from society and family with the optimistic attitude of "fortunately, but unfortunately".
Compared with the two schools in Britain, American romantic feelings emphasize the expression of characters' personality characteristics. Transcendentalism says that people are sacred, and we must emphasize our true feelings and supernatural mentality. Everyone should fully rely on themselves and believe in themselves, so that human beings can unite and fight for the cause of peace in human society.
(3) The definition and theme of romantic feelings in Britain and America are different.
Romantic feelings in Britain mainly refer to opposing reality and pursuing romance, which was determined by the cruel social reality in Britain at that time. Because the reality is too sad, more romantic poets attach their feelings to the illusory emotions and the illusory world created by themselves, so as to gain the greatest comfort in their hearts. This inevitably determines that the theme of British romantic feelings is full of melancholy and suffering. American romanticism, on the other hand, opposes tradition and emphasizes the role of human beings. The protagonists in many romantic works show extremely sensitive human characteristics. Most of the works praise individuals and ordinary people, which almost became the literary belief of this period in the United States. American romanticism not only inherits the romanticism in English literature, but also adds many new elements. Its theme expresses the optimism of the American people and their relative satisfaction with social development.
(d) The characteristics of romantic feelings in Britain and America are different.
English romanticism creates a natural and imaginative environment, opposes classicism, and mainly expresses emotions, ambitions and dissatisfaction with reality. But also emphasizes the beauty of music, which can cultivate people's sentiment and make people forget their troubles and pains, and is also mixed with many Gothic elements. However, the romantic feelings in the United States are derived, with the characteristics of sectarianism, opposing moral constraints, and vigorously advocating that people should be open-minded and believe in Calvinism through doctrine.
(5) The differences in the contents of romantic literature between Britain and America.
American romantic literary works such as: washington irving, the first American romantic prose writer, Washington &; Middot Owen's masterpiece? Sketchbook? (Experience Notes), this is the first short story in the history of modern literature and the first great young literature reading in the United States. It revived the declining Gothic Romantic novel, and then he integrated some knowledge of psychology into this genre on this basis. The legend of conquering Spain? (Spanish Conquest). In addition, another representative is (james fenimore cooper) Zhan Mu? S & middot Finn Ni? Mo & middot library? Poe created two widely circulated novel genres, namely, frontier legendary novels and maritime legendary novels. "? Leather socks story? "(the story of leather socks) includes? Deerslayer? (Deerslayer)? The last Mohican? (The last Mohican)? Pathfinder? (Pathfinder)? Vanguard? (forerunner), Prairie? Prairie is considered to be the closest epic work in America so far. Their works all show strong natural feelings, oppose this dark society, hate the system of the real society and dissatisfaction with the rulers, and are eager to return to nature. However, Shelley is a representative of Britain. Shelley's poems are characterized by exposing and resisting reactionary rule and dark society, sympathizing with the oppressed people and looking forward to the ideal society in the future. Empty and elegant, enthusiastic and optimistic, without gloomy colors; Describe the ideal world with symbolism and romantic fantasy. And Wordsworth (1770&; Mdash 1850), he is the first great English romantic poet and also a great European poet. Because he likes to praise the beauty of nature, he is known as a "natural poet". He thinks that nature has a power to improve people's spiritual realm and moral value, so he praises nature as a spiritual power. Let nature edify itself and inspire. Nature is an inexhaustible material source. His masterpiece Tinden Abbey expresses his feelings for nature.
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