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1、美国文学论文美国文学论文美国文学是世界上最年轻的文学之一,从其诞生之时起,就因其尖锐的批判性、持续的独创性和精彩的多元性而独树一帜。下面是学习啦我为大家整理的美国文学论文，供大家参考。美国文学论文范文一：AnalysisofthemaincharacterAhabinMobyDick摘要:白鲸讲述了饱经风霜的亚哈船长与他的仇敌白鲸之间触目惊心的故事，亚哈身上体现了令人敬仰的正义品质:坚定不移、英勇无畏、经历丰富，同时还具有令人恐惧的邪恶气力:偏执、自私、专横。他集正义与邪恶与一身，具有鲜明的双重性。关键词:正义;邪恶;性格双重性Abstract:MobyDicktellsusathrillin
2、gtalebetweenCaptainAhabandhisenemywhalecalledMobyDick.Ahabscharacterisamphibious.Ononehand,heisindomitable、braveandexperienced.Ontheotherhand,heisbigoted,selfishandpresuming.Keywords:justice;evil;charactersamphibiousnessMobyDickwrittenbyHermanMelvilleisregardedasthefirstAmericanproseepic.Itsanencycl
3、opediaofeverything,history,philosophy,religion,etc.ButitisfirstaShakespeareantragedyofmanfightingagainoverwhelmingoddsinanindifferentandevenhostileuniverse.Thestorygoesroughlyasfollows.Ishmael,feelingdepressed,seeksescapebygoingouttoseaonthewhalingship,Pequod.ThecaptainisAhab,themanwithoneleg.MobyDi
4、ck,thewhitewhale,hadshearedoffhislegonthemostasarewardforanyonewhosightsthewhalefirst.ThePequodmarkedagoodcatchofwhalesbutAhabrefusestoturnbackuntilhehaskilledhisenemy.Eventually,thewhitewhaleappears,andthePequodbeginsitsdoomedfightwithit.Onthefirstdaythewhaleoverturnsaboat;Onthesecond,itswampsanoth
5、er.Whenthethirddaycomes,Ahabandhiscrewmanagetoplungeaharpoonintoit,butthewhalecarriesthePequodalongwithittoitsdoom.Allonboardthewhalergetdrowned,exceptone,Ishmael,whosurvivestotellthetale.Fromthestory,wecanseethatcaptainAhabisaherowhodarestofightthoughhefailedatlast.AhabisByronichero,amanwithconsumi
6、ngdesiretotakerevengeagainstthewhalewhichhascrippledhim.Heisbrave.Thoughheknowsthatithasdifficultyinkillingwhale,henevergivesup.Hethinksthatmancanmaketheworldforhimselfandhetrieshisbesttokillthewhale.Althoughhefailsatlast,hisspiritualisrespectableandweshouldalsobeindomitable.WeknowthatAhabscharacter
7、isamphibious,andwenowmorefocusonthebleakview.Astheauthorisnegative,thestoryisfulloftragedy,includingtheending.CaptainAhabisatypicalMelvilleanisolato,andatypicalBartlebywhoselipsareseteverforanIprefernotto.Hecutshimselfofffromhiswifeandkid,andstaysawaymostofthetimefromhiscrew.HehatesMobyDickwhichisan
8、embodimentofnature.Heisangrybecausehisprideiswounded.Afterthelossofhisleginhisencounterwiththewhitewhale,heseemstoholdGodresponsibleforthepresenceofevilintheuniverse.Thushisangerassumestheproportionsofacosmisnature.Inhisegocentricobsession.Heloveshissanity,andhumanityandbecomesadevilishcreaturerushi
9、ngheadlongtowardhisdoom.CaptainAhabbelievedinhisownpower,heistoomuchofaself-reliantindividualtobeagoodhumanbeing.Hisselfhoodmustbeassertedattheexpenseofallelse:livesmaybesacrificed,andnaturemaybesacrificed,andnaturemayhavetobevanquishedinorderthathemaydowhathewills.Ahabis,tobemoreexact,avictimofsoli
10、psism,Histragedystemminginthemainfromextremeindividualism,selfishwill,aspirittoomuchwithdrawntoitselftowarrantsalvation.Inconclusion,weshouldobservethetwosidesoftheCaptainscharacter.Weneedbebraveandconfident.Wehavetoremindthatmanisinsociety,andwecantlivewithoutsociety.Weshouldrespectthenature.美国文学论文
11、范文二：ThereviewabouttheLiteratureofRomanticism.BackgroundFromtheearly1800stothecivilwar，Americanwasalandofparadoxes,alandstirredbyspiritualdreamsandshapedbytherealitiesofagrowingmaterialism.theUnitedStateshadbeguntochangeintoanindustrialcausesociety,technologywouldbringvastmaterialbenefitsandcauseover
12、whelmingsocialdisorders.Americanshadsoughtnewlibertiesandnewideasinlifeandart,butconflictsoftheirsocietyhadculminatedinabloodycivilwar.InthefirsthalfofthenineteenthcenturytheproportionofAmericanswholaboredonfarmsdeclinedasincreasingmembersleftthelandtoworkinurbanbusinessesandfactories.NewYorkbecameA
13、mericanslargestcity,supplantingBostonandPhiladelphiaastheeconomicandculturalcapitalofthenation.Thoughthefirsthalfofthecenturythepursuitofsimplicity,utility,andperfectionremainedanAmericancharacteristic.IntheyearsprecedingtheCivilWarrelativelyfewvolumesofimaginativeliteraturewerepublishedintheUnitedS
14、tates.Mostbookwerealmanacs,schoolbooks,self-helpmanuals,orworksonreligion,medicine,orthelaw.Fewerthanadozenvolumesofpoetrywerepublishedannually.Fictionwasaprimecomponentofladiesmagazines.Novelswereincreasinglypopular,especiallyhistoricalromanceswrittenbyEuropeans,mostnotablybythemonarchandmasterofmo
15、dernfiction,SirWalterScott.Butasthecenturyprogressed,nativeAmericanwriterswonincreasingnationalandinternationalfame.WashingtonIrvingsSketchBook(1819-1820)becamethefirstworkbyanAmericanwritertowinfinancialsuccessonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.ThedefinitionofRomanticismRomanticismisamovementprevailingthe19t
16、hcenturyinWesternWorldinliterature.artmusicandphilosophybeginningasareactionandprotestagainstthebondageofrulesandcustomsofneo-classicism.Itwasmarkedandisalwaysmarkedbyastoryreaction.Itreturnedtonatureandplainhumanityformaterial.Itbroughtaboutarenewedinterestinmedievalliterature.Itwasalsomarkedbysymp
17、athyforpoorpeopleandthusadeepunderstandingtowardcommonpeople.Itwasamovementexpressionofindivdualorignalityanddifferentpoetsrealizedtheirvariety.Adreamofgoldenageisestablishedagainststernrealities.Imaginationisthekeypoint.TheCharacteristicsoftheRomanticLiteratureThemaintrendsofthoughtoftheliteratureo
18、fromanticismisRomanticism,Transcendentation,Anti-slavery.Transcendentationasamoralphilosophy,transcendentalismwasneitherlogicalnorsystematized.Itexaltedfeelingoverreason,individualexpressionovertherestraintsoflawandcustom.TheybelievedinthetranscendenceoftheOversoul,anall-pervadingpowerforgoodnessfro
19、mwhichallthingscomeandofwhichallthingsareapart.Romanticism,attitudeorintellectualorientationthatcharacterizedmanyworksofliterature,painting,music,architecture,criticism,andhistoriographyinWesterncivilizationoveraperiodfromthelate18thtothemid-19thcentury.Romanticismcanbeseenasarejectionofthepreceptso
20、forder,calm,harmony,balance,idealization,andrationalitythattypifiedClassicismingeneralandlate18th-centuryNeoclassicisminparticular.ItwasalsotosomeextentareactionagainsttheEnlightenmentandagainst18th-centuryrationalismandphysicalmaterialismingeneral.Romanticismemphasizedtheindividual,thesubjective,th
21、eirrational,theimaginative,thepersonal,thespontaneous,theemotional,thevisionary,andthetranscendental.AmongthecharacteristicattitudesofRomanticismwerethefollowing:adeepenedappreciationofthebeautiesofnature;ageneralexaltationofemotionoverreasonandofthesensesoverintellect;aturninginupontheselfandaheigh
22、tenedexaminationofhumanpersonalityanditsmoodsandmentalpotentialities;apreoccupationwiththegenius,thehero,andtheexceptionalfigureingeneral,andafocusonhispassionsandinnerstruggles;anewviewoftheartistasasupremelyindividualcreator,whosecreativespiritismoreimportantthanstrictadherencetoformalrulesandtrad
23、itionalprocedures;anemphasisuponimaginationasagatewaytotranscendentexperienceandspiritualtruth;anobsessiveinterestinfolkculture,nationalandethnicculturalorigins,andthemedievalera;andapredilectionfortheexotic,theremote,themysterious,theweird,theoccult,themonstrous,thediseased,andeventhesatanic.Mainwr
24、iterandmasterpiece.WashingtonIrving(1783-1851)HewastheFatherofAmericanImaginativeLiterature;theFatherofAmericanShortStories.HewasthefirstgreatprosestylistofAmericanromanticismfamiliarstyle.Theapparenteaseofhiswritingisnotsimplythatofthegiftedamateur;itresultsfromhispurposefulidentificationofhiswhole
25、personalitywithwhathewrote.Hewasurbaneandworldly,yethumorousandgentle,hisgreatandgracefulstylecombinewithAmericanrootsshapedhisindependentliterarypersonality.Hewasthefirstgreatbelletrist,writingalwaysforpleasure,andtoproducepleasure.In1819-1820,hisSketchBookappearedthefirstmodernshortstoriesandthefi
26、rstgreatAmericanjuvenileliteraturetowritegoodhistoryandbiographyasliteraryentertainment.ThemoststoryofhisSketchBookisTheLegendofSleepHollowandRipVanWinkle.HeintroducedthefamiliaressaytoAmerica.Hisbest-knownstoriesawakenedaninterestinthelifeofAmericanregions.In1819,AHistoryofNewYorkbyDiedrichKnickerb
27、ockerarollickingburlesqueofacurrentserioushistoryoftheearlyDutchsettlers,hasbecomeaclassicofhumor.BracebridgeHallfollowedin1822;thenhefirstwenttoGermanyinpursuitofaninterestinGermanromanticism,whichflavoredtheTalesofTraveller(1824),inParishewithJohnHowardPaynewrotethebrilliantsocialcomedyCharlestheS
28、econdorTheMerryMonarch.AHistoryoftheLifeandVoyagesofChristopherColumbus(1828);AChronicleoftheConquestofGrandada(1829);VoyagesandDiscoveriesoftheCompanionsofColumbus(1831);afamousvolumeofstoriesandsketchesTheAlhambra(1832)andLegendsoftheConquestofSpain(1835)andsoon.JamesFenimoreCooper(1789-1851)Hewas
29、thefirstimportantAmericannovelistbeganhisliterarycareeronadare.In1821,TheSpywassuccessful,itwasarousingtaleaboutespionageagainsttheBritishduringtheRevolutionaryWar.Cooperlaunchedtwokindsofimmenselypopularstories:theseaadventuretale,andthefrontiersaga.ThePilotisthebestofhismanysearomances(1824).Hewro
30、tethefirstofficialhistoryoftheU.S.Navyin1839.HisfrontierstoriesLeatherStockingTalesincludingfivenovels:TheDeerslayer;TheLastoftheMohicans,ThePathfinder,ThePioneers,ThePrairie.AllanNevinscallsthesefivenovelsthenearestapproachyettoanAmericanepic.withavastgroupofsupportingcharacters,virtuousorvillainou
31、s,CoopermadetheAmericanconsciousofhispast,andmadetheEuropeanconsciousofAmerican.AndtheTextbooksworksisTheLastofTheMohicans.EdgarAllanPoe(1809-1849)PoewasborninBoston.HewastheFatherofModernShortStories;theFatherofDetectiveStory;andtheFatherofPsychoanalyticCritism.Hewasthejingleman.Hewonacontestwithhi
32、sstoryMs.FoundinaBottle.ThenhegotajobaseditorwiththeSouthernLiteraryMessengerin1833.Heshowedhistruetalentsasaneditor,apoet,aliterarycritic,andawriteroffiction.AndhealsoissuedTheFalloftheHouseofUsher.In1840,HisfirstcollectionofshortstoriesTalesoftheGrotesqueandArabesque.TheRavenwaspublishedasthetitle
33、poemofacollectionin1845.InEurope,hewashailedasapioneerinpoeticandfictionaltechniques.HisinfluencewasespeciallystrongonmanyFrenchwriters.ThemostfamousworkswereToHelen;TheRaven;AnnabelLee;TheFalloftheHouseofUsher.RalphWaldoEmerson(1803-1882)HewasresponsibleforbringingTranscendentalismtoNewEnglandandwa
34、srecognizedthroughouthislifeastheleaderofthemovement.Hebelievedaboveallinindividualism,independenceofmindandself-reliance.Headmiredcourage,hewasnotafraidofchangingorclashingideas.Likemanyoriginalminds,hewasoftenseveraljumpsaheadofwhathisfollowersthoughtwashispositionorphilosophy.Hewasoneofthemostinf
35、luentialAmericanthinkers,yethehadnoelaborate,formalsystemofthoughtandheneverattemptedtocreateone.Emersonbelievedaboveallinindividualism,independenceofmind,andself-reliance.In1836,heissuedthefirstbookNature,whichmetwithamildreception.However,twospeechesinthenexttwoyears,TheAmericanScholarandTheDivini
36、tySchoolAddress,madehimfamous.ManyofhislectureswerelaterdistilledintohisfamousEssays.AmonghismostimportantworksareRepresentativeMen(1850)andEnglishTraits(1856).HisPoemappearedin1847.Inhisday,Emersonspoemswerecriticizedfortheirlackofformandpolish.Inrecentyears,hover,hispoetryhasreceivedhighpraise.His
37、harshrhythmsandstrikingimagesappealtomanymodernreadersasartfultechniques.Hisprosestyleissometimesashighlyindividualashispoetry.Manyofhisessayswereputtogetherfromhisjournalentries,speeches,andrandomnotes,andtheyareoftensomewhatdisorganized.Yethisskillinpolishingeachsentenceintoastrikingthoughtmakeshi
38、swritingmemorable.OneofhisgreatstatementswasinTheAmericanScholar.ThattitleisnowcarriedbyoneofthefinestmagazinesinAmerican.OliverWendellHolmescalledthespeechourintellectualDeclarationofIndependence.Heistheworldseye.Heistheworldsheart.HenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862)HewasEmersonstruestdisciple,whoputintop
39、racticemanyofEmersonstheories.Walden,thesuperbbookcameoutofhistwo-yearsresidenceatWaldenPond.Heexplainedmanyofthebeliefsthatledhimtotrythiskindoflife.Hethoughtitbetterforamantoworkonedayaweekandtherestoftheweekcouldbedevotedtothought.ForThoreau,asforEmerson,self-relianceandindependenceofmindrankedab
40、ovealleachshouldfindouthisownwayofliving.In1849,FromhisexperienceinjailcamehisfamousessayCivilDisobedience,whichstatedThoreausbeliefthatnomanshouldviolatehisconscienceatthecommandofagovernment.HisfamousbookisWaldenWhereILived,andWhatILivedFor.NathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)TheHouseoftheSevenGablesdeal
41、swiththeeffectsofacurse,andthoughthetaleitselfisfiction,thegermofthestorysprangfromtheauthorsfamilyhistory.HawthornegatheredhismaterialbyobservingandlisteningtootherswhosetalkwasfilledwithNewEnglandLore,legend,andsuperstition.HisfamousbookisTheScarletLetter.Hawthornesuniquegiftwasforthecreationofstr
42、onglysymbolicstorieswhichtouchthedeepestrootsofmansmoralnature.ThefinestexampleistherecreationofPuritanBoston,TheScarletLetter.Inthisnoveleachword,image,andeventworkstowardasingleeffect.Itisacomplexstoryofguilt,itseffectsuponvariouspersons,andhowdeliveranceisobtainedforsomeofthem.Hisabilitytocreatev
43、ividandsymbolicimagesthatembodygreatmoralquestionsappearstronglyinhisshortstories.ItwasHawthornesabilitytomakeastoryexistinitsownrightbutatthesametimeappearasamoralsymbol.HawthorneshareswithEdgarAllanPoethedistinctionofadvancingtheartoftheshortstory,givingtotheformqualitiesthatareuniquelyAmerican.To
44、HawthorneandMelville,however,thetellingofatalewasawayofinquiringintothemeaningoflife.HisstoriesalsohaveTheBlithedaleRomance(1852);splendidstoriescalledMossesfromanOldManse(1846);TheMarbleFaun(1860).HermanMelville(1819-1891)MobyDick,atremendouschronicleofawhalingvoyageinpursuitofaseeminglysupernatura
45、lwhitewhale.Thebookissteepedinsymbolism,anotherstrongappealtoreadersofhiscentury.In1846,Typeebecameknownasthemanwholivedamongcannibals.ThebookwasbasicallyfactualbutwasnodoubtelaboratedsomewhatandbuiltupfromMelvillesreadingaswellashisexperience.Equallysuccessfulwasasequel,Omoo(1847),abouthisadventure
46、sonTahitiandotherisland.LaterMelvillebasedBedburn(1849)onhisfirstvoyagetoEngland,andWhite-Jacket(1850)onhisbriefcareerinthenavy.HedrewuponhisnavalexperienceagainforBillyBudd(1891).HehastwootherphilosophicalnovelsMardi,Pierre.twocelebratedshortnovelsBenitoCerenoandBillyBudd.Thestoryusesashipassymbolo
47、fsocietyandsearchinglyexaminestheproblemsofgoodandevil.Ahabsshipwaslikeaworldinminiaturewithcharactersfromallwalksoflife.HenryWadsworthLongfellow(1807-1882)LongfellowwasborninPortland,Maine,onFebruary27,1807anddiedonMarch24,1882inCambridge,Massachusetts,themostbelovedAmericanpoetofhistime.Hismainboo
48、ksareLongfellowsfirstcollectionofpoemsentitledVoicesoftheNight(1838);Hyperiontheproseromance(1839);BalladsandotherPoems(1841);PoemsonSlavery(1842);Evangeline(1847);SongofHiawath(1855);TheCourtshipofMilesStandish(1858)Afterhisdeath,hebecametheonlyAmericantobehonoredwithabustinthePoetscornerofWestmins
49、terAbbey.Thegentleness,sweetness,andpurityforwhichhispoetrywaspopularduringhislifetime.SummaryFromtheendofthe18thcenturytotheoutbreakofheCivilWar.ItstartedwiththepublicationofWashingtonIrvingsTheSketchBookandendedwithWhitmansLeavesofGrass.ItisalsocalledtheAmericanRenaissance.ThedesireforanescapefromsocietyandareturntonaturebecameapermanentconventionofAmericanliterature.TheAmericanPuritanismasaculturalheritageexertedgreatinfluencesoverAmericanmoralvalues.Besides,apreoccupat