zkouška - otázky

Beginnings

- traditional beginnings: John Smith, but this re-evalued with reevaluation of the cannon of
American literature

- or everything by Europeans from 15th century, books of Columbus, Vespuci…

- or territorial literature – Indians and their oral literature, started to be studied at the
beginning of the 19th century, in this century strongly influenced contemporary writers

English explorers

1580´s : some attempts to colonize, but colonies disappeared

CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH 1580
father of American literature
family of country gentry, man of adventure
travelled to Transylvania, Serbia
knighted for success in Turkish war
imprisoned, slave in the Mediteranian, escaped to England
hired by a company, sent to Jamestown
very good leader, but in America: diseases, starvation
promotional literature, adventurous books, even sci-fi: /lions/, travel books
 PRINCESS POCAHONTAS
just in two books he wrote
some people doubt her existence, but a letter with some mention found
her father Pouhatan – chief of the tribe, captured Smith, Pocahontas saved him, actually moved then to England, married but died soon
a study about him by prof. Vančura: 1st prof. of American literature, ”Pohledy na anglickou a americkou literaturu”
 A DECRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND
Histories and chronicles
WILLIAM BRADFORD 1580-1631
Puritan, 1620 to America on Mayflower, highly religious
 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION, 1620-1647, /1656/
a friend of John Winthrop, he did not write for publication but for family and people in
America, about Pilgrim fathers
wanted purity and doctrine, hated bishops and Anglican church
first they went to Netherlands, protestant century at that times and liberal, but too much, wanted to Virginia, but missed it, landed in Massachusetts

JOHN WITHROP
governor, knowledge about life there
history and memories
 HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND
 A JOURNAL
CLERGYMEN OF ENGLAND:
 BAY PSALM BOOK 1640
1st book published in America, printed here
translation of Psalm from Bible
puritans wrote in plain style
Sermons and religious tracts
puritans wrote many of them, priests published them
ROGER WILLIAMS 1603-1672
priest, descented x strict Puritan doctrine, people shouldn´t be forced into faith,
pre-ecumenic attitude
he had to leave and he settle in Rhode Island
 THE BLOODY TENENT OF PERSECUTION OF CAUSE OF CONSCIENCE
 DICTIONARY OF INDIAN LANGUAGE
Indians not as animals
 THE NEW ENGLAND PRIMER 1683
poems, Alphabet poem
collection of writings of various authors
SIR THOMAS MORTON 1579-1647
in Boston, wrote about Puritans´ way of life
many trials for non-Puritan behaviour, always won
 NEW ENGLAND CANAAN 1637
sometimes called Thomas from Merry Hill
attack on Puritanism, later forced to move, died in poverty, suffered
History book, ( note )
RICHARD HAKLUYT
 THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS OF THE ENGLISH NATIONS
1589, Shakespeare used it as a source
- not traveller, collected information
ANNE HUTCHINSON 1591 – 1643
she was also against Puritans
PURITANS: against fiction and drama, only theological books
1st play:  THE BEAR AND THE CUBB, 1665, 3 men
1st theatre: 1718 in Williamsborough in Virginia
Poetry
highly religious at the beginning
ANNE BRADSTREET 1612-1672
some time in America, 1st poetry book
not genious, but quite OK, 1st good writer
 THE TENTH MUSE LATELY SPRUNG UP IN AMERICA
not ambitious for American literature, it was rather English literature written in America
love poems
MICHAEL WIGGLESWORTH 1631-1705
established baroque style in poetry
 DAY OF DOOM 1662
versification of theology
nice passages, but complex – terrible
within Puritan doctrine
EDWARD TAYLOR 1645-1729
also born in England, then he moved to the USA
1st of many preachers, published just sermons
1930´s : his poems discovered – the greatest colonial poet
wrote poems as preparatory meditation before ceremony, not for publication
metaphysical style, follower of John Donne
 THE POETICAL WORKS 1939
Metaphysical school: combines intellect and emotions
It is closely connected with Puritanism and the way of thinking.
Very high poetry.
SAMUEL SEWELL 1652-1730
published diaries, member of court, witness of trials
 THE DIARY 1673-1729, published 1878-1882
reflect trials with witches /Salem/
finally committed suicide
COTTON MATHER 1663-1728
600 books, only 300 published, great and prolific writer
wide specter, Puritan
 MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA 1702
= GREAT DEEDS OF CHRIST IN AMERICA
combination of biography and history
also about J. A. Komenský, offered to be 1st president of the Harvard College
large book about American scholars, thinking…
SARAH KEMBLE KNIGHT 1666 – 1727
travelled a lot and wrote about it
 THE JOURNALS
WILLIAM BYRD 1674-1744
aristocrat, Greek, Latin, wrote 5 prose, not intended to be published, just for friends
 HISTORY OF THE DIVIDING LINE 1841
quarrels between Maryland and Virginia because of the borders
 THE SECRET DIARY
cifred, erotic
The top Puritan period

JONATHAN EDWARDS (1703 – 1758)
religious sermons and poems
1703´s : he was taking part in the Great Awakening
English priest family
Born in Connecticut
Death of sir J. Whitefield gave him an impulse for taking part in the Great Awakening
 SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD 1741
typical Puritan sermons, very cruel, burst of hysterical cries
The Enlightenment
at the same time, a few people more liberal living in the South
many people in New England were very rich
Virginia: a city of high standard of living
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1706 – 1790
his literary production – 2 groups:
practical writings : essays
published in newspapers
short pieces of advice : collected in  THE DOGOOD PAPERS
 POOR RICHARD´S ALMANACK
clear, witty and very practical
he started writing at the age of 16
a scientist : wrote some scientific works as well
best known American of his days ( also in Europe)
involved in politics, 50´s and 60´s: a member of various movements
later in his life one of the Foundling Fathers
politic and diplomat rather than scientist later in his life
Benjamin Franklin wanted to write his Autobiography only for his son, he didn´t mean to publish it
it is probably one of the 1st readable works of 18th century
beginnings of imaginative literature ( partly, the rest of B.F.´s Autobiography – desciptions, contemplations,….)


COLONIAL PERIOD = A) RELIGIOUS WORKS etc.
B) PERIOD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT


The Enlightenment = The Age of Reason ( 18th century)

JOHN LOCKE
English philosopher, writer
 2 TREATIES OF GOVERNMENT
- ideas close to Encyclopedists
- deistic philosophy
- emphasis on experiments, end of superstitions
- knowledge: can be gained by examinations, it´s organized in encyclopedias,…
- they criticized social injustice, superstitions, illiteracy, ignorance,…
- these ideas led to the beginnings of revolutions
- architecture: geometric shapes, even in parks ( Versailles)
John Locke: ”Rozum je boží svíce rozsvícená v lidské mysli a rozum musí být náš poslední soud…”
lives, liberty, property of people is protected by the state
freedom of speech, toleration
Alexander Pope: ”Nature is a Mighty Maze but not without a plan

The term Yankee is used, in America Southerners called Yankees the people from the North, or all the Americans = Yankees for Europe.

 YANKEE DOODLE
Yankee : a term of Northerner, people from New England, New Scotia, chapmen, several theories: clever and sharp, woman in Scottish / yankie/, Indian pronunciation of / English/, Dutch surname / Ian Kees/, widely used during Independence War, 1WW – yanks for Americans
as melody introducing the voice of America
probably medieval melody popular in Holland and came there from South Europe – 1500 around this year
during civil war in England sung by Cavaliers, made fun of Cromwell and his army

RICHARD SHUCKBURGH
English army surgeon
State anthem in Connecticut
1768 – printed, part III
Became most famous during the War of Independence

Political Essay

THOMAS JEFFERSON
gave his library to Congress – still treasures some books donated by him, several thousands
essays, then  DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
wanted to abolish slavery, but forbidden
wanted rural America of farmers
democracy, against centralization, federal government – weak
THOMAS PAINE
very famous brochure
 PAMPHLETS
 COMMON SENSE 1776 : explanation why America should be independent
 THE RIGHTS OF MAN
 THE AGE OF REASON
 THE AMERICAN
during war, said to help Washington to keep the army together, especially in winter
in London he met Benjamin Franklin
he went to France, almost didn´t escape death, after that he wrote: The Rights of Man about human rights and THE AGE OF REASON – very critical evaluation of this period
he died in poverty in England
HECTOR ST JOHN DE CRČVECOEUR
French
 LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN FARMER
often quoted
WILLIAM BARTRAM
was botanist, spread the term Noble Savage
flower hunter
 TRAVELS
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
JAMES MADDISON
JOHN JAY
contributed to the Federalist Papers
for strong government
PHILIPPE FRENEAU 1752-1832
poet and politician
also an early Romantic, very sensitive, describes nature
autobiography for relatives, published after death
pre-romantic, one of the greatest figures Early Republic
Jeffersonian



Early Republic ( till 1830)

ANDREW JACKSON: a president, end of the era, change of America

PHILIPPE FRENEAU
liberal, democracy, well educated
American revolutionary poet
natural colloquial style,  THE VIRTUE OF TOBACCO
 THE FEDERALIST PAPERS /1787 – 1788/
Hamilton + Maddison + Jay
 1791 NATIONAL GAZETTE – with help of T. Jefferson
Poetry
Connecticut wits – Hartford wits: patriotic conservative, educated class, aristocrats, Tories, literary group, satires, epic poems,
Not much read today, not much has survived
JOEL BARLOW
 THE HASTY PUDDING: still followed neoclassical style and Alexander Pope, recipe how to make a pudding, elevated language for several things
 THE VISION OF COLUMBUS: long patriotic poem about the history of America, 1787, later rewrote as COLUMBIA
JOHN TRUMBULL
criticism of American education
 PROGRESS OF DULLNESS 1773: adventure of Tom Brainless, enters the university, too dull for vice, becomes a school teacher, Dick Harebrain
TIMOTHY WHITE
minister, wrote religious poems
 THE TRIUMPH OF INFIDELITY 1788: describes Satan´s attempts
 THE GREENFIELD HILL 1794: new world far better than the old one
PHILLIS WHEATLEY 1753-1784
a black writer, servant, blackslave from Gambia
she published poems in the age of 19
to Boston at the age of 7, physically frail, but very intelligent, a child prodigy, received education exceptionally, taught even Latin
influenced by Milton, Pope, Gray
she was set free when the lord died and married freed Blackman
died quite young
her poetry reprinted by  DELIBERATOR = abolitionist newspaper
poetry highly religious
Prose
90´s – modern prose
WILLIAM HILL BROWN
 POWER OF SYMPATHY: considered morally dangerous, forbidden
Novels: realistic details, language was everyday, about reality of American life, didactic, moralistic
SUSANNA ROWSON
 CHARLOTTE TEMPLE: naturalistic, moralistic advice, religious sentiments
HUGH HENRY BRACKENRIDGE
1st important novel, wanted to reform morals of America
 MODERN CHIVALRY: series of adventure, zálesáctví, attacks other groups / Indians, Puritans/, picaresque novel inspired by Don Quijote, master captain and a servant
1st important novel, makes fun of backwoods culture
American frontier who leave/s, weakness of American democracy and slavery
Some passages readable


CHARLES BROCKDEN BROWN
gothic novel / Horace Walpole, Anne Radcliff/
started this tradition in America, psychology of horror, inspired Poe and Hawthorne, very popular
 WIDLAND 1798: psychologic horror tale in European style
 ORMOND: seduction, heroine killed the seducer
Themes: insanity, sleepwalking
Some passages in: ”Komu se to dostane do ruky”, selection of American prose of the 19th century
From 1830
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT 1794-1878
famous for poems written in his youth 17-24
journalist, for many years for newspapers
abolitionist, liberal mind
the 1st romantic poet
 POEMS
WASHINGTON IRVING 1789-1859
prose writer, Knickerbocker / like Jára Cimerman/
 A HISTORY OF NY BY DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER: invented a Dutch governor D.K., fictitious history, funny legends, humorous history of the city, desire for American national literature
 SKETCH BOOK 1820
the 1st who really lived on the royalties / money, from books sold, 1st professional writer
wanted to create national literature by telling European stories set in America, subjects: English, Germen, Dutch, very few of his plots are original
 THE LEGEND OF THE VILLAGE HOLLOW: read by Mácha, translated to Czech even in 1830´s
Followers: JAMES KIRKE PAULDING 1778-1860
also a Knickerbocker
 A DUTCHMAN´S FIRESIDE: a satire set to colloquial America, proslavery, censored
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
rich farmer, his wife loved novels, he laughed at her, wrote one himself to prove her it´s easy, not good, but another one successful
 THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS 1826, 1852 in Czech
- the last of the series
2themes: the frontier / backwoods/ and the revolutionary war
The Leather Stocking
Natty Bamppo and other chevaliers: idealized, individual, honest, virtuous, generous
 THE PIONEERS: 1st novel, NB = typical American pioneer, master of all skills needed in forests, loves nature, ecological attitude, sympathizes with Indians, paradox, time of racial conflicts, Indian characters, even bad ones, very brave concept of noble savage
His books were not written chronologically.
 THE PRAIRIE 1827
Leather Stocking is 80, too old for heroism, but still a guide of new settlers
Landscape has changed, wants to avoid civilization, wants to live in plain.
THE PATHFINDER 1840
Young man, almost marries.
 THE DEERSLAYER
Last novel, here the youngest
= Leather Stocking Tales
Indians pushed away by white colonists, pushed away by middle class, moving westwards
Nonfiction
NOAH WEBSTER 1758 – 1843
 AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
very successful, now copyrights under his name, stabilizing American English
HOLMES MCGUFFEY
 MC GUFFEY ECLECTIC READERS: poems, scenes from plays, short extracts
both not great writers, but helped to born cultural background from which the significant ones could grow, spread literacy
30´s and 50´s : American Renaissance, 1st cultural flourish
Drama
1700 scauting actors, players acting in Charlestown and New York, three men accused of staging a play, prisoners, home on the following day, they actually only prepared, but dangerous because of Puritans
WILLIAM DARBY
 THE BEAR AND THE CUB : not survived
1714: the 1st play printed in America,
 ANDROBOROS: man eater, biographical farce in 3 acts, just printed, a political attack by ROBERT HUNTER in the government elections, never staged, just political lampoon, insultive text especially in Restauration period
1716: the 1st playhouse in Williamsborough Virginia
at colleges to train rethories students performed
colloquys of dialogues in 18th century
1750 : 1st professional companies
1732 : New Theatre in New York
1767 : Philadelphia 1st professional production of American play
THOMAS GODFRAY 1736-1763
 THE PRINCE OF PARTHIA
posthumously
style of a heroic tragedy
by a student, died
1787: the 1st American play by an American about an American theme, professionally staged, performed till today
ROYALL TYLER 1757-1826
lawyer, later judge of the Supreme court, books on legal problems, novels
 THE CONTRAST: in spring 1787, for the 1st time in the Theatre
saw  THE RIVALS – SHERIDON, Malaprop-lady, mingles words, extremely popular
inspired him to write a play, within 6 weeks the play was performed with a great success
contrast between Brittishness and Americanness
in New York – 2 men – Coronal Manley, Republican, Am. Straightforwardness of the new society x Billy Dimple, American born but British educated, a Chesterfieldian, Philip Stanhope 4th Earl of Chesterfield 1694-1793, statesman, letters to his son as
 LETTERS, 1774, advice, polite, refined, behaviour and good looks = in higher esteem than moral and intellectual values
Maria is to marry Dimple, a match arranged by fathers
Leticia and Charlotte: 2 other girls, Charlotte´s brother wants Maria
Dimple = gambler, wants Leticia to become a millionaire
Manley + Maria, Dimple revealed by Charlotte
Subplot: stock characters / šarže/, about servants Jonathan Manley´s and native good-hearted Yankee, also cunning
John Street Theatre

WILLIAM DUNLAB 1766-1839
early Republic
author of plays, writing for theatre, 30, mostly about Revolution war
 ANDRÉ 1798
revolutionary war, British officer, contacts spy, discovered, can´t be exchanged, executed
! American Drama 1665 – 1900 = 1 strana A4, dodatečně bude naskenována a přidána na web
Drama in the 20th century
Before: imitation of British and European drama
Plays: English, translations
Prose: usually for actors and actress, not for plays
19th century: melodrama, democratic heroes, contrast of good and evil, theme of slavery, adaptations of novels, / Uncle Tom´s Cabin/
20th century: pop culture, plays with Afro-american music, white actors with blackened faces
EUGENE O´NEILL 1889 – 1953
dramas about workingmen, poor
later obsession, sex
 MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA: trilogy, based on Sofocles´ Oedipus , Freudian theme of love
 LONG DAY´S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT: biography, his own family
refused division into acts and scenes
masks, Shakespearian solliloques, effects
1936: Nobel Prize
THORNTON WILDER 1897-1975
 OUR TOWN
positive American values, sentiment, nostalgy, provincial town, parents, naughty children
innovations: ghosts, voices from spectators, time-drifts
ARTHUR MILLER 1915-2005
New York
 THE DEATH OF A SALESMAN
looking for life values, Willy Loman
relationships, also naturalism, realism, also about dreams
 THE CRUCIBLE: witches in Salem, also attack of Joseph McCarthy
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS 1911 -1983
 MISSISSIPPI
relationships, sex, Freudian observation of love, gay
 THE GLASS MENAGERIE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
HERMAN MELVILLE 1819 – 1891
in 40´s famous for his romances
 TYPEE: A PEEP AT POLYNESIAN LIFE
he was an orphan, worked on sailing ships, quarrelled with the captain and deserted, with his friend travelled on some islands
shocked by the nature of sailors, he called his experience My Harvard and My Yale, in this book hero escapes
 MOBY DICK
thick book, a symbolist novel, boat = Pequod, captain Ahab hunting a white whale, damaged his leg
very realistic, encyclopedia of whales, fishing and sea life
lot of factual information
white whale = symbol, many passages of contemplation
several levels: fight of good and evil, chasing for mystery, knowledge
public didn´t like it, publishing house burnt, didn´t publish it again
published privately, fame grew after his death, recognized a good writer after 1WW
some novellas and short stories published in the 20th century
 BARTLEBEY THE SCRIVENER: story like by Kafka, study of alienation
 BILLY BUD THE SAILOR
THE BOSTON BRAHMIN
in New England
Brahmin used frequently, the highest class in India
mostly professors at Harvard Universities
in India ps., are educated and well-off
here also educated descendants of the 17th century settlers, the origin very important in this part of America
often profs at Harvard University
most of them travelled and gained education in Europe, acquainted with philosophy, European literature
upper class people, conservative
democracy, lectures all around the USA
magazines: North American Review, Atlantic Monthly
but clung to forms and things form Europe which slowed down the progress of American confidence
they didn´t accept Thoreau and Whitman, Poe
pillars of Puritan tradition
BOSTON HISTORIANS
GEORGE BANCROFT 1800 – 1891
someone like Palacký in our country
 THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES: his most famous work
the 1st philosophy concepts of American history
in 10 volumes
WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT
 HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO
 HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF PERU
JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY
 THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC 1856
FRANCIS PARKMAN
 THE HISTORY OF THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC 1851: chief of Indians
- professor of Horticulture, very ill during his studies
 OREGON TRAIL 1849: they passed it with his friend
he is famous for his style, budding of the genre of western
The Atlantic Monthly: magazine published by them, about literature
BOSTON POETS
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 1807-1862
his life burnt, professor of modern languages
considered American parallel of Tennyson and British Victorian poets, wrote epic poems on American History
 THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH: epic poem
 THE ARROW AND THE SONG: typical didactic poem, archaic form, he wanted to provide American literature with the national myth, Beowulf: 1815, printed for the 1st time
 THE SONG OF HIAWATHA: 4stopý trochej /Kalevala/, various myths, names of animals of various tribes
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL 1819 – 1891
at Harvard – after Longfelllow, great influence on literature as a critique, very humorous, satirical
 A FABLE FOR CRITICS: abolitionist, fighter for women´s franchise and laws, against children´s work
 THE BIGLOW PAPERS: satire, uneducated village poet
O. W. HOLMES 1809 – 1894
 AUTOCRAT AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE
collection of witty essays
professor of anatomy and physiology at Harvard University
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
Quaker poet, not a member of B.B.
abolitionist, Christian, but similar style to BB, sometimes included in Fireside Poets
 SNOWBOUND: story like Ve stínu lípy od S.