Tema 54
1. INTRODUCTION
Importance of the unit:
Enhances communicative competence and socio-cultural awareness among students.
Encourages reading to engage students in literary activities, fostering critical thinking and appreciation for literature's significance in societal contexts.
2. THE WRITERS AND THEIR TIME
Focus on two novelists during a transformative period in America:
The late 19th century was marked by economic expansion, rapid industrialization, and changing social structures post-Civil War.
Emergence of materialism beginning to disrupt traditional values and norms, leading to a cultural conflict between old and new ideologies.
Mark Twain reflects nostalgia for the pre-Civil War innocence of America and critiques the new materialism that prioritizes wealth over integrity.
Henry James examines the clash between American and European values through a lens of cosmopolitanism, highlighting the complexities of identity and cultural displacement.
Distinct styles:
Twain: Known as an American humorist, utilizing local color and folk narratives to give voice to the American experience.
James: Developed a cosmopolitan narrative style characterized by experimental fiction that focused on psychological depth and nuanced character studies.
3. MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)
3.1. Life
Real name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
The origin of his pen name, "Mark Twain," comes from river navigation terminology, indicating safe water depth.
Grew up in Missouri, deeply influenced by the life and culture along the Mississippi River, which would become a central theme in his writings.
His career trajectory evolved from a printer to become a successful steamboat pilot, travel writer, and ultimately a journalist.
Despite achieving fame, he faced personal struggles, including financial difficulties and loss, which led him to undertake extensive lecture tours for income.
His works often balance themes of optimism and pessimism, reflecting the complexities of human experience.
3.2. Works
Early sketches: Influenced heavily by humorist and local colorist styles, capturing the essence of American life.
Notable works:
"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1867): A short story that encapsulates Twain’s use of humor and regional dialect.
"The Innocence Abroad" (1869): A critique of American cultural attitudes as seen through the lens of travel.
"Roughing It" (1872): An autobiographical work chronicling his experiences in the American West.
"The Gilded Age" (1873): Co-authored, this novel satirizes the corruption and materialism of post-Civil War America.
"Life on the Mississippi" (1883): A mix of memoir and travel writing reflecting Twain's early life and adventures.
"Tom Sawyer" (1876): A portrayal of childhood and adventure in the American South, emphasizing themes of morality and freedom.
3.2.1. Huckleberry Finn (1885)
3.2.1.1. Narrator: Told from Huck's perspective, providing insight into a child's often naive worldview.
3.2.1.2. Plot: Huck’s journey with Jim, an escaped slave, symbolizes not just freedom but also the quest for personal identity outside societal constraints.
3.2.1.3. Civilization: Explores the contrast between the innocence of childhood and the corruption inherent in adult society.
3.2.1.4. Racism: Huck grapples with the societal expectations regarding race, revealing the deep-seated prejudices of the time while showcasing his moral evolution.
3.2.1.5. The River: Acts as a powerful symbol of freedom, serving as both a physical and metaphorical escape from the restrictions of society.
3.2.1.6. Moral: The novel critiques materialism and underscores the importance of individual morality over adherence to social conventions.
4. HENRY JAMES (1843-1916)
4.1. Cosmopolitanism
Reflected the American fascination with European culture, global perspectives, and the complexities that arise from cultural exchange.
Examines cultural displacement through the eyes of American characters navigating European landscapes, offering insights into their identity and societal norms.
James’s works are characterized by their complexity, including detailed psychological analyses of characters and intricate plots.
4.2. Life
Background: Born in New York to a well-educated family, raised in a progressive environment that encouraged intellectual pursuit.
Studied extensively in both Europe and the U.S., leading to a diverse and influential writing career that would bridge both cultures.
Became a British citizen in 1915, reflecting his deep connection to and understanding of both American and European cultures.
4.3. Works
A diverse literary production featuring 22 novels and 120 short stories, encompassing various styles and themes.
4.3.1. Early Period
Focused on themes of innocence versus corruption, illustrated in works such as "Daisy Miller" (1878) and "The Portrait of a Lady" (1881), addressing the complexities of societal expectations.
4.3.2. Second Phase
Shifted to explore themes of children confronting adult immorality, as seen in "The Turn of the Screw," raising questions about innocence and experience.
4.3.3. Major Phase
Returned to international themes, delving into deeper psychological aspects of character and society in novels like "The Ambassadors" (1902) and "The Wings of the Dove" (1903).
5. CONCLUSION
A summary of Twain and James underscores their significance as distinct figures in American literature.
Twain: A trailblazer of American language and humor, using wit and sarcasm to reflect society.
James: A pioneer of the psychological novel, highlighting character complexity and moral ambiguities.
The importance of introducing students to their works to inspire interest in English literature and provide insight into cultural and social dynamics of their time.
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
GIBERT, T. American Literature to 1900. Centro Estudios Ramón Areces, Madrid 2005.
OUSBY, I. An Introduction to 50 American Novels. Pan Literature Guides, London 1975.
1. INTRODUCTION
The importance of this unit lies in its ability to enhance communicative competence and socio-cultural awareness among students. It encourages reading as a means to engage students in literary activities, fostering critical thinking and appreciation for literature's significance in societal contexts.
2. THE WRITERS AND THEIR TIME
This unit focuses on two novelists during a transformative period in America: the late 19th century, which was marked by economic expansion, rapid industrialization, and altering social structures following the Civil War. During this time, materialism began to disrupt traditional values, leading to a cultural conflict between old and new ideologies. Mark Twain reflects nostalgia for the pre-Civil War innocence of America, critiquing the new materialism that prioritizes wealth over integrity. In contrast, Henry James examines the clash between American and European values through a lens of cosmopolitanism, highlighting the complexities of identity and cultural displacement. Their distinct styles further support this discussion; Twain is known as an American humorist who utilizes local color and folk narratives to give voice to the American experience, while James developed a cosmopolitan narrative style characterized by experimental fiction that focuses on psychological depth and nuanced character studies.
3. MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)
Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, derived his pen name from river navigation terminology that indicated safe water depth. Growing up in Missouri, he was deeply influenced by the life and culture along the Mississippi River, central themes in his writings. His career evolved from a printer to a successful steamboat pilot, travel writer, and ultimately a journalist. Despite achieving fame, Twain faced personal struggles, including financial difficulties and loss, which compelled him to undertake extensive lecture tours for income. His works often balance themes of optimism and pessimism, reflecting the complexities of human experience.
Twain's notable works include several early sketches influenced heavily by humorist and local colorist styles, capturing the essence of American life. Key pieces include "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1867), which showcases Twain’s use of humor and regional dialect, and "The Innocence Abroad" (1869), a critique of American cultural attitudes through the lens of travel. Other significant works are "Roughing It" (1872), an autobiographical chronicle of his experiences in the American West, and "The Gilded Age" (1873), co-authored to satirize the corruption and materialism of post-Civil War America. His works like "Life on the Mississippi" (1883) blend memoir and travel writing, while "Tom Sawyer" (1876) emphasizes themes of childhood and adventure in the American South, focusing on morality and freedom.
One of his most notable works, "Huckleberry Finn" (1885), is narrated from Huck's perspective, providing insight into a child's oft naïve worldview. Huck's journey with Jim, an escaped slave, symbolizes freedom and the quest for personal identity outside societal constraints. The novel explores the contrast between childhood innocence and adult society's corruption. Huck grapples with societal expectations about race, revealing deep-seated prejudices while showcasing his moral evolution. The river serves as a powerful symbol of freedom, acting as both a physical and metaphorical escape from societal restrictions, and critiques materialism while emphasizing individual morality over social conventions.
4. HENRY JAMES (1843-1916)
Henry James's works reflect the American fascination with European culture, global perspectives, and the complexities arising from cultural exchange. He examines cultural displacement through the lens of American characters navigating European landscapes, providing insights into their identity and societal norms. His literature is characterized by complexity, including detailed psychological analyses of characters and intricate plots.
Born in New York to a well-educated family, James was raised in a progressive environment that encouraged intellectual pursuit. He studied extensively in both Europe and the U.S., leading to a diverse and influential writing career bridging both cultures. In 1915, he became a British citizen, demonstrating his deep connection to both American and European cultures.
James’s literary production is remarkably diverse, featuring 22 novels and 120 short stories that encompass various styles and themes. His early period focused on themes of innocence versus corruption, as illustrated in works such as "Daisy Miller" (1878) and "The Portrait of a Lady" (1881), which address the complexities of societal expectations. In his second phase, James shifted focus to children confronting adult immorality, exemplified in "The Turn of the Screw," raising pivotal questions about innocence and experience. His major phase returned to international themes, delving into deeper psychological aspects of character and society in novels like "The Ambassadors" (1902) and "The Wings of the Dove" (1903).
5. CONCLUSION
A summary of the works of Twain and James underscores their significance as distinct figures in American literature. Twain emerges as a trailblazer of American language and humor, employing wit and sarcasm to reflect societal issues. Conversely, James is recognized as a pioneer of the psychological novel, highlighting character complexity and moral ambiguities. Introducing students to their works is essential for inspiring interest in English literature while providing insights into the cultural and social dynamics of their time.
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
GIBERT, T. American Literature to 1900. Centro Estudios Ramón Areces, Madrid 2005.
OUSBY, I. An Introduction to 50 American Novels. Pan Literature Guides, London 1975.