• QUIZ

1. Characteristic features in Bradford & Winthrop writings, które świadczą o ich purytańskim charakterze.

Both authors were Puritan writers who shared Puritan ideas. Both stressed the importance of God and faith of the Puritan.

• Winthrop “The Model of Christian Charity”

- its value is immense

• chronicle of events, description of everyday laife (hangings, executions of adulteress and witches, epidemics, elicit/ illicit sex, cruelty of the Puritans)

• passages of anecdotes and commentaries

• style: plain, less emotional, less appealing, less personal

• no retrospection

Bradford “Of Plymouth Plantation”

• simple and plain style, B. is a master of plain style in narration

• good sense of humour, anecdotes, records of funny religious controversies

• dealing with Indians

• retrospective narration

2. Determinizm- Carl Marx- Man as a creature whose life was determined by forces he cannot control, man has no free will so he has no moral responsibility as he is not responsible for his action, he has instinct that he follows, can't shape environment, helpless and hopeless; pessymistic view of life

Determinism is the philosophical proposition that every event, including human cognition and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. No mysterious miracles or wholly random events occur.

Pisarze naturalizmu Frank Noris „The octupus”, Stephen Crane „Maggie, the girl of the streets”, Teodore Dreiser „Sister cassie”

3. Cultural influences in Twain poetry

He rejected the established patterns and conventions of English literature that shaped American writing up to the Civil War. Instead, he turned to his native land seeking to explore its resources in the realm of subject matter and language. He was the first to investigate the possibilities that American idiom offered for serious writing. He is the greatest American humorist- a master of both situational and character humour.

MT believed that American culture was superior to European one. He had no respect for ancient customs and institutions in Europe. He was fascinated with the West and his novels celebrates teh Mississippi frontier civilisation. In his works he presents truly American language as well as authentic dialects, presented in humorous witty and poetic way. He was the first newspaper personality- he drew cartoons for them. He was first literary celebrity thanks to his self-promotion- door-to-door selling catalogues, tour & travel books, guides. His first story “The jumping frog of the Calavalas County”, was published in “The lecture Platform”, which made him popular within 24 hours.

4. Wymienić dwie powieści Hamingway'a oprócz „The sun..” „For whom the bell tolls”, „A farewell to arms”, “The old man and the sea”

5. Characteristic feature of American Renaissance- half of the 19^th cent is called so in Am. America's period of artistic awakening had begun. Am.achieved cultural, artistic and political independence.

• Politics and democracy- imperfection of the political system which was in process of refining

• an emergence of materialism and conformity

• expansion of immigrants- language problems and new customs and traditions

• sexuality- the relation between man and woman, the discussion which was never before done

• transcendentalism- philosophy which emphasises individual experience, faith centered on the divinity of man and nature; self-reliance; rejection of traditional authority, optimism, confidence, intuition;

• fantasy and the supernatural, symbolism

6. Dlaczego romans historyczny odniósł taki sukces. At that time it was a historical novel that was very popular, however Hawthorne brought up sth new a romance that was settled in the historical time but history was treated not very thoroughly it was a human psycho that was the most important to analyse; historical romance was a new type of literature that is why it was so popular

7. Jakich dwóch pisarzy oprócz Hawthorn'a, Emmerson'a i Thoreau było związanych z transcendentalizmem- Transcendentalists:

Men: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Herman Melville, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Nathaniel Hawthorne

Women:Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Peabody, Emily Dickinson

• Melville: Moby Dick, Typee, Omoo, Billy Bud the Sailor, Confidence Man

• “The grapes of wrath” he writes a story about a Joad family, who moves from Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California. They had to face the ruthless system of agricultural economics. This novel provoke a wide debate on migrant labourers and help to put an agricultural reform into effect. He also wrote “The Pearl” - a symbolic tale of Mexican Indian man Kino, who finds a valuable pearl which changes his life, but not in the way he expected. Kino sees a pear as an opportunity for a better life. In his novels Steinbeck touches upon the issue of migrant labourers and their struggle for normal life.

Tortilla Flat- 1935In Dubious Battle-1936Of Mice and Men-1937The Grapes of Wrathin-1939(the Pulitzer Prize)All of these books are characterized by Steinbeck's extreme sentimentality towards the common man. He glorifies paisanos , farmers, striking workers, and migrants alike. The books are also enhanced by Steinbeck's beautiful but noninvasive detailing of the California landscape. He makes the wildlife of Monterey and Carmel come alive by describing it exactly as it is without glorifying to the point where it could annoy readers. For this, many biographers have dubbed him the author of the California Experience. East of Eden-1952, The Winter of Our Discontent-1961 Steinbeck's work was often criticized for its controversial handling of the poor and the repressed. (...) He experienced spells of unpopularity in America, though his work stayed popular in Europe throughout his career. Of Mice and Men, in particular, was often banned or burned in schools. In the 1960's, Steinbeck traveled through forty American states with his poodle and wrote Travels with Charlie in Search of America. The result of the tour and the book was the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. John Steinbeck is one of the greatest storytellers of the twentieth century. His wonderful novellas The Pearl, Cannery Row, The Red Pony, and Of Mice and Men not only introduce readers to a fascinating, realistic cast of characters, make the hills and seacoast of California and Mexico come to life, but also tell intriguing stories of the lives of real people. Steinbeck's characters are the homeless, the migrant workers, the poor fishermen, and the farmers. However, each of these people has a deceptively simple, but important story to tell, a story filled with love and pain. The stories tell us not only of the lives of the poor who seek to live off the land, but of the struggles of all people. The Pastures of Heaven (1932), vividly detailed rural life among the "unfinished children of nature" in his native California valley. His second novel, To a God Unknown (1933), his strongest statement about man's relationship to the land, reveals a strain of neo-primitive mysticism later to permeate even his most objectively deterministic writings. Steinbeck next dealt with the problems of labor unionism in In Dubious Battle (1936), an effective story of a strike by local grape pickers. Of Mice and Men (1937), first conceived as a play, is a tightly constructed novella about an unusual friendship between two migratory workers.

9. Edgar Allan Poe- (1809-1849) a writer of Romantic Period. The lots of beautiful women is a common motif in his prose and poetry, probably because of his numerous unsuccessful relationships with women. He believed that writing should produce an effect on the reader and not just tell the story. It has an aesthetic purpose. He was the master creator of moods. He emphasized the art that appeals simultaneously to reason and to emotion. He claimed that a work of art is an object created in the course of beauty, and not a fragment of the author's life or an adjunct( uzupełnienie , dodatek ) to some didactic purpose. He wrote Annabel Lee, the Raven, Ligeia , the Philosophy of CompositionAnnabel Lee- a man is mourning. His beloved died, he says that they were so happy together that the angels envied them and came at night and took Annabel away. But he says that nothing can ever disunite his soul from the soul of Annabel. Unity of souls- every night he lies down by her side.The Raven- the bird of ill omen, death and wisdom; the bird is depicted as a symbol of mournful and neverending remembrance.The student realizes that the bird has learned by heart only one word and it answers each question with this word “nevermore”. The lover tortures himself as he asks whether he will meet his Lenore in another world, in Eden and he hears “nevermore”. He is not given even a spark of hope, he's lonely and tortured by grief.the Philosophy of Composition- a critical essay which describes the procedure of composing poetry. The poem cannot be too long, it should be as short as to be read at one sitting. The best theme for a poem is the death of a beautiful women and the best speaker is a bereaved lover. The poem should be melancholic. Poetry should not be didactic. Climax is an important element. Beauty, not truth was important. Truth- the satisfaction of the intellect and passion- the excitement of the heart are more suitable for prose.

Herman Melville-his works deal with survival and the fall from innocence into the wisdom or the happiness of experience. His characters search for a way to live in a predominantly dark world. He's books are introspective, meditative, brooding over the universal condition of human beings. His fiction is transcendentalist. A lot of his works describe a life at sea and a ship is usually presented as a microcosm of society.In “ Redburn ” a young boy travels from the USA to England and witnesses cruelty, drunkenness and suicide on board. In Liverpool he finds poverty, starvation and injustice. He's very happy when he is home with his family again.Action in “The Confidence Man” also takes place on a boat. The Confidence Man appeals to each man to have confidence in him and trust him and then steals whatever is most valuable to that person.In “Moby Dick” (Moby Dick is a whale J) he conveys very humanitarian message- he depicts whale-hunting as a hair-rising activity and warns people about leading a life which is not in accordance with nature's laws. There is a symbolic meaning in the novel: the life or death fight between the captain and Moby Dick is an allegoric presentation of the struggle between a man and his destiny. Melville seems to ask “Where are we going and what's the meaning of our existence?” And the novel provides us with pessimistic answer: we, as a humanity, head towards destruction- there is only one survivor to tell the story and issue a warning. There is a contrast between a harmful world of people and the peaceful world of Moby Dick- and the whale's life and actions serve as a model for living.

10. Wymienić dwie powieści Millera: Henry „Tropic of cancer”, „Tropic of capricorn” ;Arthur „Death of a salesman” „From the bridge”

11. Which dealt with the social problems of workers and farmers in California :”The grapes of Wrath”, „The red pony”, „East of Eden”, „Of Mice and Men”;

12. Struggle over humane nature in Hamilton (Federalist) & Jefferson (republican)

Jefferson supported farmers and …. , he had faith in people, idealistic, power in the hands of people, man should be educated, arrive at moral perfection, should not be condemned if he does sth wrong, does not have to taught what is good and what is evil - he has an inborn capability of distinguishing between the good and bad.

Hamilton supported aristocracy and trade, realistic, power should be kept out of the hands of the people to protect them from making a change in government that should cause disaster. Stressed the power of the nation, the central government and the strenght of the country wheras Jefferson the individual person and human dignity. H. Was the leader of the Federalist Party, and a long political enemy of J.

13. Reasons for Twain's popularity

-he turned his back upon Europe. He held no relevance for ancient institutions and customs of the Old World, he refused to celebrate its art., history and cultural tradition

-he rejected the establishment patterns and conventions of Eng lit. That shaped American writing up to the Civil War

-Instead he turned to his native land seeking to explore its resources in the realm of subject matter and languages

-he was the gratest American humorist, a master of both situational and character humor - south-western humor

-his fiction is largely autobiographical

-he writes about what he experienced, what he saw or at least heard

-like other regionalists, he described places and people he knew at first hand and loved, the world which was rapidly disappearning under the pressure of expanding industry and urbanization

-he was the first commercial writer in America and in the world. He was able to sell his books before he wrote them, newspapers made him famous

-the main theme - symbolic journey- flight

-he introduced a child into literature -1^st person narration

-presented a genuine picture of American civilisation

-introduced everyday speech and Negro dialects

-amusing stories and popular tall tales

-imitated Charles Dickens and his extravagant lg

14. Connecticut Wits- Hartford Wits- the first American school of poetry, a group of poets, most of whose members were associated with Yale University, included David Humphreys, John Trumbull, Joel Barlow, Timothy Dwight; conservatives; they produced “The Anarchial” a mock epic- poem

15. Hakluyt (literature of expedition) what was he famous for

Richard Hakluyt (1552-1616) “Voyages Tales”, the advocate of English colonial expansion, publisher, editor, author of prefaces, cartography and geography; lecturer in modern geography; his life's interest- sought first hand accounts from travellers and published works; recommended that England explore North America, envisaged a permanent colony there (agriculture- cure for England's economic needs; never went to America himself;

16. Thomas Jefferson- his achievements: 1) authorship of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, 2) the Virginia Stature for Religion Freedom enacted in 1786, 3) founding of the University of Virginia, chartered by the General Assembly in 1819

17. Franklin's achievements: -helped draft the Declaration of Independence, -served as an ambassador to France, -a founder of the Pennsylvania Hospital, -founder of the University of Pennsylvania, -the first subscription library in America, -founded the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, - invented Franklin stove, -invented lightining rod

16. 3 powieści Faulknera williama: “Light in August”, “Absalom, Absalom”, “Go Down Moses”, “The Sound and the Fury”, “Sanctuary”;

17. Cechy transcendentalizmu- an intellectual movement, an American version of romanticism, attitude to life- frame of mind; American intellectual independence no European influences; the movement began among the influential set of authors based in Concord, Massachusetts and was led by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Transcendetalism was a group of ideas in literature, religion, culture and philosophy, originated in New England in the early to mid- 19th c. It was a protest against the state of culture at the time. It focused on the spirit, which 'transcends' the physical and empirical by one's intuition and not through religious doctrines. Branson Alcott and MargaretFuller “conversation with Children on the Gospels.

18. The Federalist Papers a collection of American essays published as a series in newspapers in 1787-8. Their aim was to persuade citizens in New York State to support the proposal for the American Constitution. The papers give a complete explanation of the US system of government. They were signed ` Publius ' and written mostly by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.

19. Puritan prose and poetry vision of New World

Puritan literature was supposed to be very serious and present the life truly in plain style. What wasn't in the Bible had no right to be presented in lit. Authors are cold, detailed they don't want to arise passion among the readers. Religion was the main term of their writings. “”Of Plymouth Plantation” W. Bradford, “History of New England” Winthrop; Puritan's poetry had habit of regarding reality as emblems. A. Bradstreet. This poetry was metaphysical contained a lot of metaphores. M. Wigglesword “The day of the doom”, cruel and vivid, formal ballad. It is the description of punishment of the wicked and the happiness of the good. Predestination, God and men were important.

20. A. Poe and his views

Poe was an original author, who wrote in a romantic tradition. He invented the detective story and is the father of horror story. His stories present abnormal state of mind, state of obsession. His stories were symbolic and influenced European writers. He was a critic and short story writer, introduced a double character. “The murders in the rue Morgue”, “Annabel Lee”, “The raven”, “The Black War”.

21. Południowa Ameryka w “Huck Finn”

In “HF” M. Twain uses a number of South-Western dialects and nigro one as well. He uses the elements of nigro folklore. Twain presents the issue of slavery and he criticises the American civilisation. The point of view is presented by 14-year-old boy, who after observing America decides that adults are hypocritical, they lie, cheat and don't keep promises. He runs away with a slave Jim. The story is very picturesque, full of different places and adventures. It is based on natural movement of River Mississippi. Huck is able to notice humanity in a slave. . In the South slaves were treated horribly, like a cattle and it is amazing that a small child doesn't see a slave in Jim, but a person.

22. Hemingway and Miller similarities- disillusionment, lives of emptiness and despair, about the Lost Generation, realists, chose to find personal meaning for self-realization, autobiographical elements.

H. “The sun also rises”- the novel deals with the effects of the I World War and the whole lost generation, no contribution to society, life has no spiritual significance. Christianity as a concept is died for those people, there is no hope, the civilisation is in decline. The world is indifferent and unmoved to the suffering.

M. “The death of the salesman” after the hero is fired he cannot find a job, is depressed and wants to kill himself. He is not respected by his family. He discovers that after his death his family will receive a large sum of money and he commits suicide. Unfortunately, it doesn't count, because it was supposed to be natural death. Even after death he is not successful. The novel shows personal tragedy and the American system of values in which man is reduced to the money.

Both authors are critical as far as human values and American system are concerned. Both novels show no perspectives and hopes for normal living. Both are pesymistic as far as human hopes and perspectives are concerned.

26. Main features of the novels in Romantic Period

-American writers of fiction portray through the SYMBOLISM in their stories and novels of existence of

-should express the greatness and glory of the land - the vast continent of limitless opportunities, equality and democracy

-voice American faith in the New World as a Promised Land where one becomes a new Adam and begins a new life - innocent, perfect, succesful

-heavy with the fantastic and fabulous

explored what it meant to be American Artist. Looked at the American government and the country's political problems (war ald black slavery). It examined sexuality and relationship between men and woman in America. It absorbed itself with nature, its power exerts on human lives.

27. The Great Awakening. It is a period of religious revival in American history. There have been four Great Awakenings up till now:- The First Great Awakening (1730s - 1740s)- The Second Great Awakening (1800s - 1830s)- The Third Great Awakening (1880s - 1900s)- The Fourth Great Awakening (1960s - 1970s)The First Great Awakening of Puritan religion and strict moral principles was initiated in 1730s by Jonathan Edwards and his sermons, e.g. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

• ESSAYS

1. Puritan views of New World in colonial America

2. Compare and contrast literature of Whitman and Dickenson in terms of God, man and nature

3. Man's nature perceived by Hawthorne, Faulkner and Melville.

4. American dream and experience in 20^th century American literature

5. Poe's idea of rationalisation (symbolic poetry, short stories, invention of detective story, science fiction, tension on symbolism and psychological analysis)

6. Transcendentalizm

7. Establishment of the truly American tradition (Irving, Cooper , Poe)

8. Main issues in 20^th century

9. Romantic fiction and dark vision of life Hawthorne & Melville

10. J. Edwards and B. Franklin comparison- predestination

11. Winthrop and Bradford characteristic features of their writings

12. Struggle over humane nature in Hamilton (Federalist) & Jefferson (republican)

13. Compare and contrast two novels of the South

14. The war in “the sun...” and “The red badge...”

15. Bradstreet and Taylor - poetry in colonial America

16. “Huck Finn” is it the greatest novel/ initiation into life

17. Freedom and duty in “Portrait..”

18. “Light in August”

19. Cooper and Hawthorne woman in their writings

20. Withman and Poe's attitude towards poetry and poet

21. Materialism, the American dream, money in “Great Gatsby”

Compare and contrast literature of Whitman and Dickinson in terms of God, man and nature

Walt Whitman's and Emily Dickenson's works have numerous differences. Compared to D's short and seemingly simple poems, W's are long and often complex. Yet both twentieth century writers share several similarities when delved into thoroughly. Though their approaches differ they often deal with the same themes, and both pioneered their unique style of writing.

Using death as a theme is probably the strongest connection that they share. W's view on it is reflective of his belief in transcendentalism. In “Song of Myself” he uses the scientific principle of Thermodynamics to assert that there is life after death, because energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. In stanza six he writes ”And what do you think has become of the women and children? They are alive and well somewhere, The smallest sprouts show there is really no death”. W. contends that life remains long after death, and to find him now all one must do is look “under your boot-soles”.

D's writings on death are more complex and paradoxical. She personifies death generally seeing as a lord or compelling lover. In one of her more popular poem “Because I could not stop for Death” death is like a kindly courter. He picks her up in a “”Carriage held bot just for ourselves-/ and Immortality”. Many of the other poems are about the moment of death, and what happens when the living cross over into death. In “I heard fly buzz when I died” she tries to explain what happens at the boundary of death. She describes the experience as conflicted as she strives to define that moment with vivid images and sounds. Although W. And D. Write about death in different context, both seem compel to tackle the issue repeatedly. It is also apparent that neither felt intimidated about death. W. Refers to his impending death in the final stanza of “Song...”. D. Herself wrote (to her cousins) “Little Cousins,/Called back,/Emily.” On her deathbed.

Religion is also another subject both writers struggle with,, and it often ties to the death theme. During the romantic era previous ideals and morals were questioned. Religion was scrutinised and considered outdated or irrelevant. W. Challenged the traditional idea of religion, basing his philosophy of transcendentalism. He collapses the distinction between spiritual and secular. He often puts himself into the place of God. In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” he implies that he can see across the time. In stanza three he directly associates himself with Jesus Christ by writing “I am with you” an echo from the Bible.

W. frequently uses this echo technique, not only in „Crossing...” but also in „Song...”.. Stanza 19 in “Song...” is parallel to the feast of rich man in the Bible. Once again he compares himself to Jesus, inviting “the wicked one just the same as the righteous”. Despite the tendency of Romantics to dismiss God completely, W. Perhaps due to Puritan pressure, felt the need to address the larger issues of religion and God. His assertion that spirituality is found in each of us, not in some higher being is a result of his constant questioning of

traditional beliefs, combined with hi inability to discard all notions of morality and values.

D's philosophy on death was much more traditional, yet she too constantly questioned Calvinistic beliefs she had grown up with. Her fixation on death is her fundamental part of her religious beliefs, and many of her poems focus on her anxiety over her Elect status. Many of her poems seem to question God's existence, and importance of Him if He does exist. In one poem she seemingly makes fun of God, saying “That we had rather not with him/ But with each other play”. Yet many poems seem quite sure that He does indeed exist> This belief is emphasised by such lines as “I know that He exists”, “I never spoke with God/ Nor I visited in Heaven-/ Yet certain I am of the spot/ As if the checks were given-“. Like W. D. feels to challenge the role of religion, yet both are ultimately incapable of tossing old beliefs entirely.

W. and D. both have been hailed as original and unique artists. They each have distinctive voices that may have attempt to replicate and have been unable to do so. W. wrote in epic like proportions, a very unepic-manner. He developed his own rhythmic structure, creating complex lines and stanzas. W's style of free verse become synonymous with his name and works, and help distinguished him as a great American poet. His preoccupation with sex, the human body and numerous other “Taboo” subjects, change the American public view of poet and poetry. D's works are just as unique, due to mainly her odd placement of punctuation, unusual grammar, and simplicity of language. Her lines end abruptly, outwardly innocuous words are often capitalised. Her tendency to write meters typical of hymnals all distinguishes her from other authors. Both write of common and everyday objects and people, while addressing the larger issues of life within that context.

While Walt Withman and Emily Dickinson's works seem to bee quite different, they share common themes, namely death and religion. While they view may differ, there is a sense of commonality when reading their works side by side. Both poets are acclaimed American writes, offering up distinct voices and beliefs that echo still today.

• Puritan views of New World in colonial America

• John Winthrop “Model of Christian Charity” Puritans arrived to America in 1620 they wanted to built there stable settlement which should be based upon the Bible: community should be diversified, there should be rich and poor everything is designed by God and everything has particular role to play or target to achieve; law of grace and Law of nature, the most important is the first one it is given by God for men's salvation; for that purpose are advised: giving out of abundance, lending (banking), forgiving; Christian community; importance of work by which salvation may be earned; Puritans are supposed to set an example they are like a “City upon the hill (New Jerusalem)”, unity of community, collective responsibility; no one has right to feel superior everyone are equal before God; public morality

• William Bradford “Of Plymouth Plantation”, Mayflower Compact 1620 defines goals of colony- to plant the colony in Virginia for the glory of God; defines the mean of civil body- legislative power (Parliament), body which will establish law, offices etc.; formation of commonwealth; judiciary power; government- elected executive power; all promissed obedience and submission to colony; hardship of life in colony is a divine mission; conviction that America had been chosen for a very special experiment, evil in a man can bring that experiment to ruin;

• “The Diary of Samuel Sewall”- man needs spiritual nourishment, intoleration toward other denominations, separation of sexes- they spent free time in separation, mixed dancing is a sin; witchcraft and trials; marriage is a transaction;

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