美国文学

Unit 9 F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) Unit 9 F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) and Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)and Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

The “Roaring Twenties”The “Roaring Twenties”

The conflicts (“cultural Civil War”) between city and The conflicts (“cultural Civil War”) between city and small-towns, Protestants and Catholics, blacks and small-towns, Protestants and Catholics, blacks and whites, “New Women” and advocates of old-whites, “New Women” and advocates of old-fashioned family values are the most important part fashioned family values are the most important part of the story of the Roaring Twenties.of the story of the Roaring Twenties.

flappersflappers

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age The Jazz Age: Fitzgerald coined the phrase in 1922 to The Jazz Age: Fitzgerald coined the phrase in 1922 to

describe the flamboyant—“anything goes”—era that describe the flamboyant—“anything goes”—era that emerged in America after World War I and before the emerged in America after World War I and before the Great Depression.Great Depression.

A legend of “America’s adolescence before pain set A legend of “America’s adolescence before pain set in”, “not so much a historical period as a legend of in”, “not so much a historical period as a legend of glitter, of recklessness, and of talent in such profusion glitter, of recklessness, and of talent in such profusion that it was sown broadcast like wild oats.” (Malcolm that it was sown broadcast like wild oats.” (Malcolm

Cowley)Cowley)

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

Fitzgerald is both an insider and an outsider of the Fitzgerald is both an insider and an outsider of the Jazz Age with a double vision. Jazz Age with a double vision.

His doubleness and irony present a panorama of the His doubleness and irony present a panorama of the Jazz Age with a deep insight.Jazz Age with a deep insight.

The juxtaposition of post-war boom years and its The juxtaposition of post-war boom years and its doom and failure is easily recognizable in doom and failure is easily recognizable in Fitzgerald’s novels and stories.Fitzgerald’s novels and stories.

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby (1925) (1925)

It is viewed as the document of the twenties, “so It is viewed as the document of the twenties, “so much so that had it not been written the twenties much so that had it not been written the twenties would actually seem diminished.” would actually seem diminished.”

The bankruptcy of the American Dream: the The bankruptcy of the American Dream: the disillusionment of the protagonists’ personal dreams disillusionment of the protagonists’ personal dreams due to the clashes between their romantic vision of due to the clashes between their romantic vision of

life and the sordid reality.life and the sordid reality. Gatsby, the “Idealistic Materialism” as Gatsby, the “Idealistic Materialism” as

the core of the paradox. the core of the paradox.

NovelsNovels This Side of ParadiseThis Side of Paradise (1920); (1920); The Beautiful and DamnedThe Beautiful and Damned (1922); (1922); The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby (1925); (1925); Tender Is the NightTender Is the Night (1934); (1934); The Love of the Last TycoonThe Love of the Last Tycoon (1941) (1941) Collections of short stories:Collections of short stories: Flappers and Philosophers Flappers and Philosophers (1921) (1921) Tales of the Jazz Age Tales of the Jazz Age (1922)(1922)

Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961 )Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961 ) Being fond of sports since his childhood;Being fond of sports since his childhood; ““To get into the thick of it” and the sense of the need To get into the thick of it” and the sense of the need

to experience or observe war at close quarters as a to experience or observe war at close quarters as a young man;young man;

Being trained in Being trained in the economy of the economy of expression as a journalist after the expression as a journalist after the War; The Lost GenerationWar; The Lost Generation

Writing about the loss of value and Writing about the loss of value and demoralization. demoralization.

The ThemesThe Themes

Is life a battle? Is life a battle? How to live with courage and grace How to live with courage and grace

under pressure? How to live in the under pressure? How to live in the emptiness of world?emptiness of world?

Are there anyAre there any possibility of heroism? possibility of heroism?

The TechniquesThe Techniques

The colloquial style: as “Papa Hemingway”, his short The colloquial style: as “Papa Hemingway”, his short sentences and very specific details. A writer has got to sentences and very specific details. A writer has got to catch “the whiteness of the bone”. catch “the whiteness of the bone”.

The iceberg principle: “I always try to write on the The iceberg principle: “I always try to write on the principle of the iceberg. There is seven-eighths of it principle of the iceberg. There is seven-eighths of it under water for every part that shows. The dignity of under water for every part that shows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one eighth of it movement of an iceberg is due to only one eighth of it being above water. ” being above water. ”

The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea (1952) (1952)

Old Santiago, the boy, the fishOld Santiago, the boy, the fish ““No one should be alone in their No one should be alone in their

old age … but it is unavoidable … old age … but it is unavoidable …

I wish I had the boy. I wish the boyI wish I had the boy. I wish the boy

was here.” was here.” ““An optimistic tragedy”? Why?An optimistic tragedy”? Why? The Old Man and the HeroismThe Old Man and the Heroism

(Hemingway family with marlins)(Hemingway family with marlins)

(Hemingway in the cabin (Hemingway in the cabin of his boat of his boat PilarPilar))

The Sun Also Rises The Sun Also Rises (1926)(1926) A Farewell to Arms A Farewell to Arms (1929)(1929) For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)(1940) The Old Man and the Sea The Old Man and the Sea (1951)(1951)

Thank you!Thank you!