American Literature Learning Guide (II)
IV. What are the key points ofAmerican Literature?
Although the history of American literature is relatively short, we still find it difficult to deal with all the contents with so many unfamiliar concepts, terms and difficult new words. Therefore, it is necessary for us to grasp the key points of American literature.
1. Form a mental picture of the outline of American literature by studying the table of contents carefully and trying to learn them by heart.
2. Get familiar with the differences among the different views of literary schools.
3. Try to remember the names of most important American writers as well as their representative works.
4. Strive to understand the theme of the most famous masterpieces of American authors.
V. How to learn poems?
Poetry is the essence of literature, namely, the best part of literature, just as Francis Bacon said to the effect that poetry makes one witty. Therefore we should learn some poems which contains some universal truth, if we want to become more intelligent. Needless to say poems are more difficult to learn. However, with the assistance of teachers, we can understand some of them. First, we should understand the form of a poem. Second, we ought to appreciate the musical effect of a poem, such as rhyme scheme, rhythm. Third, we should try our best to get a mental picture in our mind with the images in a poem. Fourth, we must do our utmost to understand the implication of a poem. Fifth, it is worthwhile to recite some short poems so that we can enjoy the beauty of poetic language.
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The Road Not Taken
by Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way.
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I---
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
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A. The Idea of the Poem
In this meditative poem, the speaker tells us how the course of his life was determined when he came upon two roads that diverged in a wood. The significance of the poem lies in the fact that every individual in his or her lifetime has to make a decision when two possibilities exist side by side. Either to choose the way by following others’ footstep or choose a new path less traveled by others will make great difference in one’s life. For instance, Frost chose a different way of literary creation, so his poems are unique and original, characterized by daily and common things, simple language and profound philosophical ideas which are universal truth.
B.The Musical Effect of the Poem
The poem contains four five-line stanzas with a rhyme scheme of abaab. The dominant rhythm is iambic. Each line consists of nine syllables with few exceptions. If we turn the poem into Chinese, the original musical effect will be lost. Therefore, we don’t have to translate English or American poems into Chinese as long as we are able to understand them.