I. Benefits of reading literature:

1. Literature entertains

Reading literature classics is fun. The characters, stories, and language in classic literature engages the mind. It helps us escaping the problems and responsibilities of our daily lives and participating in an imaginative world of experience which differs from our own. The adventure of Huckleberry Finn of Mark Twain《哈克贝利·费恩历险记 》带我们进入白人小孩哈克为营救黑人吉姆在密西西比河上扣人心弦的冒险经历。

2. Literature provides information and knowledge

Literature is full of human reactions that help children understand the nature and condition of the human heart. As they respond to these lessons from the past, they become more aware of today's problems. Literature reflects mankind at any point in time. Civic and historical knowledge is revealed. So we can understand the current world better and imagine the world in the past and the world in the future.

3. Literature cultivates wisdom， a proper worldview(世界观) and view of value(价值观)

Literature helps to shape and change our attitudes and expectations to life and become wiser and more sympathetic. We can tell right from wrong, good from evil. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser嘉莉妹妹中嘉莉出卖灵魂，得到金钱和地位，但是她却没有找到真正的幸福。

4. Literature improves communication skills

The easiest way to improve vocabulary, writing, and speaking skills is to study

literature. While reading American literature or classic British literature, new words will be added to your vocabulary and they'll express themselves with a style that will also improve your writing and composition skills.

II. 美国文学发展简史A Survey of American Literature

1. 殖民地时期 Colonial America

移民刚到新大陆时忙于生存斗争，所以开始时文学发展比较缓慢。最早发表的关于北美的作品是游记、日记之类的文字，作者都是英国人。英国殖民地建立之后,统治者利用宗教,主要是清教主义(puritan thoughts) 作为控制殖民地思想意识的主要手段，因此许多出版物是关于神学的研究。

2.独立革命时期 （The American Revolution）独立革命是美国民族文学诞生的背景。富兰克林（Franklin）用清晰、幽默的文体传播了科学文化，激发自力更生的精神。

3.浪漫主义时期 (American Romanticism)

浪漫主义早期，一些以美国为背景、美国人为主人公的作品开始出现，初具美利坚民族的特色。欧文(1783～1859)致力发掘北美早期移民的传说故事，他的《见闻札记》(1819～1820)开创了美国短篇小说的传统。库珀(1789～1851)在《皮袜