A Comparative Study On Prose Writings Of American Transcendentalists

Transcendentalism is not just a literary movement, but also a thought emancipation movement. It is a tremendous driving force and dominant power underlying American Renaissance, which stands for the peak level of its development. The most prominent achievement of transcendentalism lies in prose. This dissertation places transcendental prose within the global landscape with particular reference to the comparison of ancient Greek and Chinese ancient essays, which aims to provide us with a fresh cognitive approach for the comprehensive survey of the spiritual essence, cultural and artistic character of transcendental prose, and a platform for equal dialogue between cross-cultural prose.The dissertation is composed of three parts:preface, main body, and conclusion. The preface launches into the topic in a straightforward manner:transcendental movement was a pioneer of American literature independence. However, the issue of literariness in transcendental prose has obsessed literary critics. In response to this dilemma, the current thesis combines analysis of outlook on Chinese Great Prose and changes of their categories both at home and abroad, which can potentially leads to a better understanding of genres, theme, ideas, and forms in transcendental prose. It also truly reflects its categorical characteristics of inclusivity.The main body consists of three parts. Chapter One,"The Comparative Study with Ancient Greek Prose—the Integration of Secularity and Admonition", is divided into three sections. Section one contends that both writers focus on secular life and the narration and explanation of ordinary life, on which this section inquires into the cultural origin of Secularity in transcendental prose. Section Two analyses the narrative strategies of The Bible used consciously by transcendental essayists in their writing, which play an essential role of admonition. Section Three explores how secularity and admonition get integrated, demonstrating that the common bond of their integration is that both writers take on the responsibilities of being a priest. As integrated with characters of secularity and admonition, transcendentalists advocates "No history, but biography", and pays more attention to the value of personal experience.Chapter Two,"The Comparative Study with the Ming-Qing Prose—the Integration of Creation and Conservation", is composed of three sections. Section one makes a comparative study on literary forms, subjectivity, and aesthetic orientation, with particular emphasis on creativity. Section Two dwells on the conservatism of transcendental prose. They share the common ground in conservatism that is critical of industry and commerce and resistant to novels. However, they show difference in standing points and solutions. The author will make a cultural analysis of the commonality and individuality in their conservatism. Section Three states that the common basis of the integration between creativity and conservation lies in the philosophical investigation of the relations between creativity and conservatism in writers, which is characterized by the deep understanding and explanation of Yuan. Finally, the author argues that the integration of the creativity and conservatism in transcendental prose contributes to the paradoxical nature of railway image and contradictory style of his representative journal The Dial and accelerates the dissociation of transcendental literature groups.Chapter three,"The Linear Comb of American Prose", is divided into three sections. Section one and Section two explore the stages of American proses and their features. In retrospective of the development of American prose, the works during colonial and revolution period paved the way for transcendental prose, which signals the maturity of American prose. After that, due to the erosion of gentleness, the prose could not express self and reflect the times and common people's voice. They appeared to decline. From the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century, the decline of American prose was reversed, showing multiple developmental patterns and great vitality today. Section three analyses how transcendental prose inherits and develops the American native experience and literature. This section also shows that artistic vitality and expressive power of American prose is closely related to transcendentalism. We can even say that we can foresee the decline and rise of American prose through the mere analysis of transcendental prose.The last chapter is conclusion. This part has three sections. Section one analyzes the key factors contributing to the development and dissociation of transcendental litterateurs group, which could deepen our understanding of transcendental movement and the writing style of prose. Section two and Section three analyze the significance of transcendental prose with a view to the future. The intercultural comparative study demonstrates that transcendental essayists focus on the construction of grand state, the balance of prose's vertical and horizontal dimensions. These experiences will supply significant guides for the appreciation, criticism, creation of modern prose, and the theory building of prose.