The Pastoral Ideal And Its Contradictions Of19th Century American Literature

American literature of19th century is a very important period in the history of American literature, because in this period the United States is undergoing a profound social change and industry is gradually replacing agriculture as the root of the national development, in the face of such change, people unconsciously remember the past simple, quiet and beautiful rural life. Pastoral ideal becomes one of the main images in society at that time, as a way to compete with industry represented by the machine.Based on the literature from Colonial literature period to literature in the19th century faced with social transition, the thesis sorts out the formation and development of American pastoral ideal, and in the19th century, how astronomers tries to solve this problem due to the invasion of the new factors and the new features arising, finally because this method is too idealistic, and inconsistent with the developing society, it leads to its eventual failure. But this ideal is of positive significance, it not only embodies a kind of ecological literature with harmony between man and nature, but also becomes an important part of American thought, even when agricultural society has passed, the longing for a better life will still bring people spirit of consolation.