Abstract

When we look back on American history, we can find that the American people have always been pursuing the spirit of freedom and a better life since the state’s establishment. There are some big events during America’s history which changed people’s minds and shaped American spirit, especially the two world wars. The World War I made people feel lost and broke their American Dream. Thus the Lost Generation represented by Hemingway appeared. They question society and themselves to find a way out in frustration. And during the World War II, government control made people dissatisfied with the authority. The Beat Generation, represented by Kerouac sought for rebellion and express themselves by some degenerate ways. They used this kind of behaviors to fulfill themselves and to challenge the world. This thesis will discuss the reasons of the two generations’ formations from social background and mental basis then. And by comparing typical writers and their novels at that time, we can learn more about the two generations and the American culture then.

Key words: the Lost Generation; the Beat Generation; literature; values; rebellion

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

I. Introduction-5

II.-Causes of the Lost Generation and the Beat Generation-5

2.1. Background of the world wars-5

2.1.1. The First World War and the Lost Generation-5

2.1.2. The Second World War and the Beat Generation-6

2.2. Social situation of that time-7

2.3. Mental crisis of the mass-7

III.-Thought foundations of the Lost Generation and the Beat Generation-9

3.1. Prevalence of Freudism-9

3.2. Influence of Existentialism-9

IV.-Characteristics of the two generations-9

4.1. Characteristics of the Lost Generation-10

4.2. Characteristics of the Beat Generation-10

V.-Analysis of typical writers and works-11

5.1. Ernest Hemingway and The Sun also Rises-11

5.2. Jack Kerouac and On the Road-13

VI.-Conclusion-14

References-15