Abstract： The "golden past" theme has been one of the themes which has been discussed and researched by domestic and foreign writers and scholars. Whether in the past or modern age, recalling on golden past is companied with a wide range of cultural function, which not only can bring emotional comfort to the individual, promote identity and reality, but also can be formed to criticism.

         In the Native American literature, especially short stories at different times, the writers have showed their so special emotions on the "golden past" theme that many of them clearly gave the public their different attitudes and perceptions toward the “Golden Past” theme in their literary works."Golden Past" theme, expressed in a variety of topics in short stories, reflects a lifestyle change and the pursuit of ideas of the writers and common people at that time.

Key Words : Golden Past ;nostalgic ;criticism

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1  Introduction1

2  Literature Review2                              

2.1 Researches on the theme Golden Past Home and Abroad.2

2.1.1 Domestic Researches.2

2.1.2 Overseas Researches3

3 The definition and the historical background of  the theme Golden Past..3

3.1 Definition.3

3.1.1From the aspect of history.3

3.1.2From the aspect of literature 4

3.2 Historical background4

3.2.1 The romantic period.4

3.2.2 The realistic  period4

3.2.3 The modern  period.5

4  The analysis of protagonists in representative work5

4.1 In Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle.5

4.1.1 The major characteristic of Rip Van  Winkle.5

4.1.2 The main conflict affected by the theme Golden Past6 

4.1.3 Irving’s theme of conservatism as is revealed in Rip Van Winkle7

4.2 In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.7

4.2.1 The major characteristic of Huckleberry Finn.7

4.2.2 The main conflict affected by the theme Golden Past8

4.2.3 Mark Twain’s nostalgic attitude in Huckleberry Finn9

4.3 In William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily9

4.3.1 The major characteristic of  Emily. 9

4.3.2 The main conflict  influenced by the theme Golden Past.10

4.3.3 William Faulkner’s emphsis on  the Southern subjects and consciousness10

5 Thoughts and evaluations of American prominent writers towards the theme              Golden Past11                         

5.1 Romantic Period:  Washington Irving and James Fenimore Coope11

5.1.1 Washington Irving.11

5.1.2 James Fenimore Cooper.-12

5.2 Realistic Period:  Mark Twain and Henry James .13

5.2.1 Mark Twain-13

5.2.2 Henry James.-.14

5.3Modern Period: Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.15

5.3.1 Ernest Hemingway.15

5.3.2 William Faulkner16

6 Dynamic prediction from the aspect of the theme Golden Past’s potential effect 

   on the future of literature 17

7 Conclusion.18--

8  Reference.19

9  Acknowledgements20