1、Part One: English LiteratureAn Introduction to Old and Medieval English LiteratureI Understanding and application: (理解应用)1. Englands inhabitants are Celts. And it is conquered by Romans, Anglo Saxons and Normans. The Anglo-Saxons brought the Germanic language and culture to England, while Normans br
2、ought the Mediterranean civilization, including Greek culture, Rome law and the Christian religion. It is the cultural influence of these two conquests that provided the source for the rise and growth of English literature.2. The old English literature extends from about 450 to 1066, the year of the
3、 Norman conquest of England.3. The old English poetry that has survived can be divided into two groups: The religious group and the secular one4. Beowulf: a typical example of Old English poetry is regarded as the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons. It is an example of the mingling of nature myths an
4、d heroic legends. 5. After the Normans conquest, three languages co-existed in England. French is the official language that is used by king and the Norman lords. Latin is the principal tongue of church affairs and in universities. Old English was spoken only by the common English people.6. In the s
5、econd half of 14th century, English literature started to flourish with the appearance of writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Gower, and othersII Recite: (识记再现)1. Romance: It uses narrative verse or prose to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds is a popular literary form
6、in the medieval period. It has developed the characteristic medieval motifs of the quest, the test, the meeting with the evil giant and the encounter with the beautiful beloved. The hero is usually the knight, who sets out on a journey to accomplish some missions. There are often mysteries and fanta
7、sies in romance.Romantic love is an important part of the plot in romance. Characterization is standardized, While the structure is loose and episodic, the language is simple and straightforward. The importance of the romance itself can be seen as a means of showing medieval aristocratic men and wom
8、en in relation to their idealized view of the world.2. Heroic couplet: Heroic couplet is a rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter. It is Chaucer who used it for the first time in English in his work The Legend of Good Woman.3. The theme of Beowulf: The poem presents a vivid picture of how the primitive
9、 people wage heroic struggles against the hostile forces of the natural world under a wise and mighty leader. The poem is an example of the mingling of the nature myths and heroic legends.4. The Wife of Bath in The Canterbury Tales:The Wife of Bath is depicted as the new bourgeois wife asserting her
10、 independence. Chaucer develops his characterization to a higher artistic level by presenting characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions.5. Chaucers achievement:He presented a comprehensive realistic picture of his age and created a whole gallery of vivid characters in his wo
11、rks, especially in The Canterbury Tales. He anticipated a new ear, the Renaissance, to come under the influence of the Italian writers. He developed his characterization to a higher level by presenting characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions. He greatly contributed to the
12、maturing of English poetry. Today, Chaucers reputation has been securely established as one of the best English poets for his wisdom, humor and humanity.6. “The Father of English poetry”:Originally, Old English poems are mainly alliterative verses with few variations. Chaucer introduced from France
13、the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace it. In The Romaunt of the Rose (玫瑰传奇), he first introduced to the English the octosyllabic couplet (八音节对偶句). In The Legend of Good Women, he used for the first time in English heroic couplet. And in his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tale
14、s, he employed heroic couplet with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature. His art made him one of the greatest poets in English; John Dryden called him “the father of English poetry”.【例题】The work that presented, for the first time in English literature, a compre
15、hensive realistic picture of the medieval English society and created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life is most likely _. (0704)A. William Langlands Piers Plowman B. Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales C. John Gowers Confession Amantis D. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 【
16、答案】B【解析】(P4.para.2) 本题考查的是中世纪时期几位诗人作品的创作主题和创作范围。A 答案是农夫皮尔斯及其作者威廉兰格伦他在其作品中描述了他那个时期的宗教与社会问题。 C爱人的告白 ，D高文爵士和他的绿衣骑士都是约翰 高厄的作品，属于时最精美的骑士文学作品; 然而只有乔叟，在英国文学史上第一次向我们展示了表现当时英国社会的一幅综合性、现实主义的画卷,在他的代表作坎特伯雷故事集中塑造了一系列来自社会各阶层的生动形象的人物。本 章 小 结本章重点：Chaucer and his achievement本章提示：本部分内容以选择题考查，所以，复习时以识记为主。Chapter 1: Th
17、e Renaissance PeriodGeneral Introduction考核要求:1. 识记：（1）文艺复兴时期的界定（2）历史文化背景2. 领会: （1）文艺复兴运动的意义与影响（2）文艺复兴时期的文学特点（3）人文主义的主张及对文学的影响3. 应用：文艺复兴，人文主义及玄学诗等名词的解释考点串讲:1. The Renaissance: The Renaissance marks a transition from the medieval to the modern world. Generally, it refers to the period between the 14th
18、 Richard III; and Titus Andronicus（泰特斯, 提图斯）. four Comedies, including: The Comedy of Errors; The Two Gentlemen of Verona（维罗纳）; The Taming of the Shrew（泼妇的驯服）, and Love s Labors LostThe second stage, his style became highly individualized, Five historical: Richard II, King John, Henry IV, part I, II
19、, Henry VSix comedies: A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, As You like(皆大欢喜 ), Twelfth Night, and the Merry Wives of Windsor（温莎公爵的快乐情妇）Two tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius CaesarThe Third stage is the peak of his creation, included his greatest tragedies and
20、his so-called dark comedies:Seven tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra（克利奥帕特拉）, Troilus and Cressida（特洛伊罗斯和克雷西达）, Coriolanus（科里奥兰纳斯）Two comedies: Alls Well That Ends Well, Measure for MeasureThe last period of Shakespeares includes his principal romantic tragicomedies
21、: Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winters Tale, and The Tempest Two final plays: Henry III, and The Two Noble Kinsmen5. About his dramashistorical playsShakespeares history plays are mainly written under the principle that national unity under a mighty and just sovereign is a necessity.The three history pl
22、ays in the reign of Henry VI are the beginning of Shakespeares epic treatment of English history.Romantic ComediesIn his romantic comedies, Shakespeare takes an optimistic attitude toward love and youth, and the romantic elements are brought into full play. They are The Merchant of Venice, A Midsumm
23、er Nights Dream, As You like, Twelfth Night, but the most important one is The Merchant of Venice.TragediesThe successful romantic tragedy is Romeo and Juliet, which eulogizes the faithfulness of love and the spirit of pursuing happiness.Shakespeares greatest tragedies are Hamlet,-the first of greatest tragedies, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth(麦克白.)They have some characteristics in commonWilliam Shakespeares four great tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth.
