1、English LiteratureChapter One English Literature in the Middle Age (5th -15th )Main points:I. Background information of the Anglo-Saxon period.II. Literary characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon period.III. Background information of the Anglo-Norman period. IV. Literary characteristics of the Anglo-Norm
2、an period.V. Important literary works and men of letters of the Anglo-Norman period. VI. Geoffrey ChaucerI . Background information of the Anglo-Saxon periodThe period can be roughly divided into two stages: the Anglo-Saxon period and the Anglo-Norman period.1.The making of the nation.1.1 The inhabi
3、tants of the nationThe native Celts 凯尔特人(they inhabit in what is now Ireland, Wales and Scotland )- the Roman Conquest ( this conquest was led by Julius Caesar in 55B.C., which lasted 4 centuries, but it made little influence on the nations literature )- the Anglo-Saxon Conquest in about 449 by thre
4、e Teutonic tribes 条顿部落- the Anglos, the Saxons, the Jutes.The Anglo-Saxons were Christianized in the 7th century, which influenced the literature in two aspects: one is the great number of Christian poetry which forms an important part of English literature of this period; the other is Christian col
5、or in pagan works, for the monks recorded the oral literature with their Christian ideas. (The ideas usually do not go with the content of the whole being.)1.2 The languageIn the 7th, the three tribes mixed into a whole people called English and the language spoken by them is generally called Anglo-
6、Saxon, that is the Old English.II. Literary characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon period.The main literary form of the period is poetry and there are two groups: pagan poetry and religious poetry, and often Christian one.The most important works left is Beowulf贝奥武甫or贝尔武夫The introduction to BeowulfIt is
7、 the earliest complete epic in English literature and it is regarded as the national epic of the English people.- Definition of epic or national epic 史诗: it is a poetic account of the deeds of one or more great heroes, or of a nations past history.- 3182 lines, two parts with an interpolation betwee
8、n the two.- The theme of the poem: Beowulf is one of the nations heroes of the English people. With the descriptions of his heroic deeds, the song reflects events taking place on the Scandinavian peninsula at the beginning of the 7th century.- The significance of the poem: The story represents 1) th
9、e fight of the ancient people against beasts and natural forces ( e.g. flood, volcano ); 2) it reflects the features of tribal society of ancient time; 3)Beowulfs deeds presents the ideal virtues of ancient Anglo-Saxons.( courage, prowess, devotion to his people )- Characteristics of the poem: an al
10、literative verse 头韵体诗歌; pagan in spirit and matter, yet with visible Christian marks.III. Background information of the Anglo-Norman period.3.1 The Norman ConquestThe beginning of the Anglo-Norman period is marked by the Norman Conquest in 1066. The influences of the conquest on the English society
11、are: 1) the nation turned from the tribal society to the feudal society; 2) the conquest brought for the nation French civilization and the French language.3.2 The languageAt first, French was the language of the upper class or the oppressor and Old English was the language of the oppressed. Then Ol
12、d English was combined with French to form a new language - Middle EnglishIV. Literary characteristics of the Anglo-Norman periodThe main literary forms of the period are poetry and prose.( romance in the form of prose ) Literary characteristics- 中古英诗呈现法国诗风与英格兰本土传统交融的情景。诗歌韵体上，一方面受法国诗歌的影响，出现以音韵为特征的诗歌
13、 e.g. Chaucers Canterbury tales，一方面保留古英语的头韵体诗歌 e.g. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight- poetic forms: A. romance 传奇 which was brought from France to England, was about the bright, romantic tales of love and adventures of the knights.(P18)B. Ballad 民谣: ( definition ) Ballad is a kind of English folk lit
14、erature. It is a story told in songs, usually in 4-line stanzas, with the 2nd and the 4th lines rhymed. It portrays the characters from the lower class and gives an outlook of the life of the common people in feudal England.(P51)e.g. the “Robin Hood” groupV. Important literary works and men of lette
15、rs of the Anglo-Norman period. - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the most important among the King Arthurs circle.(P18)It is about the adventures and romantic love of a knight, Sir Gawain. And the knight represents the ideal virtues advocated in the feudal society - courage, devotion to his king an
16、d also his beloved lady; this romance also gives a vivid account of the court life at that time; - Piers, the Plowman by William Langland 朗格兰It is a religious allegory. - Geoffrey Chaucer 乔叟VI. Geoffrey ChaucerHe is regarded as “father of English poetry”, and one of the greatest narrative poets in E
17、ngland.(P41) As a writer living in the transitional period when England turned from feudal society to capitalism, his works reveals faithfully the life and the thoughts of his time.(he eulogizes the ideals of chivalrous England on the one hand, and on the other hand, he sang highly of the Renaissanc
18、e spirits)6.1 About the authorA. Chaucer was born in about 1340 in a family of a rich merchant and served as page to a countess, which provided with him a chance of getting in close ties with the court and nobility.B. In 1359 he accompanied the English army to France and in 1367 he was sent on sever
19、al embassies to France. This experience helped him get in acquaintances with French renaissance. (imitate mew forms of poetry writing, translate French works)C. In 1367 he was sent on several embassies to Flanders, France and Italy, he then got in acquaintances with Italian renaissance. (Dante 但丁, B
20、occaccio 卜伽丘, Petrarch 彼得拉克)D. The poet died in 1400 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, thus founding the “Poets Corner”.6.2 Chaucers main works (P42)masterpiece: The Canterbury Tales6.3 The Canterbury Tales- It is one of the most famous works in all literatures. In arranging the poem, he imitates
21、 the framework of Boccaccios Decamenon十日谈：a general prologue + 24 tales with interlogues.(P43)- Significance of The Canterbury TalesA. Chaucer created a brilliant and picturesque panorama of his time and his country. In this book, he portrayed characters from all walks of life and made them tell sto
22、ries that revealed the life, manners and thoughts of people from different social classes.B. As a humanist, he eulogized humanist ideas. He believed in the rights of man to earthly happiness. He was keen to praise mans energy, intellect, quick wit and the love for life.C. Chaucer introduced from Fra
23、nce the rhymed stanza of various types to replace the Old English alliterative verse. He was the first to employ skillfully heroic couplets in English poetic writing.D. He covered all the major types of medieval literature in his masterpiece, such as romances, folk tales, animal stories.E. Chaucer a
24、lso contributed greatly to the founding of English literary language, the basis of which was formed by the London dialect, so profoundly used by the poet.- Appreciation pf the “general Prologue”(P43)Chapter TwoEnglish Literature in the RenaissanceMain points:I. Historical background of the periodII.
25、 Features of English RenaissanceIII. Important literary men and literary worksIV. Christopher Marlowe and William ShakespeareI. Historical background of the periodThe 16th century in England was a period of the breaking up of feudal relations and the establishing of the foundations of capitalism.A.
26、Economically, the period witnessed the progress of bourgeois economy which was stimulated by the Enclosure movement.(圈地运动)B. Scientifically, it was a time of new discoveries in geography and astrology. (哥伦布发现新大陆，哥白尼的“太阳中心说”)The discovery of new land led to the development of overseas trade. The new
27、ideas about the centre of the world aroused suspicion on medieval religion.C The religious and political reform in England or the consolidation of secular and ecclesiastical power under one King greatly furthered the strengthening of English monarchy.D. In literature and arts, there was a keen inter
28、est in the rediscovered ancient Greek and Roman culture with a reassertion of mans position as the centre of the universe. Also the introduction of printing in the turning of the century made reading popular, which helped the spread of new ideas among the populace. II. Features of English Renaissanc
29、e- The definition or the termRenaissance: The term Renaissance originally indicates a revival or rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman arts and sciences after the dark ages of medieval obscurantism. Indeed, a great number of the works of classical authors were translated into English during the 16th ce
30、ntury. The study and propagation of classical learning and art was carried on by the progressive thinkers of the humanists. They held their chief interest not in ecclesiastical knowledge, but in man, his environment and doings and bravely fought for the emancipation of man from the tyranny of the ch
31、urch and religious dogmas.- Two key features of RenaissanceA. The humanists showed a thirsting curiosity for classical literature. There aroused a general of the study of Greek and Latin authors.( e.g. translating their works, modeling their literary forms, borrowing their subjects )B. They had a ke
32、en interest in life and human activities. For the first time, man is considered as the centre of the universe. The interest in God and in the life after death is transformed into the exaltation of man and an absorption in earthly life.III. Important literary men and literary works3.1 Literary forms
33、of the periodA. poetry, lyrical poetry and narrative/epic poetryB. prose, literary critic works and essaysC. drama, history drama, tragedy and comedyD. novels in prose3.2 Main literary figures and their works- Thomas Mores (莫尔) Utopia 乌托邦, a truthful picture of the peoples sufferings on the one hand
34、, on the other hand, the book reveals his ideal of a future happy society.- Thomas Wyatt（怀亚特） the one to introduce sonnet （十四行诗）into English literatureHenry, Earl of Surrey（萨里） the one to introduce bland verse （无韵体诗）into English literature- Philip Sidney（锡德尼） famous for his lyrical poetry and the fi
35、rst important literary critics, Defense of Poetry诗辩） - Edmund Spenser（斯宾塞）A. his main poems: Fairy Queen仙后, the greatest epic poem of the time; The Shepherds Calendar牧人日历B. Spenserian stanza: (definition) It is a stanza created by Spenser. The stanza contains 9 lines rhymed in ababbcbcc with the fir
36、st 8 lines in iambic pentameter and the last line in iambic hexameter.- Francis Bacon（培根）the greatest prose writer of the period his masterpiece: Essays 论说文集IV. Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare4.1 A brief introduction to English dramaEnglish could be dated back to the Middle Ages.A. The m
37、iracle play 传奇剧- plays based on the Bible e.g. the creation of the world, Norch and the flood, the birth of Christ. Gradually secular and commercial elements were introduced.B. The Morality play 道德剧 presents the conflict of good and evil with the introduction of allegorical doctrines in abstract for
38、m.C. Interlude 幕间剧- A short play slipped into a play to enliven the audience after a solemn scene. 4.2 Christopher MarloweMarlowe is one of the greatest playwrights in the English Renaissance. He is also a great lyrical poet. He reformed the genre of drama in England and perfected the language and v
39、erse of dramatic works. It was Marlowe who made blank verse (an unrhymed iambic pentameter) the principal vehicle of expression in drama.His main works : Dr. FaustusTamburtaine, the GreatThe Jew of Malta4.3 William Shakespeare4.3.1 Shakespeares life.Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon.
40、 At the age of seven, Shakespeare was sent to the local grammar school which he attended for 6years.At about 1586, he left his hometown and sought his fortune in London. By the end of 1590, he became known as an actor and also a playwright. In 1612, he retired and went back to Stratford and died in
41、1616.4.3.2 Works of ShakespeareAltogether, he produced 38 dramas, (history plays, tragedies, comedies, tragic comedies) 2 long narrative poems, and 154 sonnets.- The 3 major periods of his literary activities and all his works (P71).- The first period:The achievement of this period lie in history pl
42、ays, comedies and sonnet writing. Shakespeares history plays are all political plays which cover 2 centuries of English history. By depicting the horrors and disasters caused by wars (e.g. Wars of Roses, the Hundred Years War ), Shakespeare shows the necessity for national unity, the responsibilitie
43、s of an efficient ruler and the importance of legitimate succession to the throne which is approved by its subjects (臣民). Through the history plays, the author implies the current political issues of - Selecting readingHamlet 1. 这一幕的剧情2内容分析3主题和意义 对生与死的思考4写作技巧 blank verse, soliloquy, rhetoric devices
44、Sonnet 18 1.definition of English sonnet: It is a 14-line verse ababcdcdefefggwritten in iambic pentemetre with the rhymic form of ababcdcdefefgg.2. 内容分析3. 主题和意义 immortality- poetry makes beauty immortal4. 写作技巧 sonnet. rhetoric devices4.3.3 General comment on Shakespeare1. Shakespeare is one of the
45、founders of realism n world literature. He paints, through his great plays a panorama of the decline of the old feudal nobility and the rise of the new Tudor monarchy, which represented the interests of the English bourgeoisie. He condemns unfailingly the evils in his society - the rotten state affa
46、irs, radial and religious discrimination social inequality and the corrupting affect of money.2. Shakespeare pictures a series of ideal characters to embody his humanists thoughts. In his works, he eulogizes mans power, mans wit, mans pursuit of secular happiness; he expresses the triumph of love an
47、d justice over greed and brutality; also in his works, he expressed his idea of equality among human beings.3. Shakespeare gives us a world of full-blooded people who represent all the complexities and implications of real life. Shakespeare emphasizes on the psychological make-up of his major charac
48、ter and reveals the inner workings of the minds in a very detailed analytical way, often though the use of monologue. In character portrayal, the poet put his characters intense social conflicts and shows their thoughts and feelings under their own historical environment and social situations.4. Sha
49、kespeare is skillful in many poetic forms; the song, the sonnet, the couplet and the dramatic blank verse. He also takes advantage of the dramatic devices of ancient and contemporary playwrights such as play in play, disguise, etc.5. Shakespeare is a great master of the English language. He commands a vocabulary larger than any other English writer. Many of his new coinage and turns of expressions ha
