英美文学教程笔记.doc

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-Norman 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 inhabitants 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 three 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 color 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-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 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 between 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) the 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 alliterative 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 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 Old 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 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 literature. 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 letters 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 and 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 England.(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 Renaissance 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 several 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, Boccaccio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 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 stories 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 France 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 also 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. Features of English RenaissanceIII. Important literary men and literary worksIV. Christopher Marlowe and William ShakespeareI. Historical background of the period The 16th century in England was a period of the breaking up of feudal relations and the establishing of the foundations of capitalism.A. 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 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 interest 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 Renaissance- The definition or the term Renaissance: 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 century. 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 church 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 keen 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 of the period A. poetry, lyrical poetry and narrative/epic poetry B. prose, literary critic works and essays C. drama, history drama, tragedy and comedy D. 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, 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 literature Henry, 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 first 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 first 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 miracle 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 form.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 verse 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. Faustus Tamburtaine, the Great The Jew of Malta4.3 William Shakespeare4.3.1 Shakespeares life.Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon. 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 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 plays, 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 responsibilities 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 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 immortal 4. 写作技巧 sonnet. rhetoric devices4.3.3 General comment on Shakespeare 1. Shakespeare is one of the 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 affairs, 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 and 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 character 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. Shakespeare 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 have become everyday usages in English life. He and the Authorized version of King James Bible are the two great contributions of Modern English language.Chapter ThreeEnglish Literature in English Revolution and Restoration Main points:1.Historical background of the period 2.Literary characteristics 3.Main literary men I.Historical background of the periodThe 17th century was one of the most tempestuous periods in English history. A. Puritan revolution or English bourgeoisie revolutionThe contradictions between the feudal system and the bourgeoisie reached the peak and resulted in a revolutionary outburst.(1642-1649). Charles I was beheaded, and England became a commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, that is the establishment of republicanism. That revolution meant three things. (P130)B. There appeared religious conflicts between Puritanism and Anglican Church. It was a conflict between the theory of the divine rights of Kings and doctrines of republicanism. So in a certain way, this conflict is a part of English bourgeoisie revolution. Another influence is that the puritans preached hard work and unceasing labor but with no enjoyment of worldly pleasures. In literature , it resulted in the decline of drama and a style of simplicity. C. The Restoration (1660) after the death of Oliver Cromwell marks the break of the government with the popular force and a compromise with the feudal remnants. In 1660m Charles II returned to England, many republicans were executed. Charles II even made an attempt to restore the old absolute monarchy, which was against the interests of the upper layer of bourgeoisie, so in 1688, the Glorious Revolution took place.II. Literary characteristicsA. In literature, it is also an age of confusion. Much of the literature of this period was concerned with the social upheaval of the time. In subject, some were for the revolution while others were on the royal side.B. The high achievements of the period are its prose writing (mostly pamphlet writing) and poetry writing.III.Main literary men A. John Bunyan班扬 The Pilgrims Progress 天路历程- main story: Christian set out from the City of Destruction毁灭城to make his way to the Holy City. On his way, he meets with the perils and temptations of the Slough of Despond失望谷，Vanity Fair虚荣市, and Doubting Castle怀疑城. He faces and overcomes the demon Appolyon地狱魔王, and finally came to the Celestial City天国. - an analysis of the book: It is written in the ole-fashioned, medieval form of allegory and dream (a religious alle