英国文学史及选读 终极复习资料.doc

Hamlet1) Hamlet is William Shakespeares longest play. It is often considered the greatest achievement of the worlds greatest playwright. 2) Main characters: Hamlet, Horatio (Hamlets true friend), Ophelia, Laertes (Ophelias brother), Claudius(king), Gertrude(queen), Polonius(lord), the Ghost( the old king)3)主题：a. RevengeThe ghost demands that the hero take revenge on Claudius. To get revenge, he must commit an evil act, which inevitably leads to his own death. b. Sexual, Moral, and Physical Corruption “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Marcellus, I.4.90c. Madness and Melancholy“I am but mad north-north-west.” Hamlet, II.2.347d. Random Fortune or Divine Master Plan“There is a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will -” Hamlet, V.2.10-11Death, be not proud John Donne 死神，你莫骄傲死神，你莫骄傲，尽管有人说你如何强大，如何可怕，你并不是这样；你以为你把谁谁谁打倒了，其实，可怜的死神，他们没死；你现在也还杀不死我。休息、睡眠，这些不过是你的写照，既能给人享受，那你本人提供的一定更多；我们最美好的人随你去得越早，越能早日获得身体的休息，灵魂的解脱。你是命运、机会、君主、亡命徒的奴隶，你和毒药、战争、疾病同住在一起，罂粟和咒符和你的打击相比，同样，甚至更能催我入睡；那你何必趾高气扬呢？睡了一小觉之后，我们便永远觉醒了，再也不会有死亡，你死神也将死去。Analyses: 该诗以语意的逐层递进为特点，由三组四行诗和一个偶句组成。第一组四行诗以拟人的手法呼吁死神不要骄傲，（“Death, be not proud”）起句突兀，表达了对死神的嘲笑和蔑视，然后立刻指出死神不应骄傲的第一条理由：For those, whom thou thinkst thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.”第二组四行诗指出死神无需骄傲的另一条理由：死亡不过是更安逸的休息、更甜美的睡眠，“Much pleasure, then from thee much more must f low,”人们都会争着希望得到身体的休息，灵魂的解脱，“Rest of their r bones, and souls delivery.”第三组四行诗嘲笑死神奴隶般的从属地位：“Thourt slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,”并以罂粟和咒符来衬托死神的无能为力：“And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well, And better than thy stroke”既然这样，你何必趾高气扬呢？“why swellst thou then?”这三组四行诗以不同的理由对死神威胁的解构确实已非同一般。然而，接下来的偶句并不放过对死神的最后一击：睡一小觉之后，我们便永远觉醒了，再也不会有死亡，不可一世的死神将走向自身的死亡，“And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.”诗歌的说理递进模式在此戛然而止，生与死原有意义上的关系彻底逆转：死亡是瞬间的，将很快不复存在，而死后的欢乐则是永恒的，人对于死亡的畏惧变成了死亡自身的恐惧，死亡对于人来说不过是通往幸福永生的大门。这种强烈的戏剧化效果和反讽意味的获得最终是通过悖论语言实现的。 In this poem, Donne uses a variety of poetic elements. These elements function in enhancing the works unconventional theme of mans superiority over death. Throughout the poem, there is a strong use of assonance, the repetition of vowel sound within a phrase. The sound of the words helps in structuring Donnes writing. Nearly every line contains a repetition of o sounds. In the following line, an example of this device is clear: “Die not poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. The frequent use of assonance does not directly enhance the poems theme, yet it does help convey its message more vividly by making the lines flow, thus allowing the reader to understand each stanza more easily. Since each individual line and its associated thought are easy to understand, the central idea of the entire poem is easy to understand too. John Donne effectively uses tone to enhance the poems theme. The work has a tone of triumphant confidence and defiance in the face of death. Donne boldly denounces death, making it clear that he is not controlled by the fear of it as others often are. Although many may believe death to be mighty and dreadful, he feels this is not so. Donne sees death as being dependent on mankind for its survival. Death relies on fate, chance unfortunate occurrences, the legislation of kings, and the actions of desperate men to claim its victims. This dependence in itself is a weakness, in that death is not self-supporting, yet relies on certain aspects of the lives of people. Donnes final and most derogatory comment comes in the poems final lines where he portrays death as nothing more than a transition into an eternally vast afterlife; Death is a short sleep from which we wake forever. It is nothing to fear in this situation. And, in this afterlife, death no longer exists or poses a threat. Death itself dies. All of these examples of Donnes use of tone greatly enhance the poems theme that man is superior to death. Deaths intimidation is diminished as he points out its weaknesses one by one and bravely faces it head on. It is also something not commonly personified and spoken to. The combination of a personified Death and the reference to it by means of apostrophe is very effective and crucial to the poems theme. Donne is better able to profess (openly declare) his superiority over death by showing it as a human adversary, capable of defeat, rather than an uncontrollable natural force. His desire to prove his freedom from the imprisonment of fear is visible in the angry and arrogant monologue he presents to death in his poem. Donnes feelings are better expressed in a situation which people can relate to a confrontation in which one party addresses another. The superiority theme is enhanced as a result of this man-versus man conflict depiction.The central theme: Man is superior to Death死亡是瞬间的，将很快不复存在，而死后的欢乐则是永恒的，人对于死亡的畏惧变成了死亡自身的恐惧，死亡对于人来说不过是通往幸福永生的大门。这种强烈的戏剧化效果和反讽意味的获得最终是通过悖论语言实现的。Style: wrote a complex, highly intellectual verse filled with intricate and far-fetched metaphors.His works are notable for their realistic and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor, especially as compared to that of his contemporaries.John Donnes masculine, ingenious style is characterized by abrupt openings, paradoxes, dislocations, argumentative structure, and conceits” images which yoke things seemingly unlike. These features in combination with his frequent dramatic or everyday speech rhythms, his tense syntax, and his tough eloquence were both a reaction against the smoothness of conventional Elizabethan poetry and an adaptation into English of European baroque and mannerist techniques. Rebellion against the conventional imagery of the Elizabethan lyric. Poems are intellectually complex Irregular rhythms, stanzas Colloquial, condensed language, give and take of actual speech Use of metaphysical conceit: ingenious, strained; links images from different contexts; intellectual; subtle argumentSamuel Johnson: “a combination of dissimilar images or discovery of occult resemblances in things apparently unlike. The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together. Nature and art are ransacked for illustrations, comparisons and allusions”.Summary John Donnes poem deals with the subject of death, commonly used in various literary works. The speaker expresses his view that death is not Something to be feared, as it oftentimes is, and has been, since the beginning of time. He then goes on to explain the basis for his argument. He points out the weaknesses of death and, with a triumphant and confident tone, declares his victory over it by means of his lack of respect and fear for its implications. Donne belittles death by commenting on its strong dependence on humanity. He goes on to describe it as a mere transition, which does not serve as an end, but instead, a new awakening to an eternal afterlife.Comments Some critics argue that Donnes speaker is trying to convince himself that death is not to be feared, and failing dismally; The poems various arguments do not at all address the speakers basic fears. E.g., he argues on flimsy evidence that death must be better than sleep (5-6), then that sleep is better than death (11-12). The last 4 words of the poem, which should crown the argument, actually undermine it: if death is nothing to be afraid of, the speaker can hardly use it as a threat. John Carey notes, He stamps his foot with fine dramatic conclusiveness, and plummets straight through a trapdoor. It spoils the act, but improves the poem, for it shows how little its reasoning have impinged on the speakers basic fears.“ Careys insight into this poem is generalized by R.T Jones: it is frequently claimed that Donnes poetry shows a complete union of thought and feeling, but Jones argues that what we usually get is the exact opposite, a sense of conflict or tension between what the heart wants to be true or fears to be true and what the mind knows or can argue; a sense of the poet always trying to convince himself of something. We noted this possibility in A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning. But we would not be thinking in terms of terror at all if we had taken seriously the earlier arguments, e.g., from rest and sleep- we dont take this seriously because we do not really accept that the relation between death and sleep is in all important respects the same as the relation between a picture and the thing depicted; we cannot really believe that if a picture gives us pleasure the thing it depicts.the Pilgrims Progress-John Bunyan1. Summary of the Vanity Fair The two pilgrims, Christian and Faithful, had walked out of the wilderness and arrived at a town where a fair called Vanity Fair was kept. At the fair, the sellers displayed items like houses, trades, titles, countries, as well as delights like whores, blood, bodies, pearls, gold, and so on. The history of the fair could be traced back to 5000 years ago, when three devils, Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion were traveling through this place, they decided to set up a marketplace for luxuries to tempt Jesus Christ and other pilgrims. As Christian and Faithful passed through, everybody stared at them because of their clothes and their speech. They were offered to buy some of the vanities on sale, but they showed no interest in the wares and claimed they would only buy the truth. The pilgrims behavior irritated the sellers and sparked chaos in the marketplace. They were taken to the judges, who judged them to be madman and sentenced them to be beaten and put into a cage as a spectacle for the men of the fair. They patiently sustained all these and then caused disputes among the people of the fair.Its success lies in three aspects: vivid characterization, simple language and natural way of story telling.2. Vanity Fair: n The VF episode incorporates all known history (5000 years) (See p. 158 & note on p. 162). n The pilgrims are outsiders, strangers, in this world. Why so? See their opposition to trade (159).See the contrast between Christianity and the Town of Vanity (160-161).n Witnesses for the prosecution & the jury Faithfuls martyrdom recapitulates/restate the stories of all Christian martyrs (beginning with Stephen).3. Style a Satire on the World Constant use of the phraseology and the imagery of the Bible Frequent occurrence of provincial and colloquial expressionsVF is a compressed and caustic version of the (economically centered) “world.”n Mood Somber All incidents described with seriousness4. Themes The book reveals the social maladies (社会弊端）after the restoration. It is a bitter satire aiming at the greed and corruption of the ruling class. Its also a true reflection of Bunyans pious (虔诚的)belief in religion and salvation. TPP is primarily a religious allegory In intention, it is an exposition of the Protestant theory of the plan of salvation Example of Puritan theology No fanaticism Main theme: Cost of salvation Christian abandons his family. They do not support him, and he must leave them behind.Minor themes: Importance of suffering. The Christian life is hard and following Jesus means having to bear all kinds of sufferings. Debate between grace and works. Christian must learn and discuss theology; fate of Ignorance is proof that salvation does not come simply by belief Faith in overcoming fear and evil Christian must fight off villains and despair, loneliness and evil. He must always take the difficult path, and never look for shortcuts 5. A brief analysis “The Vanity Fair is a well-known section of The Pilgrims Progress. Here the writers condemnation of the vices of his society is most strongly expressed. The Vanity Fair contains all manners of material goods to tempt men. It is a carnal feast masterminded by Beelzebub. This allegorically refers to the real world where people have become so degenerated that all they are concerned about is to buy and sell everything they can. What they care about is the possession of goods and money, that is, the material wealth. They have lost the sense of honor, uprightness and conscience. In a word, they are spiritually lost. In this part, Faithful and Pilgrim are pious enough to shun worldly goods in favor of more permanent riches from heaven. This is an indication of the need for people to reform their lives for a spiritual re-birth or salvation. However, their selfless determination to avoid the trappings of sin only causes the people of Vanity Fair to resent and mistrust them, and they suffered greatly at the hands of these people. Through this, Bunyan implies the prevalent political and religious persecution of his day, the hard lot of the simple, honest people, their spiritual sufferings at a time of great change.6. Character analysisBunyans characters are not like the allegoric characters in the past. He endows different individual qualities to his characters, so that his characters are actually living men and womenChristian Evangelist Obstinate, Pliable,Puritans: those who called for a restoration of purity in the church. They held up church to the highest ideal that found in the Bible. 1). Christian Christian, the protagonist of The Pilgrims Progress, is described in the beginning as a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place.a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. He is an ordinary man who has become repentant for his sins. He sets out for the Celestial City against the advice of all his friends and even his wife and children. Salvation becomes the most important goal of his life, one for which he abandons his family. This show of strength reveals him to be dedicated to his goal. On his journey, Christian reveals his humanity. He listens with care to the advice of Evangelist and the Interpreter. Still, he is nearly waylaid by Mr. Worldly Wiseman by the allure of Morality, where he can enjoy his family without sacrifice. Many times on the journey he makes mistakes; he takes shortcuts, he falls asleep, he forgets advice. But his commitment to the end- goal is unwavering. This is why he is admitted to heaven: though imperfect, he has been faithful and dedicated. Christian makes friends easily. In the beginning, he is delighted to have Pliable as a companion. But when Pliable surrenders at the Slough of Despond, Christian is not discouraged. He continues alone. His other companions, Faithful and Hopeful, are entirely uplifting. In the hardest moments of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Faithful holds him up. And in the Dark River, when Christian is about to drown, Hopeful saves him. The overriding lesson for all readers is that Christians need not be perfect to enter the Gates of Heaven; they need only to remain committed and obedient to the call. Christian is a moral man with a single vision. He changes little in the course of his journey. Upon flight from the City of Destruction, he refuses to be persuaded by his family. He knows what his goal is and pursues it all costs. In Vanity Fair, where men and women sell themselves and objects freely, Christian remains untouched by the evils of that world. In terms of heroes, he is not very dynamic; his journey does not change him, except to make him stronger. But even this strength wavers, since in the end he nearly fails to cross the Dark River on faith. Christian represents the seventeenth century Puritan, the man and the brother who carries on his back the burden of his sins and who will be rid of it only on his way to his destination. Christian is an authentic person as he recognizes his weakness along with his strengths. He is a true pilgrim, continually unmasking hypocrites like Talkative and By-ends. He paves the way for Christiana and other pilgrims, whose journey, it is clear, will not be as difficult because of him.2). Hopeful Hopeful is the other friend which Christian makes in his long journey to the Celestial City. Hopeful meets Christian after the death of Faithful. He is introduced with the phrase one died to bear testimony to the truth, and another rises out of aches. Hopeful is a refugee from the sufferings of Vanity Fair, and keeps company with Christian throughout the journey. Hopeful, though at the beginning ignorant of the tenets of the Bible, is an apt pupil willing to learn from Christian. Interestingly, Hopeful has not begun the journey by coming through the Wicket-Gate, though that seemed a prerequisite. Still, he is allowed entry into the Celestial Gates. Yet, he enters the gates along with Christian. This shows him as a convert given entry because of his faith.3). Ignorance Ignorance is an interesting character, who presents the reader with a dilemma. He is a good-hearted boy with the best of intentions. He sees himself as obedient and interested in salvation. He even makes it past all the obstacles to the gate of Heaven. But his one failing is that he has not fed his faith with knowledge. He is utterly ignorant of theology. He thinks his goodness and faith alone are enough to grant him entry. At the end of the journey, Christian and Hopeful are welcomed into the Gates. Ignorance is thrown into Hell. Bunyan is categorically emphasizing that a true pilgrim of God must earn his salvation through faith and works. Works includes knowing theology and doctrines. Ignorance is important; Bunyan pulls away from the heroes who have reached heaven to show Ignorances plight. He ends the first work entirely on this note. In Bunyans puritanical v