英美文学 Microsoft Word 文档.doc

I. The genres of Literature:Poetry, Novel, Essay, Drama II. Requirements:1. Historical and literary Background: literary trend/movement, literary schools2. Literary terms3.The life story of the writers 4. The selected works: in poetry, we pay attention to the theme, the rhyme scheme, figures of speech and the images ; in the novel, we focus on the following aspects: the theme(the controlling idea), story, setting, plot, characters(protagonist and antagonist), point of view, tone, techniques. In Drama, we need to know: stage, performance, actor/tress, action, speech(dramatic monologue), audience. In Essay: formal and informal/familiar essay.III. Reference Books:1.刘炳善 英国文学简史河南人民出版社/上海外语教育出版社2.陈嘉英国文学史，英国文学作品选读商务印书馆3.吴伟仁 英国文学史及选读外研社4.张伯香 英国文学教程武汉大学出版社5.南京大学王守仁及北大罗经国等相关著作6.王佐良主编 英国文学名篇选注商务印书馆7常耀信 南开大学出版社IV. A survey of English Literature:1. The Anglo-Saxon or Old English period(450-1066)2. The Anglo-Norman Period (1066-1350) 3. The Age of Chaucer (1350-1400)4. The Revival of Learning (1400-1550) 5. The Age of Elizabeth(1550-1620)6. The Puritan Age(1620-1660)7. The Period of the Restoration (1660-1700)8. The Literature of the 18th century (1700-1800) Enlightenment movement: realism; neo-classicism.，sentimentalism, gothic novels9. The Age of Romanticism (1800-1850)10. The Victorian Age- critical realism (1850-1901)11. The Literature of the 20th century. ModernismLecture 1 Anglo-Saxon/Old English PeriodFeature: a verse literature in oral formI. Historical Background:1. Roman Conquest(55 BC-450) 2. English Conquest(450-1066)(Anglo-Saxon conquest) beginning of English literature/ III. Anglo-Saxon Poetry:1.Religious/Christian poetryCaedmon: father of English song, the first English known religious poet. “The Hymn of Praise”Cynewulf: the greatest Anglo-Saxon poet except the unknown composer of Beowulf. “Christ” “Juliana”, “the Fates of the Apostles”2. Pagan/secular Poetry: a. .the story of Beowulf p.4-p.5b. .the three parts: the fight against monster Grendel the fight against Grendels mother the fight against the fire-breathing dragon but victory in deathc. Beowulf is the most important specimen of Anglo-Saxon literature and the oldest surviving epic of any Germanic people. Its called the national epic poem of the Anglo-Saxons. However, the hero and the setting of it have nothing to do with England, for the story took place in Scandinavia. The poem was originally in an oral form, sung by the bards/minstrels at the end of the 6th century. The present script was written down in the 10th century. It consists of more than 3000 lines. Thematically the poem presents a vivid picture of how the primitive people wage heroic struggles against the hostile forces of the natural world under a wise and mighty leader. Beowulf is essentially an aristocratic poem concerned with the heroic ideals of kings and kingship in North Europe. Battle is a way of life. Strength and courage are basic virtues for both kings and his warriors. The hero-king strives to do better than any one else the things that are vitally important to the happy life of his people.c. features P.51.Alliteration: certain accented words in a line begin with the same consonant sound.e.g. the ending of the book the funeral of the heroThus made their mourning the men of Greatland,For their heros passing, his hearth-companions,Quoth that of all the kings of earth,Of men he was the mildest and most belovedTo his kin the kindest, keenest to praise.2. metaphors and understatements3. mixture of pagan and Christian elementsEpic(Heroic poetry): A long narrative poem, majestic(elevated and dignified) both in theme and style, is about the deeds of a great hero and reflects the values of the society from which it originated. (Many epics were drawn from an oral tradition and were transmitted by song and recitation before they were written down. Examples include the ancient Greek epics by the poet Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. )The characteristics of the hero of an epic are national rather than individual, and the exercise of those traits in heroic deeds serves to gratify a sense of national pride. At other times epics may include the ideals of a great religious or cultural movement. The Divine Comedy by the Italian poet Dante expresses the faith of medieval Christianity. The Faerie Queene by the English poet Edmund Spenser represents the spirit of the Renaissance in England and Paradise Lost by the English Poet John Milton represents the ideals of Christian humanism.IV. Anglo-Saxon Prose appeared in 8th century.1. Venerable Bede: Father of English leaning. “The Ecclesiastical History of the English people”. It is the first English history book.2. Alfred the Great: a scholar and a king:“Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”, “Consolation of Philosophy”, “History of world”3.Aelfric:“SaintsLives” “Grammar”, “Homilies”经道讲书Lecture 2 Anglo-Norman PeriodI. Features: literature was varied in interest and extensive in rangeII. Background:After the war of Hastings, in 1066 Duke of Normandy William became the King of England. It influences England in several aspects: 1. politically, feudal system was established in England2. religiously, the Rome-backed Catholic Church had a much stronger control over the country3. in language, 3 languages co-existed, that is, French, Latin, Old English.e.g. the English names of animals like “calf” “swine” “sheep”, when the flesh was served at the nobles table, the French words “veal or beef” “pork” “mutton”. The synonymous words of Anglo-Saxon origin “build, ask, begin, wet” are the ones of Norman-French origin: construct, inquire, commence, humidIII. Romance 1. It is a popular literary form in the medieval period, using narrative verse or prose to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds. (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 is a liberal use of the improbable, sometimes even supernatural, things in romance such as mysteries and fantasies. 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. Romance shows medieval aristocratic men and women in relation to their idealized view of the world. Romances were originally written in verse, but gradually they took the form of the prose and thus fell into the category of the novel. The best medieval romance is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one of the legendary tales about king Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In 19th century, John Keats The Eve of St. Agnes 2. Features of the Romance见p6-71.lack of verisimilitude2. emphasis upon supreme devotion to a fair lady3.scenes laid in the past, 4. the presence of a knight in one from another , of a quest5. a religious or a supernatural element or both6. the analysis of character in a typical, not in an individualized manner3. Three matters of the Romance p.7 a. The matter of France: a collection of tales about the mighty ruler Charlemagne and his peers. The oldest and most notable one is the Chanson de Roland.b. The matter of Rome: exploits of Alexander the Great, tales of Trojan War, and tales of Thebesc. the matter of Britain:the legendary tales about king Arthur and the Knights of the Round TableThe most interesting of the Romances are those which deal with the exploits of Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. There were many cycles of Arthurian romances, among which the most interesting is the Gawain cycle. The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the culmination of the Arthurian romances.green girdle honor, the spoiling and regenerative symbolfrom good to bad then back to good4. Sir Gawain and the Green Knighta. The story p.7p.8b. Though there are no description of battles or fights, the two main motifs in the story, the tests of faith, courage, purity and the human weakness for self-preservation, provide the poem with unmistakable traits of chivalric romances, plus some strong Christian color.The story is concerned with the rights and wrongs of conduct. Its theme is a series of tests on faith, courage, purity and human weakness for self-preservation. The story presents a profoundly Christian view of mans character and his destiny.The romances were either recited by professional minstrels or written to be read aloud. But in both cases the audience was usually of the court or of the castle. The romance had nothing to do with the common people. They were composed for the nobles, of the nobles and in most cases by the poets patronized by the nobles.The medieval period in English literature (Middle English literature) covers about four centuries. In the early part of the period, i.e. from 1066 to the mid-14th century, there is not much to say about literature. It is almost a barren period in literary creation. But in the second half of the 14th century, English literature starts to flourish with the appearance of writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland. Lecture 3 The English Literature of the 14th centuryI. Historical background: Mounting feudal oppression second half of the 14th century led to the peasants revolts. The long drawn-out Hundred Years War begun in 1337 called for extra taxes. The Black Death that came first in 1349-50 and then again and again in 1360s reduced the whole population. The ruling class thrice passed the so-called Statutes of Laborers in parliament, stipulating that all able-bodied men and women under sixty be required to work for any one at the rate of wages fixed in 1347 or before, and those who refused to do so be arrested or declared outlaws. On top of this, heavy land-rents and enforced services were practiced as before, and consequently many peasants fled from the land to the towns while some went to forests and organized themselves as bandits or outlaws. All these events led inevitably to the great peasants rising in 1381 led by Wat Tyler. The 14th century is remarkable historically for the decline of feudalism (organized by the Normans) for the growth of the English national spirit during the Wars with France, for the prominence of the House of Commons, and for the growing power of the laboring classes. In the second half of the 14th century, English literature flourished after three centuries of comparative lull. The age produced 5 writers of note. They are William Langland who voiced the social discontent, preached the equality of men and dignity of labor; John Wclif, the greatest of English religious reformers and the first translator of the Bible; John Gower, the scholar and literary man, who wrote 3 works relating the English Middle Ages, one in Latin, one in Norman French one in English Confessio Amantis (The Lovers Confession), criticizing the social life ; John Mandevelle, the traveler, romancing about wonders to be seen abroad. Above all there is Chaucer. He was the representative writer of the century. Therefore, the 14th century is usually called “Age of Chaucer”.II.William Langland and His Piers Plowman Piers the Plowman exists in three versions. It is a long poem of 7,000 lines. The poem describes a series of wonderful dream the author dreamed. The poem is in two distinct parts. The first contained the vision of Piers. The second contained a series of visions called “The Search for Dowel, Dobet, Dobest”.Piers the Plowman is an allegory of life. In it Langland presents a vivid picture of the life in feudal England. Its artistic merit may be shown by its portraits of the Seven Deadly Sins. It was very popular throughout the 14th and 15th century.Allegory: a tale in verse or prose in which characters, actions, or settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. Thus, an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. The most famous allegory in English literature is John Bunyans Pilgrims progress. Bunyans hero, Christian, makes a journey to the Celestial City, during which he meets such characters as Hope, Shame and Despair.III.Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales1. Life of ChaucerBoccaccio “Decameron” Petrach2. His Literary CareerChaucers literary careers are roughly divided into three parts, corresponding to the three periods of his life. a. The French Period The Romaunt of the Rose, a translation from the French poem “Roman de la Rose”The Book of the Duchess, Chaucers first important original work, perhaps the best poem of the period.b. The Italian Period The House of Fame The Assembly of FoulsTriolus and CryseydeThe Legend of Good Womenc. The English period The Canterbury Tales -Chaucers masterpiece The whole work consists of a prologue and twenty-four tales. Twenty-two tales were in verse form, two in prose form. In the prologue, the author reveals his plan for writing this work, and vividly describes the teller of each tale.The Canterbury TalesThe Prologue sets up the general structure of the tales and introduce each of the characters, giving some explanation for motivation behind each of the tales. It mixes the spiritual with secular. With economy of words and a telling factuality, Chaucer sets the double motivations of the pilgrims: a physical journey to Canterbury and an inner journey of the soul towards God.The Prologue comprises a group of vivid sketches of typical medieval figure. All classes of the English feudal society, except the royalty and the poorest peasants, are represented by these thirty pilgrims. Every figure is drawn with the accuracy of a portrait. The portraits of the thirty pilgrims supply a miniature of the English society in Chaucers time. That is why Chaucer was praised by Gorky as “the founder of English realism.” Language: In Chaucers age the English language was still divided by dialects, though London was rapidly making East-Midland into a standard language. Chaucers English was the London dialect. He is considered as a great master of the English language, for he greatly increased the prestige of English as a literary language and extended the range of its poetic vocabulary and meters. The social significance of The Canterbury Tales: 1. He is a first realistic writer. In his masterpiece, Chaucer gives us a true to-life picture of the society of his time. It is Chaucer who created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life.2. As a forerunner of humanism, he praises mans energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life. His tales exposed and satirizes the evils of his time.3. Chaucer used for the first time in English the rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter which is to be called later as the heroic couplet.(A pair of rhymed lines of iambic pentameter- Each line has 5 feet, 10syllables)4. He is the first great poet who wrote in the London dialect/current English language. He did much in making the dialect of London the foundation for modern English speech. His language is vivid and exact. He is a master of word-pictures.The Selected Reading from the Prologue.There was also a nun, a Prioress;Simple her way of smiling was and coy.Her greatest oath was only By St. Loy!And she was known as Madam Eglantyne,And well she sang a service, with a fineIntoning through her nose, as was most seemly,And she spoke daintily in French, extremely,After the school of Stratford-atte-Bowe;French in the Paris style she did not know.At meat her manners were well taught withal; No morsel from her lips did she let fall,Nor dipped her fingers in the sauce too deep;But she could carry a morsel up and keepThe smallest drop from falling on her breast.For courtliness she had a special zest.And she would wipe her upper lip so cleanThat not a trace of grease was to be seenUpon the cup when she had drunk; to eatShe reached a hand sedately for the meat.She certainly was very entertaining,Pleasant and friendly in her ways, and strainingTo counterfeit a courtly kind of grace,A stately bearing fitting to her place, And to seem dignified in all her dealings.As for her sympathies and tender feelings,She was so charitably solicitousShe used to weep if she saw a mouseCaught in a strap, if it were dead or bleeding.And she had little dogs she would be feedingWith roasted flesh, or milk, or fine white bread.Sorely she wept if one of them were deadOr someone took a stick and made it smartShe was all sentiment and tender heart.Her nose was elegant, her eyes glass-grey;Her mouth was very small, but soft and red,And certainly she had a well-shaped head,Almost a span between the brows, I ownShe was indeed by no means undergrown.Her cloak, I noticed, had a graceful charm.She wore a coral trinket on her arm,A set of beads, the gaudies tricked in green,Whence hung a golden brooch of brightest sheenOn which there first was graven a crowned A, And lower, Amor vincit omnia. (Love conquers all)Comment on the Proiress:Chaucer describes the Prioress as an example of the basic human paradox which places what people are in opposition to what they pretend to be. Chaucer paints a portrait of a courtly heroine of romance rather than a nun. To divide the elements of the portrait between the critical and admiring, Chaucer successfully builds a tension between the person and her office, between human nature and the assumed sacred obligation, thus presenting a double view of sacred and secular impulse in her case.Henry II and Thomas Becket(the archbishop of Canterbury)The English Literature of the 15th centuryThe 15th century was a period of general unrest. Peopl