British History of Literature.doc

British Literature of HistoryFinal exam. Filling the blank with what you consider fit. (15%). Choose the answer that best completes the statements. (15%). Choose the name of the writer AND the title of the works from which the following lines are derived. Please write down correct letters in the brackets. (20%). Please paraphrase the following poetic lines (20%). Choose ONE of the following two excerpts and make a comment upon it in the form of a short essay, in which you should address issues like theme, literary techniques features, etc. Try to relate your analysis to the author who wrote it. If you can, please do that in light of the literary tradition and philosophical background. (30%)英国文学史资料BritishWritersandWorksA Chronological Outline of English Lit. (Periods of English Literature)1. Old and Middle English Literature (Anglo-Saxon Period, 450-1066; Anglo-Norman Period, 1066-1485) 中古英语时期u Appearance of English poetry in the 7th centuryu Appearance English drama in the 14th century2. Renaissance English Literature (1510-1620) 文艺复兴时期u Appearance of English prose/essay in the 16th century3. Neo-classical Literature(1660-1800) 新古典主义时期 17th century English Literature (1620-1690)/ Restoration Lit. 18th century English Literature (1690-1780)/ Augustan Lit. u Appearance of English novel in the 18th century4. Romantic Literature (1780-1830) 浪漫主义时期5. Victorian Literature (1830-1920) 维多利亚时期 （现实主义）6. Modernist Literature (1920-1945) 现代主义7. After Modernism 现代之后Literary trends and styles Old and Middle English (Heroic and chivalric age) Renaissance (15-17th c.) (Humanism) Restoration (17th c.) (Metaphysical poetry) Enlightenment (17/18th c.) (Neoclassicism) 19th c. Romantic Lit. and Victorian Lit. (Romanticism and Realism) 1st half of 20th c. (Modernism) 2nd half of 20th c. till now (Contemporary/Postmodern)I.OldEnglishLiterature&TheLateMedievalAges(450-1458)Background: CeltRoman(55-450 B.C.)Anglo-Saxon Period(three Germanic tribes)(450-1066 B.C)-Anglo-Norman Period (Norman Conquest, Battle of Hastings)(1066-1485)Influence Celtic+ Latin+ Germantic+ Norman Tribalism (heroism) Feudalism/ chivalry (骑士精神) Paganism and ChristianityCharacteristics: heroic, chivalric, moral and religious; Heroism from both Germanic and Christian traditions; Religious concerns#Old English Literature (Anglo-Saxon Period) (450-1066)Language By 550, the Anglo-Saxons were firmly established. The English language became the dominant language in England (Old English). Religion: Process of re-Christianization (paganChristian)Representative: 贝奥武夫: 1) Genre: epic. ThenationalepicoftheAnglo-Saxons.2) Length: the longest and finest of extant Old English poems (3181 lines)3) Date of creation: composed during the first half of the 8thC (Chinas Tang Dynasty), after the Christianization of the whole nation.a) Manuscript written in about the year 1000, probably by a Danish clergymanb) The historical event described in the poem belongs to the early 6th C.4) Features: a) Written in Old English Setting in Scandinaviab) Mixture of pagan values (heroism & fatalism) and Christian values.Tribal heroism and feudal ideas are blended5) Linguistic and artistic features:a) Usingalliteration（头韵）:arhetoricaldevice,meaningsomewordsinasentencebeginwiththesameconsonantsoundb) Using word-pictures (metaphor)andunderstatements(expressingsomethinginacontrolledway.UnderstatementisatypicalwayforEnglishmentoexpresstheirideas)Other Old English literary work Elegy: a form of lyric poetry (epic is narrative poetry): The Seafarer and The Wanderer from the Exeter BookEpic:longnarrativepoemsthatrecordtheadventuresorheroicdeedsofaheroenacted invastlandscapes and events which is significant to a culture or nation. Thestyleofepicisgrandandelevated.“Traditional epic”/ the first epic: primary or original epic, oral, from historical and legendary materials. e.g.HomersIliadandOdyssey, the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. “Literary epic”/ “Secondary epic”: were composed by sophisticated craftsmen in deliberate imitation of the traditional form. e.g. Miltons Paradise Lost; Virgils Latin poem the Aeneid.Mock epic: A from of satire that adapts the elevated heroic style of classical epic poem to a trivial subject. The Rape of the Lock Epic poetry: (epyllion: little epic) a brief narrative poem with a romantic or mythological theme in 19th Century. Ovids Heroides, Amores and Ars Amatoria (the Art of Love). #Medieval English Literature (Anglo-Norman Period) (1066-1485)Background 1) Politically, a feudalist system2) Religiously, the Rome-backed Catholic Church3) three languages coexisteda) Old English: spoken only by the common English people; b) French: the language of the court and governmentc) Latin: used by the clergymen and scholars in universities.4) Culturallya) The introduction of the culture and literature of France, Italy and other European countriesb) Code of Chivalry (骑士制度) for the knights Chilvalry: the important code of behaviour for the knights in the medieval periodThe largest proportion of surviving Middle English literature is religious.Romance （传奇） which is remarkable for its bright, romantic tales of love and adventure, in marked contrast with the strength and somberness of Anglo-Saxon poetry. Chivalric Romance (骑士传奇): for the nobles and feudal aristocracyPopular Ballads: for the peopleMajor works1) Medieval chivalric romances:a) The Gawain-poetSir Gawain and the Green Knight （1325-1400）1. Genre: a chivalric romance based on the Celtic legend of King Arthur (5-6th c.) and his knights of the Round Table2. Author: unknown, dubbed the Gawain-poet or the “Pearl Poet”3. Feature: an interesting combination of French and Saxon elements. Written in an elaborate stanza combining meter and alliteration. At the end of each stanza there is a rimed refrain (重叠句).4. Feature of language: paradoxes in the romance world and re-examined the validity of chivalric courage.5. Comments: the best of Arthurian romances, the most attractive and beautiful romance of chivalry, and one of the finest pieces of artistry of the English Middle Ages. The Pearl ( Chivalric romance) Genre: an elegy, a dream allegory/ dream vision (叙梦寓言诗，中世纪叙事诗的一种类型）2) Politically-concern poetrya) William Langland (c. 1332 - 1400)Piers Plowman农夫皮尔斯A. Genre: dream vision / dream allegory B. Story: a series of dreams visions interrupted with occasional wake-ups.C. Comments: a) a social protest from the viewpoint of a common man, an incise and bitter satire upon the social vices of the day, e.g. the idleness of the noble, the profligacy (放荡挥霍) of the rich monks and friars, the parasitism of the merchants.b) It also gives pictures of the lives of the poor peasants, fighting for bare existence.D. Features: both allegorical and satirical, realistic, alliterative, both allegorical and satiricalE. A sharp criticism of social injustices, the corruption of the church, the meaningless power struggle in the court, the suffering of the poor peasants.3) Popular and domestic literaturea) Popular balladsRobin Hood ballads (侠盗罗宾汉), a series of 37 ballads of different lengths. Robin Hood: partly historical, partly legendary character; strong, brave, clever, affectionate, hatred for the oppressors and love for the poorb) Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340- 1400)GeofferyChaucer杰弗里乔叟 ThefatherofModern Englishpoetry.John DrydonFounder of English poetry.writingstyle:wisdom,humor,humanity.Comment: Chaucers poetry belongs to both the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Chaucer wrote in English vernacular, the language accessible to all Chaucers works reflected the rise of the commoners and the middle class of merchants and craftsmen.坎特伯雷故事集(work of maturity)：firsttimetouse“heroiccouplet”(双韵体)bymiddleEnglish特罗伊拉斯和克莱希德声誉之宫MedievalAgespopularLiteraryform:Romance(传奇故事)Major Contribution: 1. Language: The first great poet who wrote in the current English language. His production of so much excellent poetry is an important factor in establishing English as the literary language of the country. And he made the dialect of London the foundation for Modern English speech. 2. Poetic form of heroic couplet: He established the heroic line (英雄体) five stressed iambic (iambic pentameter 抑扬格五音步)- which has become the surpassing vehicle of English poetry. In The Canterbury Tales, he employed heroic couplet （英雄体双行诗 rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter）with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature.3. Narrative form: Chaucer as great and skillful story-teller: Frame stories 框架式结构（大故事套小故事）4. Founder of English RealismThe Canterbury Tales(1387-1400)1) A long narrative poem, unfinished2) A collection of stories: a general prologue + 24 tales (22 by Chaucer)general prologue telling that on a spring evening, the poet drops in the Tabard Inn, where he meets 29 other pilgrims all ready for a journey of 60 miles to Canterbury. Mostly in heroic couplets Genre: medieval estates satire 等级阶层讽刺作品 the best part of the whole work, supplying an artistic corridor of people from all walks of life in the medieval England.3) Influence by Boccaccios Decameron十日谈4) Generally speaking the Prologue and the tales of the Knight, the Pardoner (赦罪僧), the Nuns Priest, the Wife of Bath (巴兹妇人) are recognized to be the better written than other parts. 5) Comments: 1. Deeply rooted in the real life of 14th century England.2. Keen insight into human nature3. First-hand knowledge of the lower class people.4. Accepted by both the lower-and the upper class people.5. More sober and independent view of the class. 6） The Wife of BathOne of the most developed characters The most unconventional character: calls into question both secular and religious ideals of womenChallenging the religious value of chastity and virginitCharacteristics: Brave to persuade love; confident, strong, and refused to be submissive; intelligent; Demanding sovereignty in marital relationshipProse Begin: King Alfreds Anglo Saxon Chronicle (882)Representative: Sir Thomas Malory (1408-1471)Malory is the first important English writer to show that prose could be used to express sensitive feelings.Works: Le Morte DArthur Language style: telling stories in natural and simple but effective style.IITheRenaissancePeriodBackground: An age of tremendous political, religious, economic and intellectual changes1) Socially, the War of Roses (1455-1485, Duke of York and Duke of Lancaster) Feudalism on the decline2) Politically, the absolute monarchy established political centralization3) Religiously, the Church of England (Henry VIII), breaking off with Rome.4) Economically, “The Enclosure Movement”: “sheep devoured men” (Thomas More); the breaking up of feudal relations and the establishing of the foundations of capitalism (bourgeois economy)5) Militarily, the defeat of the Spanish Invincible Armada in 1588Conclusion: the Elizabethan Age is an age of expansion, economic development and cultural prosperity an age of national confidenceA. Drama; William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John WebsterB. Poetry: Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, C. Prose: John Foxe, John Lyly, Richard Hooker, (Francis Bacon)Renaissance:1)“re-birth”. A break from the Middle Ages.2) A cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period. 3) rediscoveryofancientRomanandGreekcultureThemostfamousdramatists:4) The intellectual wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome encouraged a rebirth of human spirit, a realization of human potential for development and creation, a modern understanding of humanity and its place in the worldRenaissance Humanism1) Humanism: an approach in study, philosophy, worldview or practice that focuses on human values and concerns2) Humanists stressed individual dignity, self-worth and posited a high value on reason.The belief in the power of human reason: as a guidance and standard for action. Human beings are glorious creatures capable of individual development for perfection.Man is the measure of all thing. 3) Renaissance man (Leonardo da VInci)Renaissance LiteratureItalian: The Decameron by Boccaccio; The Prince by Machiavelli; Various Love Poetry by PetrarchEnglish: l Time: form the reign of Henry Edward, Mary and to Queen Elizabeth and Jacobean Era.1. Beginning: 15th C last- 16th C first “the nest of singing birds”; u sonnet (14 lines of iambic pentameter intricately rhymed u blank verse( iambic pentameter rhymed)u drama (the real mainstream of the English Renaissance)2. Flourishing: the Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)3. Declining: James (1603-1625)-earlyl Main literary forms: translation: Ovids Metamorphoses, Homers lliad, Montaignes Essays; Travel books: Thomas Mores Utopia; Peotry: Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser; Drama: “University Wits”, Marlowe, Shakespeare; Essay: Francis Bacon1. EdmundSpenser埃德蒙斯宾塞15521599（后人称之为诗人的诗人。）Thepoets poet.ThefirsttobeburiedinthePoetscornerofWesterminsterAbbey仙后(forQueenElizabeth)ThethemeisnotArmsandtheman,butsomethingmoreromanticFiercewarsandfaithfullloves.Artisticfeatures:1.UsingSpenserianStanzaDefinitionofSpenserianStanza:astanzaofninelinesababbcbcc.Eightlinesiniambicpentameter,andlastlineiniambichexameter.牧人日历ThethemeistolamentoverthelossofRosalind.爱情小唱2.ThomasMore托马斯莫尔14781535The first of the Englishhumanists乌托邦Written in the form of a conversation between More and a returned voyager, Hythloday;1st book: a long discussion of England2nd book: describes in detail an ideal communist society, Utopia. 3. Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) The best representative of the spirit of the Elizabethan AgeThe Renaissance ideal of the “complete man”: a courtier, diplomat, soldier, scholar, poet, friend, patron, and literary critic: “born to be the purple”Held a strong Protestant convictionWorks: Arcadia (1580), prose romance filled with lyrics the forerunner of modern novelAstrophel and Stella(1591), a sequence of 108 sonnets, Sidneys main achievement as a poet, making the sonnet sequence a popular literary form in England.Defense of Poetry(1595), a prose essay that describes the nature of poetry and defends it against Puritan objections to imaginative literature.4.BenJonson狐狸5. ChristopherMarlowe柯里斯托弗马洛15641595The most gifted of the “UniversityWits” （完善了无韵体诗。）Blankverse:writteninunrhymediambicpentameter.浮士德博士的悲剧（根据德国民间故事书写成）帖木耳大帝n马耳他的犹太人* The Renaissance hero: The Renaissance hero is Marlowes creation. Such a hero is always individualistic and full of ambition, facing bravely the challenge from both gods and men. He embodies Marlowes humanistic ideal of human dignity and capacity.Different from tragic hero in medieval plays, he is against conventional morality and contrives to obtain heaven on earth through his own efforts. Both Tamburlaine and Faustus are typical in possessing such a spirit.6.WilliamShakespeare威廉莎士比亚15641616nHistoricalplays:HenryVIHenryIV:RichardIIIHenryV；RichardII；HenryVIIIFourComedies:皆大欢喜;第十二夜;仲夏夜之梦;威尼斯商人FourTragedies:哈姆莱特;奥赛罗;李尔王;麦克白works: Sonnet154; plays 37; long narrative poems 2.Sonnet: : Threequatrainandonecouplet,ababcdcdefefggAsonnetisalyricconsistingof14lines,usuallyiniambicpentameterrestrictedtoadefinitionrhymescheme.Drama Both a literary art (on page to read) and performing art (an order of speeches and visual effects presented on stages).Element of drama: Aristotle categorized drama into 6 elements in his poetics in order of importance as he viewed them:1) Plot 情节 (the way the story is told)rising action动作上行 climax喜剧高潮 falling action动作下行 catastrophe悲剧结尾 subplot/double plot次要情节/双重情节Progress: beginning, middle, end/ exposition, complication, denouement.u Exposition戏剧呈现：Set action in time and place Make us acquainted with the characters Reveal the situation they are in Initiate the conflict冲突 to be developed Introduce foreshadowing预示 to hint at the resolutionu Complication 深度推进和冲突复杂化：Develop the conflict initiated by the exposition providing the conflict with its depth and breadthPoint of attack交锋点The rising action上行的动作Climax (turning point, reversal) 高潮Anticlimax 突降，反高潮u Denouement 结局 Following the climax everything heads downward in falling action动作下行.2) Character 人物 Protagonist主角 antagonist 反角 foil陪衬人物 stock character/type character类型化人物 Rounded character/ three dimensional character圆形人物4 way portraying characters: appearance; speech; action; what other say about him, and the way in which they react to him.3) Thought 思想: refers to the reasoning aspects of drama.4) Diction 措辞Features: dynamic; clear; interesting (despite simplicity and economy), appropriate, suited for oral expression5) Music 音乐: Auditory aspect of a play6) Spectacle 场面: visual aspects of productionscenery, lightening, costume, make-up, and the movem