Part II Renaissance English Literature.docVIP

Part II. The Renaissance This is a greatest and most advanced revolution in the human history. This is the age the giants are needed and produced. -F. Engles The renaissance in England Some major historic events: a. The War of Roses (1455-1488) and the establishment of the dynasties of Henry VII and VIIIthe centralized monarchy. b. The Enclosure movement “ sheep devoured Men” c. The religious reformation, establishment of the Anglican Church d. Flourishing in the Elizabethan Age (1558-1603) e. defeating the Spanish Invincible fleet” Armada” in 1588 and the establishment of the hegemony on the seas. f. The geographical exploration and trade expansion brought about the growth of the cities and the development of the capitalist textile industry.Section I Historical Background1. Political and Social1) Politically, the feudal nobility lost their power and there was a centralization of power necessary for the development of capitalism2) Religiously, there was the far-reaching movement of the Reformation (Henry VIII)3) Economically, the national economy of England developed at a slow but steady pace.4) Militarily, the struggle between England and Spain occupied the last years of 16th century.2. Cultural and Literary Background1) Culturally, a totally new culture rose out of the revival of the old culture of ancient Greece and Rome. 2) Literally, there were three stages and two main trends of Literature. Three Stages Two main treadsThe division of the English renaissance a. Budding: the last years of the 15-th century-first half of the 16-th century b. Flowering: the Elizabethan Age (1558-1603) c. Fading: the period of James I (1603-1625) early 17-th century Renaissance English Literature (15C-17C) The Renaissance originated in Italy in the 14-th century when the art, literature and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome were discovered and widely studied and came to a flowery in the 15-th century and later spread to France, Germany, Spain, Holland and Belgium and England in the 16-th century. the society was in its transition from the feudalism （medieval period）to capitalism (modern world ) . Renaissance English LiteratureIn simple terms, the Renaissance in England was caused by the spread of Renaissance learning and ideology from Italy. The Renaissance embraced not only literature, but also art and architecture. In literary terms, the study of the classical poets led not only to their translation into English but the adaptation of their verse forms and systems of poetical metre, as well as the embracing of their themes and genres.人文主义思想（Humanism）的核心就是强调以“人”为本，宣传个性解放、现世幸福，并积极推进学术，传播科学知识和国家统一等新思想，对封建制度、宗教禁欲主义和上层僧侣的腐败虚伪则进行了无情的嘲讽与抨击。在欧洲历史和哲学史中，人文主义主要被用来描述14到16世纪间较中世纪比较先进的思想。一般来说今天历史学家将这段时间里文化和社会上的变化称为文艺复兴，而将教育上的变化运动称为人文主义。欧洲文艺复兴时期新兴资产阶级反封建的社会思潮。资产阶级人道主义的最初形式。它肯定人性和人的价值，要求享受人世的欢乐，要求人的个性解放和自由平等，推崇人的感性经验和理性思维。1. From collective to individual attitudeMiddle Ages“I belong to a group, and I serve that group.”(family, guild, religious community)2. From theocentric to anthropocentric attitudeMiddle Ages“Memento mori” “My life is but a preparation for my death”.3. From dogmatic belief to critical investigationMiddle Ages“I believe what the Church and authorities say is the Truth, and live by it.”(official doctrines)Section II The First Stage of English Renaissance1. The Background1) The “Oxford Reformers” helped to spread the light of new science and new world outlook.2) In literature, it is a period of imitation and assimilation and a period to train actors, to keep alive the dramatic spirit and to pave the way for the true secular drama.2. The Oxford Reformers3. Thomas More4. Court Poetry (Wyatt/Surrey)Oxford Reformers In the first period there are a group of scholars called Oxford Reformers. They are William Grocyn, Thomas Linnacre, and John Colet, who were reformers, professors, graduates and students of Oxford University, with Thomas More as their representatives. They traveled to Italy or France to come into contact with the spirit of the Renaissance humanism and accepted the new philosophy and culture that were rising there, and they began to spread the ideas of the Renaissance in England after they returned. They made Oxford University as a center of the classical studies. Their new world outlook prepared the way for the appearance of a new literature in the second half of the 16th century.Section III The Second Stage Backgrounda. It was a time of religious tolerance, social contentment, intellectual liberty and unbounded patriotism.b. English literature reached the highest point of its development, especially for the drama with the activities of “University Wits” and Shakespeare. The “University Wits,” consists of a group of talented young writers, such as Robert Greene, John Lyly, Thomas Nashe, Thomas Lodge, Thomas Kyd, George Peele, and Christopher Marlowe. They helped to free English tragedy from artificial restrictions imposed by classical authority and they developed a comedy tradition that is more close to life. Their plays paved the way for the creation of many of Shakespeares masterpieces. Their influence on Shakespeare is certain: Kyd and Marlowe influenced his great tragedies; Greene, Peel, Lodge and Lyly influenced his comedies and romances.Section III The Second Stage2. Court Poetry Raleigh Sidney Spenser3. Prose Fiction Nashe LylyEdmund SpenserLife Born in London Entered Pembroke Hall at Cambridge University in 1569. There, he was influenced by protestant beliefs which were reflected in his poems. After leaving Cambridge, he served as a secretary to John Young, the Bishop of Rochester. Then in 1580, he became a secretary to the governor of Ireland, Lord Grey of Wilton. Married Elizabeth Boyle in 1594. Spenser was appointed sheriff of Cork in 1598. Became ill and died Jan. 13, 1599.Spensers Works The Shepheardes Calandar 牧羊人日志 -It recorded his laments over the less of his lover, Rosalind; Epithalamion 贺新婚曲 -the most beautiful wedding hymns for his marriage with Elizabeth; The Faerie Queene 仙后 -an allegory; his masterpiece; containing 12 books with virtues.Etymology of the word “euphemism” In the sixteenth century, the British aristocracy was developing its own elaborate court language. Characterized by circumlocutions and amplifications, or, in other words, beatings around the bush, runnings around in circles, and excessive verbiage, this courtly argot was known as euphuism and was given its name by the author John Lyly who employed it in a satirical work called Euphues (1578). By the early 1580s, the author George Blount used the term “euphemism” in English, defining it as “a good or favorable interpretation of a bad word.” Although the terms “euphuism” and “euphemism” do not have the same meaning, they both describe a manner of speaking that leans toward indirectness in the service of pleasantness.Formation of euphemisms Joseph M. Williams suggests five general semantic processes by means of which euphemisms are created. borrowing words from other languages-terms that are less freighted with negative associations, e.g., halitosis (bad breath) Latin halitus for breath widening-When a specific term becomes too painful or vivid, we move up in the ladder of abstraction. e.g., growth (cancer), foundation (girdle), solid human waste (feces) semantic shift-the substitution of the whole, or a similar generality, for the specific part we do not choose to discuss. e.g., rear end (bottom)Formation of euphemisms metaphorical transfer-the compar