TheRenaissance英国文学文艺复兴时期总结

1、The RenaissanceThis is a greatest and most advanced revolution in the human history. This is the age the giants are needed and produced. F. Engles<1> Brief introduction?Renaissance in European history, refers to the period between 14th century to 17th century. It started in Italy and ended in

2、England and Spain.? a Renaissance means a revival the ,revival of interest in Ancient Greek and Roman culture and getting rid of conservatism in feudalist Europe and introducing new ideas that express the interests of the rising bourgeoisie.?Renaissance sprang first in Italy Florence and Venice with

3、 the flowering of paintings, sculpture and architecture, and gradually spread all over Europe;?Renaissance originally indicated a revival of classical arts and science ancient Greek and Roman culture after the dark ages of medieval obscurantism.During the period of Renaissance:1. the Roman Catholic

4、Church was shaken,2. old sciences revived and new sciences emerged,3. national languages and cultures took shape,4. art and literature flourishedBrief introduction?There arose an interest in the manuscripts surviving from ancient Greece and Rome. Classical learning and philosophy were enthusiastical

5、ly studied.?The intellectual wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome encouraged a rebirth of human spirit , a realization of human potential for development and creation .?Never before in human history were men and women so eager to create and discover something new . In Italy a group of artists, scientis

6、ts, politicians , and writers created the most brilliant page of culture and science in Renaissance Europe.Examples: Copernicus 哥白尼asserted that the earth was not the center of the universe; The passionate Petrarch produced sonnets that influenced Shakespeare and many others; Boccaccio卜伽丘B wrote tal

7、es of eternal charm: The Decameron; Marco Polo 马可波罗 made journeys into the remote kingdom of China ; Michelangelo 米开朗琪罗,Leonardo da Vinci 达芬奇,Raphael 拉斐尔,and Titian 提香created paintings and sculptures that are invaluable treasures of the world .<2>Essence and features?Essence: It is the reflect

8、ion of the rise of bourgeoisie in the sphere of cultural life.另版本：Renaissance, in essence, is a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars made attempts to:to get rid of conservatism in Feudalist Europe;to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bou

9、rgeoisie,to lift the restrictions in all areas placed by the Roman church authorities.Briefly it is the reflection of the rise of bourgeoisie in the sphere of cultural life.?Features : there are two striking features A thirsting curiosity for the classical literature. The keen interest in the activi

10、ties of humanity.<3>Renaissance and HumanismRenaissance: the term originally indicated a revival of classical arts and science after the dark ages of medieval obscurantism. Indeed, a great number of the works of classical authors were translated into English during the 16 th century.Humanism :

11、 The progressive thinkers of the humanists 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.Humanism is the key-note of the Renaissance. It reflected th

12、e new outlook of the rising bourgeois class;<4>HumanismHumanism is the essence of the Renaissance . It sprang from the endeavor to restore a reverence for the Greek and Roman civilization based on the conception that man is the measure of all things .Contrary to the subordination of individual

13、s to the feudal rules and the sacrifice of earthly life for a future life in the medieval society, Renaissance humanists found in the classics a justification to exalt human nature and came to see that human beings were glorious creatures capable of individual development for perfection.By emphasizi

14、ng the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life, they voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders.<5>Features of humanism in RenaissanceEmphasizing the power, value and dignity of t

15、he human being and holding that human beings are glorious creatures The core of Renaissance thought is the greatness of man/giants . This is best summarized in the lines of Shakespeare HamletWhat a piece of work is man; how noble in reason; how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and

16、 admirable; in action how like and angel; in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals.人是一件多么了不起的杰作！多 么高贵的理性！多么伟大的力量！多 么优美的仪表！多么文雅的举动！在行为上多么像一个天使！在智慧上多么想一个天神！宇宙的精 华！万物的灵长！?1. Emphasizing secular happiness and individualism against the medieval ideas of asceticism;?

17、2.shifting man' s interest from Christianity to humanity, from religion to philcphiy, from beauty and greatness of Godto the beauty of human body in all its joys and pains.?3. Applying Aristotle theery, Humanist literature mainly use realistic style and take literature as the mirror or miniature

18、 of the society.<6>Influence and English RenaissanceInfluences:I.These Italians, and many others, helped to make Italy the center of the Renaissance movement in Europe.2 .The movement changed the medieval Western Europe into a modern one .3 .The intellectual wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome e

19、ncouraged a rebirth of human spirit , a realization of human potential for development and creationEnglish Renaissance: Oxford Reformers: the Oxford reformers, scholars and humanists introduced classical literature to England. Education was revitalized and literature became more popular.This was Eng

20、land ' Gsolden Age in literature. There appeared many English literary giants such as Shakespeare, Spenser, Johnson, Sidney, Marlowe, Bacon and Donne.English RenaissanceContentsI .TheSixteenthCentury EnglandIII. The main artistic stylesV. Francis BaconII . Renaissance in EnglandIV. William Shake

21、speare1. The Sixteenth Century England2. Enclosure Movement4. International situation3. The establishment of absolute monarchy5. Cultural preparati4. Religious reformationThe background of the humanism in EuropeThe introduction of printing led to an enlarged reading public and a commercial market fo

22、r literature;The great economic and political changes led to the rise of democracy;The spirit of nationalism;The growing of "new science " etc.Characteristics of the Elizabethan Age1. An age of comparative religious tolerance;2. An age of comparative social contentment;3. An age of dreams,

23、 of adventures, of unbounded enthusiasm;4. An age of intellectual liberty, of growing intelligence and comfort among all classes and of unbounded patriotism.II. Renaissance in England?The time: mainly from the reign of Henry VIII, Edward, Mary and then to Queen Elizabeth and Jacobean Eraa. Beginning

24、: the last years of the 15-th century-first half of the 16-th centuryb. Flourishing: the Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)c. Declining: the period of James I (1603-1625) early 17-th centuryThe flowering of English literatureThe second half of the 16th century,“ a nest of singing birdsThe early period:imit

25、ation and assimilation, translated works, poetry and poetic drama were the most outstanding literary forms.?Sonnet: an exact form of poetry in 14 lines of iambic pentameter intricately rhymed.?Blank verse: iambic pentameter unrhymedThe latter period:Drama the real mainstream of the English Renaissan

26、ce“university wits " Lyly, Peele, Marlowe, Greene, Lodge and Nash who entered the dramatic circle between the years 1587-93. they were all of humble birth and struggled for a livelihood by writing. Through hard work, they revised old plays and wrote new ones. They made rapid progress in dramati

27、c techniques because they has close contact with the actors and audiences. They were looked down upon by the gentlemen and suspected by the government. It was their industrious works that furnished the Elizabethan stage.Christopher MarloweWilliam ShakespeareIII. The main artistic stylesThe artistic

28、styles as lyric poetry, narrative poetry, drama are maturized; new styles which characterized the modern literature such as sonnets, short stories and novels were produced.translation: Ovid ' M etamorphoses, Homer ' Isad , Montaigne Essays?travel books: More 's Utopia?poetry: Edmund Spen

29、ser?drama :" University Wits , Marlowe, Shakespeare?essay: Francis BaconThomas More and his UtopiaForerunner of utopian socialism?An imaginative travel narrative written in the form of conversation between More and Hythloday, a returned voyager describing an ideal state governed by reason.?The

30、subject is the search for the best possible form of government: Utopia-a community of property-a pure, pre-Marx form of communism.Poetry: Edmund Spenser and his worksThe Sheph erd ' s Calendar牧人日历?:12 pastoral poems and eclogues, one for each month, put into the mouths of speakers distinguishing

31、 themselves as shepherds, really representing Spenser and his friends.?Amoretti ?爱情小诗? :a series of 88 sonnets in honor of his lover Elizabeth. All except one was written in the Spenserian sonnet.?Epithlamion ?婚后曲? :marriage hymns to celebrate his marriage with Elizabeth.The Faerie Queene?仙后?The ble

32、nding of religious and historical allegory with chivalric romance: a long poem planned 12 books. 12 knights for the qualities of the chivalric virtues- the six completed books are holiness, temperance, chastity, friendship, justice and courtesy.Fairy Queen Queen Elizabeth, the knights as a whole - E

33、ngland, the evil figures enemies.Themes of the poem :nationalism( celebration of Queen Elizabeth)humanism (strong opposition to Roman Catholicism),Puritanism (moral teaching)Spenserian stanza:it is a nine-line stanza with the first 8 lines iambic pentameter and the ninth, iambic hexameter六步格的诗 rhymi

34、ngabab,bcbc,c which is the typical verse in The Faerie Queene.For its rare beauty, this verse form was much used by many later poets, esp. imitated by the romantic poets of the 19th century.Spenser ' s position in English Literature:the publication of “TheShepherd ' Calendar "marks the

35、budding of Renaissance flower in the northern island of England.The language he used was modern English which has distinguished itself from the Middle English of Chaucer's day.Spenserian stanza: a model of poetic art among the Renaissance English poets.“the poet ' s poet , the first master t

36、o make the Modern English the natural music of his poetic effusion and held his position as a model of poetic art. His influence can be traced in the works of Milton, Shelley and Keats.Christopher MarloweLife: short but riotousMajor works:? Tamburlaine the Great:?帖木耳?2A drama in a blank verse?About

37、the rise and fall of Tamburlaine the Mongol conqueror on the 14th century central Asia.2A tragedy about a man who thinks he can but actually can not control his own fate.?By depicting a great hero with high ambition and sheer brutal force, the author voiced the supreme desire of the man of the Renai

38、ssance for infinite power and authority.? The Jew of Malta:?马耳他的犹太人?2A study of the lust for wealth, which centers around Barabas the Jew, an old money lender, whose only philosophy is the art of gaining advantage.2Suggestive of Shylock in Shakespeare ' s The Merchant of Venice.2A tragic result:

39、 typically greedy of riches and gold, which is another feature shared by those in Renaissance England.? The History of Doctor Faustus?浮土德博士?尔efer to compare with GoetheFausts7rhe Faust myth in 16th century Germany: the myth of men seeking great earthly power from demons at the cost of their immortal

40、 soul.7rhe conventional view: Dr. Faustus is a morality play that vindicates humility, faith and obedience to the law of God.7rhe new view: Dr. Faustus celebrates the human passion for knowledge, power and happiness, and also reveals man frustration in realizing the high aspiration in a hostile mora

41、l order.Social significance and literary achievementl.showing the spirit of the rising bourgeoisie. Its eager curiosity for knowledge, power and gold.The praise of individuality freed from the restraints of medieval dogmas and the conviction of the boundless possibility of human efforts in conquerin

42、g the universe.The heroes are mainly individualists. Their individualistic ambition often brings ruin to the world and to themselves.Shakespearesoul of the Age!The applause! Delight! The wonder of our stage!Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to showWilliam Shakespeare1. Brief Introduction2. Shakespe

43、are ' s dramaFour periods of his literary careerCategories of his dramaWhat to be at least known about ShakespeareTo whom all scenes of Europe homage owe.He was not of an age, but for all time!3. the artistic features of his plays4. Shakespeare ' s place and contribution5. Shakespeare '

44、s sonnetsLife: birthplace, birth date, death date, important time in his life and careerHis major works: 37 plays(10histories, 10 comedies, 10 tragedies), 2 long narrative poems, 154 sonnets.Plays to be read: great comedies & 4 great tragediesWriting features in each of four periodsI. Brief Intr

45、oductionA dramatist “ not of an age, but of all time" by Ben Jonhsond ,nbu tf fShglworld.Not only a master of English language but also a genius of character portrayal and plot construction A “ poet of reality " for his idea that literature should reflect nature and reality.37 plays, 154 s

46、onnets and 2 long poems.II. Shafepeare ' s dramaFour Periods of Shakespeare ' s Literary careerFour major phrases represent respectively his early, mature, flourishing and late periods.1. Period of early experiment and apprenticeship (1590-1594)Background:A. it was in the middle of the highl

47、y thriving Elizabethan Age.B. The thoughts of humanism and the ideas of man' s emancipation, freedom of love was rapidly spread.C. Shakespeare was a young man full of astonishing versatility and wonderful talent and the great interest in the political questions of his time.Features:D. the writer

48、 made experiments in a number of dramatic forms: the historical plays, comedy, the revenge tragedy and the romantic tragedy.E. this period is distinctively marked by youthfulness and exuberance of imagination, by extravagance of witty language or speech, and by the final and frequent use of blank ve

49、rse. In his hand, blank verse developed into a happy vehicle to express all kinds of thoughts and emotions (thus shaking off the rigidity of rimed and mechanic lines).2. Period of maturity (1595-1600)Features:A. a period of “great comedies " and mature historical plays and sonnets.B. a sweet an

50、d joyful time when the writer portrays successfully a magnificent panorama of the manifold pursuit of people in real life.C. a great shift in characterization. A notable gallery of heroines in the comedies and vivid characters in historical plays is presented: Portia, Posalynd, Voila, Beatrice, Sir

51、John Falstaff.3. Period of gloom and depression (1601-1607)Background:A. the aggravation of the social situation: the rising of peasants, the corruption, the tension between bourgeoisie and the feudal lands.B. the change of mood in the playwright: gloomy and indignantFeatures:A. a period of agreat t

52、ragedies " and "dark comedies B. the writer gave a scathing exposition of the somber pictures and scenes of murder, lust, treachery, ingratitude and crime.C. a higher level of crafts is reached: more intricate plotting, intense inner conflict, meticulous depiction of human mind.4. Period o

53、f calm and reconciliation (1608-1612)Background:A. the fall and collapse of absolute monarchB. the retirement of the playwright back into the tranquil countrysideFeatures:A. some serenity and optimism, instead of the beginning lightness and the middle somber violence reigned.B. romantic dramas and c

54、omedies were the main form.C. moral teaching and supernatural forces were relied on to restore the rightful honor and position. These plays all show a falling off from his previous works.Categories of his dramaAccording to dramatic type, his plays are divided into these classes: comedies histories t

55、ragediesromances? ?ComediesComedy is a light form of drama aiming primarily to amuse and ending happily. It often deals with people in their human state, restrained and ridiculous by their limitations, faults, bodily functions.Four Great ComdiesThe Merchant of VeniceA Midsummer Night ' s DreamAs

56、 you Like itTwelfth NightComedies of the First PeriodThe keynote of his comedies :to portray people just freed from the feudal fetters, sing of youth, love and ideas of happiness.The heroes and heroines fight against destiny and mould their fate according to their own free will. Thus becomethe sons

57、and daughters of Renaissance.The victory of humanist ideal is inevitable. The general spirit of these plays is optimistic.The Merchant of Venice?The double plot: one is about the Bassanio ' s winning of a bride by undergoing a test; the other is about the demanding of a pound of human flesh by S

58、hylock.?The traditional theme is to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio, to idealize Portia as a heroine of great beauty, wit and loyalty and to expose the insatiable greed and brutality of the Jew.?The new one is to regard the play as a satire of the Christian hypocrisy and their false standards of friendship and love, their cunning ways of pursuing worldliness and unreasoning prejudice against Jews.Portia : a rich heiress of Belmont in Shakespeare's comedy The Merchant of Venice.1. Portia is a woman of Renaissance beautiful