The18thCentury英国18世纪文学课件

The18thCenturyTheAgeofEnlightenmentHistoricalBackground

A.AconstitutionalmonarchyAftertheGloriousRevolutiontherulingpowerinEnglandpassedfromthekingtotheparliament.B.Thecontinuous,large-scaleenclosuresoflandresultedinruralbankruptcy.Thepovertyandmiseryoftheexploitedandunemployedlaboringmassesinthecitiesincreased.C.The13formerBritishcoloniesinNorthAmericaAnnouncedtheirindependencein1776.D.TheIndustrialRevolution,whichstartedinthe1760s,exertedanimmenseimpactonhumanthinkingTheEnlightenmentMovement

The18th-centuryEnglandisknownastheAgeofEnlightenmentortheAgeofReason.TheEnlightenmentMovementwasaprogressiveintellectualmovementwhichflourishedinFrance&sweptthroughthewholeWesternEuropeatthetime.ThemovementwasafurtheranceoftheRenaissanceofthe15th&16thcenturies.Itspurposewastoenlightenthewholeworldwiththelightofmodemphilosophical&artisticideas.Theenlightenersconsideredthechiefmeansforthebettermentofthesocietywas“enlightenment”or“education”forthepeople.TheEnlightenercelebratedreasonorration,equality,scienceandhumanbeings’abilitytoperfectthemselvesandtheirsociety.Theycalledforareferencetoorder,reason&rules&advocateduniversaleducation.FamousamongthegreatenlightenersinEnglandwerethosegreatwriterslikeJohnDryden,Alexanderpope&soon.Neoclassicism

Inthefieldofliterature,theEnlightenmentMovementbroughtaboutarevivalofinterestintheoldclassicalworks.Thistendencyisknownasneoclassicism.Accordingtotheneoclassicists,allformsofliteratureweretobemodeledaftertheclassicalworksoftheancientGreek&Romanwriters(Homer,Virgil,&soon)&thoseofthecontemporaryFrenchones.Theybelievedthattheartisticidealsshouldbeorder,logic,restrainedemotion&accuracy,&thatliteratureshouldbejudgedintermsofitsservicetohumanity.Thisbeliefledthemtoseekproportion,unity,harmony&graceinliteraryexpressions,inanefforttodelight,instruct&correcthumanbeings,primarilyassocialanimals.Thus,apolite,urbane,witty,&intellectualartdeveloped.

SentimentalismSentimentalismisoneoftheimportanttrendsinEnglishliteratureofthemiddleandlaterdecadesofthe18thcentury.Alongwithanewvisionoflove,sentimentalismpresentedanewviewofhumannaturewhichprizedfeelingoverthinking,passionoverreason,andpersonalinstinctsof"pity,tenderness,andbenevolence"oversocialduties.Literaryworkofthesentimentalism,markedbyasinceresympathyforthepoverty-stricken,expropriated（征用）peasants,wrotethe"simpleannalsofthepoor”.Writersofsentimentalismjustlycriticizedthecrueltyofthecapitalistrelationsandthegrosssocialinjusticesbroughtaboutbythebourgeoisrevolutions.Buttheyattackedtheprogressiveaspectofthisgreatsocialchangeinordertoeliminateitandsighedforthereturnofthepatriarchaltimeswhichtheyidealized.SentimentalismembracesapessimisticoutlookandblamesreasonandtheIndustrialRevolutionforthemiseriesandinjusticesinthearistocratic-bourgeoissocietyand

indulgesinsentiment,hencethedefinitesignsofdecadenceintheliteraryworksofthesentimentaltradition.DevelopmentEarly18thCenturyneo-classicismAlexanderPope(poetry)proseliteratureAddisonandSteele(periodicals)thefirstrealisticfictionDefoeandSwiftMiddle18thCenturyrealisticnovelsRichardson,FieldingandSmollettdramaRichardBrinsleySheridanthelastdecadesofthe18thcenturyNeo-classicismSamuelJohnson(poetryandprose)sentimentalism

EdwardYoungandThomasGray(poetry)LaurenceSterneandOliverGoldsmith(prosefiction)pre-romanticism

WilliamBlakeandRobertBurns(poetry)Classification18世纪前期蒲伯（古典主义）艾迪生和斯蒂尔（古典主义\期刊文学）笛福与斯威夫特（现实主义小说）18世纪中期理查生（现实主义）菲尔丁（现实主义）斯摩莱特（现实主义）18世纪后期撒缪尔约翰逊（古典主义）劳伦斯斯泰恩（感伤主义）哥尔斯密（感伤主义）谢莱丹（18世纪的最伟大的戏剧家）格雷（感伤主义）布雷克（前浪漫主义）彭斯（前浪漫主义）DanielDefoeasuccessfulbusinessman,atypicalhardworkingEnglishmanathisageajournalistandpoliticalpamphleteer,anovelistHefavorsthecapitalist’adventureinannewworld.HisfirstandgreatestnovelisknownbyeveryoneinChinaonceasRobinsonCrusoe,themostfamoustaleofshipwreckandsolitarysurvivalinallliterature.HismajorworksDefoeisgenerallyconsideredthefirstgreatrealisticnovelistinEnglishfiction.Hebasedhisstoriesoncurrentevents&materials,suchasthemaps&logsofactualseavoyages,personalmemoirs&historicaloreyewitnessreports.

PerhapshismostpopularnovelisRobinsonCrusoe(1719)anadventurestorybasedpartlyontheactualexperienceofaman(In1704,AlexanderSelkirk,aScottishsailor,wasmarooned（孤立无援的）ontheislandofJuanFernandezintheAtlantic,andlivedtherealonefor4years.)whohadbeentrappedonadesertedisland.AJournalofthePlagueYear(1722)sometimesconsideredhisbestworkhassuchacolorful&detailedaccountoftheLondonplagueof1664&1665thatitseemstohavebeenwrittenbyanobserveronthescene.Defoe‘sthirdmasterpiece,MollFlanders(1722)isalivelynoveltracingtheadventuresofafemalerogue.Toldintheformof"confessions",thenarrativeincludesvividdescriptionsofthecourts,prisons,&othersocialinstitutionsofDefoe'sera.

TheCharacteristicsofhisNovels

DealwiththepersonalhistoryofsomeoftheheroesandheroinesTheall-powerfulinfluenceofmaterialcircumstancesorsocialenvironmentuponthethoughtsandactionsoftheheroortheheroinandthestruggleofthepoorunfortunateformereexistence,mixedwiththeirdesireforgreatwealtharehighlighted.(3)Thefirstliteraryworksdevotedtothestudyofproblemsofthelower-classpeople(4)Thedetailsofthenovelsareorganizedinavividwayandhisstoriesarebothcredibleandfascinating.(5)Hissentencesarevariable,sometimesshort,crispandplain,andsometimeslongandrambling,(6)Thelanguageissmooth,easy,colloquialandmostlyvernacular（本地的，方言的）.RobinsonCrusoe(1719)RobinsonCrouse,anadventurestoryverymuchinthespiritofthetime,isuniversallyconsideredhismasterpiece.Inthenovel,DefoetracesthegrowthofRobinsonfromanaive&simpleyouthintoamature&hardenedman,temperedbynumeroustrialsinhiseventfullife.TherealisticpresentationofthesuccessfulstruggleofRobinsonsingle-handedlyagainstthehostilenatureprovesthebestpartofthenovel.CharacteranalysisThecharacterRobinsonisnotcommonsailor.Heisabusinessmanwhotakesoverseasbusinessashiscause.Heisalsoatypicaleighteenth-centuryEnglishmiddle-classmanwithagreatcapacityforwork,inexhaustibleenergy,courage,patience&persistenceinovercomingobstacles,instrugglingagainstthehostilenaturalenvironment.Heistheveryprototypeoftheempirebuilder,thepioneercolonist.RobinsonisabourgeoisiewithadventurousspiritRobinsonisabourgeoisieofpracticalspirit.Robinsonisbourgeoisieofcolonizingcharacter.A.

Theartisticcharacterofthenovel:theconcretersofthedescriptionandvividness.Theauthordoesnotexpressthecharacterwithhiswordsbutletthecharactershowhimselfinhisownaction.Thecomplementsofcommentsanddiaries,B.

Limitation:a.

simplestructureb.looseandrepletionc.minorcharacterslackmuchimpressionJonathanSwiftIrish-born,oncewaspriestanddeanofaCathedralchurch,livedofteninEngland.SwiftisgenerallyconsideredthegreatestprosesatiristinEnglishliterature.Throughfables,allegories,&pamphletshesavagelyexposedthevices&folliesofmankind&championedcommonsense.He

defined

a

good

style

as

“proper

words

in

proper

places.”

Clear,

simple,

concrete

diction,

uncomplicated

sentence

structure,

economy

and

conciseness

of

language

mark

all

his

writingsessays,

poems

and

novels.

HisMainWorks

TheBattleofBooks

（ACollegeHistoryofEnglishLiterature,P245）

ATaleofaTub

AModestProposal

Gulliver’sTravels

(英国18世纪文学史，P101)Gulliver’sTravelsThebookconsistsoffourbooks,eachofwhichdealswithoneofthefourvoyagesofLemuelGulliver,theprotagonist,tothefourremoteandfantasticcountries–Lilliput,Brobdingnag,Laputa,andHouyhnhnms--afterhehasmetwithshipwrecks,orpiratesorotherunfortunatehappeningsonthesea.ThroughthedescriptionofGulliver’sadventures,Swiftstripsofftheveilthatcoversthehypocrisy,injustice,crudevicesofhissociety,toexposethemalltothesatire.Gulliver’sTravels(1726):amasterpieceofsatirenotonlyonallpartsofBritainbutalsoonthevice,follyandweaknessofthewholemankindPartI:voyagetoLilliput(小人国),thelandofminiaturePartII:voyagetoBrobdingnag

(大人国),thelandofgiantPartⅢ:voyagetoLaputa(飞岛)PartIV:voyagetothelandofHouyhnhnms慧恩,具有人类理性的马匹,anoblebreedofthinking,talking,high-mindedhorsesfilthyinferiorcreaturecalledYahoos:thehumanraceJonathan’spointofview:Houyhnhnms:nobleandrationalyetcoldanddullYahoos(格列弗游记中的一种人形兽):lowyetnatural1.Theirliteraryactivities:Theyjointlyrantwonewspapers,theTatler(from12April1709to2Jan.1711)andtheSpectators(from1March1711to6Dec.1712),andpublishedessaysdealingwithmanners,moralsandliterature.2.Theirimportance:TheiressaystruthfullyportrayedthesociallifeofEngland,andpavedthewayforthecomingoftheEnglishnovel.RichardSteele(1672-1729)&JosephAddison(1672-1719)HenryFieldingFatheroftheEnglishNovelHewasthegreatestplaywrightinhisowntime.Heisgenerallyregardedasthegreatestnovelistofthe18thcentury.Thefirsttowritespecificallya“comicepicinprose”(喜剧散文史诗),whose

subject

is

“the

true

ridiculous”

in

human

nature.MainWorks

TheHistoryoftheAdventuresofJosephAndrew

TheLifeofMrJonathanWild,theGreat

Amelia

TheHistoryofTomJones,aFoundling

DonQuixoteinEngland

TheHistoryofTomJones,aFoundlingTomJones,generallyconsideredFielding‘smasterpiece,bringsitsauthorthenameofthe“ProseHomer.”

Thepanoramicviewitprovidesofthe18thcenturyEnglishcountry&citylifewithdifferentplaces&about40charactersisunsurpassed.Thelanguageisoneofclarity&suppleness.Andlastofall,theplotconstructionisexcellent.Itisdividedinto3sections,6bookseach,clearlymarkedoutbythechangeofscenes:inthecountry,onthehighway&inLondon.Bythis,Fieldinghasindeedachievedhisgoalofwritinga"comicepicinprose."IntroductionofTomJonesGenre:anovelSetting:SomersetandLondonCharacters:SquireAllworthy,arich,childlesswidowerBridget,Allworthy’ssisterTomJones,Bridget’sillegitimateson,Allworthy’sadoptedchild（the

hero

of

the

story,

whoishonest,

kind-hearted,

highspirited,loyal,

and

brave,but

impulsive,

wanting

prudence

and

full

of

animal

spirit）MasterBlifil,Bridget’ssonbymarriageSquireWestern,alandlord,hisneighborBellaston,Sophia’skinswoman,livinginLondonSophia,Western’sdaughterPlot:（英国18世纪文学选，P211）1).Inthecountry.BothTomandBlifilareinlovewithSophia.WesternarrangesamarriagebetweenSophiaandBlifilwhoisAllworthy’sheir,butSophialovesTom.2).Ontheroad.SophialeaveshometogotoLondontoseekthehelpofrelativeinLondon,LadyBellaston.Ontheway,shemeetsTomwhohasbeenturnedawaybyAllworthybecauseBlifilconvertshisaffectionforTomintoanger.TheygotoLondontogether.3).InLondon.WhileSophiaandTomareinLondon,AllworthydiscoversthatTomishissisterBridget’sillegitimateson,andthatBlifilistreacherousperson.AllworthydisinheritsBlifilandmakesTomhisheir.HeandWesternarrangeamarriagebetweenTomandSophia.HisachievementinEnglishnovel

Fieldinghasbeenregardedbysomeas"FatheroftheEnglishNovel,"forhiscontributiontotheestablishmentoftheformofthemodernnovel.Ofalltheeighteenth-centurynovelistshewasthefirsttosetout,bothintheory&practice,towritespecificallya"comicepicinprose,"thefirsttogivethemodernnovelitsstructure&style.Beforehim,therelatingofastoryinanovelwaseitherintheepistolaryform(aseriesofletters),asinRichardson'sPamela,orthepicaresqueform(adventurouswanderings)throughthemouthoftheprincipalcharacter,asinDefoe'sRobinsonCrusoe,butFieldingadopted"thethird-personnarration,"inwhichtheauthorbecomesthe"all-knowingGod."He"thinksthethought"ofallhischaracters,soheisable-topresentnotonlytheirexternalbehaviorsbutalsotheinternalworkingsoftheirminds.Inplanninghisstories,hetriestoretainthegrandepicalformoftheclassicalworksbutatthesametimekeepsfaithfultohisrealisticpresentationofcommonlifeasitis.TheCharacteristicsof

ThomasGray’sPoetryAsafamouspoetof“theGraveyardSchool”,Hispoemscarryhisprofoundcontemplationaboutdeath,thesorrowsoflifeandthemysteriesofhumanlifewithatouchofhispersonalmelancholy.Asaconscientiousartistofthefirstrate,Graywroteslowlyandcarefully,painstakinglyseekingperfectionofformandphrase.Hispoemsarecharacterizedbyanexquisitesenseofform.(3)Hisstyleissophisticatedandallusive.(4)Hispoemsareoftenmarkedwiththeuniqueimages,rhythm,subtlestyleandthetraitofahighlyartificialdictionandadistortedwordorder.(5)Hispoetryhasauniquecharmofitsown.ThemeItisameditationonhumanmortality,thetragicdignityitgivestoallmankind,&thestability&serenityofrusticlife.TheElegyliesinGray'sperfectexpressionofwhatallmenfeelaboutlife&death.Inthispoem,Grayreflectsondeath,thesorrowsoflife&themysteriesofhumanlifewithatouchofhispersonalmelancholy.Thepoetcomparestheordinarypeoplewiththegreatones,wonderingwhatthecommonscouldhaveachievediftheyhadhadthechance.Hereherevealshissympathyforthepoor&theunknown,butmocksthegreatoneswhodespisethepoor&bringhavoconthem.

LanguageThepoemaboundsinimages&arousessentimentinthebosomofeveryreader.Thoughtheuseofartificialpoeticdiction&distortedwordordermakeunderstandingofthepoemsomewhatdifficult,theartisticpolish-thesurecontroloflanguage,imagery,rhythm,&hissubtlemoderationofstyle&tone-givesthepoemauniquecharmofitsown.Thepoemhasbeenrankedamongthebestofthe18thcenturyEnglishpoetry.ElegyWritteninaCountryChurchyard

1Thecurfewtollstheknellofpartingday,

2

Thelowingherdwindslowlyo'erthelea,

3Theplowmanhomewardplodshiswearyway,

4

Andleavestheworldtodarknessandtome

5Nowfadestheglimm'ringlandscapeonthesight,

6

Andalltheairasolemnstillnessholds,

7Savewherethebeetlewheelshisdroningflight,8

Anddrowsytinklingslullthedistantfolds;9Savethatfromyonderivy-mantledtow'r

10

Themopingowldoestothemooncomplain

11Ofsuch,aswand'ringnearhersecretbow'r,

12

Molestherancientsolitaryreign.

13Beneaththoseruggedelms,thatyew-tree'sshade,

14

Whereheavestheturfinmanyamould'ringheap,

15Eachinhisnarrowcellforeverlaid,

16

Therudeforefathersofthehamletsleep.

17Thebreezycallofincense-breathingMorn,

18

Theswallowtwitt'ringfromthestraw-builtshed,

19Thecock'sshrillclarion,ortheechoinghorn,

20

Nomoreshallrousethemfromtheirlowlybed.

21Forthemnomoretheblazinghearthshallburn,

22

Orbusyhousewifeplyhereveningcare:

23Nochildrenruntolisptheirsire'sreturn,

24

Orclimbhiskneestheenviedkisstoshare.

25Oftdidtheharvesttotheirsickleyield,

26

Theirfurrowoftthestubbornglebehasbroke;

27Howjocunddidtheydrivetheirteamafield!

28

Howbow'dthewoodsbeneaththeirsturdystroke!29LetnotAmbitionmocktheirusefultoil,

30

Theirhomelyjoys,anddestinyobscure;

31NorGrandeurhearwithadisdainfulsmile

32

Theshortandsimpleannalsofthepoor.

33Theboastofheraldry,thepompofpow'r,

34

Andallthatbeauty,allthatwealthe'ergave,

35Awaitsaliketh'inevitablehour.

36

Thepathsofgloryleadbuttothegrave.

37Noryou,yeproud,imputetothesethefault,38

IfMem'ryo'ertheirtombnotrophiesraise,

39Wherethro'thelong-drawnaisleandfrettedvault

40

Thepealinganthemswellsthenoteofpraise.

41Canstoriedurnoranimatedbust

42

Backtoitsmansioncallthefleetingbreath?

43CanHonour'svoiceprovokethesilentdust,

44

OrFlatt'rysoothethedullcoldearofDeath?

45Perhapsinthisneglectedspotislaid

46

Someheartoncepregnantwithcelestialfire;

47Hands,thattherodofempiremighthavesway'd,

48

Orwak'dtoecstasythelivinglyre.49ButKnowledgetotheireyesheramplepage

50

Richwiththespoilsoftimedidne'erunroll;

51ChillPenuryrepress'dtheirnoblerage,

52

Andfrozethegenialcurrentofthesoul.

53Fullmanyagemofpurestrayserene,

54

Thedarkunfathom'dcavesofoceanbear:

55Fullmanyaflow'risborntoblushunseen,

56

Andwasteitssweetnessonthedesertair.

57Somevillage-Hampden,thatwithdauntlessbreast

58

Thelittletyrantofhisfieldswithstood;

59SomemuteingloriousMiltonheremayrest,

60

SomeCromwellguiltlessofhiscountry'sblood.

61Th'applauseoflist'ningsenatestocommand,

62

Thethreatsofpainandruintodespise,

63Toscatterplentyo'erasmilingland,

64

Andreadtheirhist'ryinanation'