英国文学史伊丽莎白

1、Lecture 2,The Elizabethan Age (I),English Literature,Teaching Objectives and Requirements,1 Help the students know some information about the Pre-Elizabethan period, especially the Renaissance.,2 Help the students know some information about the geniuses in literature in the Elizabethan Age, especia

2、lly Francis Bacon, the genius in prose.,A natural corollary of the popular disaffection with the growing corrupt practices of the Catholic Church and the long pent-up anger and desire on the part of the more enlightened religious minds for reform and improvement First started in Germany by Martin Lu

3、ther (1483-1546), an Augustan friar,1 The Pre-Elizabethan period (1400-1557),1.1 The Reformation (Protestant Reformation),The Reformation made a great historic contribution in the intellectual history of humankind: it set the human mind free from the fetters of the tenets and dogmas of the Catholic

4、Church and opened human eyes to the new and promising vistas of the new age. The modern age was zoomed into sight. (Chan Yaoxin: 25-26),14th and mid-17th centuries Italy rebirth or revival reawakening of interest in learning, in the individual and in the world of nature,1.2 Renaissance,1.2.1 Definit

5、ion of Renaissance,the revival of interest in learning the culture of Greece and Rome the rebirth of interest in the individual a new appreciation of beauty, a desire for self-expression and the creation of art the renewal of curiosity about the nature to discover new lands and new scientific truths

6、 essence humanism Religious Reformation and Bourgeois Revolution.,1.2.2 Humanism,Broadly, exalt the human element or stress the importance of human interests In a more specific sense, promote human culture most effectively, deal with the life, thought, language, and literature of ancient Greece and

7、Rome Man should mould the world according to his own desires, and attain happiness by removing all external checks by the exercises of the human intellect,1.2.3 Main traits of the Renaissance literature,It emphasizes the dignity of man, affirms and eulogizes the value of man. It advocates the full e

8、xpression of individualism and the fulfillment of ones abilities, against the despotic rule of feudalism. It affirms the delight of earthly achievement, as well as mans desire for happiness and pleasure.,Geniuses in poetry,Genius in prose,Edmund Spenser,Sir Philip Sidney,a “poets poet”,Spenserian so

9、nnets,The Faerie Queene,“the complete man”,Defense of Poetry,Francis Bacon,2 The Elizabethan Age (1558-1625),The most important prose writer of the Elizabethan Age The first English essayist The founder of English materialistic philosophy A great scientist, thinker, philosopher and essayist Three ca

10、tegories of his works: The philosophical worksthe best one of which is the Advancement of Learning. Literary worksEssays Professional worksthe largest and most important of his professional works are the treatise entitled Maxims of the Law and Reading of the Statute of Uses.,Among his works, his ess

11、ays have been greatly widely read. His essays have been quoted as textbooks as much as Shakespeares plays. Some of his essays deal with philosophy, religion, political institutions and government. Some of his essays deal with profound ethical interest. His essays are essentially his deliberations on

12、 man and life. (Chang Yaoxin: 65-66),This essay can be divided into three parts: The first part is from “Studies serve for delight” to “won by observation”. Here the author points out what studies mean (the definition of studies) Studies can be used: For delight, for ornament and ability b. Perfecti

13、ng the nature After giving out the definition of studies, the author believes that studies should also combine with observation.,Of Studies,The second part is from “Read not to contradict and confute” to “he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not”. In this part the author tells

14、his reader how to study. In the authors mind some book should: to be tasted b. to be swallowed c. to be chewed and digested d. some should be read only in parts e. Some should be read only for entertainment without paying too much attention. f. Some should be read by deputy.,The third part is from “

15、Histories” to the last sentence. In this part the author advocates that the functions of the reading should be making the reader a full man, ready man, and exact man, wise-witty, subtle, deep and grave. Studies can be also used as the medicine to cure mind, and keep the mind from wandering away. Of

16、Studies is forceful, persuasive, compact and precise, and it reveals to us Bacons mature attitude towards learning., The language is very neat, compact and weighty. The sentences are very short and the author likes to use more loose and compound sentences, which are called loose and free style in Ba

17、cons time. Bacon also likes to use more coordinate conjunctions than the subordinated ones, such as “as, since, because”. Whats more important is that he likes to use parallelism, and his topics are very clear and exact, full of epigrams like a poem. So we can say his style is conciseness of expression and simplicity of diction.,The style of Bacons essay,Reflection Questions and Assignments,1 Read Francis Bacons essay Of Marriage and Single Life i