英国文学——中世纪英语.ppt

1、The Medieval Period (Old English and Middle English),Review of British History,The only new information here is that the Britons were a Celtic people,England before the English,When the Roman legions arrived, they found the land inhabited by “Britons.” Today, the Britons are known as the Celts The B

2、ritons were absorbed into Roman society Latin is spoken but it didnt stay Romans withdraw as the Empire crumbles, leaving the Britons behind,England before the English,group of pagan people from Northern Europe begin a series of invasions Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) This is when King Arthur

3、, a Briton, may have lived and repelled Saxon invasions,By 600, Anglo-Saxons conquer the Britons The Anglo-Saxons two urgings-war and wandering become part of the oral tradition Beowulf is an example of an Anglo-Saxon hero tale,Beowulf battles Grendels mother,By 700, Christian missionaries arrive to

4、 convert the pagans Latin (the language of the Church) returns King Alfred the Britons become organized first true king of the Britons period of prosperity,King Alfred brings an age of prosperity,In 1066, the Normans (French speaking people from Normandy), led by William the Conqueror attack and def

5、eat the Britains (a blend of the Britons and Anglo-Saxons) at the Battle of Hastings the 3rd language is introduced-French French culture and French literature arrives,the Middle Ages500 1500 AD,NEW NOTES,What are the Middle Ages?,A period in European history marked by the fall of the Western Roman

6、Empire and lasting until the beginning of the Renaissance. (roughly 500 1500 AD) Divided into three periods: Early, High, and Late “Medieval” is an adjective used to describe things associated with the Middle Ages. Some scholars, especially those during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, vie

7、wed the Middle Ages as the Dark Ages, a time when civilization was mired in superstition and ignorance,The 3 Estates in the Middle Ages,The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age, but this ordering was breaking down. Clergy Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save

8、 everyones soul Nobles French chiefly spoken (after Norman Invasion), those who fight, purpose was to protectallow for all to work in peaceand provide justice Commoners English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them,Latin - church, schools French - court, castle Englis

9、h - commoners,The White Tower in London part of Williams legacy,Chartres Cathedral,feudalism,The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800-1100) Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm. In return, the vassals received pro

10、tection from roving bandits. Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord. Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.,Chivalry,A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of

11、manners and morals The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to God his lord his lady Chivalric ideals include. benevolence (acts of kindness) brotherly love politeness,The Church,Provided guidance through well known commandments: Seven Deadly Sins Pride (vanity) Greed Wrath (a

12、nger) Envy Gluttony Sloth (laziness) Lust,The Wheel of Fortune,The medieval philosophy that fate is capricious (constantly changing). One minute you could be up and then the next minute youre down. Believed to be turned by the goddess Fortuna (Fate). Notice again the mixture of pagan and Christian b

13、eliefs.,The Ptolemaic Universe,The pervading philosophy of the Middle Ages. Also known as the “Geocentric Model”, meaning that the universe is centered on the earth. People of the Medieval period loved order! Remember the Three Estates, the Seven Deadly Sinsa place for everyone and everyone in that

14、place.,The Black Death,spreads along trade routes kills much of the population the plague outbreaks occur through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance,Paradoxically, the Plague provides for continued growth in cities Afterwards, hundreds of new jobs available Many debts “died off” with creditors

15、 also contributed to societys culture,Literature During the Medieval Period,Languages,Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church, which dominated Europe The Church was the only source of education Thus, Latin was a common language for Medieval writings.,Authors,Catholic clerics were the int

16、ellectual center of society in the Middle Ages, and it is their literature that was produced in the greatest quantity. A notable amount of Medieval literature is anonymous. Medieval authors often tended to re-tell and embellish stories they heard or read rather than invent new stories.,Use of Allego

17、ry,An allegory is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal. (example: Animal Farm where the animals represent the Communist Party) Much of Medieval literature relied on allegory to convey the morals the author had in mind while writing-representations of abstrac

18、t qualities, events, and institutions are thick in much of the literature of this time.,The Ideal of Courtly Love,This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord. The knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his

19、liege lord. She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission,The knights love for the lady inspires him to do great deeds, in order to be worthy of her love or to win her favor.,“Courtly love was not between husband and wife because it was an idealized sort of relationship that could

20、 not exist within the context of real life Medieval marriages. In the Middle Ages, marriages amongst the nobility were typically based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than on love.,Chivalry,Chivalry is the code of conduct observed by a knight. It is a set of principles they live by. Attrib

21、utes of Chivalry: honor, courtly love, protecting others who cannot protect themselves,A quest is a heros journey towards a goal. The objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and the overcoming of many obstacles. The heros must obtain something, or someone, by the quest and with this object return home.,Characteristics of Medieval Literature,Heroism from both Germanic and Christ