英国文学整理

1、Chapter One The Anglo-Saxon period (Old English Literature)Historical BackgroundCelts 400B.C-under the rule of Roman Empire 50B.C-Anglo-Saxon 450A.D-Norman Invasion 1066 A.DLiteratureTwo highlights in the development of the Anglo-Saxon literature1. Northumbrian School1) Center: the monasteries and a

2、bbeys in the kingdom of Northumbrian 2) Figures:A. Caedmon流派：Northumbrian School作品：Paraphrase(Bible in verse form)评价：the first Anglo-Saxon poet(from abbeys)B. Venerable Bade流派：Northumbrian School作品：The Ecclesiastical History of the English People评价：a monk; “Father of English History”; covers the who

3、le length of early English history, full of religious stories and miracles.2. King Alfred 1) Figure: King Alfred(king of Wessex)2) 流派：Wessex LiteratureA. Religious group(biblical themes)B. Secular group(the harness of circumstances and the sadness of the human lot)3) 贡献：A. Translate Latin books into

4、 West Saxon dialectB. Compile the Anglo-Saxon chronicle编年史C. Form a style of Anglo-Saxon proseBeowulf (Anglo-Saxon poetry)类型：Long epic poetry(heroic poetry)Features: 1) 3183 lines, an Oral Epic, recited in court, handed down in generations until finally it was recorded by certain poet2) A mixture of

5、 history and legend3) Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English4) First “post-classical” (古典时代后)European epic5) The “historical” events occurred before 600 AD6) A story of a hero, Beowulf, mixing Pagan and ChristianThemes：to show how the primitive people fight against the forces of the natural w

6、orld under a wise and mighty leader.Chapter Two The Norman PeriodHistorical backgroundThe Norman Conquest in 1066. Duke William of Normandy claimed himself William I, king of England (the battle of hastings)Kings-Barons-Knights, a feudal system of hierarchy was formedLanguageUpper class: French and

7、LatinLower class: Anglo-Saxon Dialect/ Old English Literature1. Religious literatureAbout Christian teaching: personal salvation, Biblical story, putting emphasis on the moral and spiritual responsibilities of the individual rather than on his ethnical and social responsibilities. 2. Sedular literat

8、ure(including Romance, and some poems or popular ballads)Roman骑士文学（a type of literature that was very popular in the Middle Ages）1. 概述：1) Quite popular in Middle Ages2) It is about the life and adventure undertaken by a knight3) It reflected the spirit of chivalry. The content of Romance: love, chiv

9、alry and religion2. Subject MattersIn subject matters, romance naturally falls under three categories:1) The matter of France: a number of romances deal with the exploits of Charlemagne the Great and Roland, a French national hero in the 8th century. The most well known piece is Chanson de Roland2)

10、The matter of Rome: some romances deal with Alexander the Great and the siege of Troy3) The matter of Britain: there are many cycles of Arthurian Romances, among which are tales about Sir Gawain, Launcelot, Merlin, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the death of King Arthur3. 主要作品Sir Gawain and the G

11、reen Knight类型：Romance概述：1) Features: vivid portrayal; unified and exciting plot; mixture of Anglo-Saxon poetry; alliterative verse with metrical verse; three hunting scenes2) Theme: ideal of feudal knighthoodChapter Three Chaucer AgesHistorical Background1. Chaucer and William Langland and the write

12、r of Sir Gawain were contemporaries. But Chaucer was such an important writer in English literature. He was heralding the coming of a new age.2. The Hundred Years War between England and France.-The English won and they controlled large French territory. An awakening of national consciousness in Eng

13、land.3. The peasant uprising of 1381-suppressed; William Langland and John Wycliff expressed the peoples hatred for the corrupt church and governmentLiteratureJohn Wycliff1. The first figure to revolt against the Church2. Translated the Bible into Standard English3. “Father of English prose”William

14、Langland代表作品：Piers Plowman作品评价：1) an allegory that gives a realistic picture of 14th century English2) the form of a dream vision, a popular medieval poetic form, in which the author presents the story under the guise of the poet having dreamed it, using alliteration3) a picture of feudal England4)

15、the exposure of ruling class5) political and church situation6) conditions of peasants 7) search for truthGeoffrey Chaucer1. 文学成就(three periods of Chaucers works and the chief poem of each period)A. Imitation of France: The book of the DuchessB. Imitation of the Italian literature: Troilus and Gryse

16、yde ; The parliament of Fowls; The House of FameC. The period of original creation: The Canterbury Tales2. 人物贡献评价A. Forerunner of humanism, and English realistic literature(Father of English poetry)B. He introduced from Italy and France the rhymed stanza of various types especially heroic coupletC.

17、The first great poet who wrote in English language, thus establishing English as the literary languageD. He did much in making the London dialect the foundation for modern English E. Touches of mild irony or light satire3. The Canterbury Tales1） 类型： Couplet2） 概述：A. Comprehensive literary formsThe ta

18、les,22 in verse, two in prose, cover all the major types of medieval literature: courtly romance, folk tale, beast fable, story of travel, adventure, saints life, allegorical tale, sermonA comprehensive picture of Chaucers time and people of different ranks and occupations.B. Dramatic structureA fas

19、cinating accord between the tellers and their stories, and overtones from what we see in Prologue and what is revealed in storiesLink: the interchanges among pilgrims connecting the stories; Prologue and Link are to connect the stories.Chapter Four The Fifteenth Century (still Romance)Historical Bac

20、kground1. The Hundred Years War: King Henry VI: all English territory in France was lost2. The War of Roses: civil war fought between the two great families, both of which claimed the right to the English throne. House of Lancaster VS House of York3. The discovery of America and the new sea routes4.

21、 Reformation of the ChurchPopular Ballads1. 特点: A short anonymous poem that tells a story, often sung with the company of music and dance1) The beginning is often abrupt2) Strong dramatic elements3) Often told through dialogue and action4) The theme is often tragic5) Simplicity6) The ballad meter民谣体

22、 is used2. 概述1) Originally narrative poems in oral form 2) Didnt recorded until late 18th and 19th centuries, Bishop Percy compiled Reliques of Ancient English PoetryThomas Malory流派：Romance作品：The Death of Arthur评价：1) Compiled together the stories of King Arthur and his knights2) Contributed to the d

23、evelopment of English prose3) Both Robin Hood and King Arthur symbolize the sentimental looking back at medieval spirit of chivalryEarly English Plays1. Mystery play: based on stories from the Bible2. Miracle play: based on lives of Christian Saints3. Morality play: to teach and illustrate religious

24、 and moral doctrinesChapter Five The English Renaissance (Modern English)Historical background1. The reign of Queen Elizabeth -England enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity.2. Defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588-greatly strengthened the power of monarch and accelerated the awakening of national con

25、sciousness-gradually became a mighty naval power3. Enclosure movementRising of the burgher class-discovery of the new sea routes-the demands for wool increased-turned vast arable land into pastures-large numbers of peasants became landless men4. Humanism人文主义the ideal of Renaissance. The welfare of h

26、uman being is very important. It emphasized the worth of life in this world and the dignity of human beingLiteratureEdmund Spenser (poet)1. 流派类型：humanist2. 作品：1) The Shepheardes CalenderA. A pastoral poem田园诗歌B. Main themes: love, poetry and religionC. Set the pastoral fashion in English literature2)

27、 The Faerie Queene A. An unfinished allegorical romanceB. Theme: to fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline3. 评价：1) “Poets Poet, the greatest poet of English Renaissance2) Takes up the epic form, and unities the classical and Christian traditions with Renaissance ideas3

28、) Contribute to the form an technique of poetry composition4) Nine-line Spenserian stanza5) The first one to skillfully use modern English and distinguish it from Chaucers middle EnglishChristopher Marlowe1. 流派：University Wit2. 作品:1) The plays: important ones of 6 plays: Tamburlaine; The Tragic Hist

29、ory of Doctor Faustus; The Jew of Malta and Eduard II2) The non-dramatic poetry: Hero and Leander, ”the passionate shepherd to his love”3) The verse translation: Ovids Amores3. 作品和作者评价：A. Tamburlaine: Marlowe voiced the supreme desire of the man of the Renaissance for infinite power and authorityB.

30、Dr. Faustus: from German legend. It celebrates the human passion for knowledge, power and happiness.C. Marlowe perfected the blank verse and brought vitality and grandeur into blank verse with his “mighty lines/ magic lines”D. His creation of the Renaissance hero for English drama. Such hero is alwa

31、ys individualistic and full of ambition.William Shakespeare1. 作品:1) History play(period of experimentation; early years): King Henry VI; Richard III; Two gentlemen of Verona; Loves Labour Lost2) Period of rapid growth: Midsummer Nights Dream, Romeo and Juliet; The Merchant of Venice; the two parts o

32、f Henry VI; As You Like It; Julie Caesar3) Period of groom: Hamlet; Othello4) Period of restored serenity: The Winters Tale; The Tempest2. 评价：1) Represent the trend of history in getting voice to the desires and aspirations of the people2) Shakespeares humanism: reflect the spirit of his age; the hu

33、manist outlook prevails in his comedies as well as his late tragedies. Early-optimistic; late-pessimistic 3) Shakespeares characterization: Shakespeare characters have many aspects or dimensions true of the common sense of humanity4) Shakespeares originality: his plays are original because he instal

34、led into the old materials a new spirit that gives new life to his play5) Shakespeare as a great poet. He was well versed in writing lyrical verse 抒情诗as well as poetry of great passion and agony6) Master of English languageChapter Six The Seventeenth Century (Bourgeois Revolution and Restoration per

35、iod)Historical Background1. English Bourgeois RevolutionDuring the reign of Elizabeth, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and fast development. When Charles I came to the throne, relations between the monarch and Parliament, which mainly represented the interests of the burgher class , became wors

36、e. The burghers wanted free trade but the king controlled trade and imposed heavy taxes on merchants. Charles I raised money by granting or selling monopolies, which is one of the causes of English bourgeois. Another cause of bourgeois revolution was the persecution of the Puritans. The Puritans wer

37、e Christians who wanted to make reforms in the Anglican Church. They were opposed to Charles I and demanded more freedom of religion. Puritanism represented the interests of the bourgeois.King VS The Parliament(has the support of the capitalists and businessmen, and also the Puritans)2. Restoration

38、PeriodCharles I was beheaded. After the civil war, the Parliament was in power. Cromwell became the Lord Protector. After the death of Cromwell, the bourgeoisie invited the son of Charles I to be the king of England.-James II(was driven out)-William Orange signed “The bill of Rights” which greatly r

39、estricted the power of king. -constitutional monarchyThe revolution period is also called puritan age, because the English revolution was carried out under a religious cloak.LiteratureThe King James Bible of 1611The Old Testament originally written in Hebrew; the New Testament is originally written

40、in Greek.Francis Bacon代表作品：Of Great Place, Of Studies评价：studied in Cambridge; generally regarded as the chief figure in English prose in the first half of the 17th century and his essays began the long tradition of the English essay in the history of English literature.Feature of works: abstract; hi

41、s works are known for conciseness, brevity, simplicity and forcefulness.Praised by Marx as the ”the progenitor of English materialism”Metaphysical poets and Cavalier poets1. 简介Two schools of poets during the reign of Charles I: Metaphysical poets and Cavalier poets 1) Metaphysical poetryA. Character

42、istics of metaphysical poetry:Rebellion against the conventional imagery of the Elizabethan lyricPoems are intellectually complexIrregular rhythms, stanzasColloquial, condensed language, give and take of actual speechUse of metaphysical conceit（妙喻）: ingenious, strained; links images from different c

43、ontexts; intellectual; subtle argumentComplexity of thought, frequent use of paradoxB. Representatives: John Donne(inventor); John Milton; John Dryden; John BunyanC. Main themes: love, death, religion2) Cavalier poetryA. Characteristics of cavalier poetryCourtliness, urbanity and polishReflected the

44、 extravagance and moral looseness of court lifeB. Main themes: love and “Carpe Diem”C. Representatives: Ben Johnson (poet, playwright)2. John Donne1） 派别：Metaphysical2） 代表作品: The Songs and Sonnets; Death, Be Not Proud; The Flea; A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning3） 评价：A leading figure of the metaphys

45、ical schoolB two stages of life: one courtier, the second Dr. John Donne, Dean of St. Pauls CathedralC most striking feature: frequent use of conceitD best-known lyrics: Song and Sonnets; Love is the basic theme. Donne holds that the nature of love is the union of soul and bodyE love lyrics may be c

46、lassified into two groups: negative attitude towards love: cynical tone to satirize womens inconstancy positive attitude towards love: expresses his genuine sentiments of love, and even sanctifies love as something holy3. John Milton1) 派别: Metaphysical ; Chief Puritan poet2) 代表作品：Three epics(long po

47、em): Paradise Lost(long epic and blank verse); Paradise Regained(long epic); Samson Agonistes On His Blindness3) 评价：A. Milton is a great revolutionary poet of the 17th century. He is also an outstanding political pamphleteer of the Revolution period. He dedicated himself to the revolutionary cause.

48、He has exerted far-reaching influence on the later English poetry. Many English poets have drawn inspiration from himB. Milton is a great stylist. His poetry is of a grand style. He has made a life-long study of classical and biblical literature. His poetry is noted for sublimity of thought and maje

49、sty of expressionC. Milton is a great master of blank verse. He is the forerunner to introduce blank verse into non-dramatic poetry. His blank verse is full of poetic imagination and never monotonous.4. John Dryden(poet, dramarist, critic ,prose writer, satrist)1) 派别：metaphysical; neo-classicism2) 代

50、表作品：play: All for Love poems: Absolom and Achitophel 3) 评价：A. His poetry is characterized by a witty satirical style, although he did write some religious verseB. One of the leading neo-calssical(Augustan) poets along with Swift, Addison and Pope. In an attempt to move away from the work of the Eliz

51、abethan poets, they drew inspiration from Roman poetsC. Father of English Criticism: An Essay of Dramatic PoesyD. Forerunner of the English Classical school of literature in the next century, the advocate of neoclassicism that upheld reason, law and order in literature5. John Bunyan1) 派别：metaphysica

52、l, chief Puritan writer of prose2) 代表作品: The Pilgrims progress(allegory and drama)3) 评价A. Puritan wirter whose style was modeled after of the English BibleB. His language is concrete and vividC. The Pilgrims Progress is the most successful religious allegoryD. His miserable life as a poor man and hi

53、s religious fervor drove him to have day-dreams oftenDifferent aspects between the literature of Elizabethan Period and the literature of the Revolution Period1. The revolution period was of confusion in literature. English literature of the period witnesses a decline and degeneration, witnessed a c

54、onflict between the two antagonistic campes. It is different from the literature of Elizabethan period in three aspects:2. E-literature had a marked unity and the feeling of patriotism and devotion to the Queen, but in R-period, all this was changed. The king became the open enemy of the people, and

55、 country was divided by the struggle for political and religious liberty. So literature was as divided in spirit as were the struggling parties3. E-literature was generally inspiring. It throbbed with youth, hope and vitality. Literature in the Puritan Age expressed age and sadness.4. E-literature w

56、as intensely romantic, but in literature of the Puritan period, we cannot find romantic ardor.Chapter Seven The Eighteenth Century (The Age of Enlightenment in England；Age of Reason)Historical background1. The constitutional monarchy-Parliament became the actual leader of the country-two parties(Tor

57、i and Whig)2. England grew from a second rate country to a powerful country by defeating other European powers esp. France3. Some special features:1) Political writings2) Newspaper and journals: newspapers and journals become the means for people of the time of the upper class to utter political opinions 3) Coffeehouse4) The new morality: Age of Reason; Reason in England was a tool for bourgeois to consolidate its rule5) Science and technology: Newton6) The French influence: prose, novel, neo-classicism4. The 18th