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英国文学史及选读知识要点I

Part I The Anglo-Saxon Period(449-1066)I Background449 the Teutons ( the Jutes, the Anglos, the Saxons)II LiteratureThe literature of this period falls into two divisions—pagan and ChristianTwo Anglo-saxon Christian poets:Caedmon (凯德蒙,公元7世纪盎各鲁-萨克逊基督教诗人)who lived in the latter half of the 7th century and who wrote a poetic Paraphrase of the Bible.Cynewulf(基涅武甫,盎各鲁――萨克逊诗人,生活在公元9世纪,其古英语诗稿于10世纪被发现,有《埃琳娜》,《使徒们的命运》,《基督升天》和《朱莉安娜》), the author of poems on religious subjectsIII The Song of Beowulf( Beowulf, 公元7-8世纪之交开始流传于民间的同名史诗中的主人公,曾与水怪,火龙搏斗)Status: England’s national epicWritten at the beginning of the tenth centuryComposed much earlierLength:3182The whole song is essentially pagan in spirit and matter.Features : alliteration; metaphors; understatementSubject matterPart II The Anglo-Norman Period (1066—1350)I historical background: The Norman ConquestII. The LiteratureThe literature which they brought to England is remarkable for its bright, romantic tales of love and adventure.III. Romance1. Romance was the prevailing form of literature in feudal England.2. Definition and features(理解)IV. Sir Gawain and the Green Knighta late-14th century middle-English outlining an adventure of Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table.It was a verse romance of 2530 lines, considered as the best of Arthurian romances.Part III Geoffrey Chaucer(1340?-1400)I Major worksThe Romaunt of the Rose《玫瑰传奇》is a translation from a French poem.His masterpiece: The Canterbury TalesII Contributions1. Chaucer—the forerunner of Renaissanc e2. Chaucer –a master of realism3 Chaucer—“father of English poetry”①In contradistinction to the alliterative verse of the Anglo-Saxon poetry, Chaucer chose the metrical form which laid the foundation of the English tonic-syllabic verse.②He introduced from France the rhymed couplet (two successive lines of verse equal in length and with thyme) of iambic pentameter which is to be called later the heroic coupletIII the Canterbury tales1. statusThe Canterbury Tales is Chaucer's masterpiece and one of the monumental works in English literature2. It contains(1) a general prologue (over 800 lines)(2) 24 tales(3) separate prologues and “the links that accompany some of the tales”Part IV The RenaissanceI.The RenaissanceFeatures① A thirsting curiosity for the classical literature.②The keen interest in the activities of humanity.Essence: humanismII. The 16th century EnglandIII. The Renaissance Literature in EnglandFigures1/ Thomas More (1478-1535, 托马斯·莫尔)—the Forerunner of utopian socialism Utopia《乌托邦》(1516)2/ France Bacon (1561-1626,弗朗西斯·培根)--the scientist, philosopher and essayist 3/ Thomas Wyatt (1503?-1542, 托玛斯·维亚特)--a poet, the first to introduce the sonnet into English literature4/. Edmund Spenser (1552-1599,埃德蒙·斯宾塞),a great poetThe Faerie Queene《仙后》(1590)5/ Christopher Marlowe(1564-1593)—the greatest pioneer of English drama Contributions:He reformed the genre of drama in England and perfected the language and verse of dramatic works.He made blank verse the principal vehicle of expression in drama6/ Prose writersJohn Lily(1553-1606,约翰·黎利) Eupheus(尤弗伊斯)gives the term of euphuismThomas Loge (1558-1625,托马斯·洛奇)Thomas Deloney (1543-1600,托马斯·德罗尼)Thomas Nashe(1567-1601,托马斯·纳西)William Shakespeare (1564-1616)I. status: the greatest of all English authors; one of those rare geniuses of mankind; landmark in the history of world culture; one of the first founders of realism; a masterhand at realistic portrayal of human characters and relationsthe greatest dramatist in human history and the supreme poet of the English language—he wrote poems and playsII works①Poemssonnets: 1542 narrative poemsVenus and Adonis 《维纳斯和阿多尼斯》The Rape of Lucrece《鲁克莉斯受辱记》②plays(38)tragediesRomeo and Juliet4 great tragedies (Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth )comediesMid- Summer’ Night’s DreamhistoriesIII.Selected reading①Hamlet②Sonnet 18Francis Bacon (1561-1626)I title:Philosopher, scientist(the inventor of scientific method); Statesman Jurist(法学家); essayistII. worksBacon’s works may be divided into three classes:a. the philosophical works:Advancement of Learning (1605, in English)Novum Organum (1620, in Latin)De Augmentis (1623, in latin)b. the literary works:Essays( 1597,1612, 1625)c. the professional works:Maxism of the LawReading on the Statute of Uses 用益权法Part V The 17th Century The period of Revolution and RestorationI. Social Background1. The 17th century was one of the most tempestuous[动荡的] periods inEnglish history.2.In 1642, the civil war (English revolution/ Puritan revolution) broke outbetween Charles I and the parliament.3. The restoration (1660)4.The glorious revolution(1688)II. Puritan and PuritanismIII. Literature of the 17th century1.The revolution periodGeneral Characteristics①The Revolution Period was one of confusion in literature due to the breakingup of the old ideals. The Puritans believed in simplicity of life. They disapproved of the sonnets and the love poetry written in the previous period.②The Puritan influence in general tended to suppress literary art. Yet this hard,stern sect produced a great poet, John Milton, and a great prose writer, John Bunyan.③Literature in the Puritan Age expressed sadness. Even its brightest hourswere followed by gloom and pessimism.④John Milton, whose work would glorify any age and people, and in his workthe indomitable(不屈服的)revolutionary spirit found its noblest expression.For this reason, this period is also called Age of Milton.⑤The main literary form of the period was poetry. Besides Milton, there weretwo other groups of poets, the Metaphysical Poets and the Cavalier Poets.2. Literature of the Restorationgeneral characteristics① a sudden breaking away from old standards②Restoration literature is deeply influenced by French classical taste. It is a period of French influence.rimed couplets-blank verseThe unitiesA more regular constructionThe presentations of types rather than individuals③restoration comediesRestoration created a literature of its own that was often witty and clever, but on the whole immoral and cynical. The most popular genre was that of comedy whose chief aim was to entertain the licentious aristocrats. The comedies are coarse in language and their view of the relations between men and women is immoral and dishonest.④John Dryden (1631-1670)critic, poet, and playwrightthe most distinguished literary figure of the time(一)John Donne (1573-1631)I ①The founder of the Metaphysical School and very influential upon modern writers②a preacher famous for his magnificent sermons at his timeIII Major WorksEarly works: Songs and Sonnets( written before 1600, 55 love poems)The Flea 《跳蚤》Song: Go and Catch a Falling StarWoman’s Constancy 《女人的忠贞》A Valediction : of Weeping《别离辞:哭泣》A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning《别离辞:节哀》late works: Religious poems and sermons(二) John Milton(1608-1674)I status ①A great puritan poet②his work would glorify any age or people, and in him the indomitable puritan spirit finds the noblest expression.II Milton’s WorksThree literary periods:①early period: poems written in Cambridge and at Horton②middle-aged period: prose pamphletsAreopagitica(Speech for the Liberty of UnlicensedPrinting,1644 )Eikonoklaste s ( Image Breaker, 1649)Defense for the English People (1650)③the period of his old age :great poemsParadise Lost (1658-1664)Paradise Regained (1671)Samson Agonistes (1671)III Paradise Lost①status:•the only great epic since Beowulf•one of the greatest poems of the English language②ThemeThe theme is “ the fall of man,” i.e. man's disobedience and the loss of paradise , with its cause –Satan .(三) John Bunyan1628—1688I status•He received spiritual independence from the Reformation•the chief Puritan writer of prose•He gave us the only great allegory ——The Pilgrim’s ProgressII The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678)①It is about Christian’s journey from his hometown “the city of Destruction” to the “Celestial City”, and his experi ences and adventures on his journey.It depicts the pilgrimage of a human soul in search of Salvation.②It was written in the form of allegory and dream.③Christian’s journey in 10 stages (scenes)Slough of DespondThe House of InterpreterThe Hill of DifficultyHouse BeautifulValley of HumiliationThe valley of the Shadow of DeathVanity FairDoubting CastleThe Delectable MountainsCelestial City④vanity fair•Vanity Fair is one of the most remarkable passages of The Pilgrim’s Progress•“Vanity”means “emptiness” or “worthless”, hence•the fair is an allegory of worldliness & the corruption of the religious life through the attractions of the world•the great critical realist of the 19th century, W. M. Thackeray, employed “Vanity Fair”as the title for his masterpiece that gives a comprehensive satirical picture of the aristocratic bourgeois society of 19th century EnglandPart VI The 18th century The Age of Enlightenment in England(the age of reason)I. Historical backgroundThe EnlightenmentVersion 1: p 165-166II. Literature1. NeoclassicismwritersJohn Dryden(1631-1700)Alexander Pope(1660-1744)散文《论批评》An Essay on Criticism讽刺史诗《夺发记》The Rape of the LockSamuel Johnson (1709-1784)《英文大词典》A Dictionary of the English Language2. Essays•Joseph Addison (1672-1719)•Richard Steele (1667-1745)The TatlerThe Spectator3.modern English novelWritersDaniel Defoe (1661-1731) Robinson CrusoeHenry Fielding (1707-1754) The History of Tom Jones, A FoundlingT. G. Smollet (1721-1771) satirical novelsSamuel Richardson (1689-1761) PamelaOliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) The Vicar of WakefieldJonathan Swift (1667-1745) Gulliver's TravelsLawrence Sterne (1713-1768) Sentimental JourneyRobinson Crusoe was one of the forerunners of the English 18th century realistic novel. But it was Henry fielding and Tobias George Smollet who became the real founders of the genre of the bourgeois realistic novel in England and Europe.4. Drama•Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774)She stoops to Conquer•Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816)the Rivalsthe School for Scandal5. SentimentalismNovelistsSamuel Richardson Pamela帕米拉Laurence Sterne Sentimental JourneyPoetsThomas Gray (1716-1771) Elegy Written in a Country ChurchyardOliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) The Deserted VillageGeorge Crabbe (1754-1832) The Village6 Gothic novelwritersHorace Walpole (1727-1797)The Castle of Otranto奥特伦托城堡Ann Radcliff (1764-1823)The Mysteries of Udolpho 尤道弗之谜7. pre-romanticismthe poets•William Blake (1757-1821)•Robert Burns (1759-1796)(一)Daniel Defoe (1661-1731)works1.PamphletThe Shortest Way with the Dissenters2. Fiction (picaresque novel)Robin Crusoe (1719)Captain Singleton (1720)Duncan Campbell (1720)Memoirs of Cavalier (1720)Colonel Jack (1722)Moll Flanders (1722)Journal of the Plague Year (1722)Account of Jonathan Wild (1725)The History of the Devil (1726)(二)Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)I ①A satirist②The supreme prose master in the first part of the 18th century is Swift. II The works of Swift:The Battle of the Books书的战争(1704)A Tale of A Tub一只桶的故事(1704)The Journal to Stella斯特拉日记(1710-1713)A Modest Proposal一个温和的建议(1729)Drapier’s Letters布商的信(1724,1725)Gulliver’s Travels格列佛游记(1726)III Gulliver’s Travelsfour voyages of Lemuel GulliverThe first part : LilliputThe second part: BrobdingnagThe last part: the land of HouyhnhnmsThe third part: LaputaIV A Modest Proposal (1729)A Modest Proposal is the best and most famous political satire of Swift.(三)Joseph Addison(1672-1719)Richard Steele (1672-1729)1. The Tatlerstarted by_______containing: news,gossip,stories and jokespublished ______times a week_______small pagesrun about ______years2.The SpectatorPublished every morningContaining only familiar essaysform: The spectator was supposed to be edited by a small club run by Mr Spectator, including mainly Sir Roger de Coverley and several others.Content: comment on books; earnest efforts after reform; Character sketches of sir Roger3. The purpose4. the meaning and influence of the T and the S5. The style of AddisonP 2306. The literary genre of essayp228 L7-L13(四)Henry Fielding(1707-1754)I chiefly a novelistthen a dramatistthe founder of English realistic novel“ Father of English novel”II works①The History of the Adventure of Joseph Andrews and His Friend Mr. Adams1742《约瑟夫·安德鲁斯》a parody of Richardson’s Pamela②Jonathan Wild, the Great 1743《大伟人乔纳森·威尔德传》the story of a rogue③The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling 1749《弃儿汤姆琼斯的历史》masterpiece④The History of Amelia 1751《艾米利亚》(五)Thomas Gray(1716-1771)Elegy written in a Country Churchyard①Type: elegy (a somber poem or song that praises or laments the dead)②Key dates: Gray began writing the poem in 1742, put it aside for a while, and finished it in 1750. He was meticulous: everything he wrote had to be just right. He believed that one imprecise word could ruin an en tire work. Consequently, In “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” he labored on until all the words were right③setting: Churchyard at Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire, England. Gray was buried in that churchyard.④format: four-line stanzas in iambic pentameter.In each stanza, the first line rhymes with the third and the second rhymes with the fourth.⑤status: one of the greatest poems in the English language.It knits structure, rhyme scheme, imagery and message into a brilliant work that confers on Gray everlasting fame.⑥school: sentimental poetrythe graveyard school(六)Oliver Goldsmith(1728-1774)I ①an Irish Writer②a representative of Sentimentalism③One of the most versatile of authors and made distinguished contributions in several literary forms.II Works• A novelThe vicar of Wakefield 1761-1762威克菲尔德的牧师/威克菲牧师传•comediesShe stoops to Conquer 1773 委曲求全Good-natured Man 1768 好性情的人• A series of essaysThe Citizen of the World 1762世界公民•Poems:The Traveler 1764 旅行者The Deserted Villiage1770 荒村(七)Richard Brinsley Sheridan(1751-1816)I①the most important English playwright of the 18th century.②His plays, especially The Rivals and The School for Scandal, are generally regarded as important links between the masterpieces of Shakespeare and those of Bernard Shaw.II. Dramas of Sheridan•The Rivals情敌1775•The School for Scandal造谣学校1777The Critic1779(七)William Blake (1757-1827)I the most independent and the most original romantic poet The poet of inspirationThe mystic and transcendental poetThe most extraordinary literary geniusII works1. Poetical Sketches (1783)a collection of youthful poems.Joy, laughter, love and harmony are the prevailing notes.2. Songs of Innocence (1789)3. Songs of Experience (1794)III selected reading(八)Robert Burns(1759-1796)I①the greatest of Scottish poetMost of his poems and songs were written in Scotch dialect. Burns had a deep knowledge and an excellent mastery of the old Scotch song tradition.②a farmer poet.Burns was a plowman. He came from the people and wrote for the people. He was the people’s poet.③a pre-romantic poetIIselectedreading。

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