A Short History of English literatureTel: 6573434E-mail: louiseliu13@Contents:Chapter 1 Early and Medieval English Literature (449-1485)Chapter 2 The English Renaissance (1485-1625)Chapter 3 The Seventeenth Century (1625-1688):Chapter 4 The Eighteenth Century (1688-1798)Chapter 5 The Romantic Period (1798-1832)Chapter 6 The Victorian Age (1832-1901)Chapter 7 The Twentieth Century (1901-1999)Chapter 1 Early and Medieval Period (449-1485)Part 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066): PeriodOld English Literature: Old English PoetryBeowulf1. Genre: epicepic:2. Language:3. Length: 3,183 lines4. Importance:5. Story: about the adventures of a brave hero, Beowulf, in fighting against6. Major Themes:Part 2: The Medieval Period (1066-1485): PeriodThe Medieval English Literature1. Romance:(1) a narrative poem or prose about(2) The content is usu. about .(3) The language is simple and straightforward.e.g. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight2. Ballad:–A story told in , usu. in , with the lines rhymed; –Composed by during a long period of time and handed down from mouth to mouth –An important form of the Medieval English folk literature–Simple, plain languagee.g. The Geste of Robin Hood3. Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury T alesHis Life: (1340-1400)Literary career: 3 periodsHis masterpiece: The Canterbury Tales(1) Genre:(2) Language:(3) Characters: 29 pilgrims plus the host of an inn in London(4) Chaucer’s plan: 30 pilgrims, 4 stories each, altogether 120 stories(5) Structure:—: Occasion, Time, Sketches of the pilgrims, Purpose, Motivation,—24 tales, four of which left unfinished—Separate prologues to each tale with links, comments, and quarrels in between(6) Metrical form:(7) Content:★Comments on Chaucer:Chapter 2 The English Renaissance (1485-1625)I. Historical Background:1. The T udor Dynasty founded by King in 1485: a transitional period from tocapitalism(1) Henry VII: (1485-1509)(2) Henry VIII: (1509-1547)(3) Edward VI: (1547-1553)(4) Mary I: (1553-1558)(5) Elizabeth I: (1558-1603)2. The introduction of into England by William Caxton:3. Religious Reformation:In 1532, Henry VIII broke with Roman Catholic Church andestablished . He declared himself as the Supreme Head of the Church instead of the Pope in Rome.II. Introduction to the English Renaissance:Renaissance1.The Renaissance, which means , refers to the period between the centuries,and marks a transition from the .2. It is an intellectual as well as a literary movement that first started in in the 14th century andgradually spread all over Europe.3. It was characterized by the emergence of and a revival of interest in .4. This movement aimed to get rid of those old feudalist ideas and introduce new ideas that expressed theinterests of .Humanism1. of the Renaissance2. It emphasizes .3. Humanists voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of ,but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders.4. They also expressed their rebellious spirit againstⅢ. English Literature in the Renaissance Period:A. English Poetry in the Renaissance PeriodEdmund Spenser (1552-1599):His masterpiece:Genre: an epic dedicated to Queen ElizabethStructure: a long poem planned in 12 books, of which he finished only 6The Spenserian S tanza:B. English Prose in the Renaissance Period1. The King James Bible of 1611:The–39 Books, written in the language between 1400 and 400 B.C.–About the creation of the world, the origin of the Jewish people, its history, religion, law, and poetry.The–27 Books, written in the language between 40 and 100 A.D.–About Jesus Christ’s life, his deeds and teachings2. Thomas More (1478-1535)His life:His masterpiece:UtopiaGenre:Language: written in in 1516 and first translated into English in 1551Content:BookⅠ: about the conditions in England and the miserable life of the English peopleBookⅡ: a detailed description of the ideal country of Utopia in the midst of an unknown sea.3. Francis Bacon (1561-1626)★Life and Career:His major works:Bacon’s masterpiece: Essays (essays in 1625):Of StudiesContent:Famous quotations from Bacon:1. Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.2. Some books are to be tasted; others to swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.3. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.4. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.5. Wives are young men's mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men's nurses.Comments on Bacon:C. English Drama in the Renaissance PeriodChristopher Marlowe (1564-1593)His life:His major plays: TamburlaineThe Jew of Malta(Marlowe’s masterpiece)Genre:Source:Theme:His Literary Achievement★William Shakespeare (1564-1616):His Life:Dramatic Career:Literary works:a. Non-dramatic Poems:-Two long narrative poems:-154 sonnets: 1—126:127—152:153—154:Sonnet: a poem of lines in withShāll Ì / cōmpàre/ thèe tō/ ā sùm/ mēr’s daỳ/?Thōu àrt/ mōre lòve/ lÿ ànd / mōre tèm/ pēràte./Sonnet 181. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s d ay? a2. Thou art more lovely and more temper ate. b3. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of M ay, a4.And summer’s lease hath all too short a d ate. b5. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven sh ines,c6. And often is his gold complexion d immed; d7. And every fair from fair sometime decl ines, c8.By chance or nature’s changing course untr immed; d9. But thy eternal summer shall not f ade, e10. Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st; f11. Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his sh ade, e12. When in eternal lines to time thou gr ow’st. f13. So long as men can breath, or eyes can s ee, g14. So long lives this, and this gives life to th ee. g Conclusion:Features of Shakespearean sonnet:b. Dramas:His great comedies:His great tragedies:Othello Setting: V enice and Cyprus in the Middle AgesDramatis personae:Othello: a V enetian general, a MoorDesdemona: daughter of a V enetian senatorCassio: Othello’s lieutenantRoderigo: a soldier in love with DesdemonaIago: an old soldier Emilia: Iago’s wifePlot: The story is taken from . is in love with and they are secretly married. The latter’s father brings a lawsuit against Othello before the Duke. At this moment the Duke has got news that the Turkish army is about to Cyprus. Desdemona’s fath er agrees their marriage only if Othello is going to Cyprus. Othello takes his bride to Cyprus, and orders Iago and his wife Emilia to Desdemona while he is busy. Iago is of Cassio who has been promoted to be Othello’s lieutenant. He uses Roderigo to fight with Cassio after the latter has got drunk. Othel lo deprives Cassio of his new rank. Iago persuades Cassio to ask Desdemona to in his favor with Othello, which she warmly does. Meanwhile Iago suggests to Othello that Cassio is Desdemona’s . He gets a from his wife Emilia, which has been given to Desdemona by Othello as a . Somehow Desdemona carelessly it in her room and Emilia picks up and gives it to her husband. Iago then throws the handkerchief to ’s bedroom. Cassio shows the handkerchief to Othello so that Othello beli eves in Iago’s story. He Desdemona in her bed in spite of her pleading. Emilia, learning the crime, tells the true story of the handkerchief and proves Desdemona’s innocence. Othello realizes his monstrous mistake, runs at Iago, wounds him, and then himself. Iago is punished, and Cassio is made governor of Cyprus.Theme:King LearSetting: Britain in the period of the BritonsDramatis personae:Lear: an old king of BritainGoneril: his eldest daughter Regan: his second daughter Cordelia: his youngest daughter Edmund, the illegitimate son of a courtierPlot:The story is taken from . King Lear divides his kingdom among three daughters according to their affection for him. He asks them which loves him most. win his trust by fine words. Disgusted with their flattery, says she loves her father but at the same time will love her future husband, so Lear is and gives her . Then Lear begins to live with his two elder daughters by turns. But the old man is treated and finally in a storm. Later, his youngest daughter, who has been married to the King of France, comes back with the French army to her sisters’ British army, but is and taken prisoner with Lear. By Edmund’s order Cordelia is , and Lear dies from . Goneril and Regan are both in love with Edmund. Out of jealousy Goneril Regan. Then she is afraid that her husband knows about her secret, so she kills herself. Finally Albany, who has not helped Goneril in her cruel treatment of Lear, becomes the king.Theme:MacbethSetting: Scotland and England in the 11th centuryDramatis personae:Duncan: King of ScotlandMalcolm: son of DuncanMacbeth: general of the King’s armyBanquo: general of the King’s armyMacduff, nobleman of ScotlandLady Macbeth: Macbeth’s wifePlot:The plot is based on Holinshed’s Chronicle of Scottish History. After a victorious campaign against rebels, Macbeth and Banquo return. On the way prophesy that Macbeth will be the thane of Cawdor, and hereafter and that ’s sons and grandsons will be kings though he himself is not. Before they arrive in the capital Macbeth is made thane of Cawdor. Macbeth believes the witches’ pro phesies and Duncan and Banquo and becomes the Scottish king. Duncan’s son Malcolm escapes to England where he gathers an army to his father’s death. Haunted by Banquo’s ghost, Macbeth goes to the witches who tell him to Macduff and that no one born of has the power to harm him and that he will never be till Birnam Wood shall move to Dunsinane. Learning that Macd uff has joined Malcolm’s army, Macbeth kills his wife and children. Meanwhile, goes mad. She is afraid of darkness and tries to wash from her hands the blood that her eyes see on them. Then she dies. Malcolm’s army attacks Macbeth; passing through Birnam Wood every man cuts a branch and marches on Dunsinane. Macduff, who was born of a , kills Macbeth. Malcolm becomes king of Scotland. Theme:HamletImportance:Setting: Elsinore, Denmark in the Middle AgesPoetic form:Dramatis personae:Hamlet:Claudius:Gertrude:Polonius:Laertes:Ophelia:Horatio:Fortinbras:Plot & Structure:Act IScene 1: Ghost appears to Horatio and guards.Scene 2: The main characters are introduced. Hamlet is upset over his mother's over-hasty to Claudius. Scene 3: Laertes and Polonius give advice to and convince her to stop seeing Hamlet.Scene 4: After Horatio has informed Hamlet of the appearance of the ghost, he has gone to see the ghost for himself.Scene 5: The ghost informs Hamlet that Hamlet must avenge his father's murder. Hamlet must figure out a way to avenge his father without getting killed or arrested.Act IIScene 1: Hamlet pretends he is "crazy" and full of madness.Scene 2: Claudius has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Hamlet.Act IIIScene 1: Hamlet enters the room giving his famous soliloquy, " ".Hamlet's speech is interrupted when he sees Ophelia. He attacks Ophelia and claims he .Polonius concludes Hamlet's madness is caused by his love for Ophelia. But Claudius thinks that"love" is not the cause of Hamlet's strange behavior. He tells Polonius that he will send Hamlet toas soon as possible.Scene 2: Hamlet meets with the players and devises a plan to "catch the conscious of the King." The play The Mousetrap is performed.Scene 3: Hamlet is convinced that was responsible for the murder of his father.Scene 4: Hamlet meets with Gertrude and mistakenly kills .Act IVScene 1: Gertrude informs Claudius of Polonius' murder by Hamlet because of his . Claudius says he will get Hamlet out of the country and defend his action.Scene 2 & Scene 3: Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England and have him .Scene 4: Hamlet sees the army of Fortinbras on its way to fight.Scene 5: Ophelia is driven mad by her father's death and Hamlet's behavior towards her. Laertes returns from France to avenge his father's death. Claudius easily convinces Laertes that it's not his fault, but hedoesn't turn the blame on Hamlet in Gertrude's presence.Scene 6: Hamlet returns to Denmark.Scene 7: Ophelia dies. Claudius and Laertes plan to kill Hamlet during a fencing duel.Act VScene 1: Hamlet and Horatio come across the funeral procession and Hamlet fights with Laertes in Ophelia's grave. Laertes challenges Hamlet to a duel to avenge his father's honor.Scene 2: The main characters are .Theme:The Merchant of VeniceImportance:Setting: V enice and Belmont of the 16th CenturyPoetic form:Dramatis personae:Antonio:Shylock:Portia:Bassanio:Lorenzo:Jessica:Gratiano:Nerissa:Prince of Morocco: a suitor to Portia who fails to win her by incorrectly choosing the casket Prince of Arragon: a suitor to Portia who fails to win her by incorrectly choosing the casketDuke of Venice:Plot:Structure:Theme:★Artistic features of Shakespeare’s drama:1. One of the founders of in world literature2. Plot construction:[1] Shakespeare ; instead, he them from old plays or fromancient Greek and Roman sources and to them.[2] There are usually ; the main plot exists side by side with thesub-plot or sub-plots.[3] The action develops freely, without being hindered by the classical rules of (i.e. unities of time,place and action). It moves from city to city, from country to country, or from the court to the battlefield; it may cover several days or even many years.3. Characterization:[1] Shakespeare is particularly good at character-portrayal. The major characters in his plays are not simply typeones representing certain group or class of people, but are .[2] By applying a , Shakespeare succeeds in exploring the chara cters’through the full use of , from which we can see the depth of the characters’ thoughtful feelings.[3] Shakespeare makes frequent use of by portraying the characters in pairs.4. LanguageShakespeare was skilled in many poetic forms: . He was . He used about 16,000 different words in his plays that have enriched the English language.★Comments on Shakespeare:Ben Jonson (1572-1637)His life:Major works: 2 tragedies and 14 comediesEvery Man in His HumourV olpone, or the FoxSong to CeliaComments on Ben Jonson:1. Of the many contemporaries and successors of Shakespeare, the most well-known was .2.3. He was famous for his ―‖, in which each character represents a particular humor.4. He was a forerunner of in English literature, which was to reach its highlight in the 18th century.5. He was appointed the of JamesⅠin 1616.。