The Anglo-saxon period(450-1066)一，historical background1, History: The earliest settlers of British Isles were the Celts.2, Old English poetry.二，Northumbrian school and Wessex literature.1, Two Highlight in the development of Anglo-saxon literature:(1). Northumbrian school (2), Wessex literature.2,The first Anglo-Saxon poet: Caedmon —“paraphrase”3.Bede: —“the father of English History.”The Ecclesiastical History of English people. 4.King Alfred —the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle三．Epic1. Definition: A long narrative poem celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grand, ceremonious style.2. Anglo-Saxon Poetry—Beowulf (heroic epic)3.The earliest one is Widsith and last is Maldon .4.The plot: (1)fight with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, Firedrake.(2)the death and funeral5.the significance:6.National epic: Homer’s epic poetry(Greek);Virgil(Roman)7.Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.8.Kenning: A kind of metaphor usually used a phrase instead of a concrete noun.The Norman Period(1066-1350) 一．History background1. Norman conquest ended the Anglo-Saxon period2.the influence of Norman Conquest:(1)accelerated the development of feudalism in England.(2)the Anglo-Saxon, low position; English, despised thing.(3)three languages co-existed in England(French ,Latin, Old-English)二．Middle English1.the development of English Language2.the unique situation of language using during this time:French ,Latin, Old-English三．R omance1.Norman Conquest’s influence on English languageRomance——Frence——nobbles;lordsNo writtern——English——English subjet（臣民）Chronicles,religious poem——Latin——scholar2.Definition: the Romance was the most prevailing kind of literature in feudal England which described the life and adventures of knights and reflects the spirit of chivalry in the form of verse. It’s usually about love, chivalry and religion.3.Rhyme:4.Bob: a line of two syllables.5.Wheel: a poem of four lines(a.b.a.b.)6.Three categories of Romans(1),The matter of France—Chanson de roland.(2), the matter of Rome—Alexander(3), The matter of Britain—Arthurian7. Sir Gawain and Green KnightAge of Chaucer一，History background1.The hundred years war between England and France(two kings for France throne)2, The peasant uprising of 1381,during the reign of king Richard 2二，John wycliff—The father of English prose.1,Contribution:(1),dedicated to religious reform(clergymen had no right to hold property and the civil authority had the right to deprive the church of property, if it proved unworthy of the people’s trust.),(2),Great contribution to English language (translated Bible into standard English)2,William Langland—the vision of Piers Plowman ; Allegory3, Allegory: A story or description in which the characters and events symbolize some deeper meaning.(primary meaning and secondary meaning)三，Chaucer—the father of English poetry(why?)1, Contribution to English literature:(1), Chaucer proved that the English language is a beautiful language and can be easily handled to express different moods.(2)，Chaucer greatly increased the prestige of the English language.(3) Chaucer’s works gave a comprehensive picture of his time.(4), the dramatic structure of his work has been highlycommended by critics.(5)Chaucer made a big improvement of English literature.2,Heroic couplet(英雄双韵体)（1），couplet （两行诗一押韵）（2），iambic pentameter(五步抑扬格)3，Canterbury Tales(1) Structure：24 tales connect by “links”(2)His plan; Chaucer met a group of 29 pilgrims at Canterbury on his way. To kill the time on their journey, they play a game that each pilgrim should tell two stories on the outward trip and another two on the way back. Chaucer and their host joined them, the host will be a judge and give a reward to the one who give the best tale.4,The significance of the Canterbury tales(1), it gives a comprehensive picture of Chaucer’s time.(2).the dramatic structure of his work has been highly commended by critics.（3），It reflects the Chaucer’s humor.(4),It’s a great contribution that Chaucer gave to the English language.The 15th century一,Historical background1. The Hundred Years War:(in1415,at the battle of Agincourt ,King Henry 5 defeated French Army)2,The War of the Rose s—Thirty Years War:(break out between two families ,at last King Henry 7 defeated Richard 3 ,and then married Elizabeth)3,The discovery of America and the new sea routes —Columbus4,Reformation of the church（the church Henry 8 founded is Anglican church新教）二，Popular Ballads(民谣)(belongs to folk literature)1.Definition：a narrative poem that tells a story2. the characters of ballad:(1), the beginning is abrupt (2),strong dramatic elements(3),using dialogue and action (4), the theme is often tragic(5),using ballad meter3, Ballad Meter(1), four-line stanzas(2), the odd numbered(奇数) lines have 4 feet each(3), the even numbered （偶数）lines have 3 feet each(4)，rhymes fall on the even numbered lines4，the popular ballad:Sir Patrick Spens帕特里克斯本士爵士Robin Hood and the three squires罗宾汉和三个乡绅三，Sir Thomas Malory——The Death of King Arthur 四，Early English palys1,The first comedy—Ralph Roister Doister(作者：Nicholas Vdall)2, History: In ancient Greece and Rome , drama was one of the popular forms of entertainment. And then used as part of religious services. By the 14th century, it developed into mystery plays (神秘剧)and miracle plays.（神话剧）3,Dramatic Terms.(1),script剧本（2）stage directions舞台说明（3），monologue 独白（4），aside旁白（5）,soliloque独白(6)act 幕（7）scene场（8）set布景4. Drama’s Definition: Drama is “a composition in prose or verse, adapted to be acted upon a stage, in which a story is related by means of dialogue and action, and is represented with accompanying gesture, costume, and scenery, as in real life.”The English Renaissance英国启蒙运动一，history backgroundEnglish navy defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.二,the enclosure movement(圈地运动)Definition: with development of wool trade, some of the nobles and burghers turned vast arable land into their pastures and many peasants became landless.三，H umanism1, renaissance(文艺复兴):the rebirth of literary movement that begin in the 14th century in Italy and later to France ,Spanish ,the Netherlands and English and its idea was humanism.2，Humanism: support the idea that man should be given the full freedom to enrich their emotional life,and in praise of man and pursuit of happiness in their life.四，William Shakespeare—playwright, poet, dramatist,actor.1.works: (1)sonnets(2)Mid-summer Nights Dream(3)Romeo and Juliet(4),The Merchant of Venice(5)As You Like It(6),Hamlet(7),Othello(8),KingLear(9)Macbeth(10)The winters tale2, Sonnet Definition: is a short poem of 14 lines ,uauslly in iambic pentameter(五步抑扬格) with various rhyming schemes(韵脚)。