History of British LiteratureIntroduction to the whole course

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1、Gullivers Travels Should auld acquanintance be forgot， And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot， And days of auld lang syne? And heres a hand, my trusty friend And gies a hand o thine; Well take a cup o kindness yet. For auld lang syne. For auld lang syne my dear, For auld lang

2、syne, Well take a cup o kindness yet For auld lang syne. Preparation for the Class Arrangement of reform Subjective preparation Relative knowledge Method of studyIntroduction to the whole course Anglo-Saxon period(5th-11th) Middle-Age Period (12th-15th) Renaissance Period (16th-early 17th ) Revoluti

3、on and Restoration period (17th) Neo-Classical Period (18th) Romantic period (early 19th) Victorian period (from mid 19th) Turn (19th-20th) Modern period (20th) Anglo-Saxon PeriodHistorical backgroundliterature historical background: the making of Britain A. Briton (Celtic tribes) B. the Roman Conqu

4、est-Roman Briton B.C.55-54 Julius Caesar A.D.43 Claudius C. mid-5th Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) Anglo-Saxon period seven kingdoms: north: Mercia and Northumberland (7th, 8th) south: Wessex (9th, 10th)Angles, Saxons, Jutes D. Danish invasion late 8th, Danes late 9th, Alfred the Great 11th, C

5、anute 25 years E. Norman Conquest 1066 William: Duke of Normandy - William I the end of Anglo-Saxon period beginning of feudal societyEnglish Houses . House of Normandy William I 1066-1087 William II 10871100 Henry I 11001135 Stephen 1135-1154 House of Plantagenet Henry II 11541189 Richard I 1189119

6、9 John 11991216 Henry III 12161272 Edward I 12721307 Edward II 1307-1327 Edward III 1327-1377 Richard II 1377-1399. House of Lancaster Henry IV 13991413 Henry V 1413-1422 Henry VI 1422-1461 ( The War of the Roses 1455-1485) House of York Edward IV 1461-1483 Edward V 1483 Richard III 1483-1485 House

7、of Tudor Henry VII 1485-1509 Henry VIII 1509-1547 Edward VI 1547-1553 Mary I 1553-1558 Elizabeth I 1558-1603 House of Stuart James I 1603-1625 Charles I 1625-1649 ( The CommonwealthOliver Cromwell, Lord Protector 1653-1658Richard Cromwell 1658-1659 ) Charles II 1660-1685 James II 1685-1688 William I

8、II& Mary II 1689-1702 Anne 1702-1714 House of Hanover George I 1714-1727 George II 1727-1760George III 1760-1820 George IV 1820-1830William IV 18301837 Victoria 1837-1901Edward VII 1901-1910 House of WindsorGeorge V 1910-1936 Edward VIII 1936George VI 1936-1952 Elizabeth II 1952- F. social and relig

9、ious features Continent: tribal society, agriculture late: feudal shape: class division kingearlfreemanserf heathen St. Augustine in 597 within a century all England was ChristianizedAnglo-Saxon Literature:Poetry and ProseA. Two Kinds: Pagan “Beowulf”-Epic Christian-Caedmon: “The Paraphrase” Cynewul

10、f: “ Christ” a didactic poemB. Pagan-”Beowulf” Monster-Grendel Features: alliteration; metaphor; understatement 1. Beowulf national epic the longest and most monumental work of A-S poems the oldest surviving epic in British literature. oral form (6th),written down(7th or 8th) set in Denmark and Swed

11、enBeowulf1. 3183 lines2. contents: 3 adventures Monster-Grendel Grendels mother fiery dragon 2. theme: primitive peoples struggle against hostile forces of the natural world under a wise and mighty leader 3. Features: part-historical and part legendary heathen tribal society, feudal elements, Christ

12、ian coloring A-S or old English; alliteration ;metaphor Literary term Epic: a long narrative poem telling about the deeds of a great hero and reflecting the values of the society from which it originated. Many epics were drawn from an oral tradition and were transmitted by song and recitation before

13、 they were written down.Literary term Alliteration: head rhyme; words beginning with the same consonants alliterate with each other within each line, or a word beginning with a vowel alliterates with another word beginning with the same or another vowel. B. Christian: Most of A-S poetry is religious

14、 or Christian two Christian poets Caedmon Cynewulf 1. Caedmon: the earliest known English poet (his story is charmingly told by the Venerable Bede). the first “Hymn” “Caedmonian poems” (anonymous authors): paraphrase of Bible “Genesis B”.2. Cynewulf: mythical figure The finest poem: “The Dream of th

15、e Rood”, the first known example of the dream vision, a genre later popular in Middle English literature. “Christ”: best known, didactic poem 3. Other Old English poems include various riddles, charms, saints lives, gnomic poetry, and other Christian verse 1. Bede “The Ecclesiastical History of the

16、English People” published in Latin, translated into Anglo-Saxon by king Alfred in 891. Roman invasion to A.D.731, relates history from religious point of view and full of strange stories and miracles. “Father of English History”King Alfred the Great2. King Alfred the Great (Wessex)v Life story: trav

17、eling experience to cultural center of Europe, in 871 became the king of Wessex, fight against the Danes, strengthen his nation and gather many scholars, do translation together, died in 901.v Alfreds contributions to English Literature numerous translation from Latin rather free way in translation

18、the role he played in the launching of “Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” “Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” “Old English Chronicle” A.D.1 to A.D.1154 contents: folk literature, natural phenomenon, comments on kings (point of view of common people), passages describing the terrible political oppression and economic explo

19、itation of common people 3. Aelfric chiefly religious in content, mainly some homilies. translate in Anglo-Saxon the first seven books of the Bible and wrote a treatise “Concerning the Old and New Testament”a popular introduction to the contents of the Bible in old English.Bible: holy book which for

20、ms the basis of the Christian faiththe Old Testament: God and the Laws of God (Hebrew)the New Testament: doctrines of Jesus Christ OHebrew NGreek first English version: John Wycliffe most influential version: King James Version Features of A-S literature 1. old English literature 2. verse literature

21、 in oral form 3. The authors are mostly unknown 4. poems in alliteration 5. prose in Latinhomework1. Review the knowledge you have learned about Anglo-Saxon literature.2. Retell the story of “Beowulf”Pre-view homework1.Background information of the Middle Ages2. Literary forms in this period3. Roman

22、ce and ballad12th-15thHistorical backgroundliteraturebackground1. the Norman conquest accelerated the development of feudalism. v on land: the ruling class possessed large tracts of landv on society: distinct class division, miseries of peasants v on language: scholar wrote in French and Latin; enri

23、ched English.2.Conflicts between the serfs or peasants and their feudal lords the Hundred Years War with France (drafting of soldiers and extra taxes) the Black Death shortage of laborers the church oppressed common people(1/3 land) the rising of 1381John Ball, had shaken the feudal system to the ro

24、ot and abolished serfdom.3.rapid development in commerce and tradethe burghers class began to play an important role in politics distinction between the rich and the poor became marked.the corruption of officials was rife4.The early flowering of Renaissance started to influence the English writers.M

25、iddle-age literature mid 11th c mid 14th c: romance second half of 14th c: John Wycliffe John Gower William Langland Geoffrey Chaucer 15th c: ballad 11th-14thAnglo-Latin literature 1.Geoffery of Monmouth “The History of the Kings of Britain”: King Arthur and his Round Table Knights; Lear; Cymbeline;

26、. 2. Roger Bacon: the father of experimental scientistAnglo- Norman (French) literature: romancesSocial satires in verseLiterary term Romance: A long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble man. The central character is the Knight, who has a

27、 noble birth, is skillful in the use of weapon and devotes to the church or King. The rules governing the manners and morals of a knight are known as chivalry. Themes of romance: the matter of Britain king Arthur and his knights of the Round Table (Arthurian romances) the matter of France Charlemagn

28、e and his knights the matter of Rome from the Trojan War to Alexander the GreatKing Arthur: historical figure of Celts; mythological figure in Welsh literature; legendary hero in Geoffery of Monmouth: “History of the Kings of Britain” Layamon: “Brut” Sir Tomas Malory: “Le Morte DArthur” The most out

29、standing single romance on the Arthurian legend “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” (four sections)a. The fight between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight at King Arthurs Christmas feast.b. Gawains adventures on the way to find the Green Knight of the Green Chapelc. three days of Gawains stay at the cast

30、le.d. the finding the Green Knight and Gawains returning to king Arthur. theme: loyalty to the king and lord class nature: composed for the nobles, the audience was usually of the Court or the castle, had nothing to do with the common people. style: alliterative (most romances were metrical) second

31、half of 14th c John Wycliffe John Gower William Langland Geoffrey Chaucer John Wycliffe1. Life story: study on theology, in 1372 got degree of Doctor of Theology at Oxford, drawn into the struggle between Edward and the Pope in Rome, first opposed the Pope and the church and advocated the absolute a

32、uthority of the Bible, after the rising of 1381 deprived of all scholastic duties and left Oxford, in 1384 died of paralysis.2. His works “Of the Truth of the Holy Scriptures”: absolute authority of the Bible “Of Divine Dominion” & “Of Civilian Dominion”: clergy has no right to hold property3. contr

33、ibutions responsible for the earliest translation of the entire Bible. (chief) his ideas paved the way for a thorough-going reformation in the church in later centuries. influenced the “poor priests” Lollards Lollards: a group of priests in the late 14th century who were against the entire feudal sy

34、stem in the distribution of wealth and have a hatred of the whole church. They also disregarded the hierarchy of the church and took faith in the Bible as the only authority. John Gower1.Life story: knightly family, connected with the court, devoted much of his time to literature and wrote in three

35、language, went blind in 1400.2. His works: in 3 languages “Speculum Meditantis” or “Mirour de Lomme” “Vox Clamantis” “Confessio Amantis” “Mirour de Lomme” (French): the mirror of mankindsins of man “Vox Clamantis” (Latin): the voice of the clamants”the peasants rising of 1381 (against) “Confessio Am

36、antis” ( English): a lovers confession the seven deadly sins: pride, luxury, envy, wrath, avarice, gluttony and slothWilliam Langland William Langland1. Life story: his father was possible a farmer, educated in church, lived a scanty life. (no definite information of his life)2. Works: “Piers the Pl

37、owman”content: two parts: v the vision of Piers the Plowman ( two dreams)v the vision of Do-wel, Do-bet, Do-best The poet falls asleep in the Malvern Hills and dreams that in a wilderness he comes upon the tower of Truth (God) set on a hill, with the dungeon of Wrong (the Devil) in the deep valley b

38、elow, and a fair field full of folk (the world of living men) between them. He describes satirically all the different classes of people he sees there; then a lady named Holy explains the meaning of all he sees and tells him to search for truth. Further characters (Conscience, Falsehood, Reason ) en

39、ter the action; Conscience finally persuades many of the people to turn away from the Seven Deadly Sins and go in search of St. Truth, but they need a guide. Piers (Peter), a simple Plowman, appears and says that he knows the way and will show them if they help him plow his half acre. Some help, but

40、 some shirk; After this purification through labor, Piers starts his search for truth. Fairy Landeastwest. Analysis of the poem written in the form of a dream visiona. the first vision: social criticism at the prevalent corruption and bribery in English society at the time.b. the second vision: symp

41、athy for the peasants, the poor and the needy: toiling peasants to be the nearest to truth and salvation. significance a realistic picture of medieval England. indignant satirical description of social abuses caused by corruption among ruling classGeoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer founder of English

42、 poetry1. Life story: court page, in the army fighting France and was taken prisoner, ten years diplomatic errands (nine times to Europe), contact with Renaissance in Italian literature, met Petrarch, had many public employments, died in 1400 and was the first to be buried in the Poets Corner of Wes

43、tminster Abbey. v Chaucer served in a great variety of occupation (courtier, office-holder, soldier, ambassador, legislator) and had broad and intimate acquaintance with persons high and low in all walks of life and knew well of the whole social life, which later had great impact in his literary car

44、eer.2. Chaucers literary career ( 3 periods) (1360-1372): influenced by French poetry “Romanunt of the Rose” translation from French, first introduced into English verse the octosyllabic couplet “The Book of the Duchess”: original Literary term couplet: two successive lines of poetry that rhyme (aa

45、bb cc dd) examples: This were to be new made when thou art old, And see thy blood warm when thou feelst it cold. To give away yourself, keeps yourself still,And you must live, drawn by your own sweet skill. (13721385) influenced by Italian writers: Dante (“Divine Comedy”), Petrarch (“Rime Sparse”),

46、Baccaccio (“Decameron”) “The House of Fame” “Troylus and Criseyde” “The Legend of Good Women” The Legend of Good Womennine “tragedies” of “good women” who suffered from or died of devotion to lovers (borrow from Boccaccio, Virgil, Ovid) used heroic couplet for the first time in English. heroic coupl

47、et: two successive lines of rhymed poetry in iambic pentameter. It is a traditional form for English poetry, commonly used for epic and narrative poetry. (first used by Chaucer in British literature) When that April with his shower swoote The drought of March hath pierced to the root and bathed ever

48、y vein in such licour Of which virtue engendered is the flower Troylus and Criseydepartly adapted and partly translated from Boccaccios poemTrojan war Troylus, Criseyde, Calchas, Pandarus, Diomede, Achilles1386-1400: maturity free from foreign influence “The Canterbury Tales” masterpieceCanterbury C

49、athedralTrinity Chapel The Canterbury Tales1. masterpiece: General Prologue + 24 tales (unfinished) Outline of the story: in April, Tabard Inn, 30 pilgrims to St. Thomas Beckets tomb in Canterbury, beguile the journey by story-telling, two going and two returning, the best story-teller will be given

50、 a free supper, 24 were written. (General Prologue) The Prologue: framework; vivid sketches of all classes of the English feudal society through 30 pilgrims. tales: most notable group tales: “marriage group”: whether husband or wife should be the dominating person in marital relationship. the wife o

51、f Baths tale of an Arthurian knight: wifes domination leads to peace and happiness the Oxford clerks tale of the patient Griselda: the wifes patience, meekness and full submission to her husband is the key to happy marriage the franklins tale of Arveragus and Dorigen: a married couples ultimate happ

52、y ending should be achieved by mutual trust and understanding 2. characterization: the wife of Bath owner of a cloth factory, light-hearted, merry, vulgar and talkativemarries five husbands and expects one or two moreable to master them and rule the housemanaged by making her husband jealous, husban

53、d is oldone treated her badly, she provoked him to beat her and pretended to be dead, got all the property into her hand reflect the rising social status of women in Chaucers day.3. social significance true-to-life picture of the society affirm men and womens rights to pursue happiness and opposes t

54、he dogma of asceticism praise mans energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life expose and satirize the evil of the time4. Contributions to E.L. middle English; vivid and exact great master of language: introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types, esp. heroic couplet (first) first gr

55、eat poet who wrote in English language. did much in making the dialect of London the standard for modern English speech.Murder in the CathedralBackground ( transition from medieval to the Renaissance)1. decline of feudalism and growth of capitalist relations2. Hundred Years War(1453 end)3. War of th

56、e Roses (struggle for crown)4. military strife between England and Scotlandchief form: ballads (main stream of 15th century literature), drama, prose Literary term Ballad: a story told in song, usually in 4-line stanzas, with second and fourth lines rhymed. There chanced to be a Pedlar bold, A Pedla

57、r bold there chanced to be; He put his pack all on his back, And so merrily trudged over the lea. By chance he met two troublesome men, Two troublesome men they chanced to be, The one of them was bold Robin Hood, And the other was little John so free. 1. Different types a. Robin Hood most famous b.

58、Border Balladsbloody battles fought on the border of E and S The Hunting of the Cheviot (English) The Battle of Otterburn (Scottish) the same fight and different endings c. Arthurian legend and biblical material The Marriage of Sir Gawain Dives and Lazarus ( the rich and the leper) d. domestic life:

59、 commonest, unnatural relations between different members of a family, including murder, treachery and ending in tragedy e. love: lords and ladies Child Waters The Nut-Brown Maidf. superstition: ghost ,magic diamond ring, a fantastic visit to elflandg. Political treachery: Sir Patrick Spens h. spiri

60、t of revolt toward oppression I. intelligence and humor of common people: Get Up and Bar the Door2. themes: struggle against the feudal families; conflict between love and wealth; cruelty of jealousy, the criticism of civil war (Scotland), class struggle 3. class nature: English and Scottish dialect

61、s; no authors; revised from mouth to mouth; for peasants Robin Hood Ballads -“A Geste of Robin hood”1. Outline: three threads a. how Robin helps a poor knight to pay his debt to an abbot by robbing a monk of the abbey b. how Robin with the help of his faithful follower Little John captures their chi

62、ef enemy the sheriff of Nottingham and eventually kills himc. a series of encounters between Robin and the king coming to arrest him and ends in the king pardoning Robin and the latter finally running away back to the greenwood Sherwood Forestd. final episode: Robin is betrayed and killed2. main cha

63、racters: Robin Hood and his merry men, Little John, sheriff of Nottingham, King (Richard ), Queen Katharine, Maid Marian( Robin loved)2. theme: the outlaw peasants help the poor and the oppressed and punish the oppressors; desire to live a life of quietness free from tyranny. 3. character of Robin H

64、ood (many sided) a. strong, brave, clever, tender-hearted and affectionate b. dominant: hatred for the cruel oppressors and love for the poor c. reverence for the king d. a film clip Drama early Folk drama: sword dance & morris dance church drama Mystery or Miracle Play stories from Bible: Second Sh

65、epherds Play Morality Play certain moral or religious doctrines: Everyman Prose Sir Thomas Malory Le Morte d Arthur ( summary of the Arthurian legend, 21 books) only monumental prose of 15th century England important landmark in development of English prose from late Middle English to early modern E

66、nglishMore materials on-line http:/www.medieval- http:/www.chss.montclair.edu/english/furr/medieval.html http:/www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucer.htm http:/homeworkPre-view homework The background knowledge of 16th century The general knowledge of renaissance movement in the whole Europe The life stories of the famous writers in English Renaissance: Wyatt, Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Johnson Find information on-line about the history of the development of drama1. _is regarded today as the natio