英国文学--古英语-文艺复兴

英国文学（1）-----古英语—文艺复兴Chapter I An Introduction to Old and Medieval English Literature & The Renaissance PeriodI. 古英语（文学）Old English—Anglo-Saxon, language spoken by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes 449 (the Anglo-Saxon Invasion) -1066 (the Norman Conquest)Beowulf-- the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons （最高成就）Anglo-Saxon ChronicleII. 中世纪英语(文学) Medieval (Middle) English—With the three languages intermingling, Old English developed into Middle English1066 - middle 14th century1. Romance—the most prevailing kindof literaturein feudalEngland （封建英国最流行的文学形式，取材于贵族，为贵族而作）2. 民间流行文学—Piers the Plowman by William Langland (written version)the Ballads (oral form)（英国民间文学最重要的一个分支）3. 乔叟Geoffrey Chaucer ----the father of English poetry (wisdom, humor, humanity)The Canterbury Tales---the first time to use ―heroic couplet‖英雄双韵体诗4. 文学术语----Alliteration；Epic;Romance; BalladIII. 文艺复兴The Renaissance - A rebirth or revival of art, literature and science between 14th and mid 17th centuries in Europe; An intellectual movement; started in Italy1. Series of historical events:1). rediscovery of ancient Roman & Greek culture2). the religious reformation & economic expansion3).the appearance of the Authorized Version of the English Bible (the King James Bible)2. Humanism人文主义- the essence(keynote, great spirit) oftheRenaissance, the dignity of humanbeing & the importanceof the present lifeBest representatives: Thomas More,Christopher Marlowe,William Shakespeare3. The Elizabethan drama: the realmainstream of the English RenaissanceMost famous dramatists: William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Ben JohnsonEdmund Spenser斯宾塞- the poets' poet诗人中的诗人,The Faerie Queenequality: 1) a perfect melody 2)a rare sense of beauty 3)a splendid imagination4)a lofty(高尚的) moral purity and seriousness 5)a dedicated idealism6) written in Spenserian Stanza ( 8iambic pentameter lines followedby a ninth line of six iambic feetwith the rhyme schemeababbcbcc)Major Characters：Arthur - who possess 12 virtuesGloriana –the Fairy QueenChristopher Marlowe–“University Wits”, the pioneer of English drama Marlowe’s achievement:1) blank verse无韵诗歌It is Marlowe who brought vitality(活力) and grandeur(伟大) into the blank verse with his “mighty lines,”which carry strong emotions.2) his creation of the Renaissance hero for English drama.(not strong in dramatic construction.)→the pioneer of English drama3 tragedies:Dr. Faustus the human passion for knowledge, power and happinessTamburlaine a play about an ambitious and pitiless overpowering king.The Jew of Maltanon-drama The Passionate Shepherd to His Love pastoral life，one of the most beautiful lyricsREADING: 1. excerpt from Dr. FaustusA play based on the German legend Content: Faustus is a scholar who has a strong desire to acquire knowledge. By conjuration(念咒文召唤) he call upMephistophilis, the Devil’s servant. Hemake a bond(契约) to sell his soul to the Devil in return for 24 years of life in which Mephistophilis to give himeverything he desires. Devil’s name is Lucifer.Dominant moral is human rather than religious2.The Passionate Shepherd to His Lovethis short poem is considered to be one of the most beautiful lyrics in English literature.The shepherd enjoys an ideal country life, cherishing a pastoral and pure affection for his love. Strong emotion is conveyed through the beauty of nature. William Shakespeare–playwright & poet (above all writers in the past and in the present time)1. historical plays:Henry Ⅵ, Richard Ⅲ…Richard Ⅱ, Henry Ⅳ, Henry Ⅴ, KingJohn…2. Comedies:Four great comedies--A Midsummer Night’s Dream, TheMerchant of Venice, TwelfthNight,As You Like It（皆大欢喜）3. Tragedy:Four great tragedies-- Hamlet, Othello, King Lear & Macbeth romantic tragedy--Romeo and Juliet. To praise the faithfulness of love and the spirit of pursuing happiness.4. tragicomedies：The Tempest Achievement:A. exploring the characters’s inner mind.soliloquy or monologue - fully revealthe inner conflict of the characters contrasts –bring vividness to the charactersB. adroit plot constructionC. Irony is a good means of dramatic presentation. Disguise is an important device to create dramatic irony.D. the language. A great master of the English language, a large vocabulary in his work: commanded a vocabulary larger than any other English writers and used about 16000 words. Many of his coinages and expressions have become everyday usage in English life. Shakespeare and the Authorized Version of the English Bible (in 1611, James I) are the 2 great treasuries of the English language.READING：1. Sonnet 18Sonnet 18eternal or immortal（不朽的）beauty, have a faith in the permanence of poetry.A nice summer’s day is usually transient(短暂的), but the beauty in poetry can last for ever.2.excerpt from The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio, to idealize Portia a heroine of great beauty, wit and loyalty, to expose the insatiable（不知足的）greed and brutality of the Jew.Double plot:(1) Bassanio ask Antonio for a loan so that he might marriage with Portia(2) Antonio borrow money from Shylock, the Jewish usurer. Shylock make a strange bond that requires Antonio to surrender a pound of hisflesh if he fail to repay him within a certain period of time. Portia disguised as a young lawyer instructed to judge the case: Shylock can take his pound of flesh, but there is no mention of blood in the bond. Otherwise, his lands and goods will be confiscated(充公) according to he law of Venice. 3．Excerpt from HamletHamlet hesitate between fact and fiction, language and action, too sophisticated（复杂的）to degrade his nature to the conventional role of a stage revengercontent: Hamlet, the prince, appearing in a mood of world-weariness（厌世）occasioned by his father’s death and his mother’s hasty remarriage with Claudius, his father’s brother. Hamletis informed that Claudius has murdered his father and then taken over both his father’s throne and widow. Thus Hamlet is urged to seek revenge. Note: To be, or not to be - to live on in this world or to die; to suffer or to take actionFrancis Bacon –philosopher, scientist, essayist, lay the foundation for modern scienceHis Essays is the first example of that genre in English literature.Bacon’s essays are famous for their brevity, compactness & powerfulness, well-arranging and enriching by Biblical allusions（典故）, metaphors（隐喻）and cadence（韵律）.The Advancement of Learning man’s understanding consists of three parts: history to man’s memory, poetry toman’s imagination and creation, and philosophy to man’s reason.Novum Organum written in Latin on methodology方法论Bacon suggests the inductive reasoning 归纳法( i.e. proceeding from the particular to the general)in place of Aristotelian method, the deductive reasoning 演绎法( i.e. proceeding from the general to the particular)READING: Of StudiesOf Studies uses and benefits of study –studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Studies perfect nature, and are perfected by experience. Different ways adopted by different people to pursue studies - studies and experience are complementary (互补) to each other. The correct attitude toreading books - to weigh and consider. How studies exert influence over human character - reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.文学术语Sonnet—a poem of 14 lines in iambic pentameter with a fixed rhyme scheme1.I talian form: octave, sestet; abba abba cde cde2.E nglish or Shakespearean form: 3 quatrains and one couplet; abab cdcd efef ggBlank verse(无韵体)—unrhymed iambic pentameter, literary form masterly handled by Shakespeare and MiltonI. Choose the right answer:1. Dr. Faustus is a play based on the _____legend of a magician aspiring for____ and finally meeting his tragic end as a result of selling his soul to the Devil.A.British/ immoralityB.French/moneyC.German/knowledgeD.American/political power Answer: C2. _____, is a typical example of Old English poetry, is regarded today as the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons.A.The Wife’s ComplaintB.BeowulfC.The Dream of the RoodD.The SeafarerAnswer: B3.It’s Chaucer alone who, for the first time in English literature, presented to us a comprehensive realistic picture of the English Society in his masterpiece__________.A.The Canterbury TalesB.The Legend of Good WomenC.Troilus and CriseydeD. The Romaunt of the Rose. Answer: A4. The Essence of Renaissance, the most significant intellectual movement, was_____.A. Geographical explorationB. Religious reformationC. Publishing and translationD. Humanism.Answer: D5. ―Prince Arthur’s greatest mission is his search for Gloriana, with whom he has fallen in love through a love vision.‖The two figures come from_____.A.Paradise LostB.Dr. FaustusC.The Faerie QueeneD.HamletAnswer: C6. In ―Sonnet 18‖, Shakespeare_________________.A.Meditate on the destructive power of time and eternal beauty by poetry.B.Satirize human’s vanity.C.Predict the eternity of love.D.Eulogize the power of the beauty. Answer: A7. ____ gave new vigor to the blank verse with his ―mighty lines‖ and make ’blank verse’ the principle vehicle of expression in drama.A.SurreyB.WyattC.MarloweD.SidneyAnswer: C8. Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies are the following works except____.A.HamletB.King LearC.Romeo and JulietD.OthelloAnswer: C9. The Renaissance refers to between 14th----mid-17th century, which was under the reign of Queen___and absolute monarchy in England reached its summit, and in which the ―real mainstream ‖ was ____.A.Victoria/poetryB.Elizabeth/ dramaC.Mary/ novelD.James/ dramaAnswer: B10. In The Legend of Good Women, Chaucer used for the first time in English the rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter, which is to be called later____.A.The Spenserian stanzaB.The heroic coupletC.The blank verseD.The free verseAnswer: B11. The Redcrosse Knight in ―The Faerie Queene‖ stands for_____, and Una stands for_____.A.bravery/ chastityB.holiness/ truthC.error/ deliveryD.true gentleman/ lady.Answer: B12. Which of the following is NOT regarded as one of the characteristics of Renaissance?A.Rediscovery of ancient Roman and Greek culture.B.Attempt to remove the old feudalist ideas in Medieval Europe.C.Exaltation of man’s pursuit of happiness in his life, and tolerance of man’s foibles.D.Praise of man’s efforts in soul delivery and personal salvation. Answer: D13. ―The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune‖ is an example of ______.A.MetaphorB.SimileC.IronyD.PersonificationAnswer: A14. _____ introduced the Petrarchan sonnet into England.A.Anglos/ SaxonsB.Normans/ Anglo-SaxonsC.Greeks/ RomansD.Romans/ NormansAnswer: B15. It is ___ alone who, for the first time in English literature presented to us a comprehensive realistic picture of the English society of his time and created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life.A.Edmund SpenserB.Geoffrey ChaucerC.William ShakespeareD.John DonneAnswer: B16. The following belong to the characteristics of ’metaphysical poetry’ represented by ’John Donne’ except___.A.ConceitsB.Actual imagery and simple dictionC.Argumentative formD.Elegant styleAnswer: D17. Paradise Lost is actually a story taken from____.A.Greek MythologyB.Roman legendC.The Old TestamentD.The New TestamentAnswer: C18. In ―Paradise Lost‖, Satan says ―We may with more successful hoperesolve/ To wage by force or guile eternal war, / Irreconcilable to our grand Foe‖ What does the ―Eternal war‖ mean?A.To remove God from his throneB.To burn the Heaven DownC.To corrupt God’s creation of man and woman-----Adam and EveD.To beguile into a snake to threaten man’s lifeAnswer: C19. _____, the first of the great tragedies, is generally regarded as Shakespeare’s most popular play on the stage, for it has the qualities of a ―blood-and-thunder‖ thriller and a ’philosophical exploration’ of life and death.A.The Merchant of VeniceB.HamletC.King LearD.The Winter’s TaleAnswer: B20. It was ___and ___ the two conquests that provided the source for the rise and growth of English literature.A.Anglos/ SaxonsB.Normans/ Anglo-SaxonsC.Romans/ NormansD.Greeks/ RomansAnswer: B21. Paradise Lost is ___’s masterpiece, which is an epic in 12 books, written in blank verse, about the heroic revolt of Satan against God’s authority.A.John DonneB.Christopher MarloweC.John MiltonD.Edmund SpenserAnswer: C22. The following description fit into Milton ’except’_____.A.a great revolutionary poet of the 17th centuryB.an outstanding political pamphleteerC.a great stylist and master of blank verseD.a kind of elegant and refine style. Answer: D23. _____is not written by John Milton.A.Samson AgonistesB.Paradise LostC.Paradise regainedD.TamburlaineAnswer: D24. Marlow’s greatest achievement is that he perfected the ’blank verse’, and he is regarded as ’the pioneer of English drama’, which of the following is not written by him?A.TamburlaineB.The Jew of MaltaC.The Passionate to His LoveD.The Sun RisingAnswer: D25. ____Essays is the first example of that genre in English literature, which has been recognized as an important landmark in the development of English prose.A.John Milton’sB.Francis Bacon’sC.Montaigne’sD.Thomas Gray’sAnswer: B26. _____Was known as ―the poets’ poet‖.A.William ShakespeareB.Edmund SpenserC.John DonneD.John MiltonAnswer: B27. ―And we will make thee beds of roses / And a thousand fragrant posies/ A cap of flowers, and a kirtle/ Em broidered all with leaves of myrtle.‖The above lines are probably taken from______.A.Spenser’s The Faerie QueeneB.John Donne’s The Sun RisingC.Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18D.Marlow’s The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.Answer: D28. Which of the following statement best illustrates the theme of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18?A.The speaker eulogizes the power of Nature.B.The speaker satirizes human vanity.C.The speaker praises the power of artistic creation.D.The speaker meditates on man’s salvation.Answer: CII. Read the quoted part and answer the questions:1.―For herein Fortune shows herselfmore kindThan is her custom. It is still her use To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,To view with hollow eye and wrinkled browAn age of poverty; from which ling’ring penanceOf such misery doth she cut me off‖ 1.Identify the title of the works and author.2.Explain ―from which…cut me off‖.3.What happened to him, which caused the words?The lines are from ―The Merchant of Venice‖,William Shakespeare.2) This sentence means she, ’Lady Fortune’, is more kind to him because she is taking away both his wealth and life.3) The speaker is Antonio, it’s said that his ship have all been lost, and he is penniless, and will have to pay the pound of flesh. (Because Shylock has made a strange bond that requires Antonio to pay him a pound of flesh if he can’t repay him the money that he borrowed for his friend in due time.) 2.―Read not to contract and confuse, not to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider‖1)Identify the work and author.2)What idea does the passage express?1) The sentence comes from ―Of Studies‖ written by ’Francis Bacon’. 2) The Sentence talks about the proper way to read: When you read, don’t be puzzled by the content of the book; don’t take it for granted; don’t quote too much from the book; before accepting its idea, you’d better thinkabout its shortcomings and consider it from all sides.3.― Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;Nor shall dea th brag thou wander’st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.1) Where does the poem comes from? Who wrote it?What does ―eternal lines‖ mean? Interpret it briefly.1) The poem is ― Shall I Compare thee to a Summ er’s Day‖, by Shakespeare.2) Eternal lines means the lines of the poem and other sonnets.3) It means: you will not lose your beauty, and death will not threaten youwith darkness, either. As long as man can live in the world, they will see your beauty in my lines of my poem, which has given you eternal life. (Or A nice summer’s day is usually transient, but the beauty in poetry can last for ever. 4.―… All is no lost: the unconquerable will,And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome?……Irreconcilable to our grand Foe‖1) Please identify the poem and the poet.2) Interpret―all is not lost‖.3) What does the whole passage mean?1) It is taken from Joh n Milton’s ―Paradise Lost‖.2) ―all is not lost‖ is the word from Satan----Satan and other angels rebel against God, but they are driven fromHeaven into hell. In the fire of the hell, Satan is determined to fight back, just like what he says: not all is lost, the unconquerable will, the deep hatred, and the courage to fight till death still remain.3) This passage shows Satan’s will not to submit, and the desire to long for freedom; to beg God for mercy and worship his power is more shameful and disgraceful than the downfall. 5.―If he be not apt to beat over matters, let him study the lawyer’s cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.‖Questions:3)What does ―beat over matters‖ mean?4)What does ―receipt’ r efer to?5)From which essay does the above sentences come, what is the essay mainly about?1)It means: make through examinations of things.2)―Receipt‖ ref ers to cure, prescription.3)The sentences are from ―Of Studies‖ (Francis Bacon). It is the most popular of bacon’s essays. It analyzes what studies chiefly serve for, the different ways adopted by different people to pursue studies, and how studies exert influence over human character.6.―What, is great Mephistophilis to passionateFor being deprived of the joys of heaven?Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess.……Say he will spare him Four and twenty yearsLetting him live in all voluptuousnessHaving thee ever to attend on me…Questions:1)Identify the passage and author;2)―Say he surrenders up to him his soul‖, who will surrender his soul? What for?3)Who are thee? What will he do?1) The passage comes from ―Dr.Faustus‖ written by Chris topher Marlowe.2) Dr.Faustus will surrender his soul to devil. Because he was a great scholar who has a strong desire to ’get knowledge’ in vain, finally he ’made a bond’ to sell his soul to Devil in return for 24 years of life in which he may get anything he desires.3) The ―thee‖, refers to ―Mephistophilis‖, the Devil’s servant. He helped Dr.Faustus to do anything he wants.7.―Busy old fool, unruly sun,Why does thou thus,Through windows and through curtains call on us?‖Questions:6)Identify the work and author.7)What idea does the passage express?1)The passage comes from ―The Sun Rising‖,written by ’John Donne’.2) The speaker questions the sun’s authority and speaks condescendingly, placing the sun in the status of a subordinate. In the lover’s kingdom, the sun has no right to dictate the time of day or the passing of seasons. His presence in their bedchamber is an intrusion on their privacy.III. Questions and answers:1. What do you know about Renaissance? Give a summery about English literature in the period?1).The Renaissance refers to the period between 14th----mid-17th century. Itfirst started in Italy.2).The Renaissance means rebirth or revival----the discovery of ancient Roman and Greek culture.3).In essence, The Renaissance is a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars tried to get rid of the old feudalist ideas in medieval Europe, to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie/middle class, and to recover the purity of the early church from the corruption of Roman Catholic church.4). Humanism is the essence of Renaissance -----Man is the measure of all things. The humanism exalted/praised human nature and emphasized the dignity of human beings and the present life. They thought man had the right to enjoy the beauty of life and had the ability toperfect himself and made wonders, which got ready for the appearance of the great Elizabethan writers in Britain. Poetry and drama were the most outstanding literary forms.5). Shakespeare, Marlowe and Francis Bacon etc. were the remarkable representatives of the English Renaissance.2. Please give a brief analysis of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be”soliloquy.“To be or not to be‖ is ’a philosophical exploration of life and death’. The soliloquy condemned the hypocrisy and treachery and general corruption of the world, and revealed the character of Hamlet---so ’speculative, questioning, contemplative and melancholy./gloomy’. It was notbecause he was not able to take action to revenge, but because of his ’hesitative/hesitant character’, when the chance for action came, it seemed defeat.It can be interpreted as: Hamlet bears the heavy burden of the duty to revenge his father’s death, he is forced to live in the suspense of facts and fiction, language and action. He considers that it wou ld be better to ’commit suicide’, but being scared of what might happen to him in the afterlife. So he put off the thing because of the sin. He considers the plan carefully only to find reason for not carrying it out. The soliloquy conveys ’the sense of world-weariness’.3. What common features do the characters share in Marlow’s works? The creation of The Renaissance herois one of Marlow’s contributions.1)Such a hero is always individualistic and full of ambition, facing bravely the challenge from god and men. They had human dignity and capacity, trying to get heaven/highest ideas on the earth by their own efforts.2)For example: Tamburlaine is a character written by Marlowe. By depicting a great hero with high ambition and sheer brutal forc4e in conquering, Marlowe voiced the supreme desire of man for infinite/ limitless power and authority. In Dr.Faustus, Marlowe celebrated the human passion for knowledge, power and happiness.3) Tamburlaine and Dr.Faustus are typical in owning such Renaissance spirit, Tamburlaine, being a cruel conquer, found happiness in conquering other kingdom. Only deathcould defeat him. While Dr.Faustus, a more introspective and philosophical figure, had high spirit for knowledge but he had sin for having despair in God and trust in Devil.4. What are the main themes of Shakespeare’s plays? Shakespeare’s plays are divided into 3 types: comedies, tragedies and historical plays.1) His historical plays are with the theme-----national unity under a might and just sovereign/ruler is necessary. 2)In his romantic comedies, he takes an optimistic attitude toward love friendship and youth.3)In his tragedies, Shakespeare always portrays some noble heroes, who faces the injustice of life and is caught in a difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of his nation. Each hero has his weakness ofnature. We also see the conflict between the individual and the evil force in the society. And his major characters are always individuals representing certain types.5. Please comment on the character of Satan in ―Paradise Lost.‖Satan is a rebellious figure against God in literature, defeated, he and his rebel angels were cast into hell. However, Satan refused to accept his failure, swearing that “all was not lost”and that he would revenge for his downfall. The freedom of the will is the keystone of Satan’s character, which was the important spirit of the rising middle class. But he tempted Adam and Eve, which proved his evilness.6. What are the characteristics of the Humanism?1)’Humanism’ is the essence ofRenaissance.2)Humanists see that human beings were glorious creatures capable of individual development in the direction of perfection, and that the world they inhabited was theirs not to despise but to ’question, explore, and enjoy’. 3)They also believe that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of this life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders.。