英 国 文 学

Lecture2:Old English Literature(Before1066)I.Historical BackgroundII.Old English PoetryIII.BeowulfI.Historical Background(see textbook)I.1Old English period(449-1066)I.1.1The early inhabitants:CeltsI.1.2England was conquered by the Jutes,Angles,and Saxons(different tribes ofTeutons)I.1.3Angle-land:shortened into EnglandI.1.4The Old English language:also called Anglo-Saxon or Saxon which wasspoken from A.D.600to about1100.II.Old English PoetryII.1The literature:pagan and ChristianII.1.1Poets:Caedmon:Paraphrase of the BibleCynewulf:four poems but nothing remains.II.1.2Other poems:Genesis A:Genesis BII.1.3ProseAnglo-Saxon ChronicleIII.BeowulfIII.1Brief introductionForm：poetryAuthor:anonymousType:English epicTime:about6th-7th centuryPlace:in DenmarkSetting:ScandinaviaMain Characters:Beowulf:the hero;Hrothgar:King of the DanesStory or Plot:3182lines,3partsThe poem can be divided into three parts:The fight against GrendelThe fight against Grendel's motherThe fight against the DragonIII.2Artistic featuresIII.2.1Sound:no end rhyme,but alliterationIII.2.2Rhythm:Each half-line has two main beats and each half-line is joined to the other by alliteration.III.2.3Meter:rising meterIII.2.4Tone:originally in an oral form,sung by the bards.III.2.5Alliteration and understatementAlliteration and Understatement&metaphorsAlliterationOf men he was the mildest and most beloved,To his kin the kindest,keenest to praise.Understatemente.g.sea:swan's path,whale's road,the waves,the sea-streams,or the ocean-waya ship:a sea-goer,a sea-boat,a sea-wood,or a wave-floaterIII.3The Theme,Character,FeaturesIt gives us an interesting picture of life in those old days.It tells us of fierce fights and brave deeds of the leader and the sufferings of his men.It has praised the bravery,keeping promise,and loyalty.In the poem,Beowulf is strong,courageous,and selfless,ready to risk his life in order to rid his people of evil monsters.It is a valuable narrative poem,which records the valuable custom of that time.It is mainly about his three major adventures.Lecture3:Middle English Literature(1066--1510)(or:Medieval Literature)I.Historical BackgroundI.1.The Norman ConquestI.1.1Battle of Hastings(1066)I.1.2Co-existed three languages:French,Latin,II.Medieval English LiteratureII.1Medieval RomanceII.1.1Three subjects of English romances:1)the`matter’of Rome2)the`matter’of France3)the`matter’of BritainII.1.2the Gawain-poetII.1.3Featuresa.to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds in verse or proseb.The poems tell us the motifs of the quest,challenge,test,and meeting with theevil giant..c.The hero is the knight,setting out on a journey to accomplish some goal--toprotect the church and the poor,to attack infidelity,to rescue a maiden,to meet a challenge,or to obey a knightly command.d.mysteries and fantasies(improbable,supernatural)e.romantic lovef.standardized characterizationg.The language and style are simple and straightforward.h.The romance reflects a chivalric age.II.1.4Romance:King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table:Sir Gawain and the Green KnightForm：poetryAuthor:anonymousType:romance of knightsTime:about6th centuryPlace:in EnglandMain Characters:Gawain,one of the knights of the round table;the Green KnightII.1.4Plot1)Green Knight challenges and Sir Gawain accepts the challenge.2)Gawain looks for the Green Chapel and live in the castle.3)the life in the castle:three days,three gifts,and the green girdle4)Gawain is brought into the Green Chapel and is wounded by the Green Knight.II.1.6Artistic featuresuse of alliterationHe dowellez per al pat day,and dressez on per morn,Askez erly hys armez,and alle were pey bro3t.Fyrst a tule tapit ty3t over pe fletAnd miche wats pe gyld gere pat glent peralofteII.1.6Theme:Its theme is a series of tests on faith,courage,purity and humanweakness for self-preservation.II.Medieval English Literature(4)II.3The English Ballads(textbook)II.3.1The Geste of Robin Hood1)the Characters of Robin Hood2)Robin Hood and Allin-a-DaleII.3.2Get up and Bar the DoorWhat is ballad?Ballad:A narrative poem written in four-line stanzas,characterized by swift action and narrated in a direct style.Ballads are anonymous narrative songs that have been preserved by oraltransmission.English ballad includes also a great number of humorous ballads.The character of Robin Hood is many sided,Strong,brave and clever,he is at the same time tender-hearted and affectionate.III.Geoffrey ChaucerIII.1His position and his lifeIII.2His literary career:three periods and his major worksIII.3Selected reading:The Canterbury TalesIII.4His contributions and his artistic features to English literatureHe died in1400,buried in Westminster Abbey,thus founding the“Poets’Corner”.Westminster AbbeyIII.2His literary career:three periods and his worksIII.2.1Period of French influence:(1359-1372).Translated French works intoEnglish:The Romance of the Rose;other poems.The first original work:TheBook of the DuchessIII.2.2Period of Italian influence:(1372-1386):Troilus and Criseyde(1372-7);The Legend of Good Women(1385);The House of Fame;The Parliament of Fowls III.2.3Period of so-called realism(1386-1400):The Canterbury Tales.III.3.T he Canterbury TalesForm：poetryAuthor:Geoffrey ChaucerType:romance of knights,Saint's legend,folk storyTime:to14centuryPlace:in EnglandIII.3.1In the current English⏹Original poem⏹Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote⏹The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote⏹And bathed every veyne in swich licour,⏹of which vertu engendred is the flour;⏹Translated by Theodore Morrison⏹As soon as April pierces to the root⏹The drought of March,and bathes each bud and shoot⏹Through every vein of sap with gentle showers⏹From whose engendering liquor spring the flowers;⏹Translated by Nevill CoghillWhen the sweet showers of April fall and shoot⏹Down through the drought of March to pierce the root,⏹Bathing every vein in liquid power⏹From which there springs the engendering of the flower,⏹III.3.2Plot⏹17,000lines⏹The poet and other29pilgrims tell stories on their journey from London toCanterbury.Each is to tell two stories while going and two returning.⏹Plan:over120⏹Result:24tales(of which two are left unfinished)Several points of view1. As an anthology of medieval literary types: Almost every type of medievalliterature is represented here.1) Knight's Tale is a romance.2) Miller's Tale is a fabliau.3) Second Nun's Tale a saint's legend4) Prioresses Tale a "miracle of virgin”5) sermons, beast fables, contemporary anecdotes, and allegories⏹In short,it is a virtual storehouse of the kinds of literature to be found in Chaucer'sday.(Grennen,1997:9)⏹ 2.As the story of a pilgrimage.3.As a representative view of14th-century English society.4.As a framed story⏹III.4His contributions and his artistic features⏹III.3.1The Father of English Poetry:⏹heroic couplet⏹ e.g.Whan that Aprille with his shoures swote⏹The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roteIII.3.2The Founder of English Realism(The First Realistic Writer)⏹III.3.3T he Master of English Language:the dialect of London.⏹III.3.4Messenger of Humanism(forerunner of humanism;).⏹Questions⏹1)How successful is the"framing"device used in the Canterbury Tales?⏹2)How unique and important is the Canterbury Tales as a document in the historyof the social great changes of the Fourteenth Century?Subjects for research and critical analysis⏹1)A comparison of any one of the Canterbury tales with its source or analogue.⏹2)A summary and analysis of the recent criticism of a single tale.⏹3)Chaucer's use of imagery in one of the tales.⏹4)An analysis of the irony of situation in some tales.5)An analysis of the attitudetoward women in the Canterbury Tales.⏹6)Medieval medicine.。