英美文学复习资料

英美文学

I. 本期讲过的所有名家名作

II．名词术语:

Ode

——in ancient literature, is an elaborate lyrical poem composed for a chorus to chant and to dance to; in modern use, it is a rhymed lyric expressing noble feelings, often addressed to a person or celebrating an event.

Alliteration

——It is a form of initial rhyme, or head rhyme.

It is the repetition of the same sound or sounds at the beginning of two or more words that are next to or close to each other.

e.g. He came on under the clouds, clearly saw at last

Rage-inflamed, wreckage-bent, be ripped open

Kenning

——a figurative language in order to add beauty to ordinary objects. It is a metaphor usually composed of two words, which becomes the formula for a special object.

e.g. Helmet bearer—— warrior

Swan road——the sea

The world candle—— the sun

Repetition &Variation

e.g. Grendel / The spoiler / warlike creature /

the foe / horrible monster

A host of young soldiers / a company of

Kinsmen / a whole warrior-band

Caesura

——every line consists of two clearly separated half lines between which is a pause, called caesura.

e.g. Grendel stalking; God’s brand was on him.

the gold-hall of men, the mead-drinking place

nailed with gold plates. That was not the first visit

Ballad

——is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of the British Isles from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many ballads were written and sold as single sheet broadsides. The form was often used by poets and composers from the 18th century onwards to produce lyrical ballads. In the later 19th century it took on the meaning of a slow form of popular love song and the term is now often used as synonymous with any love song, particularly the pop or rock power ballad.

Epic

——is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. The first epics are known as primary, or original, epics. One such epic is the Old English story Beowulf. Epics that attempt to imitate these like Milton’s Paradise Lost are known as literary, or secondary, epics.

➢The six main characteristics:

1. The hero is outstanding. He might be important, and historically or legendarily significant.

2. The setting is large. It covers many nations, or the known world.

3. The action is made of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage.

4. Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons—insert themselves in the action.

5. It is written in a very special style.

6. The poet tries to remain objective.

Sonnet (Italian Sonnet, Shakespearean Sonnet, Spenserian Sonnet, Miltonic Sonnet)

①Italian sonnet

❖created by Giacomo da Lentini, head of the Sicilian School.

❖Petrarch (1304-1374) most famous early sonneteer