英国文学选读难点整理

分析哈姆雷特的人物性格特点及其所代表的人文主义思想。

He is a humanist He is freed from medieval prejudices and superstitions, he is against the old religious doctrines.Like other humanists, he cherishes a profound reverence for man, and a firm belief in man’s power and destiny: He loves good and hates evil. His intellectual genius is outstanding.

To be, or not to be

»Main Idea: This is an internal philosophical debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence, and whether it is one's right to end his or her own life.

It presents a most logical and powerful examination of the theme of the moral legitimacy of suicide in an unbearably painful world.

The Metaphysical poets: the 17th century English poets whose work is noted for its ingenious use of intellectual and theological concepts in wits, surprising conceits, strange paradoxes and far-fetched images, mysticism in content and fantasticality in form. John

Donne(1573-1631) and “The Flea” 【mystical in content and fantastic in form】

讲述〈失乐园〉的故事梗概，分析撒旦的形象及其所表现的作者思想的双重性。

the image of Satan: The real hero of the poem. Like a conquered and banished giant, he remains obeyed and admired by those who follow him down to hell. He is firmer than the rest of the angels. It is always from him that deep counsels, unlooked-for resources and courageous deeds proceed. Though defeated, he prevails. Though wounded, he triumphs.

讲述故事情节并分析鲁滨逊这一人物形象。Q:What are the striking qualities(merits) that we can learn from Robinson? A: Independent; resourceful; energetic; persistent; industrious (hard-working); intelligent; optimistic; religiously pious; courageous(brave); practical; adventurous; rational; pioneering spirit

And say something about his demerits, if there are any.

Sexual apathy; pursuer of money 1. During Defoe’s time, the adventures in the period of developing capitalism were still going on, in order to make big money and wealth, the merchants had made courageous exploration for getting new land and new resources for their foreign markets as well as for materials and wealth. So Robinson, of course, is not an exception. He was one of the representatives of the rising bourgeois. He made several adventures, but never satisfied and content with his temporal conditions. So in his last adventure on the sea he was cast on an uninhabited island for 28 years. 2. He is a laborer and a typical colonizer, exploiter, explorer as well as a foreign trader. Before Friday’s appearance, he did everything himself—to build a shelter for rain and cold, to hunt and dry raisins for his store, to make a pot, baskets and to make a canoe. From this sense, we should say Robinson is a laborer, a hard-working, industrious, intelligent man with some puritan belief. After Friday’s appearance, Robinson immediately became the master of Friday. (The first thing he taught Friday was “master”and let Friday do everything for both of them.) From Robinson’s activity, we can assert that in him reflects some typical traits of primitive accumulation. 3. He is vigorous, alert and resourceful while fighting with his surrounding: the natural environment and the barbaric tribes. No matter what he is, his image is not a static one, but developed from a laborer and a typical enterprising bourgeoisie to mediocre person with a narrow-minded personality.

The image of Friday

Language: in Robinson Crusoe, Defoe wrote that Robinson taught Friday to speak English for the convenience of communication with him, and at the same time, he needed someone to talk with. But the first word that Defoe taught Friday was "master".

Eating habits: Don't eat man's flesh. Eat bread and stewed meat of the animals. Religion:According to the novel, Robinson spent 3 years to change the cannibal Friday into a pious servant and christian. Robinson and Friday talked about God and the Devil.

Change of Friday from a freeman to a loyal servant: Friday swore to serve Robinson rather than go back to his hometown.

Themes In Robinson Crusoe, the author eulogizes labour and man's indefatigable efforts to conquer nature, but at the same time he beautifies colonialism. 1. Defoe creates a hero struggling against nature and human fate. Through the