英国文学3部分

Part Three

The Period of the English Bourgeois Revolution

Chapter 1

The English Revolution and the Restora tion

1. The Weakening of the Tie between Monarchy and Bourgeoisie

The T udor Dynasty: harmony (interests in commo n →collaboration)

The end of Elizabe th’s reign: conflict (quarrels)

2. The clashes between the King and Parliament

Monopolies on merchandies

Charles I dissolved it in 1629.

3. The Outburst of the English Revolution

(1) broke out in 1642 and lasted till 1649.

(2) T wo camps:

The royalists: conservative gentry, big landlords, monopolists

The opposition leaders in Parliament: the merchants, artisans and apprentices, the peasants (Oliver Cromwell) (3) Result:

Monarchy was abolished.

England was declared a commonwealth (a republic)

4. The Split within the Revolutionary Camp

The middle bourgeoisie (Independents)

The big bourgeoisie (Presbyterians)

The petty bourgeoisie

“The Movement of the Diggers” (掘地运动)

1.The Bourgeois Dictatorship and the Restoration

(1)The big bourgeoisie made a compromise with the feudal remnants.

(2)After the death of Cromwell, the Parliament recalled Charles II to England in 1660.→the Restoration

Period

(3)The Bourgeoisie invited William to be King of England in 1688.→the “Glorious Revolution” (bloodless, no

revival of the revolutionary demands)

(4)The state structure of England was settled→Capitalism could develop freely.

2.The Religious Cloak of the English Revolution

(1)the English Revolution≈the Puritan Revolution

(2)Puritanism:①②③④

Puritan literature is different from the literature of Elizabethan Period（1558-1625）in the following three aspects：1) Elizabethan literature had a marked unity and the feeling of patriotism and devotion to the Queen, but in the Revolution Period，all this was changed, the king became the open enemy of the people, and the country was divided by the struggle for political and religious liberty. So literature was as divided in spirit as were the struggling parties. 2) Elizabethan literature was generally inspiring. It throbbed with youth and hope and vitality．Literature in the Puritan Age expressed age and sadness. Even its brightest hours were followed by gloom and pessimism.

3) Elizabethan literature was intensely romantic．The romantic spirit sprang from the heart of youth．People believed all things, even the impossible．But in literature of the Puritan period, we cannot find any romantic ardor.

3.Literature of the Revolution Period

(1)concerned with the tremendous social upheavals of the time

(2)Major Writers: John Milton, John Bunyan

Chapter 2

John Milton

1. Life: 1608-1674

(1) strongly condemned the subjects and methods of study at college

(2) defined the true aim of knowledge as making the spirit of man

(3) his personal beauty, strictness of life, nicknamed “the lady of Christ’s”

2. Early Poems

On t he Morning of Christ’s Nativity（his first important work）

L’Allegro《欢乐颂》

II Penseroso《沉思颂》

Comus

Lycidas

3. Major Works

(1) Paradise Lost

(2) Paradise Regained

(3)Samson Agonistes

4. Brief Summary

(1) a great revolutionary poet of the 17th century (influence on later E. poetry)