英国文学简史——18世纪文学

Alexander Pope
Position And Eaily Life:
The most important English poet in the first half of the 18th century. Eaily Life : Weak and deformed as a child Self-taught in Latin, French, Italian and Greek poems Associated with Addison A member of the "Scriblerus Club"
1& 2
Richard Steele (1672-1729) & Joseph Addison(1672-1719)
2) Their representative works:
The Tatler《闲谈者》（1709-1711） The Spectator《旁观者》（1711-1712）
> The Tatler《闲谈者》（1709-1711）
Masters and works:
Steel and Addison: The Sepectator (1711-1712) Alexander Pope:
-Essays Essay on Criticism (1711) The Rape of the Lock (1714) The Dunciad (1728-1742) Poems Essay of Man (1732-1734) Pope's Homer(translation): Iliad (1715-1720) Odyssey (1725-1726) Pope's Shakespeare (1725, edition)
At the age of 37, he had his new edition of Shakespeare published. He composed The Dunciad as a counterattack against Theobald's criticism of his Shakespeare edition. The Essay on Man, a philosophical poem, was published between 1732 and 1734. After 1738, Pope worte little. His major concern at that time was to revise and expand his masterpiece, The Dunciad.
2 Joseph Addison(1672-1719)
Studied at Oxford, secretary of state, created a literary periodicaLeabharlann Baidu “Spectator”
(with Steele, 1711)
poet, moralist, essayist and politician Main works: Poem: The Campaign（1704） Newspaper: The Tatler (1709~1711) Journal: The Spectator (1711~1712) Play: Guardian (1713) The Haunted House (1716)
Workmanship & Significance:
Pope was an outstanding enlightener and the greatest English Poet of the Classical school in the first half of the 18th century, and a master in the art of poetry. Pope's style also depends upon his great patience in elaborating his art. He is the most important representative of the English classical poetry.
Classicism
The classicists modelled themselves on Greek and Latin Authors, and tried to control literary creation by some fixed laws and rules drawn from Greek works.
Masterpieces:
The Rape of The Lock:
A mock-heroic narrative poem, first published anonymously in May 1712. The poem satirises a minor incident by comparing it to the epic world of the gods. It was based on an actual incident recounted by his friend - a fop at the court forcibly cut off a lock of curls of a pretty maid of honour and which caused a quarrel between the families and became the talk of London. Pope satirized the triviality and silliness of the high class with a delicate wit. Pope's most famous Poem.
18th century witnessed unprecedented technical innovation.
Because of the Enclosure Movement and expropriation of peasants, landless peasants had to work in cities with low wages and for long hours. Conflicts between them and the upper classes were incessant.
poet, playwright, essayist, publisher of newspaper. Mainworks: Essay: The Christian Hero (1700) Comedy: The Funeral (1701) The Lying Lover (1703) Newspaper: The Tatler (1709~1711) Journal: The Spectator (1711~1712)
1&2
Richard Steele (1672-1729) & Joseph Addison(1672-1719)
1) Their life stories:
Their careers run parallel courses Both attend the same school and university Both enjoy the patronage of the Great Whigs Both serve government and get official positions Both are political writers and newspaper editors
Characteristics:
Rimed couplet instead of blank verse. Three unities of time, place and action.
Drama:
Regularity in construction.
Presentation of types rather than individuals
The Dunciad:
The Dunciad is a landmark literary satire by Alexander Pope, the first version published in 1728. The poem celebrates the goddess Dulness and the progress of her chosen agents as they bring decay, imbecility, and tastelessness to the Kingdom of Great Britain. The poem as a whole is a brilliant piece of satire.
Background:
The "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 ended in a compromise between the aristocracy and bourgeoisie. England became a constitutional monarchy and power passed from the King to the Parliament and the cabinet minister.
Prose of Eighteenth Century
Prose of Eighteenth Century
The 18th century is also an age of prose, especially the latter part the century. And the prose of this time are precise, direct, smooth and flexible.
Literary Career:
When he was 21, Pope's Pastorals was published. At the age of 20, he finished The Rape of The Lock, his most famous poem. When he was 23, his An Essay on Criticism was published In the same year, he formed the satirical Scriblerus Club together with Tory writers John Gay, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Parnell and John Arbuthnot. Between 27-32, he he worked his translation of the Iliad.
Characteristics:
Following The ancient divisions
Poetry:
Lyric, epic, datactic, satiric or dramatic
Guided by some peculiar principles
Prose: Precise, direct, and flexible
Leading Figures
Richard Steele (1672-1729) 1
2 Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
Leading Figures
Samuel Johnson 4 (1709-1784)
Edward Gibbon 3 (1737-1794)
1
Richard Steele (1672-1729)
Content 1.Full of contempt for feudal prejudices and the arrogance of the rich; 2.Exposed the vagaries（异常行为） of some prominent social characters, expressed public hatred to gambling and dueling（竞争）; 3.Warned his readers against swindlers(骗子) and sharpers(诈骗者), and spoke for children and women; 4.His appeal was made to the middle class.