英国文学简答题

Topic questions：

1.Why is the 18th century called the Age of Enlightenment?

The 18th century England is known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason.

(1)The Enlightenment Movement was a progressive intellectual movement which flourished

in France and swept through the whole Western Europe. The movement was a furtherance of the Renaissance in the 15th & 16th centuries.

(2) Its purpose was to enlighten the whole world with the light of modem philosophical and

artistic ideas.

(3)English enlighteners believed in the power of reason. They considered that social

problems could be solved by human intelligence.

(4)The Enlighteners criticized different aspects of contemporary England, discussed social life

according to a more reasonable principle.

(5)The Enlightener celebrated reason or ration, equality, science and human beings’ ability

to perfect themselves and their society. They called for a reference to order, reason and advocated universal education.

(6)Famous among the great enlighteners in England were those great writers like John

Dryden, Alexander pope and so on.

ment on Alexander Pope and his contributions to English poetry.

Alexander Pope is the greatest poet of the Augustan age, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. His major works are Essay on Criticism, Essay on Man, The Rape of the Lock.

He was so perfect in heroic couplets that no one can approach him. And in the field of satiric and didactic verse, he was the undisputed master. He popularized the neo-classical literary tradition. He was one of the early representatives of the Enlightenment who introduced into English culture the spirit of rationalism and greater interest in the human world. He represented the highest glory and authority in matters of literary art and made great contributions to the theory and practice of prosody.

3.What do you find admirable in Robinson Crusoe? Discuss briefly some of his traits.

Robinson Crusoe developed from a naïve and artless youth into a clever and hardened man, tempered by numerous trials in this eventful life. He successfully struggled alone against the pitiless forces of nature on a lonely island. He is a real hero, and the best qualities of his character are shown to the full: his marvelous capacity for work, his boundless energy and persistence in overcoming obstacles.

4. Analyze the character of Tom Jones in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling.

Tom Jones is the pattern of the good-natured unheroic hero of the age. He is a very handsome young man of manly virtues: kind, frank, generous, high-spirited, loyal and courageous, but