英国文学第8课

1. Daniel Defoe(1661—1731)

a pioneer novelist of England and also a prolific writer of books and pamphlets on a great variety of subjects.from a dissenter’s family: Presbyterian butcher having a questionable character in politics, but strong belief in religious freedom fiction:

Robinson Crusoe Moll Flanders contribution to journalism & regulating English trade methods and principles

3) characteristics of his fiction:

a. Robinson Crusoe:

(1) based on real experience of a Scottish sailor but combined with his own imagination, it is still a fictional work.

(2) using the picaresque frame with a story in the shape of a journal and having strong sense of journalistic truth; containing serious wisdom of life

(3) The importance of the hero:

i. typical of the rising English bourgeois class, practical and diligent with a restless curiosity to know more about the world and a desire to prove individual power in the face of social and natural challenges

ii. a real hero of middle class different from the hero of knights or epic hero (4) moral teaching: sing praise of labour, presenting it as the source of human pride and happiness as well as a means to change man’s living conditions from desperation to prosperity

(5) limitations: i. praise colonization overseas through the relationship with Friday

ii. his attitude to woman is open to criticism

b. Moll Flanders: ii.(1) its story

(2) the significance, one is for the first a woman being the protagonist; artistically more mature than Robinson: better structure and better plot; so it is written in an autobiographical form called a memoir

c. the after class research topic:

read the rest authors of the century and find out each one’s literary characteristics.

2. Jonathan Swift(1667-1745)

a churchman and also a university graduate who viewed human society with contempt and has been called a cynic and even a misanthrope.

1) his life story:

His father was died before he was born, and he had to accept the aid of his

relatives and finished his study at Dublin University.

2) his literary achievements:

satirical essays: The Battle of Books(1696-1698), A Tale of the Tub(1696-1698) Writings in pamphlets:The Draiper’s Letters, A Modest Proposal

fiction:Gulliver’s Travel(1726)

3) characteristics of his pamphlets:

a. criticizing the oppression and exploitation of the Irish people by the absentee landlords and the English government.

b. using bitter satire

⏹The battle of Books: a debate happening 18th century. Some people

modern people

⏹The Tale of the Tub: a satire on various religious sects: Catholic, Anglican

and dissenters’churches: changes done by different churches to the Christian doctrines

⏹The Draiper’s Letters revealing the corruption and license, debased

⏹ A Modest Proposal: a satire on the English government’s heavy

exploitation

4) A Modest Proposal

a.It is a bitter satire on the policy of the English government towards the Irish people.

b.Swift in this article suggested to the Irish people that the best way to end their misery was to produce children and sell them at market as a delicious dish for the rich.

3. Joseph Addison(1672-1719) and Richard Steele(1672-1729) 1) their life stories: they were born in the same year, attended the same school and later studied at the same university.they had the same political trend.

2) their literary achievements:

Joseph Addison & Richard Steele

started the periodical essays that were the most characteristic genre of 18thcentury literature.

contribution to the periodicals:

The Tatler, The Spectator, The Guardian

3) characteristics of their periodical essays:

⏹ a. their method was admirably adapted to their purpose.

⏹ b. dealt with light topics-fashions, head-dresses, practical jokes, polite

conversations, discussed art, philosophy, drama, and poetry, and sought in so doing not only to interest the general reader in such subjects, but also to guide and develop their tastes.

⏹ c. were full of wit, humor, and satire.

⏹ D. draw some images of some typical middle class people:

⏹ E. their style, graceful, poised, well balanced, familiar words and

expressions to the readers,

4) Aims of their writing: