英国文学笔记

The influence of Bacon’s scientific spirit on his literature Francis Bacon was a versatile figure in the period of transition from the Renaissance to the early modern era, who made great contributions to wide range of fields varing from natural science, philosophy to literature. In the field of science, he is well known for devising an inductive method of reasoning in scientific study. In the filed of philosophy, he is the forerunner of English materialism because he stressed the importance of experience and experiment, which is in direct opposition to the superstition and scholasticism of the Middle Ages. It is this scientific spirit that lead to the brevity, preciseness and powerfulness of his literature works.

In his life, Bacon wrote 58 essays, which are the reflection and comments, mostly on the rather abstract subject. He wrote to inform young men of his age how to be efficient, just as his scientific spirit. Bacon’s essay is the first example of that genre in English literature, which was the landmark of in the development of English prose and began the long English essay tradition.

The essential qualities of his essays are conciseness, brevity and powerfulness and logic. Take his Of Studies for example, the arguments are well arranged in unity and coherence in the first sentence, which point out the main functions of studies is delight, ornament and ability. Besides, he analyze the different methods adopted which lead to different results, and the benefits of studies which help to shape characters. The rhetorical devices also add to the brilliance of the essay. The analogy make his essay concrete, vivid and rich. The ellipsis makes the essay concise, clear and coherent. The natural flow of parallels makes his logic and philosophical arguments convincingly and forcefully.

As versatile, towering figure in English history, he made wide range of contributions varying from science to literature, but it is supposed to be seen that all these fields are interrelated for Francis Bacon. It is his scientific spirit of materialism that makes his essays peculiar at his age for their conciseness, brevity, logic and powerfulness.

The age of Geoffrey Chaucer:

Backgroung of the time of Chaucer:

1. hundred years’ war between English kings and French kings: awakeing of

national conciousness and French language was gradually replaced.

2. peasant uprising caused by exploitation and oppression of feudal lords( heavy

taxes, the peasant rebellion was treacherously suppressed.

3-----the father of English poetry father of English language a new age.

He had a variety of occupations; coutier, soldier, ambassador, legislator, so he was familiar with the lives of various classes. Buried in westerminster

abbey

The Canterbury Tales

It tells a story of a group of pilgrims who are going to St. Thomas Beckett’ Tomb at cantebury from the Tabbard Inn and each one of them has to tell 2 stories on the outward trip and another 2 on the way back, and the best story teller will be rewarded with a nice supper at the rest of all the rest.

The significance of the Canterbury:

1.It gives a comprehensive picture of Chaucer’s time. The pilgrims covers a wide

range of characters in the England of the time, from noble man to peasants.

2.The dramatic structure of the poem has been highly commented by critics. Stories

are cleverly woven together by links between each other. Most stories are related to the personality of the teller.

3.Chaucer’s humor: his satire and irony “the smyler with the knyf under the cloke”

4.His contribution to language: he wrote in the London dialect of his time, which he

used skillfully. He proved English could be a beautiful language and cane be

handled to express deferent mood. By doing so, he greatly increase the prestige of the English language. He introduced heroic

Heroic couplet: a pair of rhyming iambic pentameter.

: 14th –mid 17th started in Italy

The Renaissance - rebirth or revival of ancient Roman & Greek culture. The essence of renaissance is humanism. People emphasize the dignity of human being & the importance of the present life, it was against human nature to sacrifice the happiness of this life for after life. Man should be given full freedom to enrich the intellectual and emotional life. In literatue, instead of praising god, they sang in praise of man and advocate the pursuit of happiness in this life, shttered the shackles of spiritual bondage of man’s kind.

Best representatives: Thomas More, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare

The Elizabethan drama: the real mainstream of English Renaissance

Most famous dramatists: Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson

作品：

1. apprenticeship : Henry Ⅵ, Richard Ⅲ…

2. rapid growth and development: Richard Ⅱ, Henry Ⅳ, Henry Ⅴ, King John…

Comedies: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night…