2英国文学9.13

The making of the nation: (mixed blood)
Angels Britons + Saxons + Danes + Normans = English Jutes
2. Literature characteristics ★ two kinds: pagan literature and Christian literature 1) Pagan literature represents poetry and in form of oral sagas. (“Beowulf”) 2) Christian literature represents the writings developed under teaching of the monks. Representative writers: . Caedmon . Cynewulf . Alfred the Great (848-901) wrote
4. Literary term: Epic
Definition: It is, originally, an oral narrative poem, majestic both in theme and style. Epics deal with legendary or historical events of national or universal significance, involving action of broad sweep and grandeur.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.
----- (see book P. 2)
▲England’s ☆Written
national epic---The Song of Beowulf
in the early 10th C. but discovered in 1705. ☆ Has 3182 lines, two parts. ☆ Main plot... ----see book P.3
I. Historical background
﹡Before 410.AD., Britain had been a Roman province. ﹡ About 449 Jutes Denmark, landed in the Isle of Thanet. And Angles and Saxons followed. ﹡ Angels, an important Teutonic tribe furnished their new home England. Anglo-Saxon, or Old English formed. (see book p.1-2)
a verse romance of 2530 lines, derived from Celtic legend
Eg. Feast in the palace Setting: New Year’s Day& Camelot characters: challenger:
Arthur and his knights, a green Knight the green knight the bravest knight at feast
challenged:
the challenge: Result:
Brief comment on it: 1). This story is the culmination of the Arthurian romances; 2). Its theme is a series of tests on faith, courage, purity and human weakness for self-preservation; 3). By placing self-protection before honor, Gawain has sinned and fallen and become an image of Adam. Human excellence is marked by original sin, and the girdle itself remains a perpetual reminder of his weakness.
the Mid-autumn Day
Nu Wa mending the sky
legends about this festival
★ Chang E flying to the moon ★ Wu Gang cutting the cherry
bay ★ Romance of Zhu Yuanzhang and moon cake
Pan Gu created the heaven and the earth
Lecture Two ★The Anglo-Saxon Period (449 -1066A.D) ★ The Anglo-Norman Period (1066-ca. 1485)
The Anglo-Saxon Period (449 -1066A.D)
5. Popular ballads
●Popular
ballads are originally dance songs in verse form, usually in 4-line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhymed. ●They are mainly literature of peasants, created collectively by people and constantly revised in the process of being handed down from mouth to mouth. ● There were several kinds of ballads: historical, legendary, fantastical, lyrical and humorous.
The green knight will expose his neck to a blow of his own big battle-ax if any knight will agree to abide a blow in return Gawain accepted the challenge, cut down the Green knight’s head, and the latter warned Gawain to be faithful to his promise.
2) Romance Cycles (P. 18)
Three cycles: a). “matters of Britain” b). “matters of France” c). “matters of Rome”
3). Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
a). Plot Read the story on Page 18-20. ● feast in the palace; ● journey for the green chapel; ● test in the castle; ● blow in the chapel.
3. Writing features of the poem (3 points)
1) It is not a Christian but a pagan poem. 2) The use of the alliteration is a notable feature. Alliteration: A repeated initial consonant to successive words. Eg: To his kin the kindest, keenest for praise. (P.5) Sing a song of southern singer. 3) A lot of metaphors and understatements are used in the poem. Eg: the sea is called “the whale-road” or “the swan road”; the soldiers are called “shield-men”; the chieftains are called the “treasure keepers”; human-body is referred to as “the bone-house”; monster is referred to as “soul-destroyer. ”
3. The Medieval English Literature
1). Brief survey: ★ 1066 up to the mid 14th C. barren period in literature creation. ★ In the second half of the 14th C, English literature starts to flourish. ★Middle English literature is uttered by more voices, deals with a wider range of subjects and is in a greater diversity of styles, tones and genres. ★ Romance and ballad occupy and important position. ★The literature reflects the principles of the medieval Christian doctrine and emphasizes the humanity of Christ and the imagery of human passion. ------(P. 17)
The Anglo-Norman Period (1066-ca. 1350)
1. Historical background 1). The Norman Conquest In 1066, at the battle of Hastings, William, the energetic Duke of Normandy, defeated the AngloSaxons and became the King of England. 2. Consequences of the Conquest ★ Politically, feudal system and a centralized government was established; ★Religiously, the Rome-backed Catholic Church; ★Culturally, mainly language, the Norman lords spoke French, common English spoke old English. ★Normans brought to England their own literature. (P.17)
4. Medieval Romance
1). The features of Romance a). The romance was a long composition, sometimes is verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero. b). Hero: usually the knight, a man of noble birth, skilled in the use of weapons, who sets out on a journey to accomplish some goal– to protect the church and the king, to attack infidelity, to rescue a maiden, to meet a challenge, or to obey a knightly command. c). The structure is loose; written for the noble class; very exaggeration; ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้ull of supernatural things.