英國(guó)文學(xué)史選讀The-Anglo-Saxon-Period推薦課件

1、British Literature I2021/8/221Part II The Anglo-Saxon Period (449 A.D.-1066 A.D.)British Literature I2021/8/222 讓學(xué)生了解并掌握以下幾個(gè)知識(shí)點(diǎn)：讓學(xué)生了解并掌握以下幾個(gè)知識(shí)點(diǎn)：1. 1. 英國(guó)盎格魯英國(guó)盎格魯- -撒克遜時(shí)期的文學(xué)概況；撒克遜時(shí)期的文學(xué)概況；2.2.古英語(yǔ)詩(shī)歌的分類及特征；古英語(yǔ)詩(shī)歌的分類及特征；3.3.史詩(shī)史詩(shī)貝奧武甫貝奧武甫賞析；賞析；4.4.英語(yǔ)修辭手法頭韻、抑言陳述。英語(yǔ)修辭手法頭韻、抑言陳述。British Literature I2021/8/223II.

2、Characteristics of Anglo- Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon PoetryIII.IV. Anglo-Saxon ProseV. AssignmentsThe Historical BackgroundI.British Literature I2021/8/224The making of the nation: from the following formula, we can know that the English people are of a mixed blood: BritonsNormansDanesEnglishAngles

3、SaxonsJutesBritish Literature I2021/8/225There are three famous conquests in the British history which have enormous impact on British literature.(1)The Roman Conquest (55B.C-410A.D.)(2) The Anglo-Saxon Conquest (449-1066)(3) The Norman Conquest (1066-1485)British Literature I2021/8/226There were tw

4、o literary divisions: one was pagan and the other was religious. And the main literary forms are poetry and prose, and poetry was in oral form. British Literature I2021/8/227Three characteristics:1. Anglo-Saxon literature is almost a verse literature in oral form. It was only given a written form lo

5、ng after its composition. 2. There are two groups of English poetry in Anglo-Saxon periodpagan (世俗詩(shī)) and religious （宗教詩(shī)） poetry. Pagan poetry was represented by Beowulf while religious poetry was represented by the works of Caedmon （凱德蒙） and Cynewulf(塞內(nèi)武甫）.3. In the 8th century, Anglo-Saxon prose ap

6、peared. The famous prose writers of that period were Venerable Bede （比德） and Alfred the Great （阿爾弗烈德大王）. British Literature I2021/8/2281. Pagan Poetry（世俗詩(shī)）The pagan poetry, also called secular poetry, does not contain any specific Christian doctrine and emphasizes on the harshness of circumstance an

7、d the helplessness of humans before the power of fate. Beowulf is the representative.2. Religious Poetry（宗教詩(shī)）The religious poetry is also called Christian poetry. It is mainly on biblical stories and saints lives. But sometimes there is a mixture of Christian and pagan ideas in these poems. It is re

8、presented by Caedmon and Cynewulf. British Literature I2021/8/229i. Introductionii. Significance of “Beowulf”iii. Poetic Form and Features of “Beowulf”iv. What is an epic?British Literature I2021/8/2210British Literature I2021/8/2211Its characters: Beowulf: nephew of Hygelac Hygelac: king of Yeats i

9、n Jutland Hrothgar: king of the Danes Grendel: a monsterGrendels mother: she-monster British Literature I2021/8/22122. Its plot:Beowulfs fight with the monster Grendel in Hrothgars hall (Heorot)2) Beowulfs slaying of Grendels mother in her lair 3) Beowulfs return to his uncle, and his succession to

10、the throne. 4) Beowulfs victory in death, fifty years later, over the fire dragon British Literature I2021/8/2213 The Story of Beowulf illustrated by the following 14 pictures: British Literature I2021/8/2214British Literature I2021/8/2215British Literature I2021/8/2216British Literature I2021/8/221

11、7British Literature I2021/8/2218British Literature I2021/8/2219British Literature I2021/8/2220British Literature I2021/8/2221British Literature I2021/8/2222British Literature I2021/8/2223British Literature I2021/8/2224British Literature I2021/8/2225British Literature I2021/8/2226British Literature I

12、2021/8/2227British Literature I2021/8/2228 It is the longest & finest of extant old English poems & the national epic of the English people. It sings of the exciting adventures of a great legendary hero whose physical strength demonstrates his high spiritual qualities, i.e. his resolution to

13、 serve his country & kinsfolk, his true courage, courteous conduct, and his love of honor. In the poem, Beowulf is strong, courageous, selfless, and ready to risk his life in order to rid his people of evil monsters. (Thematically, this poem shows how the primitive people fight against the force

14、s of the natural world under a wise & mighty leader.)British Literature I2021/8/2229Form: Beowulf was written in alliterative verse (頭韻頭韻) .Features: (1) The use of alliteration is one of its most striking features. (In alliterative verse, certain stressed words in a line begin with the same con

15、sonant sound. There are 4 stresses in a line generally, three or two of which show alliteration, as can be seen from the lines from the end of the poem: “Thus made their mourning the men of Greatland,For their heros passing, his hearth-companionsQuoth that of all the kings of earth,Of men he was the

16、 mildest and most beloved,To his kin the kindest, keenest to praise.” (In modern translation)British Literature I2021/8/2230(2)The use of compound-words (kennings) to serve as metaphors: “Ring-giver” is used for king, “hearth-companion” for his attendant warriors, “swans bath” or “whales road” for s

17、ea, “sea-wood” for ship, the soldiers are called shield-men; the chieftains are called the treasure keepers; human-body is referred to as the bone- house; God is called wonder-wielder ; monster is referred to as soul-destroyer， “birds joy” refers to the wing, “skys candle” refers to the sun, etc. (S

18、uch metaphors occur in great numbers.)British Literature I2021/8/2231(3) The use of understatements(抑言陳述抑言陳述) or euphemism (委婉語(yǔ)委婉語(yǔ))The use of understatements gives an impression of reserve, and at times, a tinge of ironical humor. This quality is often regarded as a permanent characteristic of Engli

19、sh.e.g “not troublesome” for very welcome, “need not praise” for a right to condemn, “sword-play” for fighting, “sleeping” or “l(fā)eaving lifes feast” for death, etc.（4） It is not a Christian but a pagan poem, despite the Christian flavor given to it by the monastery scribe. It is the product of all ad

20、vanced pagan civilization. The whole poem presents us an all-round picture of the tribal society and Christian culture. The social conditions and customs can be seen in it. So the poem has a great social significance. British Literature I2021/8/2232epic(heroic poem): an extended narrative poem in el

21、evated or dignified language, like Homers Iliad & Odyssey. It usually celebrates the feats of one or more legendary or traditional heroes.British Literature I2021/8/2233The religious poetry is also called Christian poetry. It is mainly on biblical stories and saints lives. But sometimes there is

22、 a mixture of Christian and pagan ideas in these poems. It is represented by Caedmon （凱德蒙） and Cynewulf （塞內(nèi)武甫）.British Literature I2021/8/2234Caedmon is the first known religious poet of England. He is known as the father of English song. His life story is vividly described in Bedes Historic Ecclesi

23、astical（英格蘭人教會(huì)史）. His first poem is called The Hymn of Praise (贊美詩(shī)）. Later on, Caedmon composed many other poems by using the biblical materials.British Literature I2021/8/2235Cynewulf lived in the early 9th century. Except the unknown composer of Beowulf, he is regarded as the greatest Anglo-Saxon

24、poet. Of his life we know very little. He was probably an ecclesiastic 牧師 and a scholar. His name remained unknown until 1840.Cynewulf took his subject matter partly from the church liturgy, more largely from the homilies of Gregory the Great. Throughout the poem, a deep love for Christ and reverenc

25、e for Virgin Mary are expressed.British Literature I2021/8/2236Prose literature did not show its appearance until the 8th century. There were two famous prose writers: Venerable Bede, Alfred the Great.British Literature I2021/8/2237The most important of his works is The Ecclesiastical History of the

26、 English People（英格蘭人教會(huì)史）. The book not only tells us how religion was introduced and spread in England but also recounts some historical events of that period and Anglo-Saxon mythological legends. British Literature I2021/8/2238Alfred the Great, king of Wessex kingdom, is another important figure in prose writing of Anglo-Saxon period. During his reign, he tried every means to improve the state of education, such as founding colleges, and importing teachers from Europe. He was a well-known trans