英國文學(xué)簡史常耀信 Chapters 1—2（課堂PPT）

1、1English LiteratureChapters 122Key Points in Chapter 1Key Points in Chapter 1lThe Old English (Anglo-Saxon) PeriodHistory of InvasionAnglo-SaxonsCaedmonBeowulfKing Alfred the GreatlBeowulfsignificanceOutline of the StorylMedieval Literature: A Brief Introduction1066Norman ConquestMiddle EnglishFeuda

2、l SocietyThe Arthurian LegendsSir Gawain and the Green KnightRobin HoodJohn Wycliffe3The Old English PeriodHistory of Invasions5th century BC: tribal kingdoms of Celtic people55 BC: invaded by the Roman Empire (under control for over 400 years)5th Century: by Germanic people: the Angles and the Saxo

3、nFrom the late 8th century on: by ferocious Vikings from Scandinavia1066: by Normans from northern France, descendants of Vikings4The Old English PeriodAnglo-Saxons5th century invaded and defeated the Celts and the RomansA branch of Germanic tribes597 AD: began to be converted to ChristianityBasical

4、ly barren in literary creation5The Old English PeriodCaedmonSecond half of the 7th centuryThe first known poet in English literary history6The Old English PeriodKing Alfred the Great9th centuryDefeated a wave of invasionsBrought peace, security and prosperityBuilt schools, wrote annals, and encourag

5、ed cultural growthDecided that literature should be written in the vernacular, or Old English7BeowulfSignificanceThe only organic whole poem to come out of the Anglo-Saxon periodAn epic of well over 3,000 linesProbably the greatest epic ever left by the ancient Germanic tribesThe most ancient ever s

6、ince the demise of the Greek and Roman literature8BeowulfOutline of the Story8th centuryScandinavia, Sweden, Denmark, King HrothgarSea monsters Grendel and his motherFiery dragon9Medieval Literature: A Brief Introduction1066Norman ConquestMiddle EnglishFeudal Society1066: the French-speaking Normans

7、 conquered EnglandThe last Anglo-Saxon King Harold died in the battle of HastingsMarked the beginning of the Middle English or Anglo-Norman periodEstablishment of the Feudal System, 1381 Peasant Rising, the completion of the Domesday Book (土地調(diào)查清冊，末日審判書) ，the launching of the Crusade, the signing of

8、the Magna Carter (大憲章) in 1215, the war with France or the Hundred Years War10Medieval Literature: A Brief IntroductionThe Arthurian Legends1147: Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britannia, collected the legends about the kingEnriched by a good number of later writersSome stories include those o

9、f the Holy Grail, Merlin， Sir Lancelot, Quest for the Holy Grail, and the death of the king.The Celtic King Arthur became a national hero for the English nationThe legend had always been popular on the European continent11Medieval Literature: A Brief IntroductionSir Gawain and the Green KnightOne im

10、portant story in the Arthurian legend.4-par work of 2,530 lines in 101 sectionsKnighthood under the scrutiny of the Christian lens is found wantingWritten in north Midland dialect12Medieval Literature: A Brief IntroductionRobin Hood Collection of 15th century medieval ballads about Robin HoodRobin H

11、ood, the hero of the poor, the enemy of the rich and the powerfulThe ballads are many in number, “Robin hood and the Monk,” “Robin Hood and the Guy of Gisborne,” “Robin Hood and the Porter,” Lytell Geste of Robin Hood13Medieval Literature: A Brief IntroductionJohn Wycliffe (1320-1384)An Oxford Schol

12、arThe translation of the Bible from the sonorous Latin Vulgate Version into Middle EnglishFar-reaching influence upon the evolution of the English languagePrecursor of Martin Luthers ReformationAll his life he kept speaking vehemently against the Pope and the whole religious hierachyHis followers fo

13、rmed what later came to be known as the Lollard movement.14Key Points in Chapter 2Key Points in Chapter 2lGeoffrey ChaucerFirst Prominent English PoetWorksChaucer and English LanguageThe Canterbury TalesFeatures of Chaucers Narration in The Canterbury TalesMajor Characters in The Canterbury TaleslTh

14、e Pre-Elizabethan Period: A Brief Introduction3 Major Events Turning the Middle Ages into the Modern TimeReformationRenaissancelThomas MoreUtopia15Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) First Prominent English PoetChaucer was the first prominent poet in history and ranks with Shakespeare as the most popular a

15、nd most widely read of all poets today. He has been one of the major influences on writers of later generations not only in England but also across the world.Sometimes called the father of English literature, Chaucer is credited by some scholars as the first author to demonstrate the artistic legiti

16、macy of the vernacular Middle English, rather than French or Latin.16Geoffrey Chaucer WorksCanterbury TalesThe Book of the DuchessThe House of FameThe Parliament of FowlsTroilus and Criseyde17Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer and English LanguageSometimes called the father of English literature, Chaucer is c

17、redited by some scholars as the first author to demonstrate the artistic legitimacy of the vernacular Middle English, rather than French or Latin.18Geoffrey ChaucerThe Canterbury TalesA collection of 20-odd storiesThe stories are framed by means of a fictitious pilgrimageThe stories in the Tales com

18、e from different sources. These include, among others, the French sources, the Italian, the biblical, the Asian, and folklore.19Geoffrey ChaucerFeatures of Chaucers Narration in The Canterbury Tales The salient features of Chaucers narration are its enormous sense of humor, its loyalty to reality, a

19、nd its infinite sense of humanity.Chaucers gallery of portraits of the people is ambitious: they come from virtually all walks of life, from the upper strata all the way down the ladder to the lower.His portrayal of the people is amazingly selective and inclusive.20Geoffrey ChaucerMajor Characters i

20、n The Canterbury TalesParson, nuns, monk, friar, summoner, pardoner, Merchant, the Wife of Bath, haberdasher (男子服飾經(jīng)銷商，雜貨商), dyer, carpenter, weaver, carpet maker, skipper （船長）21The Pre-Elizabethan Period: A Brief Introduction3 Major Events Turning the Middle Ages into the Modern TimeThe ReformationT

21、he RenaissancePrinting from movable typeJohn WycliffeMarin Luther22The Pre-Elizabethan Period: A Brief IntroductionReformationThe first voice of revolt came from John WycliffeThe Reformation first started in Germany by Martin LutherHe nailed his 95 theses on to the door of the castle church in Witte

22、nberg, just to start a discussion of matters relevant to the faith and the church.The followers of the movement, distinct now from the Catholics, became known as the Protestants, and the Reformation has also been known in history as the Protestant Reformation.They believe in the doctrine of justific

23、ation by faith, that mans justification or salvation depends on the grace of God which comes through faith alone.23The Pre-Elizabethan Period: A Brief IntroductionRenaissanceThe reformation indicated that man had made considerable progress in his epistemology. There appeared individual expression an

24、d critical thinking,The Renaissance, or the rebirth or revival of classical learning, first began in 14th century Italy.For the first time in history, the medieval minds saw the beauty of the human form and learned about the importance of human life and human values.Man began to live for his own sak

25、e more than for God and for the next world.Humanism as a movement came into existence.24Thomas More (1478-1535)UtopiaPublished in Latin in 1516, translated into English in 1551.Utopia takes a look forward to the future of man and offers an ideal which has inspired generations of serious social think

26、ers, political scientists, writers as well as humankind as a whole ever since its publication.25I The making of EnglandvWho were the early inhabitants in the island of Britain? vBritons, a tribe of CeltsvWhere did the Celts come from? vPowerful Celts in central and north Europe from 750 BC to 12 BCv

27、mainland Celts (Gauls) and island Celts (Britons and Gaels)vGaels in Scotland and Ireland speaking Gaelic26II Roman ConquestvIn 55 BC, Julius Caesar, the Roman Conqueror, occupied Britain. vIn 410, Roman Empire fell into decline. 27Significance of Roman conquestvleft no deep impression on its nation

28、al lifevRoman mode of life: theatres and baths in the towns (the city of Bath)vAppearance of Roman streets and city ancient London city28Bath, Englands world heritage cityvFounded in Roman ConquestvFamous for its hot springsvJane Austins second home: Bath museum vWife of Bath29vRoyal Crescent and th

29、e Circus built in the 18th century30Beowulf on the screen31Henry VII and Tudor Dynasty32Chaucers life (1344-1400)vBorn in 1343 in LondonvAs a son of a wine merchant and deputy to the kings butlervLittle known about his education, he could read French, Latin and Italian. vWas appointed to the househo

30、ld of the Countess of Ulster in 1357 and started his royal service since then. 335) In 1359-1360, went to France with Edward IIIs army during the Hundred Years War. 6) Got married in 13667) Went abroad several times for diplomatic and commercial missions.8) especially in Italy, he met Boccaccio and

31、Petrarch in 1372-73, much influence by the Italian humanists, such as Dante. 34 9) Died in 1400 and buried in the poets corner of Westminster Abby 10) Chaucers monument was erected in 1555.35The Canterbury TalesvA pilgrimage of 30 people on a route to and from Canterbury (England)vTo tell stories to

32、 amuse themselves on the wayvHarry Bailly, the innkeeper, promised a free meal for the best-storyteller36vIn structure: prologue and 24 stories (intended to have more than 100 stories and kept unfinished and handed down in manuscripts)vPrologue serves as a brief introduction, to enable readers to ha

33、ve a general view of the whole content. vAmong the 24 individual stories, 2 in prose and 22 in verse form. 37Wife of Baths TelevThe Wife of Bath is depicted as the new bourgeois wife asserting her independence. 38The famous lines in Canterbury Tales vWhan that Aprill, with his shoures sooteThe droghte of March hath perced to the rooteAnd bathed every veyne