英國文學(xué)教程Chapter One The Medieval Period

1、CHAPTER ONEThe Medieval PeriodContent 1. The Early History of England2. Early English literature3. Geoffrey Chaucer 1.4The Social Condition and Religious Belief of Anglo-SaxonLeader: warriorBelief: the old mythology of Northern Europe marks on the language: Tuesday-Tiu 戰(zhàn)神；WednesdayWoden主神；Thursday-T

2、hor雷神；Friday-frigg愛情女神（Mondayday of the moon, latin; Saturday-day of Saturn, latin; Sundayday of the sun, latin）The conversion of the AngloSaxons to Christianity: in 597, St. Augustine, Kent consistent solid values Scriptures classical writings from the ancient Greeks pilgrimage to Rome changed inte

3、llectual outlook 1.5.1.The Danish Invasion from 787, Danish Vikings king Alfred the Great (849-901) of the kingdom of Wessex, the AngloSaxon Chronicle in 1042, the regained rule of the Anglo-SaxonsA formula for the nation2.2Beowulf(a 3182line alliterative verse) monumental work in English poetry of

4、the AngloSaxon period/the national epic of the English people Germanic heritage pre-Christian elements pagan in spirit and matter Beowulf, the mixture of the pagan heroism and fatalism with Christian qualites the nonChristian story, the mixture of the thoughts on the power of a wise God, the evil be

5、 punished, the righteous be rewarded There are three episodes related in the career of Beowulf:(1) The fight with the monster, Grendel(2) The fight with Grendels mother, a still more frightful she-monster(3) The mortal combat with the Fire Dragon. (after being the king of the Geats for 50 years).Com

6、ments on the poetryThe poem is more than a fairy story of heroes combating monsters. It recaptures the values, beliefs and longing of the AngloSaxon people before they came to England. It clearly mirrors their ideals-bravery, the love of glory, honor, and duty, the loyalty of the retainer and the ge

7、nerosity of the lord. The poem unfolds a picture of an early Danish society, of its public life, its customs, rituals and cultural activities. Its chief significance lies in the portrayal of a great national hero, who is not simply a courageous warrior, but a wise ruler, and a brave fighter. He is s

8、elfless, eager to help others in distress, faithful to his people, and is ready to sacrifice his own life for their welfare. Three important features of the poem:Alliteration Metaphors and understatements The mixture of pagan and Christian elements the observing of omens(預(yù)兆) the attribution of power

9、 to fate cremation（火葬） blood-revenge the praise of worldly glory the assumption of Gods domination over the world of Devils agency among men of existence of Heaven and Hell of a last judgment of the noxiousness（有害的） of sin2.2Beowulf(a 3182line alliterative verse) monumental work in English poetry of

10、 the AngloSaxon period/the national epic of the English people Germanic heritage pre-Christian elements pagan in spirit and matter Beowulf, the mixture of the pagan heroism and fatalism with Christian qualites the nonChristian story, the mixture of the thoughts on the power of a wise God, the evil b

11、e punished, the righteous be rewarded There are three episodes related in the career of Beowulf:(1) The fight with the monster, Grendel(2) The fight with Grendels mother, a still more frightful she-monster(3) The mortal combat with the Fire Dragon. (after being the king of the Geats for 50 years).Co

12、mments on the poetryThe poem is more than a fairy story of heroes combating monsters. It recaptures the values, beliefs and longing of the AngloSaxon people before they came to England. It clearly mirrors their ideals-bravery, the love of glory, honor, and duty, the loyalty of the retainer and the g

13、enerosity of the lord. The poem unfolds a picture of an early Danish society, of its public life, its customs, rituals and cultural activities. Its chief significance lies in the portrayal of a great national hero, who is not simply a courageous warrior, but a wise ruler, and a brave fighter. He is

14、selfless, eager to help others in distress, faithful to his people, and is ready to sacrifice his own life for their welfare. Three important features of the poem:Alliteration Metaphors and understatements The mixture of pagan and Christian elements the observing of omens(預(yù)兆) the attribution of powe

15、r to fate cremation（火葬） blood-revenge the praise of worldly glory the assumption of Gods domination over the world of Devils agency among men of existence of Heaven and Hell of a last judgment of the noxiousness（有害的） of sin 2.3 William Langland (1330?-1400) “Piers the Plowman”(over 7,000 lines)Choos

16、e the best answer.l1._ defeated the English troops at Hastings .lA. Angles, Saxons and Jutes lB. Germanic peopleslC. Danish Vikings lD. Normans l?DChoose the best answer.l2.The Anglo-Saxon period ended in _.lA. 1017 B. 1042 lC. 1016 D. 1066l?DChoose the best answer.l3._ called the Middle Age has bee

17、n called the Dark Age.lA. the Anglo-Saxon period lB. the Anglo-Norman periodlC. the Anglo-Latin period lD. the Anglo-Roman periodl?BChoose the best answer.l4._ presents us the very best picture of the social life of the 14th century.lA. Piers the Plowman lB. The Canterbury TaleslC. “Beowulf” lD. The

18、 History of the Kings of Britainl?AChoose the best answer.l5._ is known as a great writer who voices the social discontent of the poor and preaches the equality of men and the dignity of labor.lA. Roger Bacon lB. Geoffrey Chaucer lC. John Wycliffe lD. William Langlandl?DChoose the best answer.l6.The

19、 literary works of _ were written in English, Norman-French and Latin.lA. Anglo-Saxon period lB. Roman period lC. Anglo-Norman period lD. Norman Conquestl？CChoose the best answer.l7._ pushed England into feudal society.lA. Julius Caesar lB. Claudius lC. King Alfred the Great lD. William Il?DChoose t

20、he best answer.l8.The seven sins are the major characters described in _s Piers the Plowman.lA. Thomas Malory lB. William LanglandlC. King AlfredlD. Layamonl?BChoose the best answer.l9. Piers the Plowman was a long poem with _ lines written by William Langland.lA. 5000lB. 6000lC. 7000lD. 8000l?CChoo

21、se the best answer.l10. Piers the Plowman was written in _ by William Langland.lA. alliterationlB. assonance (半諧音半諧音)lC. Onomatopoeia (擬聲擬聲)lD. both A and Cl?A3Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?-1400)Life 1. Chaucers brief life experiences2. Chaucers political background He adopted an attitude of opposition ag

22、ainst Catholicism and attacked the corruption of the contemporary church government in his poems.3. Chaucers contribution to English poetry He introduced from France the rhymed stanza of various types, especially the rhymed couplet of 5 accents in iambic meter (the “heroic couplet”) to English poetr

23、y. He is the first great poet who wrote in English language. He is regarded as the father of English poetry.A shy, silent but shrewd man, short, with a thoughtful face and downcast eyes.Major works: Troilus and Criseyde (about 1383) The Canterbury Tales (1378-1400)Questions about the prologue1.What

24、can we learn from the first eleven lines of “The General Prologue”?2.Why did the palmers go to Canterbury on pilgrimage?AnswerThe magnificent eighteen-line sentence that opens the General Prologue is a superb expression of a double view of the Canterbury pilgrimage. The first eleven lines are a chan

25、t of welcome to the spring with its harmonious marriage between heaven and earth which mellows vegetation, pricks fowls and stirs the heart of man with a renewing power of nature. Answer Thus, the pilgrimage is treated as an event in the calendar of nature, an aspect of the general springtime surge

26、of human energy which wakens mans love of Venus (natural love). But spring is also the season of Easter and is allegorically regarded as the time of the Redemption through the sacrificed of Jesus Christ with its connotations religious rebirth which wakens mans love of God (divine love). Answer There

27、fore, the pilgrimage is also treated as an event in the calendar of divinity, an aspect of religious piety which draws pilgrims to holy places.Canterbury Tales Characters PrioressThe Prioress, Madame Eglantyne, is a high ranking nun in the Catholic Church. She tries to impress others by speaking Fre

28、nch, but her French is very bad. She sings Church services through her nose and has good manners. Shes quiet and timid. She keeps small dogs as pets, which was against the rules of the Church. The thinking behind this was that the food that went to support pets should instead go to feed hungry peopl

29、e. She also wore jewelry, which was against Church rules, as well. The Prioress has grey eyes, a small mouth, and a broad forehead, which signified beauty in Chaucers time. The Prioress is accompanied by a nun and three priests. To show Chaucers keen observation and his unsurpassed talent for charac

30、terization, it is enough to mention the famous wife of Bath. She is the owner of a cloth factory, light-hearted, merry, somewhat vulgar, and exceedingly talkative. Somebody in the party starts her to talking about her husband, and she then relates the whole story of her married life. She has married five husbands and she expects one or two more. In one way or another, she says, she had always been able to master her husband and to rule the house. Sometimes she managed it because the husband was old and she young and pretty. There was but one husband