《英國文學(xué)》配套教學(xué)課件

GeoffreyChaucer1343?—1400TounderstandChaucer’spositionas“FatherofEnglishLiterature,”itisimportanttohaveanideaofwhatEnglishliteraturewaslikebeforehimaswellasduringhistime.WhatdoyouknowabouttheOldEnglishPeriodandtheMedievalPeriod,suchastheirtimespan,theirmajorliteraryforms,etc.?OldEnglishperiod:450(Anglo-SaxonConquest)—1066(NormanConquest)epicsasthemajorliteraryformofthisperiodMedievalperiod:1066—1485(AccessionofHenryVIIandtheprintingofthefirstbooksinEngland)romanceprevalentduringthisperiod“Heroic”and“chivalric”aretwokeywordspeopleoftenusetodescribethemoralvaluesoftheOldandMedievalEnglishPeriods.WhichofthetwowordsgoesfortheOldEnglishPeriod,andwhichfortheother?Whatis(are)themajordifference(s)betweenheroicandchivalriccodesofbehavior?Theheroicwayoflife:unknowndestiny,deliberatechoiceothervaluesbelongingtothewarriorsociety:mutualtrustandrespectbetweenthewarriorandhislord;serviceandrewards;thekingorthechiefwarrioras“protectorofwarriors,”“dispenseroftreasure”or“ringgiver”—astrongsenseofcommunityChivalriccodesofbehaviorloyalty(totheking,theChurch,andone’slady),righteousness,courage,generosity,andcourtesy;influenceoftheheroicwarriorcodes,butmuchmoresophisticatedandfundamentallyChristianized（e.g.descriptionofaknightandhissquireintheGeneralPrologue

ofTheCanterburyTales）

FamousRomancesFamousromancesofchivalry:KingArthurandtheKnightsoftheRoundTableFamousmedievalromances:e.g.SirGawainandtheGreenKnightbyananonymouspoet；Laterwritingsinthegenreofromance:

TheFaerieQueenebyEdmundSpenser,DonQuixotebyCervantes,Tennyson’sIdyllsoftheKing

WhichofthefollowingexpressionsarelikelytobefoundinanintroductiontoChaucer?InfluenceofItalianRenaissancemessengerofhumanismFatherofEnglishDramathefirstimportantrealisticwritercomicspiritquietlifeandcareerheroiccouplet.TextAnalysisAKnighttherwas,andthataworthyman,ThatfrothetymethathefirstbiganToridenout,helovedchivalrie,Troutheandhonour,fredomandcurteisie. worthy:respectable,eminent toridenout:togocampaining chivalrie:nobility;knights’behavior Trouthe:Integrity. “Fredom”isheregenerosityofspirit,“curteisye”iscourtesy.

Fulworthywasheinhislordeswerre,Andthertohaddeheridden,nomanferre,AswelinCristendomasinhethenesse,Andeverehonouredforhisworthinesse.

were:warthereto:fromthenonAnd:Andhewas.AtAlisaundrehewas,whanitwaswonne.Alisaundre:TheKnighthastakenpartincampaignsfoughtagainstallthreegroupsofpaganswhothreatenedEuropeduringthe14thcentury:theMoslemsintheNearEast,fromwhomAlexandriawasseizedafterafamoussiege;thenorthernbarbariansinPrussia,Lithuania,andRussia;andtheMoorsinNorthAfrica.Theplacenamesinthefollowinglinesrefertobattlegroundsinthesecontinuingwars.Fuloftetymehehaddetheboordbigonne

AbovenallenacionsinPruce;InLettouhadhereised,andinRuce,NoCristenmansoofteofhisdegree.haddetheboordbigonne:satintheseatofhonoratmilitaryfeasts.InGernadeatthesege

eekhaddehebeOfAlgezir,andrideninBelmarye.AtLyeiswashe,andatSatalye,Whantheywerewonne;andintheGreteSee

Atmanyanobleariveehaddehebe.sege:wareek:alsotheGreteSee:theMediterranean.Atmortalbataileshaddehebeenfifteene,AndfoughtenforourefaithatTramisseneInlistesthries,andayslaynhisfo.

mortalbatailes:tournamentsfoughttothedeath.listes:lists,tournamentgrounds.ay:alwaysThisilkeworthyknighthaddebeenalsoSometimewiththelordofPalatyeAgainanotherhetheninTurkye.

ilke:samethelordofPalatye:apagan.AlliancesofconveniencewereoftenmadeduringtheCrusadesbetweenChristiansandpagans.Andeveremorehehaddeasovereynpris;Andthoughthathewereworthy,hewaswis,Andofhisportasmeekeasisamaide.

sovereynpris:outstandingreputationworthy:valiantport:bearing,mannerHenevereyitnovilainyenesaideInalhislifuntonomanerewight.Hewasaverray,parfit,gentilknight.nomanerewight:anysortofperson.InMiddleEnglish,negativesaremultipliedforemphasis:asinthesetwolines:“nevere,”“no,”“ne,”“no.”

verray,parfit,gentil:true,perfect,noble(excellent)Butfortotellenyouofhisarray,Hishorsweregoode,buthewasnatgay.Offustianheweredagipoun

Albismoteredwithhishabergeoun

array:dress;apperanceFustian:棉亞麻混紡粗布gipoun:tunicwornunderneaththecoatofmail.…h(huán)abergeoun:allrust-sustainedfromhishauberk(coatofmail).Forhewaslatecomefromhisviage,Andwentefortodoonhispilgrimage.viage:journeyWithhymtherwashissone,ayongSquier,Alovereandalusty

bacheler,Withlokkescrulleastheywereleidinpresse.Oftwentyyeerofagehewas,Igesse.Ofhisstaturehewasofevenelengthe,Andwonderlydelivere,andofgreetstrengthe.

Squier:Bachelor,ayoungknightstillintheserviceofanolderone.lusty:lively,pleasingdelivere:activeAndhehaddebeensomtimeinchivachye

InFlaundres,inArtois,andPicardye,Andbornhymwelasofsolitelspace,Inhopetostondeninhisladygrace.inchivachye:oncavalryexpeditions.TheplacesinthenextlinearesitesofskirmishesintheconstantwarfarebetweentheEnglishandtheFrench.asofsolitelspace:consideringthelittletimehehadbeeninservice.Embroudedwasheasitwereamede,Alfuloffressheflowres,whiteandrede;Singinghewas,orfloiting,altheday:HewasasfresshasisthemonthofMay.Shortwashisgowne,withsleeveslongeandwide.Welcoudehesitteonhors,andfaireride.mede:mead,meadow.floiting:whistlingHecoudesongesmake,andwelendite,Juste,andeekdaunce,andwelportrayeandwrite.Sohoteheloved,thatbynightertaleHesleptenamorethandoothanightingale.Curteishewas,lowely,andservisable,Andcarfbifornhisfaderatthetable.endite:writeJuste:Joust,fightinatournament.bynightertale:atnight.servisable:willingtoserveAYemanhaddeheandservantsnamoAtthattime,forhymlisterideso;Andhewascladincoteandhoodofgreene.Asheefofpecokarwes,brightandkeene

Yeman:AnindependentcommonerwhoactsastheKnight’smilitaryservant;“he”istheKnight.hymliste:itpleasedhimto.clad:clothedUnderhisbelthebarfulthriftily,Welcoudehedressehistakelyemanly:Hisarwesdroupednoughtwithfethereslowe.Andinhishandhebaramightybowe.fulthriftily:veryproperlycoude:knowverywellYemanly:inaworkmanlikeway.Anot-heedhaddehe,withabrownvisage,Ofwodecraftwelcoudehealtheusage.Uponhisarmhebaragaybracer,Andbyhissideaswerdandabokeler,not-heed:closelycroppedVisage:facegaybracer:wristguardforarchers.bokeler:buckler(asmallshield).Cristophre:St.Christophermedal.AndonthatothersydeagaydaggereHarneisedwelandsharpeaspointofspere.ACristophreonhisbrestofsilversheene;Anhornhebar,thebawdrikwasofgreene;Aforsterwashesoothly,asIgesse.Cristophre:St.Christophermedal.bawdrik:baldric,asupportingstrap.foster:game-keeper,forestersoothly:truelyDiscussionTopicPleasepresenttheimageoftheknight,thesquire,andtheyeomaninyourownwords.Whatarethemaincharacterofeachofthethreefigures?HomeAssignments:Whatdoyouknowabouttheepicsandmedievalromancesrespectivelyasaliterarygenre?WouldyoupleaseconsultdictionaryandreferencebookstofigureoutthemeaningoftherestlinesofTextA?TheEndThankyou!Lecture2ChristopherMarlowe(1564–1593)1.Backgroundquestions

TheEnglishRenaissanceisalongperiodextendingfromthelate15thcenturytothemid17thcentury.CanyounamesomeoftheimportantmonarchswhoreignedduringtheRenaissanceperiod?ThereignofHenryVIIIfrom1509to1547ThereignofElizabethIfrom1558to1603(TudorDynasty)RenaissancehumanismHumanismistakenastheessenceoftheRenaissance.Whatdoyouknowaboutitsorigin,itspersistentemphasis,anditsexpressioninEnglishliterature?Renaissancehumanism:arevivedinterestinclassicallearningandvalues;theimportanceofhumanvalues

Expressionsofhumanism

inRenaissanceliterature:

referencestoclassicalwritingsemphasisonthedignityofhumanbeings—agloriouscreaturescapableofindividualdevelopmentandontheimportanceofthepresentlife.Whatarethepossiblesocial,economicandculturalreasonsfortheemergenceofindividualismintheRenaissanceperiod?marketeconomysocietybasedonimpersonalrelationshipsmainculturalreason:theReformationRenaissance

TheRenaissancewasthegreatfloweringofart,architecture,politics,andthestudyofliterature,usuallyseenastheendoftheMiddleAgesandthebeginningofthemodernworld,whichcameaboutundertheinfluenceofGreekandRomanmodels.ItbeganinItalyinthelate14thcentury,culminatedintheHighRenaissanceintheearlyl6thcentury(theperiodofMichelangeloandMachiavelli),andspreadtotherestofEuropeinthe15thcenturyandafterwards.Itsemphasiswashumanist:thatis,onregardingthehumanfigureandreasonwithoutanecessaryrelatingofittothesuperhuman.SelectedReading

ActI,SceneIIIfromTheTragicalHistoryofDr.FaustusCentralissuesofconcern:thegrowthofindividualconsciousnessintheRenaissanceanditsevidenceinDr.FaustusPreviewquestions(1)Pleaselookatthe“CastofCharacters”fromamedievalmoralityplayentitledEverymaninAssignedreadings.What’sitsviewofmanintermsofindividualityorgeneralityaswecanseeinthe“CastofCharacters”aswellasinthetitle?ThecharactersofEverymanrepresentcategoriesorabstractqualities.Everymanasthetitleemphasizesgeneralityratherthanindividuality.

Previewquestions(2)Asplaysaboutreligioussalvationanddamnation,Dr.FaustusandEverymanaresimilar,buttheyarealsoverydifferent,especiallywheretheheroesandtheirrepresentationalmeaningsareconcerned.ReadTextAandseehowDr.FaustusisdifferentfromEveryman.Similarities:BothplaysaboutreligioussalvationanddamnationDifferences:TheheroofDr.FaustusisnotageneralrepresentativeofhumanitylikeEveryman,butaparticular,andveryspecial,individual.TheheroofDr.Faustusisdamned,notsaved.It’satragedy.TextAnalysisFaustusNowthatthegloomyshadowofthenight,LongingtoviewOrion’sdrizzlinglook,LeapsfromtheAntarcticworlduntotheskyAnddimsthewelkinwithherpitchybreath,Faustus,beginthineincantations Orion:Orionwastraditionallyarainyconstellation,appearingatthebeginningofwinter.welkin:skypitchy:darkthineincantations:yourcurseAndtryifdevilswillobeythyhest,Seeingthouhasprayedandsacrificedtothem.WithinthiscircleisJehovah’sname

[Hedrawsthecircleontheground.]

Forwardandbackwardanagrammatized,Thebreviatednamesofholysaints, FiguresofeveryadjuncttotheheavensAndcharactersofsignsanderringstars,Bywhichthespiritsareenforcedtorise.Thenfearnot,Faustus,butberesoluteAndtrytheuttermostmagiccanperform.[Thunder]anagrammatize:theplayofwords

[EnterMephistophilisintheshapeofadragon.]Ichargetheetoreturnandchangethyshape;Thouarttoouglytoattendonme,Go,andreturnanoldFranciscanfriar;Thatholyshapebecomesadevilbest.[ExitMeph.]

Franciscanfriar圣芳濟修會的修道士Iseethere’svirtueinmyheavenlywords;Whowouldnotbeproficientinthisart?HowpliantisthisMephistophilis,Fullofobedienceandhumility!Suchistheforceofmagicandmyspells.pliant:yielding,submissivehumility:humblenessspell:incantation,cursewordNowFaustus,thouartconjurerlaureateThatcanstcommandgreatMephistophilis:Quin

redis,Mephistophilis,fratris

imagine!

[Re-enterMephistophilislikeaFriar.]

conjurer：wizard,sorcererQuin

redis,Mephistophilis,fratris

imagine!:“Return,Mephistophilis,inthelikenessofafriar!”MephistophilisNow,Faustus,whatwouldstthouhavemedo?FaustusIchargetheewaituponmewhilstIliveTodowhateverFaustusshallcommand, BeittomakethemoondropfromhersphereOrtheoceantooverwhelmtheworld.MephistophilisIamaservanttogreatLuciferAndmaynotfollowtheewithouthisleave:Nomorethanhecommandsmustweperform. FaustusDidnothechargetheetoappeartome?MephistophilisNo,Icamenowhitherofmyownaccord.FaustusDidnotmyconjuringspeechesraisethee?Speak!hither:(oldEnglish)adv.here(antonym:thither)accord:willMephistophilisThatwasthecause,butyetperaccident,ForwhenwehearonerackthenameofGod,AbjuretheScripturesandhisSaviorChrist,Weflyinhopetogethisglorioussoul;

peraccident:incidentallyrack:tormentabjure:forswear,retract

NorwillwecomeunlessheusesuchmeansWherebyheisindangertobedamned;ThereforetheshortestcutforconjuringIsstoutlytoabjuretheTrinityAndpraydevoutlytothePrinceofHell.FaustusSoIhavedone,andholdthisprinciple,ThereisnochiefbutonlyBelzebubTowhomFaustusdothdedicatehimself. Thisword“damnation”terrifiesnotmeForIconfoundhellinElysium;Myghostbewiththeoldphilosophers!Butleavingthesevaintriflesofmen’ssouls—Tellme,whatisthatLuciferthyLord?

confoundhellinElysium:donotdistinguishbetweenhellandElysium(thepaganafter-world).theoldphilosophers:wholivedbeforetheRedemptionandneitherknewofnorcouldgotoHeaven.vain:futileMephistophilisArch-regentandcommanderofallspirits.Arch-regent:maningreatpowerFaustusWasnotthatLuciferanAngelonce?MephistophilisYes,Faustus,andmostdearlylovedofGod.FaustusHowcomesit,then,thatheisPrinceofdevils?MephistophilisO,byaspiringprideandinsolence, ForwhichGodthrewhimfromthefaceofheaven.aspiring:ambitiousinsolence:arroganceFaustusAndwhatareyouthatlivewithLucifer?MephistophilisUnhappyspiritsthatfellwithLucifer,ConspiredagainstourGodwithLucifer,AndareforeverdamnedwithLucifer. FaustusWhereareyoudamned?MephistophilisInhell.FaustusHowcomesit,then,thatthouartoutofhell?MephistophilisWhy,thisishell,noramIoutofit:ThinkstthouthatIwhosawthefaceofGod, Andtastedtheeternaljoysofheaven,Amnottormentedwithtenthousandhells,Inbeingdeprivedofeverlastingbliss?OFaustus,leavethesefrivolousdemands,Whichstrikeaterrortomyfaintingsoul!frivolous:sillyfainting:paleFaustusWhat,isgreatMephistophilissopassionate,Forbeingdeprivedofthejoysofheaven?LearnthouofFaustusmanlyfortitude

Andscornthosejoysthounevershallpossess.Go,bearthesetidingstogreatLucifer:

passionate:sorrowful

fortitude:courage,strength

tidings:message,information

SeeingFaustushathincurredeternaldeath,BydesperatethoughtsagainstJove’sdeity,Sayhesurrendersuptohimhissoul,Sohewillsparehimfourandtwentyyears,Lettinghimliveinallvoluptuousness, incur:bringon,contractJove’sdeity:God’sspiritvoluptuousness:engagementindebauchery

Havingtheeevertoattendonme:TogivemewhatsoeverIshallask,TotellmewhatsoeverIdemand,Toslaymineenemies,andaidemyfriends,Andalwaysbeobedienttomywill. Go,andreturntomightyLucifer,Andmeetmeinmystudyatmidnight,Andthenresolvemeofthymaster’smind.

MephistophilisIwill,Faustus.[Exit.]FaustusHadIasmanysoulsastherebestars, I’dgivethemallforMephistophilis!ByhimI’llbegreatEmperoroftheworld,Andmakeabridgethoroughthemovingair,Topasstheoceanwithabandofmen;I’lljointhehillsthatbindtheAfricshore,AndmakethatcountrycontinenttoSpain,Andbothcontributorytomycrown;TheEmperorshallnotlivebutbymyleave,NoranyPotentateofGermany.potentate:dictatorNowthatIhaveobtainedwhatIdesire I’llliveinspeculationofthisart,‘TilMephistophilisreturnagain.[Exit.]speculation:ventureTopicsforafter-readingdiscussion(1)WhatareFaustus’sgreatambitionsthatyouseeintheabovescene?Wheredoyouseehischallengetoorthodoxideasandpower?Topicsforafter-readingdiscussion(2)ThescenepresentsnotonlyFaustusasaspecialindividual,butalsoMephistophilis,onlyinaverydifferentaspect.Readlines69-73onceagaintograspMephistophilis’ideaoftheinnerhell.Howisitrelatedtoone’sindividualconsciousness?ToMephistophilis,Hellisnolongeraphysicallocation,butone’spsychologicalandindividualfeelingofsuffering.M’swordsdescribetheinternalstateoftheself.Topicsforafter-readingdiscussion(3)Asatragichero,FaustusisbothsimilartoanddifferentfromGreektragicheroes.Howdoyouunderstandtheirsimilaritiesanddifferences?Similarities: Atragicheromustbeamanofgreatstature,whosepowerfulpersonalityenableshimorhertoputupaheroicchallengeagainstFateorauthority.Differences: Faustus’sgreatstaturecomesfromhisextraordinaryambitionandmentalscope,ratherthanfromhisoutstandingsocialposition,whichtheGreektragicheroesmusthaveandFaustusasscholarandmagiciandoesnotpossess.ArtisticFeaturesofMarloweMarlowe’splaysshow,invariousways,thespiritoftherisingbourgeoisie,itseagercuriosityforknowledge,itstoweringpride,itsinsatiableappetiteforpowerwhetherthatbewonbymilitarymight,knowledgeorgold.ThethemeofMarlowe’splaysisthepraiseofindividualityfreedfromtherestraintsofmedievaldogmasandlaw,andtheconvictionoftheboundlesspossibilityofhumaneffortsinconqueringtheuniverse.TheheroesinMarlowe’splaysaremerelyindividuals.MarlowewasthegreatestofthepioneersofEnglishdrama,reformingitandperfectedthelanguage.Hefirstmadeblankverse(rhymelessiambicpentameter)theprincipalinstrumentofEnglishdrama,pavingthewayfortheplaysofthegreatestEnglishdramatist—Shakespeare.TheEnd

Thankyou!WilliamShakespeare"Hewasnotofanage,butforalltime."WilliamShakespeare(baptised26April1564–died23April1616)Englishpoetandplaywright,widelyregardedasthegreatestwriterintheEnglishlanguageandtheworld'spreeminentdramatist.HeisoftencalledEngland'snationalpoet.Hissurvivingworksconsistof38plays,154sonnets,2longnarrativepoems,andseveralotherpoems.Hisplayshavebeentranslatedintoeverymajorlivinglanguage,andareperformedmoreoftenthanthoseofanyotherplaywright.

ShakespearewasbornandraisedinStratford-upon-Avon.

“Alltheworld’sastage,andallthemenandwomenmerelyplayers:theyhavetheirexitsandtheirentrances;andonemaninhistimeplaysmanyparts...“

AsYouLikeIt,ActII,Scene7,139–42.Shakespeareproducedmostofhisknownworkbetween1590and1613.Hisearlyplaysweremainlycomediesandhistories.Hethenwrotemainlytragediesuntilabout1608,includingHamlet,KingLear,andMacbeth,consideredsomeofthefinestexamplesintheEnglishlanguage.Inhislastphase,hewrotetragicomedies,alsoknownasromances.In1623,twoofhisformertheatricalcolleaguespublishedtheFirstFolio,acollectededitionofhisdramaticworksthatincludedallbuttwooftheplaysnowrecognisedasShakespeare’s.Scholarshaveoftennoted

fourperiods

inShakespeare’swritingcareer.Untilthemid-1590s,mainlycomediesinfluencedbyRomanandItalianmodelsandhistoryplaysinthepopularchronicletradition.1595?(RomeoandJuliet)—1599(JuliusCaesar),greatestcomediesandhistories.1600—1608,his"tragicperiod",mostlytragedies.1608—1613,mainlytragicomedies,edies:MuchAdoaboutNothing,AMidsummerNight’sDreamAll'sWellthatEndsWellAsYouLikeItTheTamingoftheShrewTwelfthNightetc.tragedies:RomeoandJuliet

Coriolanus

TitusAndronicus

TimonofAthens

JuliusCaesar

Macbeth

Hamlet

TroilusandCressidaKingLear

Othello

AntonyandCleopatra

tragic-comedies:TheWinter’sTaleTheTempestCymbelinePericles,PrinceofTyrehistories:HenryIV(twoparts)HenryVHenryVIHenryVIIIRichardIIRichardIIIKingJohn,etc.

TheplotsofShakespeare’stragediesoftenhingeonsuchfatalerrorsorflaws,whichoverturnorderanddestroytheheroandthoseheloves.InOthello,thevillainIagostokesOthello’ssexualjealousytothepointwherehemurderstheinnocentwifewholoveshim.InOthello,thevillainIagostokesOthello’ssexualjealousytothepointwherehemurderstheinnocentwifewholoveshim.InKingLear,theoldkingcommitsthetragicerrorofgivinguphispowers,initiatingtheeventswhichleadtothemurderofhisdaughterandthetortureandblindingoftheEarlofGloucester.AccordingtothecriticFrankKermode,“theplayoffersneitheritsgoodcharactersnoritsaudienceanyrelieffromitscruelty”.InMacbeth,theshortestandmostcompressedofShakespeare'stragedies,uncontrollableambitionincitesMacbethandhiswife,LadyMacbeth,tomurdertherightfulkingandusurpthethrone,untiltheirownguiltdestroystheminturn.Inthisplay,Shakespeareaddsasupernaturalelementtothetragicstructure.HamletasarepresentativeofShakespeare’sgreattragediesandanexpressionoftheplaywright’shumanisticconcerns.

characteristicsofShakespeare’sgreattragedies:

?

thehero’sweaknessofnatureasacausetohisowntragedy

?conflictsbetweentheindividualandtheevilforceinthesociety

?connectionbetweenthehero’sindividualfateandthefateofthewholenationhumanityinHamlet’sposition

?

ThewayHamletmakescarefulplanstocheckonthewordsoftheghostandtotesthisunclebeforehedecidestotakeanyactionagainsthimisaclearindicationofhisspeculativemindHAMLET

Tobe,ornottobe:thatisthequestion:Whether’tisnoblerinthemindtosufferTheslingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles,Andbyopposingendthem.Todie—tosleep，Nomore;andbyasleeptosayweendTheheart-acheandthethousandnaturalshocksThatfleshisheirto:’tisaconsummationDevoutlytobewish’d.Todie,tosleep;Tosleep,perchance(maybe)todream—ay,there’stherub(doubtordifficulty);Forinthatsleepofdeathwhatdreamsmaycome,Whenwehaveshuffledoffthismortalcoil(thisturmoilofmortality),Mustgiveuspause—there’stherespectThatmakescalamityofsolonglife.Forwhowouldbearthewhipsandscornsoftime,Th’oppressor’swrong,theproudman’scontumely(contempt),Thepangsofdispriz’dlove,thelaw’sdelay,Theinsolenceofoffice(Theinsultinflictedbythepeopleofhighrank),andthespurnsThatpatientmerit(peopleofworth)ofth’unworthytakes,Whenhehimselfmighthisquietus(thefinalsettlementofanaccount)makeWithabarebodkin?whowouldfardelsbear,Togruntandsweatunderawearylife,Butthatthedreadofsomethingafterdeath,Theundiscover’dcountry,fromwhosebourn(boundary)Notravellerreturns,puzzlesthewill,AndmakesusratherbearthoseillswehaveThanflytoothersthatweknownotof?Thusconscience(consciousness)doesmakecowardsofusall,AndthusthenativehueofresolutionIssickliedo’erwiththepalecastofthought,Andenterprisesofgreatpith(significance,importance)andmomentWiththisregardtheircurrentsturnawryAndlosethenameofaction.

DiscussionQuestions1)“thedreadofsomethingafterdeath–/Theundiscover’dcountry,fromwhosebourn/Notravelerreturns”

2)Thoughtheplayisintherevengestorytradition,itshero,Hamlet,isfarfromthetraditionaltypeofblood-thirstyavenger.Heiswhatwemaycallascholarlyprince.Hamlet’sintellectualmind:needstoknowbeforeheacts,whichisinfactagod’spositionbecauseofthelimitationofhumanknowledge.Hamletalsorealizeshisownlimitation,forhesays,“Letrashnessbepraised,fornomatterhowhardweplan,itcomestonothing.”Later,afterhisseajourney,hebecomeswiser,learnshumility.Butwhatimpressestheaudienceorthereaderisamanwhotriestothinkoutofhisdilemma,whodependsonhumanintellectmorethananythingelse(suchasgods,goddesses,orGod)Hamlet’spositionasahumanposition:weaknessesofhumannatureorevenevilsinhumannaturethatinitiatethetragedy,differentfromtheinfluencesofFateinGreektragedies;characterdevelopmentinHamlet,Macbeth,etc.butespeciallyinKingLear,whichisdifferentfromearliertragedies(eg.Dr.Faustus)Sonnet18

ShallIcomparetheetoasummer'sday?Thouartmorelovelyandmoretemperate;RoughwindsdoshakethedarlingbudsofMay,Andsummer'sleasehathalltooshortadate;

Sometimetoohottheeyeofheavenshines,Andoftenishisgoldcomplexiondimm'd;Andeveryfairfromfairsometimedeclines,Bychanceornature'schangingcourseuntrimm'd;

Butthyeternalsummershallnotfade,

Norlosepossessionofthatfairthouow’st;

NorshallDeathbragthouwander'stinhisshade,

Whenineternallinestotimethougrow’st:

Solongasmencanbreatheoreyescansee,

Solonglivesthis,andthisgiveslifetothee.Sonnet18,oftenalternatelytitledShallIcomparetheetoasummer'sday?,isoneofthebest-knownof154sonnetswrittenbytheEnglishplaywrightandpoetWilliamShakespeare.Mostscholarsnowagreethattheoriginalsubjectofthepoem,thebelovedtowhomthepoetiswriting,isamale,thoughthepoemiscommonlyusedtodescribeawoman.Inthesonnet,thespeakercompareshisbelovedtothesummerseason,a