英国文学The Anglo-Saxon Period

1、British Literature IBritish Literature IOutline of British Literature 1. Anglo-Saxon Period 盎格鲁-撒克逊时期(449-1066) 2. Anglo-Norman Period (Middle Ages)盎格鲁- 诺曼时期 (10661485） 3.The Renaissance文艺复兴时期（15世纪后期17 世纪初） 4.The 17th Century (Age of Revolution and Restoration)17世纪文学 5.The Enlightenment 启蒙时期（17世纪后期1

2、8世纪中 期） 6.The Romanticism浪漫主义时期（1798-1832） 7.The Critical Realism 批判现实主义时期（19世纪30年代-1918） 8.The Modern Period现代主义时期（1918-1945） 9.Contemporary English Literature 当代文学（1945 至今） British Literature IBritish Literature III.Characteristics of Anglo- Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon PoetryIII.IV. Anglo-Saxon Pr

3、oseV. AssignmentsThe Historical BackgroundI.British Literature IBritish Literature IThe English people are not of one origin but a mixed blood.BritonsEarly InhabitantsBritaina tribe of Celtsthe land of Britonsprimitive peopleclustering of hutstribal societyBritish Literature I55 B. C.Julius Caesar,

4、the Roman conquerorBritonsfought fiercely Britain was under control completely by the Roman Empire in 78 A. D.British Literature I1.Britons, trodden (trampled) down as slaves or cultivators of the land 2. The Roman mode of life came across to Britain with the ConquestBuildings of Roman style for Rom

5、an conquerors Highways or Roman roads for military purposesTowns builtE.g. LondonChristianity introducedBritish Literature Ibeginning of 5th century: declining of the Roman EmpireIn 410 A. D. Romans withdrew. 400 years of occupationBritish Literature IAfter the Roman Conquest, swarms ofpirates came

6、to invade from Northern Europe .AnglesSaxonsJutes7th. CUnited into One Kingdom7 smallkingdomspeople:EnglishEngland:Angle-landLanguage:Anglo-Saxon Old English盎格盎格鲁人鲁人撒克撒克逊人逊人朱特人朱特人British Literature Ibefore the settlementafter the settlementthe tribal societyfamilies united by kinship(血族关系血族关系)chiefs

7、 and warriorschiefs bread; the booty (plunder战利品战利品)power of life and death;close relationship organs of statekingship (君王统治君王统治)the military commanderThe Anglo-Saxon Period witnessed a Transition from tribal society to feudalism.British Literature IThe Anglo-Saxons were heathen (异教徒) people, believ

8、ing in old mythology of Northern Europe.English language was influenced by the Northern mythology.British Literature IIn 597 St. Augustine from Rome brought Christianity. Within 100 years the whole England was Christianized. Heathen people with their paganism withdrew to remote areas. A mixture of p

9、aganism and Christianity existed in the Anglo-Saxon society. The monks in the monasteries maintained to tinge the earliest works when copied them.British Literature IAnglo-Saxon WomanThe evidence of what Anglo-Saxon women wore comes from illustrated manuscripts and tapestries. In general their costu

10、mes consisted of a linen underdress, and an overdress made of wool or heavy linen. They wore a wimple and veil. Pictured: Lady of the ninth century, from Joseph Strutt, published originally in England in 1862. Countess Judith of flanders, from the Bayeux tapestry. British Literature IAnglo-Saxon Mal

11、eAnglo-Saxon males wore tunics with trim and tight fitting braise or pants. They wore wool cloaks that were fastened with pins. Great seal of Edward the Confessor pictured. British Literature IWeapons In early Anglo-Saxon times the sword (such as the examples on the below) was by and large almost pa

12、rallel sided down to the tip, where it then tapered to a point; although tapering blades similar to late Saxon and Viking swords were not unknown at that point. These early swords usually had pommels and crossguards made up of layers of organic material such as wood, bone or horn; which were often s

13、andwiched, embellished with, or even completely covered by, bronze, gold and silver. Some examples were even inlaid with garnets trapped in separate cells, or were decorated with enamel. Some swords also had a ring attached to the upper guard, that to begin with was a true ring, but later became bas

14、tardised into a vestigial ring such as that on the Sutton Hoo sword. Their purpose is unclear, although they may have represented some special honour bestowed on the swords owner. British Literature IBritish Literature I Early English Architecture The Buildings of the Anglo-Saxons British Literature

15、 IBritish Literature I There were two 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 IThree characteristics: 1. Anglo-Saxon literature is almost a verse literature in oral form. It was o

16、nly given a written form long after its composition. 2. There are two groups of English poetry in Anglo-Saxon periodpagan (世俗诗) and religious （宗教诗） poetry. Pagan poetry was represented by Beowulf while religious poetry was represented by the works of Caedmon （凯德蒙） and Cynewulf(基涅武甫）. 3. In the 8th c

17、entury, Anglo-Saxon prose appeared. The famous prose writers of that period were Venerable Bede （比德） and Alfred the Great （阿尔弗烈德大王）. British Literature I 1. Pagan Poetry（世俗诗） The pagan poetry, also called secular poetry, does not contain any specific Christian doctrine and emphasizes on the harshnes

18、s of circumstance and the helplessness of humans before the power of fate. Beowulf is the representative. 2. Religious Poetry（宗教诗） 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

19、 these poems. It is represented by Caedmon and Cynewulf. British Literature Ii. Introductionii. Analysis of “Beowulf”iii. Features of “Beowulf”iv. What is an epic?British Literature IBritish Literature I1. Its characters: Beowulf: nephew of Hygelac Hygelac: king of Geats in Jutland Hrothgar: king of

20、 the Danes Grendel: a monsterGrendels mother: she-monster British Literature I2. Its plot:1)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 the throne. 4) Beowulfs victory in d

21、eath, fifty years later, over the fire dragon British Literature I The Story of Beowulf illustrated by the following 14 pictures: British Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Li

22、terature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature IBritish Literature I 1. It is a folk legend brought to England by the Anglo Saxon from their primitive Northern Europe. 2. It was passed down from mouth to mouth. 3. It was written down in t

23、he 10th century. 4. Beowulf is a grand hero. 1) brave deeds 2) faithful to his peopleBritish Literature I5. It reflects the features of the tribal society of ancient times.front: stormy northern oceanback: impenetrable forestsagainst the forces of naturemonsters: beneath the sea,in the marshesin the

24、 dark forests British Literature I1. The most striking feature is the use of alliteration(头韵).Thus made their mourning the men of Geatland,For their heros passing, his hearth-companions2. Other features are the use of metaphors and of understatements(低调陈述).British Literature I Metaphors: ring-giver:

25、 hearth-companions: whales road: sea-wood:Understatement:kingattendant warriorsseashipvery welcome a right to condemn need not praise: not troublesome:British Literature Iepic(heroic poem): an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, like Homers Iliad & Odyssey. It usually celebrat

26、es the feats of one or more legendary or traditional heroes.British Literature I 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 represented by Caedmon （凯德蒙） a

27、nd Cynewulf （塞内武甫）.British Literature I Caedmon 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 Ecclesiastical（英格兰人教会史）. His first poem is called The Hymn of Praise (赞美诗）. Later on, Caedmon composed many o

28、ther poems by using the biblical materials.British Literature I Cynewulf lived in the early 9th century. Except the unknown composer of Beowulf, he is regarded as the greatest Anglo-Saxon poet. Of his life we know very little. He was probably an ecclesiastic 牧师 and a scholar. His name remained unkno

29、wn 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 reverence for Virgin Mary are expressed.British Literature I Prose literature did not show its appearance until the 8th century. There were two famous prose writers: Venerable Bede, Alfred the Great.British Literature I The most impo