英美文学简明教程

1、Old and Medieval English Literature（中世纪英语时期文学）I Understanding and application: (理解应用)1.Englands inhabitants are Celts. And it is conquered by Romans（罗马）, Anglo Saxons (盎格鲁撒克逊人)and Normans（日耳曼）. The Anglo-Saxons brought the Germanic language and culture to England, while Normans brought the Mediterra

2、nean civilization（地中海文明）, including Greek culture（古希腊文化）, Rome law（罗马法律） and the Christian religion（基督教）. It is the cultural influence of these two conquests that provided the source for the rise and growth of English literature.2. The old English literature（古英语文学） extends from about 450 to 1066, th

3、e year of the Norman conquest of England.3. The old English poetry(古英语诗) that has survived can be divided into two groups: The religious group and the secular one(宗教类和世俗类)4. Beowulf（贝尔武夫）: a typical example of Old English poetry is regarded as the national epic(民族史诗) of the Anglo-Saxons. It is an ex

4、ample of the mingling of nature myths and heroic legends.一、Geoffery Chaucer 杰弗里乔叟13431400(首创“双韵体”，英国文学史上首先用伦敦方言写作。约翰德莱顿（John Dryden）称其为“英国诗歌之父”。代表作坎特伯雷故事集。)The father of English poetry.Writing style: wisdom, humor, humanity.作品： 坎特伯雷故事集：first time to use heroic couplet(双韵体) by middle English特罗勒斯与克丽西德

5、 声誉之堂公爵夫人之书百鸟议会1. Heroic couplet（英雄双韵体）: Heroic couplet is a rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter. it is the most common English meter, in which each foot contains an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable can unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one . 2. “The Father of English poetry”:（乔

6、叟的贡献）Chaucer introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace it. In The Romaunt of the Rose (玫瑰传奇), he first introduced to the English the octosyllabic couplet (八音节对偶句). In The Legend of Good Women, he used for the first time in English heroic couplet. And in

7、his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, he employed heroic couplet with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature. His art made him one of the greatest poets in English; John Dryden called him “the father of English poetry”.Chapter 1: The Renaissance Period文艺复兴The Re

8、naissance: The Renaissance marks a transition from the medieval to the modern world. Generally, it refers to the period between the 14th & 17th centuries. It first started in Italy, with the flowering of painting, sculpture & literature. From Italy the movement went to embrace the rest of Europe. Th

9、e Renaissance, which means rebirth or revival, is actually a movement stimulated by a series of historical events, such as:The re-discovery of ancient Roman & Greek culture 古罗马和古希腊文化的发掘 The new discoveries in geography & astrology地理天文大发现, the religious reformation & the economic expansion席卷欧洲的宗教改革.

10、The Renaissance, therefore, in essence is a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers & scholars made attempts to get rid of those old feudalist ideas in medieval Europe, to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie, & to recover the purity of the ear

11、ly church from the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.2. Humanism: （人文主义）Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance. Renaissance humanists found in the classics a justification to exalt human nature and came to see that human beings were glorious creatures capable of individual development in t

12、he direction of perfections, and that the world they inhabited was theirs not to despise but to question, explore, and enjoy. Thus, by emphasizing the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life, they voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of

13、 this life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders. Thomas More, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare are the best representatives of the English humanists.1.Edmund Spencer(斯宾塞): The poets poet.（后人称之为“诗人的诗人”。） The first to be buried in the Poets corner of Westerminster

14、AbbeySpensers most important work & masterpiece is 仙后(for Queen Elizabeth) , his great allegory The theme is not “Arms and the man”, but something more romantic “Fierce wars and faithfull loves”.Artistic features:1. Using Spenserian Stanza Spenserian Stanza斯宾塞诗节:a stanza of nine lines ababbcbcc. Eig

15、ht lines in iambic pentameter, and last line in iambic hexameter. 牧人日历The theme is to lament over the loss of Rosalind. 爱情小唱 3. 领会His Influence Main qualities of Spensers poetrya perfect melody a rare sense of beautya splendid imaginationa lofty moral purity & seriousnessa dedicated idealismChristop

16、her Marlowe(克里斯托弗马洛), he is the most outstanding dramatist among the group “University Wits”大学才子. He is acknowledged as the greatest tragedy writer before William Shakespeare. Tamburlaine, Parts I &II 铁木耳大帝，第一部和第二部The Tragical History of Doctor Eaustus(浮士德医生) generally considered his best play The J

17、ew of Malta(马耳他岛的犹太人) Edward II爱德华二世non-dramatic poetry “Hero & Leander The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”多情的牧羊人致情人歌His Achievements & InfluenceAchievements: Marlowes greatest achievement lies in that he perfected the blank verse（素体诗） & made it the principal medium of English drama.His second achi

18、evement is his creation of the Renaissance hero for English drama.The theme of his works is the praise of the Renaissance spirit.His influence: A man of wide learning, Marlowe was one of the extra ordinary poets & playwrights of his time. Marlowes mighty line, as Ben Jonson called his blank verse, w

19、as one of the most important contributions to the art of English literature.Blank verse素体诗：written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. which was mastery handled by Shakespeare and Milton。William Shakespeare威廉莎士比亚15641616lplaywright,poet评价comments：Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English literatu

20、re莎士比亚同时代戏剧家本琼森（Ben Johnson）-他不属于一个时代，而是属于永恒。（He was not of an age, but for all time.）作品：Historical plays: Henry VI ; Henry IV : Richard III ; Henry V ；Richard II；Henry VIIIFour Comedies: 皆大欢喜; 第十二夜; 仲夏夜之梦; 威尼斯商人Four Tragedies: 哈姆莱特; 奥赛罗; 李尔王; 麦克白Shakespeare Sonnet :154 Sonnet十四行诗：Three quatrain and

21、 one couplet, ababcdcdefefgg A sonnet is a lyric consisting of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter restricted to a definition rhyme scheme.Shakespeares writing characteristics1.The progressive significance of the theme-humanism2.The successful character portrayalwomens characters3.The masterhand

22、in constructing the plot4.The ingenuity of his poetry5.The mastery of his language文学地位：Shakespeare wrote some thirty-eight plays. Taken individually, several of them are among the worlds finest written works; taken collectively, they establish Shakespeare as the foremost literary talent of his own E

23、lizabethan Age and, even more impressively, as a genius whose creative achievement has never been surpassed in any age.Shakespeare has been universally acknowledged to be the summit of the English Renaissance, and one of the greatest writers the world over. Shakespeares work has made a lasting impre

24、ssion on later theatre and literature. In particular, he expanded the dramatic potential ofcharacterisation,plot,language, andgenre. Shakespeare influenced novelists such asThomas Hardy,William Faulkner, andCharles Dickens.In Shakespeares day, English grammar, spelling and pronunciation were less st

25、andardized than they are now,and his use of language helped shape modern English.The popularity of Shakespeare is a worldwide phenomenon. His name has been known to China for more than a hundred years, and many of his plays have been widely read among Chinese people. 作品赏析about sonnet 18Sonnet 18 is

26、one of the most beautiful sonnets written by Shakespeare, in which he has a profound meditation on the destructive power of time and the eternal beauty brought forth by poetry to the one he loves.Typical lines:ShallIcomparetheetoasummersday?Thouartmorelovelyandmoretemperate:The theme: Immortality, B

27、eauty and loveabout The Merchant of Venice威尼斯商人Major characters:Bassanio: - a young Venetian court Portia, acceptedAntonio: -a merchant of Venice, all money invented in ships, at sea, return not on time Shylock:-the Jewish usurer (放高利贷者)Portia:- standing for the great beauty, wit and loyalty Theme:

28、traditional theme of the play is to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio, to idealize Portia as a heroine of the great beauty, wit and loyalty, and to expose the greed and brutality of the Jew.Typical lines:Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. (Act i. S

29、c. 2.)The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. (Act i. Sc. 3.)Mislike me not for my complexion, the shadowd livery of the burnishd sun. (Act ii. Sc. 1.)In the twinkling of an eye. (Act ii. Sc. 2.)All that glisters is not gold. (Act ii. Sc. 7.)三、Francisl Bacon弗兰西斯培根15611626作品：学术的推进，总结了前人的一切知识，并进

30、行归类。随笔 新工具，阐述了归纳法新大西岛，是乌托邦性质的作品Bacons quote1knowledge is power 知识就是力量。1、 Beauty is as summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt, and cannot last; and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance 美犹如盛夏的水果，是容易腐烂而难保持的，世上有许多美人，她们有过放荡的青春，却迎受着愧悔的晚年。2、 Natural abiliti

31、es are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. 天生的能力好像天然生成的植物，必须通过学习加以修整；然而学习本身如若不由实践去约束，必然方向纷杂而漫无目的。3、 Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set 美德好比宝石，在朴素背景的衬托下反而更华丽。评价the founder

32、 of English materialist philosophy.The founder of modern science in England. a representative of the English renaissance.a well-known philosopher, scientist and essayist. Bacons works establish and popularize an inductive methodology for scientific inquiry, often called the Baconian method. Inductio

33、n（归纳法）implies drawing knowledge from the natural world through experimentation, observation, and testing of hypotheses. （哲学家、散文家；在论述探究知识的著作中提出了知识就是力量这一著名论断；近代唯物主义哲学的奠基人和近代实验科学的先驱。）Philosopher, scientist, lay the foundation for modern science. The first English essayist.n马克思称他为“英国唯物主义及现代实验科学之父”Writin

34、g style:brevity, compactness&powerfulness, well-arranging and enriching by Biblical allusions, metaphors and philosophy to mans reason.十七世纪英国诗人John Donne 约翰邓恩the Metaphysical poet(17世纪玄学派诗人)English poet, preacher英国诗人牧师He was the most outstanding of the English Metaphysical Poets他是最杰出的玄学派诗人作品：Songs a

35、nd Sonnets 歌与十四行诗The Good-Morrow 早安Break of Day破晓Epithalamions, or marriage songs 颂歌Elegies 挽歌 On His MistressTo His Mistress Going to bedDivine poems 圣歌Holy Sonnets 神圣十四行诗 At the Round Earths Imagined Corner, BelowDeath Be Not ProudArtistic features:艺术特点conceits or imagery奇思妙喻syllogism三段论Metaphysic

36、al poetry玄学派诗歌：用语the diction is simple, the imagery is from the actual, (形式)the form is frequently an argument with the poets beloved, with god, or with himself.（主题：love, religious, thought）Metaphysical poetry: The term metaphysical poetry is commonly used to name the work of the 17th century writer

37、s who wrote under the influence of John Donne. With a rebellious spirit, the metaphysical poets tried to break away from the conventional fashion of the Elizabethan love poetry. The diction is simple as compared with that of the Elizabethan or the Neoclassic periods, and echoes the words and cadence

38、s of common speech. The imagery in drawn from the actual life. The form is frequently that of an argument with the poets beloved, with God, or with himself.John Milton约翰弥尔顿16081674革命诗人John Milton was an English poet, 政论家，polemicist (辩论家）He is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost失乐园, which is c

39、onsidered as the greatest English literary epic. 评价：William Hayleys 1796 biography called him the greatest English author. He remains generally regarded as one of the preeminent writers in the English language and as a thinker of world importance.Miltons literary achievements can be divided into thr

40、ee groups: the early poetic works, the middle prose pamphlets & the last great poems.写作的3个主题: Church governmentDivorceRepublicanism作品：1637：Lycidas 利西达斯1650：Areopagitica 轮出版自由1667: Paradise Lost 失乐园是无韵体1671: Paradise Regained 复乐园1671: Samson Agonistes 力士参孙The Defence of the English People 为英国人民声辩Para

41、dise Lost (1667), Paradise Regained (1671), & Samson Agonistes (1671). Among the three, the first is the greatest, indeed the only generally acknowledged epic in English literature since Beowulf; & the last one is the most perfect example of the verse drama after the Greek style in English.文学地位：Milt

42、on is one of the very few truly great English writers who is also a prominent figure in politics and who is both a great poet and important prose writer. Milton is the greatest English poet after Shakespeare, was the one great literary figure who want tried seriously to combine Renaissance and Refor

43、mation. n Milton was political in both his life and his art. n Milton wrote the greatest epic in English literature. He and Shakespeare have been regarded as two patterns of English verse.n Milton is a master of the blank verse. He first used blank verse in non-dramatic works.n Milton is a great sty

44、list. His style is never exactly natural. Its art attained by definite and conscientious rhetorical devices.n Milton has always been admired for his sublimity of thought and majesty of expression. This sonnet is written in iambic pentameter rhymed in abba abba cde cde, typical of Italian sonnet.Its

45、theme is that people use their talent for God, and they serve him best who can endure the suffering best.Chapter 3:The Neoclassical Period新古典主义时期1 时间界定： Neoclassical period is the one in English literature between the return of Stuarts to the English throne in 1660 and the full assertion of Romantic

46、ism which came with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge in 1978. Its in fact a turbulent period.3. 文学形式 A. 伤感主义文学 In the last few decades of the 18th century, however, the neoclassical emphasis upon reason, intellect, wit and form was rebelled against or challenged by the

47、sentimentalists, and was gradually by Romanticism. B. 新古典主义诗歌 The neoclassical period witnessed the flourish of English poetry in the classical style climaxing with John Dryden, Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson. C. 现实主义小说 The mid-century was, however, predominated by a newly rising literary form -

48、the modern English novel, gives a realistic presentation of life of the common English people. D哥特式小说及其它 Gothic novels - mostly stories of mystery and horror which take place in some haunted or dilapidated Middle Age castles - were turned out profusely by both male and female writers. Gothic novels:

49、 Gothic novels are mostly stories of mystery and horror which take place in some haunted or dilapidated Middle Class castles. They appeared from the middle part of the 18th century and were turned out profusely by male and female writers. 1 John Bunyan (1628-1688) 约翰班杨代表作天路历程，宗教寓言，被誉为“具有永恒意义的百科全书”，是

50、英国文学史上里程碑式著作。与但丁的神曲、奥古斯丁的忏悔录并列为世界三大宗教题材文学杰作。）Puritan poet(清教徒派诗人)Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners功德无量the vanity fair 节选自The Pilgrims Progress天路历程The Life and Death of Mr.Badman培德曼先生传The Holy War圣战2Jonathan Swift乔纳森 斯威夫特A Tale of a Tub (satirist) 木桶的故事The Battle of the Books 书籍之战 The Examiner

51、主考Gullivers Travels (his greatest satiric work) 格列佛游记(A Voyage to Lilliput/Brobdingnag/Laputa,Balnibarbi,Luggnagg,Glubbdubdriba and Japan/The Country of the Houyhnhnms小人国/大人国/拉普他等地/智马国游记)A Modest Proposal (more powerful) 一个温和的建议 Drapiers Letters布商的书信3. Writing styles:Swift is one of the greatest mas

52、ters of English prose. He is almost unsurpassed in the writing of simple, direct, precise prose. He defined a good style as proper words in proper places. Clear, simple, concrete diction, uncomplicated sentence structure, economy & conciseness of language mark all his writings-essays, poems & novels

53、.3.Alexanderl Pope亚历山大蒲柏16881744（18世纪英国最伟大的诗人，其诗多用“英雄双韵体”/ “ heroic couplets”。词句工整、精练、富有哲理性。）One of the first to introduce rationalism to England.批评论made his name as a great poet Artistic features:1.Using “heroic couplets” 卷发遇劫记made he famous as a poet . 道德论人论愚人记Pastorals田园诗集4.Daniel Defoe丹尼尔笛福16601

54、731（小说家，新闻记者，小册子作者；十八世纪英国现实主义小说的奠基人，英国小说之父、不信奉国教派nonconformist）1.He is the first writer study of the lower-class people,hislanguage is smooth, easy, colloquial and mostly vernacular, and he is the founder of realistic novel.2主要作品The shortest way with dissenters使他坐牢The true born Englishman 地地道道的英国人赢得

55、了国王的友情Robinson Crusoe鲁宾逊漂流记Captain Singleton辛格顿船长Moll Flanders摩尔弗兰德斯Colonel Jack杰克上校Roxana洛珊娜传A Journal of the Plague Year大疫年记3分析鲁滨逊的形象5.Henry Fielding亨利菲尔丁17071754（英国小说家，戏剧家，被誉为“英国小说之父” 十八世纪最伟大的小说家）Father of the English Novelbecause of his contribution and establishment of the form of the modern novelOf all the eighteenth-ce