英国文学史第一讲PPT课件

1、A Brief Outline of British LiteratureI. The early and Medieval literature 1. The Old English Period (449-1066) 2. The Middle English Period (1066- 1485)II. The English Renaissance (1485-1660)III. The 17th century (1603-1688)IV. The 18th Century (1688-1798) V. The Age of Romanticism (1798-1832)第1页/共1

2、8页 VI. The Victorian Age (1832-1901) VII. The 20th century (1901-)第2页/共18页definition of literature Literature refers to All written or spoken compositions ( discourses) designed to tell stories, dramatize situations and reveal thoughts and emotions, and also more importantly, to interest, entertain,

3、 stimulate, broaden and ennoble readers. 第3页/共18页 What to learn in this course? 1. historical and cultural background 2. life story of the masters 3. masterpieces introduction and features 4. some important literary terms and their meanings.第4页/共18页 The Middle Ages lasted from the beginning of the A

4、nglo-Saxon invasion (449) to the end of the Wars of Roses (1485). It can be further divided into two periods: the Old English Period (449-1066) and the Middle English Period (1066-1485) We can say English literature actually began with the Anglo-Saxon settlement in Britain in the middle of the 5th c

5、entury.玫瑰战争: 1455年至1485年其间，兰开斯特家族(House of Lancaster)和约克家族(House of York)的支持者为了英格兰王位而发生断续的内战，史称玫瑰战争(Wars of the Roses)，或蔷薇战争。两个家族都是金雀花王朝皇族的分支，为英王爱德华三世的后裔。“玫瑰战争”一名源于两个皇族所选的家徽，兰开斯特的红玫瑰和约克的白玫瑰。第5页/共18页Lecture one: The Old English Period The Making of the Nation1.The early inhabitants in the island we n

6、ow call England were Britons, a tribe of Celts, which was primitive people, living in tribal society. From the Britons the island got its name of Britain, the land of Britons.2.The Roman ConquestIn 55 B.C., Britain was invaded by Julius Caesar(凯撒大帝) the Roman conqueror. In 410 A.D., all the Roman tr

7、oops went back to the continent and never returned. Thus ended the Roman occupation in Britain, which lasted for about 400 years. famous words: “ I came, I saw, I conquered.” 第6页/共18页 3. The English Conquest The three Germanic tribes-Angles, Saxons and Jutes conquered Britain and settled down there

8、in the 5th century. By the 7th century, seven kingdoms, heptarchy a united kingdom: “England”, “the land of Angles”. Angles, Saxons and Jutes usually known as Anglo-Saxons are the first Englishmen. Language spoken by them is called the old English, which is the foundation of English language and lit

9、erature. 4. The Danish Invasion About 787, the English began to be troubled by bands of Danish vikings. At first they just invaded parts of the country from time to time. Gradually they came to make permanent settlement. The great hero of the time was King Alfred the Great (849-901), who succeeded i

10、n driving off the Danes. After his death, the Danes occupied England in 1013 and held it for about 30 years. 第7页/共18页第8页/共18页5. The Norman Conquest Frech-speaking Normans, under the leadership of William, Duke of Normandy came in 1066. After defeating the English at Hastings, William was crowned as

11、the King of England. The Norman Conquest marks the establishment of feudalism in England.第9页/共18页The Old English LiteratureThe general view: English literature actually began with the Anglo-Saxon settlement in England. Anglo-Saxons were heathen people. They believed in old mythology of Northern Euro

12、pe. That is why the Northern mythology has left its mark upon the English language. In the 7th century, Anglo-Saxons were Christianized. The literature of this period falls naturally into two divisions: pagan and religious. And the main literary forms are poetry and prose.第10页/共18页poetry:pagan and r

13、eligious1.pagan poetryBeowulf: the national epic of the English people (英国的民族史诗) 3182 lines, unknown composerDefinition of epic: an extened narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of one or more legendary or traditional heroes.Eg. Homers Iliad & Odyssey 第11页/共18页Proto

14、type: folk legends of primitive Northern tribes living in impenetrable forests, they had to fight against beasts. They were brave but superstitious.Story:1.fighting with the monster, Grendel and his mother2.fighting with the fire dragon and his death第12页/共18页Writing Features:It is not a Christian bu

15、t a pagan poem, despite the Christian flavor given to it by the monastery scribe. It is the product of all advanced pagan civilization. The whole poem presents us an all-round picture of the tribal society. The social conditions and customs can be seen in it. So the poem has a great social significa

16、nce.The use of the strong stress and the predominance of consonants are very notable in this poem. Each line is divided into two halves, and each half has two heavy stresses. The use of the alliteration is another notable feature. Three stresses of the whole line are made even more emphatic by the u

17、se of alliteration.A lot of metaphors and understatements are used in the poem. For example, the sea is called the whale-road or the swan road; the soldiers are called shield-man; the chieftains are called the treasure keepers; human-body is referred to as the bone-house; God is called wonder-wielde

18、r; monster is referred to as soul-destroyer. 第13页/共18页Alliteration Also known as initial rhyme or head rhyme, is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables.Eg. Of men he was the mildest and most beloved, To his kin the kindest, keenest to praise. (In all

19、iterative verse, certain accented words in a line begin with the same consonant sound. There are generally 4 accents in a line, three of which show alliteration.)第14页/共18页: eg. king= “Ring-giver” “Not troublesome” = very welcome attendant= “hearth-companions” “Need not praise” = right to condemn sea

20、= “swans bath” & “whales road” ship= “sea-wood”All these bring an impression of reserve and a tinge of ironical humor which has become permanent characteristics of the English. 谨慎客气 讽刺幽默第15页/共18页2. Religious PoetryCaedmon: the first known religious poet of England and the father of English song.CynewulfProse 1. Venerable Bede 2. Alfred the Great第16页/共18页