英国文学史第二讲PPT课件

1、 William the Conqueror became the king of England in the year of 1066, thus feudalism was established in the country. Middle English literature is a combination of French and Anglo-Saxon elements. During the three centuries after the Norman Conquest, large scale of French literature was introduced i

2、nto England. Literature that the Normans brought to England is remarkable for its bright, romantic tales of love and adventure, which can be seen in Romance, the most prevailing kind of literature in the feudal England.第1页/共19页Social Features Two classes: Landlords and peasants Peasants were not all

3、owed to say anything against the feudal order, otherwise put to death In 1348-1349, Black Death (黑死病：由老鼠身上的跳蚤传播的致命瘟疫) swept over the country The hundred Years War (1337-1453) Joan of Arc In 1379, poll-tax (人头税) The peasant uprising of 1381 led by Wat Tyler and John Ball was bloodily repressed but ha

4、d shakend the feual system to the root.第2页/共19页The Influence on Language Coexistence of 3 languages: Normans= master=speak French Saxons= servant=speak English Scholars & clergymen=use Latin or French By the end of the 14th century, English was once more the dominant speech. Many terms used by Norma

5、ns were adopted into English language第3页/共19页The Influence on Literature The customs and ideals of chivalry(骑士精神) was introduced into England The literature was varied in interest and extensive in range The Normans began to write histories and chronicles The prevailing form of literature was the Rom

6、ance第4页/共19页Middle English Period Anglo-Norman Period The Romances Age of Chaucer William Langland Geoffrey Chaucer 15th Century Period Popular Ballads Thomas Malory第5页/共19页The Romances (for the noble) Definition: It was a long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life

7、 and adventures of a noble hero The theme of loyalty to king and lord was repeatedly emphasized in romances Essential features (P10) The three major subjects: the matters of Britain, the matters of France, the matters of Rome (P11) 第6页/共19页Sir Gawain and the Green Knight a verse-romance with its aut

8、hor unknown considered as the best Arthurian romance derived from Celtic legend Plots: In the new years feast, Sir Gawains acception of the challenge by the Green Knight Gawains journey to seek the Green knight Gawains stay in the castle Gawains meeting with the Green Knight Themes: the tests of fai

9、th, courage, purity and the human weakness for self-preservation第7页/共19页William Langland His important work- Piers the Plowman It was written in the old alliterative verse: each line contained three alliterated words, two of which were placed in the first half, and the third in the second half Socia

10、l significance (P17) Artistic features (P17)第8页/共19页9 Chaucer(1340-1400) and The Canterbury Tales(1387-1400) the father of English poetrythe father of English fiction the founder of English realism1.Life experiences2.Literary Career3.Major works4.Masterpiece第9页/共19页Life experiences son of a wine mer

11、chant who had connections with the Court At 17, served as a page to Elizabeth At 19, went to France with the English army and was imprisoned Went to France, Italy on diplomatic missions 1373, controller of customs at London M.P (member of Parliament) for Kent in 1386 buried in Westminster Abbey, thu

12、s founding the “Poets Corner” 第10页/共19页Literary Career French Period/Translation Period: During this period Chaucer was mainly under the influence of the French literature, and he chiefly translated from the French works, such as “The Romaunt of the Rose” 玫瑰传奇 Italian Period/Imitation Period: Chauce

13、r wrote under the influence of Italian Renaissance. He mainly adapted works from Italian literature, such as “Troilus and Criseyde” 特罗勒斯与克丽西德 English Period/Maturity Period: Chaucer stopped being the mere interpreter of other poets and produced his own works.“ The Canterbury Tales” was composed duri

14、ng the period. 第11页/共19页Major works “The Book of the Duchess” 公爵夫人之书 “The Parliament of Fowls” 百鸟议会 “The House of Fame” 声誉之堂 “Troilus and Criseyde” 特罗勒斯与克丽西德 “ The Canterbury Tales” 坎特伯雷故事集第12页/共19页The Canterbury TalesOne of the monumental works in English literatureIn arranging the work, Chaucer im

15、itates the framework of Boccaccios Decameron 十日谈: a general prologue + 24 tales (22 in verse form, 2 in prose form)第13页/共19页1.outline: On a spring evening, at the Tabard Inn (泰巴旅店), at the South end of London Bridge, Chaucer meets 30 pilgrims ready for Canterbury and he joins them.Suggested by the h

16、ost of the inn, each is to tell 2 stories going and 2 returning. The best teller will be treated with a fine supper at the end. The host will be the judge. As a gigantic plan, 128 stories should be told but only 24 were written. But these tales cover practically all the major types of medieval liter

17、ature: romances of knights and ladies; folk tales; animal fables; stories of travels and adventures; legends, allegories and so on.第14页/共19页2. the Prologue: Provides a framework for the tales; The 30 pilgrims represent all classes of the English feudal society except the royalty and the poorest peas

18、ant. They are knight, squire治安官, prioress, proprietor经营者, tradesman, drunken cook, humble plowman, doctor, lawyer, monks, nuns, priests, summoner, sailor, miller, carpenter, yeoman自耕农, an Oxford scholar, and in the center of the group, the wife of Bath, who is the owner of a large cloth factory. A m

19、iniature of the English society of Chaucers time. Of all the tales, those of the knight, the Nuns Priest and the wife of Bath are among the best. 3. Chaucers language, now called Middle English, is vivid and exact. 第15页/共19页Chaucers Contribution to English literature introduced from France the rhymed stanza of various types esp. the rhymed couplet of 5 accents in iambic meter ( heroic couplet) instead of the old alliterative verse. established English as th