英国文学史第四节第一章

1、Chapter 4 Popular Ballads,1. Definition: Also named folk ballad: a type of poetry that makes the most direct appeal to all classes of readers and listeners; essentially a narrative poem which tells a story. created and preserved by the people and were widely spread among the ordinary people of Engla

2、nd and Scotland. stirring and dramatic to describe peoples life in that period,2. Two characteristics: incremental repetition（递进重复）; ballad stanza （诗节） 3. Classifications: historical; legendary; fantastical; lyrical; humorous. 4. Ballads Collectors: Bishop Thomas Percy (1729-1811): the first to take

3、 a literary interest in ballads due to his discovery of copied Middle English manuscript of 17th century. published the manuscript in his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765),Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832): went to places where ballads were still been singing and write them down at the dictation

4、of the border people. (numerous ballads were about the age-long struggle between the Scots and the English and there are different versions.),Representatives: William Langland (ca 1330-1400) The Vision Concerning Piers the Plowman Robin Hood: the hero that appeared firstly in literature in this book

5、. Strong, brave, clever, tender-hearted, affectionate; hatred for the cruel oppressors and love for the poor and downtrodden.,Summary,PART II RENAISSANCE/ THE ELIZABETHAN AGE,The Elizabethan Age: the Tudor Dynasty, 14851625 the beginning of modern times of Great Britain. the collapse of feudalism in

6、 England. The Renaissance: 14851660 started in Italy, to propose the rebirth of classical Greek and Latin learning, brought prosperous arts and sciences; humanism was the most significant philosophy in England.,Humanism,A moral and political term that proposes the worldly existence of man and his al

7、l-round development, his worldly life and happiness. Anthropocentric, seeks to civilize, dignify and ennoble man, and make him realize his potential and gifts; regards man as brilliant creators.,An excerpt from Hamlet,What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In

8、form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals(77)!,Other Social Events,A new economic world replaced the feudal society. Oversea commerce Global colonization Christopher Columbus found the new w

9、orld Naval power The first colonies on the American mainlandVirginia, Massachusetts, etc. In 1599, the East India Company was established.,Achievements in this Period,A time of scientific, historical, religious and artistic exploration; more attention was paid to probe human psyche. Drama and sonnet

10、s are two major forms of literature in this period. University Wits: a group of educated playwrights such as John Lyly, Thomas Lodge, Thomas Kyd, Thomas Nashe, Robert Greene, George Peele, and Christopher Marlow.,Literary Terms,Renaissance: rebirth, a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th

11、to the 17th century and originated in Italy and then spread to other parts of Europe. Sonnet: a poem of fourteen lines that follows a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure. Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter（素诗体） Iambic pentameter: 五步抑扬格 （e.g. Sonnet 18abab, cdcd, efef, gg）,Representatives

12、,Thomas More(1477-1535) : Utopia (1516) Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586): The Defense of Poetry (1580-1581); Astrophel and Stella (1581-1582) Edmund Spenser (1552-1599): The Faerie Queene (1596) Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593): The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (1604) William Shakespeare (1564-161

13、6): Francis Bacon (1561-1626):,Chapter 5 William Shakespeare (1564-1616),Landmark in the history of world literature Founder of realism, a master to portrait realistic human characters and relations. April 23, 1564April 23, 1616 Arrived in London in 1586 when drama was of great popularity there. Pla

14、ywright, actor, poet 37 plays(10 histories, 10 tragedies and 17 comedies), 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets.,Most Distinguished Works,Hamlet The Merchant of Venice,Influence,Most popular and most respected writer in English literature. The popular saying that we have come from Shakespeare than from an

15、y other source except from the Bible. His plays are still performed today and his poems are still read as classical works in world literature.,Chapter 6 Francis Bacon(1561-1626),Of noble birth Elected to Parliament at the age of 23 after gradating from the university Lord High Chancellor, the head of the legal system of England Financial corruption and was convicted, deprived of his office and banished from London “the wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind” -