1、文学史课件整理考试题型名词解释三个 15 分问答题两个 25 分连线题 20 分选择题 40 分一、中古时期1、 Two groups of Anglo-Saxon poetry1): pagan 异教徒: oral sagas 口头传说/冒险故事: the Song of Beowulf2): Christian 信徒 : copied by the monk.The influence of the Christianity upon language and culture.Two ecclesiastic poets: Caedmon and Cynewulf2、 The Song o
2、f Beowulf-The Song of Beowulf-Englands national epic1) creation time: written in 10-th century2).plot and themefight with Grendelfight with Grendels motherfight with firedrakedeath and funeral The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. It is a Denmark story which u
3、sed alliteration, metaphors and understatements3). Characteristics of “Beowulf”a. the mixture of pagan elements with Christian coloring. The most outstanding example is the frequent reference in the epic to “Wyrd” (fate) as the decisive factor in human affaires, while on other occasions “God” or “Lo
4、rd” is also mentioned as the omniscient and omnipotent being that rules over the whole universe.b. the frequent use of metaphors and understatements. “Ring giver” is used for king, “Swan road”, “whale-path” or “seal bath” for the sea, “wave-traveler” or “sea-wood” for ship, “shield-bearer”, “battle-
5、hero” or “spear-fighter” for soldier.c. Beowulf is written in alliterative verse. Its rhythm depends upon accent and alliteration. That is, the beginning of two or more words in the same line with the same sound or letter. The lines are made up of two short halves, separated by a pause. No rhyme is
6、used; but a musical effect is produced by giving each half line two strongly accented syllables. Each full line, therefore, has four accents, three of which usually begin with the same sound or letter.Beowulf towers above all other Anglo-Saxon literature, not only because it is a powerful poem about
7、 peoples hero written in true epic style, but also because it tells in artistic form the tale in a leisurely way, full of elaborations in legendary details, and the verse rises at places to heights of poetic grandeur4).The significance of Beowulf：a. This glorious epic presents us a vivid picture of
8、the life of Anglo-Saxon people and highly praises the brave and courageous spirit of the fighting against the elemental forces.b. The epic reflects the situations the epoch of pagan tribalism and of the era of the Christianized feudal society.c. The epic gives the vivid portrayal of a great national
9、 hero, strong and courageous people and his kinfolk.2、 Geoffrey Chaucer 乔叟1） The Canterbury Talesa.Started writing it in the 1380sUses a frame device so that he could write a variety of talesSetting is April, with the pilgrims leaving the Tabard Inn for CanterburyTavern keeper Harry Bailley was a re
10、al personit represents Chaucers final poetic achievements. For depth of interest, for the wealth of its impressions of the human comedy, and for its mature wisdom. It is unrivaled among Chaucers works.30 pilgrims, would be 120 stories. But Chaucer had actually completed only 22 stories, with two mor
11、e existing in fragmentsb.Important because First book of poetry written in the English language Chaucer chose English over Latin and Italian Serves as a window into medieval social life Captured the variations of human temperament and behaviorWe still know these peoplec.Genres within the Tales 坎特伯雷故
12、事集Several different genres are present in the larger body of works. These include: Courtly romance (courtly love) Knights Tale Fabliau a humorous, satirical, and often bawdy tale dealing with basic human desire for money, sex, or food Millers Tale Pious legend (Saints Lives) Prioresss Tale Allegory
13、the characters represent some trait of human nature or some abstract concept Beast Fable Nuns Priests Tale Sermon Moral Tales Pardoners Tale2)Canterbury Pilgrims 清教徒Chaucer reveals the paradoxes of living he exposes the best and worst of human nature in both historical and human context.How believab
14、le is the literary picture of the knight as loyal, fearless, persevering, courteous, gentle, devout, and humble?haucers knight is battle-scarred, but credible. He is the embodiment of the Code of Chivalry lived out in its letter and spirit, a person larger than life, but representative of what life
15、is all about.3） Chaucers KnightIn the context of the entire work, the Knight is a critique of the chivalric code.Traditionally, by law, the knight of the code was obliged to uprightness; by birth, the knight if title and status was honored and presumed honorable.Chaucers knight breaks away from the
16、artificial and fixed condition of birth and becomes a knight of the spirit, living up to an aristocracy of the soul.The other pilgrims, too, are entertaining and intriguing portraits from medieval life3.English Ballads 民谣1） Most of the written literature in feudal England was intended only for upper
17、 classes.The English people had a literature of their own, not written but oralEnglish folk songs.The most important department of English folk literature is the balladWhat is a ballad?A ballad is a story told in second，usually in4-line stanzas, with the song and fourth lines rhymed2） Features of En
18、glish Ballads1. The ballads are in various English and Scottish dialects.2. They were created collectively and revised when handed down from mouth to mouth.3. They are mainly the literature of the peasants.4. They give an outlook of the English common people in feudal society.二、文艺复兴时期1、 The Renaissa
19、nce began in Florence, ItalyItaly was in an ideal location to be the birthplace of the Renaissance Close to the old Byzantine Empire Center of trade in the MediterraneanItalian scholars began to take lots of interest in the classical writing of the Greeks and RomansThis increased interest in the cla
20、ssics is called humanism Humanism is the key-note of the Renaissance. It reflected the new outlook of the rising bourgeois class. Humanists emphasize the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life and believe that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of this life,
21、but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders by removing all the external checks by the exercise of reason. They also expressed their rebellious spirit against the tyranny of feudal rule and ecclesiastical domination. 2、 renaissance1） Definition of RenaissanceRenaissance marks the t
22、ransition from the medieval to the modern world. It first started in Italy in the 14th century and gradually spread all over Europe. The word “Renaissance” means rebirth or revival. In essence, it is a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of
23、 those old feudalist ideas in medieval Europe and introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie, and to lift the restriction in all areas placed by the Roman Catholic Church authorities. 2） Two features of renaissance:It is a thirsting curiosity for the classical literat
24、ure. People learned to admire the Greek and Latin works as models of literary form. It is the keen interest in the activities of humanity.3、 Thomas Morewas a very famous English HumanistHe criticized English society in his Book Utopia ). It tells a journey to an imaginary island Utopia where an idea
25、l form of society exists. This gentleman not only predicted a perfect society for us but also placed a word in our vocabularies and gave the name to all literature of this kind, which has since been called Utopian.4、 William Shakespeare is probably the most famous English Renaissance writer1） He wro
26、te plays, sonnets, and essays四大悲剧：Hamlet 哈姆雷特 Othello 奥赛罗 King Lear 李尔王 Macbeth 麦克白四大喜剧：As You Like I 皆大欢喜 Twelfth Night 第十二夜 Midsummer Nights Dream 仲夏夜之梦 The Merchant of Venice 威尼斯商人Romeo and Juliet, , Julius Caesar, Richard III, Henry V, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Othello, etc. 2） Contributions1.A
27、masterhand for every form of drama.2.Skilled in many poetic forms, esp. sonnet 3.A great master of English language4.The summit of the English Renaissance 3） A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem in iambic pentameter with a carefully patterned rhyme scheme.It can be divided into two categories: the Itali
28、an/Petrarchan sonnet and the English/Shakespearean sonnet. The English or Shakespearean sonnet,consists of three quatrains and a couplet-that is, it rhymes abab cdcd efef gg. The Italian, or Petrarchan sonnet:Fourteen lines .Iambic pentameterConsists of an octet (eight lines) of two envelope quatrai
29、nsUsually abba abba, Sometimes abba cddc, Or rarely abab abab; The turn occurs at the end of the octet and is developed and closed in the sestet.And a sestet (six lines)Which may rhyme cdecde Or cdcdcdThe English or Shakespearean sonnet:Fourteen lines .Iambic pentameterConsists of three Sicilian qua
30、trains (four lines)And a heroic couplet (two lines)Rhymes: abab cdcd efef gg.The turn comes at or near line 132） Sonnet 18So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, 只要人类在呼吸，眼睛看得见，So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. 我这诗就活着，使你的生命绵延。5、 Francis Bacon 培根 was the best known essayist of this
31、 period. He was also the founder of modern science in England. a representative of the English renaissance 1） Famous Sayings Live to learn, not learn to live. 活着就要学习，学习不是为了活着。1. Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark. 2. All colors will agree in the dark. 3. Why should I be angry with as
32、a man for loving himself better than me .4. Knowledge is power. 5. A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. 6. It is impossible to love and be wise. 7. 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。 2） Essay: A DefinitionIt is a relatively short literary compositi
33、on in prose, in which a writer discusses a topic, usually restricted in scope, or tries to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view. the term essai was first applied to the form in 1580 by Montaigne, one of the greatest essayists of all time, to his pieces on friendship, love, death,
34、 and morality. In England the term was inaugurated in 1597 by Francis Bacon, who wrote shrewd meditations on civil and moral wisdom. 6、 Thomas Wyatt 托马斯亚怀特 English diplomat and poet noted for introducing the sonnet form , a 14-line poem, into English literature the Earl of Surrey 7、 Edmund Spenser 菲
35、利普锡德尼1)The Faerie Queene 仙后 is Spensers masterpiece. The principle intention is to present through a “historical poem” the example of a perfect gentleman.In the poem, Spenser focuses on 12 virtues of the private gentleman, and plans 12 books, each one with a different hero distinguished for one of t
36、he private virtues. The hero of the heroes is Arthur.He possesses all of these virtues and plays a role in each of the 12 major adventures.The recurring appearances of Arthur serve as a unifying element for the poem as a whole. The Faerie Queene is full of adventures and marvels, dragons, witches, e
37、nchanted trees, giants, jousting knights, and castles. It is also an allegory. Each hero represents a certain virtue .This literary epic poem has a romantic theme- Fierce wars and faithful loves.3） The Chief Qualities of Spensers poetry(1) A perfect melody(2) A rare sense of beauty(3) A splendid ima
38、gination(4) A lofty moral purity and seriousness(5) A dedicated idealismIn addition, Spenser uses strange forms of speech and obsolete words in order to increase the rustic effect.It is Spenser idealism, his love of beauty, and his exquisite melody that make him known as “the poets poet.”8、 Christop
39、her Marlowe 克里斯托夫马络(1) He perfected the blank verse and made it the principal medium of English drama.It is Marlowe who brought vitality and grandeur into the blank verse 素体诗/无韵诗 with his “mighty lines,” which carry strong emotions. He employed hyperbole 夸张 as his major figure of speech, which indic
40、ates the poetic energy and intensity conveyed through the verse.(2) The second one is his creation of the Renaissance hero for English drama .Such a hero is always individualistic and full of ambition, facing bravely the challenge from both gods and men. The hero embodies Marlowes humanistic ideal o
41、f human dignity and capacity .（3 ） Dr.Faustus 浮士德博士 is the greatest play written by Christopher Marlowe, one of the most famous dramatists of the Renaissance period. The main theme of the play is human rather than religious. It lays its focus on the passion for knowledge, power and happiness that ar
42、e the true spirit of the Renaissance.（4 ） Main features1) It is based on the German legend and reshapes it freely. It is a legend of a magician aspiring for knowledge and finally meeting his tragic end as a result of selling his soul to the devil.2) The moral of the play is human rather than religio
43、us.3) Blank verse is employed.4)Hyperbole5) Marlowe created the Renaissance hero in the play.三、十七世纪资产阶级革命时期1、 John Milton 约翰弥尔顿1） Paradise Lost 失乐园 is a long epic. The stories are taken from the Old Testament.基督教的旧约全书 Paradise Lost was actually written after Milton became totally blind. He spent sev
44、en years upon this epic poem. The rebellious 反抗的 Satan is the embodiment of the revolutionary 革命的化身的 Milton. In spite of his blindness, he endeavors to do his utmost.The Paradise Lost is the greatest, indeed the only generally acknowledged epic in English literature since Beowulf ; Paradise Lost is
45、Miltons masterpiece. The theme is the “Fall of Man“, i.e. mans disobedience and the loss of Paradise, with its prime cause -Satan. His purpose was “to justify the ways of God to man“- i.e. submission to the Almighty. 2） Satan Some readers consider Satan to be the hero, or protagonist, of the story,
46、because he struggles to overcome his own doubts and weaknesses and accomplishes his goal of corrupting humankind. In Paradise Lost, Satan is the rebel who never bows down to God even when he failed. He is a good military leader. He refuses to acknowledge the power of God. He is determined to continu
47、e the battle. He feels sorrow at the sufferings of those angels. He has led to so terrible a punishment, but he is very cruel. He has indomitable pride, unconquerable rebellion, and the will to evil and power. He said, “Only do evil, no good“. He tries to be as equal as God.3）Old Bible Paradise Lost
48、God authority Despot, selfish, cruel and unjustSatan devil Grand hero/to lead an active and fresh lifeAdam and Eve obedient rebellious4） The creation The rebellion of Satan and his fellow angels .Their defeat and expulsion from Heaven .Creation of the earth and of Adam and Eve .Satan in hell plottin
49、g against God .Satans temptation of Eve .Departure of Adam and Eve from Eden5） The CharactersOnly Six major characters Satan, the leader of the fallen angels (now known as devils)Major Quote: “Better to reign in Hell then serve in Heavn!“The leader of the angels who were cast from Heaven for eternity. His big entrance to the poem are lines 84-191.Chinese View: A rebel against tyranny .Miltons mouthpiece, uttering his hatred of tyranny.Revolt against the dictator and established doctrines. Western View: Satans qualities
