1、Chapter One The Anglo-Saxon Period and Beowulf,Historical Background,Three conquests: Roman conquest in 43 AD; (little influence on the cultural life of the Celts)Anglo-Saxon conquest in 449; (the ancestors of the present English people）Norman conquest in 1066 （French literature invaded）,Two Highlig
2、hts in the Development of Anglo-Saxon Literature,The Northumbrian SchoolCaedmon (the first Anglo-Saxon poet)-ParaphraseVenerable Bede-father of English history Wessex literatureKing Alfred (p.4-5)threefold contributions to English literature,Wessex: the Anglo-Saxon region of southern England that ex
3、tended from the Channel to the river Thames,The influence of the Christianity upon language and culture. (p. 3)Anglo-Saxonsheathens Pope Gregory St. Agusten King Ethelbert Christianized,the Song of Beowulf-Englands national epic,Epic,Definition: An extended narrative poem in elevated(严肃的） or dignifi
4、ed(尊严的，高贵的) language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.,Features of An Epic,The hero is a figure of imposing(难忘的，壮丽的） stature, of national or international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance; The setting is vast in scope, covering great nations, the
5、 world, or the universe; The action consists of deeds of great valor (bravery) or requiring superhuman courage;,Supernatural forces -gods, angels, and demons- interest themselves in (participate in) the action and intervene from time to time; （Grendel) A style of sustained elevation (崇高，庄严） and gran
6、d simplicity is used; The epic poet recounts the deeds of the heroes with objectivity.,Beowulf,creation time: written in 10-th century (p.6) plot and theme: fight with Grendelfight with Grendels motherfight with firedrakedeath and funeral (p.6-7),贝奥武夫（Beowulf） 一译贝奥武甫。完成于公元九世纪的英雄叙事长诗。 全诗凡3182行，以斯堪的纳维
7、亚（Scandinavia）的英雄贝奥武夫（Beowulf）的英勇事迹构成主要内容。虽然历史上并未证实确有贝奥武夫其人，但诗中所提及的许多其他人物与事迹却得到印证。 本诗以西撒克斯（Wessex）方言写成，押头韵而不押尾韵，用双字隐喻而不用明喻。是现存古英语文学中最古老的作品，也是欧洲最早的方言史诗。在语言学方面也是相当珍贵的文献。,全诗凡三千一百八十二行，以斯堪地那维亚的英雄贝奥武夫的英勇事迹构成主要内容。全诗内容分为两部分：第一部分描叙丹麦霍格国王（King Hrothgurs）宏伟的宫殿，在前后十二年中，半人半魔的妖怪格兰戴（Grendel）每晚出没捉食霍格的战士。此时恰巧瑞典南部济兹（
8、Geats）王子贝奥武夫率家臣来访，协助除害。国王当晚设宴款待，熟料妖怪格兰戴又复出现，捉食一名济兹战士，贝奥武夫与之格斗，贝氏扭断其臂，妖怪落荒而逃，因受重伤致死。第二天晚上，格兰戴的母亲前来为其子复仇，其后贝氏把她在一湖泊的洞穴中杀死。,第二部分描叙贝奥武夫返国，被拥为王，前后五十年，举国大治。最后贝奥武夫以垂老之年，杀一喷火巨龙，但其个人亦因而身受重创，终於身死。诗末叙其葬礼，并有挽歌。,Characteristics of “Beowulf”,a. （p.7) the mixture of pagan elements with Christian coloring. The most
9、 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 “Lord” is also mentioned as the omniscient (无所不知者，上帝）and omnipotent being that rules over the whole universe.,b. the frequent use of metaphors and u
10、nderstatements.(保守的陈述） “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” （携盾侍从） “battle-hero” or “spear-fighter” for soldier. Kenning (p.7-8),A figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name o
11、r noun, especially in Old English and Old Norse （挪威） poetry; for example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle. （eg p.8)隐喻语：尤指古英语和古斯堪的纳维亚语诗中，一种比喻性的，在表名字或名词时常用的复合表达方式，如“剑的风暴” 是 “战争” 的隐喻语,c. Beowulf is written in alliterative verse. Its rhythm depends upon accent and alliteration.,Alliteration,Alli
12、teration is a form of initial rhyme, or “head rhyme”. It is the repetition of the same sound or sounds at the beginning of two or more words that are next to or close to each other.(p.7) 韦氏新大学辞典(第九版)把Alliteration(头韵)定义为：在两个或两个以上邻近的词或音节中，通常为起首辅音的重复。头韵是一种语音修辞方式，常用于文章的标题、诗歌及广告语中，简明生动，常可起到突出重点、加深印象、平衡节奏
13、、抒发感情的作用,He came on under the clouds, clearly saw at lasta sleeping soldier, savagely tore at himOf harder hand-grip, his heart panicked.,The device is used to emphasize meaning and thus can be effectively employed in oratory(讲演术） Alliteration is a characteristic of Anglo-Saxon poetry, notably the e
14、pic Beowulf; it is still used, with modifications, by modern poets.,Literary Examples,“Full in the passage of the vale, above, / A sable, silent, solemn forest stood;“ James Thomson, The Castle of Indolence, Canto I, 37-38 “I should hear him fly with the high fields / And wake to the farm forever fl
15、ed from the childless land.“ Dylan Thomas, Fern Hill, II 50-51 “Sing a song of sixpence.“ Nursery rhyme,Common Examples,Like rhyme, alliteration is a great help to memory and frequently used in news headlines, corporate names, literary titles, advertising, and nursery rhymes.,Coca-Cola Do or die Don
16、ald Duck Green as grass Mickey Mouse Minnie Mouse The more the merrier peer-to-peer （对等的) Poor but proud Sink or swim Super Sonic (超音速）,什么是头韵呢？头韵在英语里叫alliteration，又叫initial rhyme，或head rhyme，是从拉丁语短语 ad literam (根据字母)转化而来的，指两个单词或两个单词以上的首字母相同，形成悦耳的读音，最常见的押头韵的短语有：first and foremost（首先）、（with）might and
17、main (尽全力地)、saints and sinners （圣人与罪人）、（in）weal and (or) woe（无论是福是祸）。,若追本探源的话，恐怕押头韵手法可以上溯到古英语(Old English)时期。 大约五世纪时，盎格鲁萨克逊( Anglo-Saxons)入侵者给英国人带来了作为现代英语(Modern English)基础的盎格鲁萨克逊语，或许就在那时还带来一种新的诗歌形式，其主要特征就是频繁使用押头韵手法。,押头韵的例子在诗歌里数见不鲜，比如：英国玄学派诗人约翰邓恩（John Donne）的诗集Songs and Sonnets（歌与十四行诗），其题目本身就用了押头韵技巧
18、。苏格兰诗人罗伯特彭斯(Robert Burns )有一首名诗，题目就叫做“O My Luves Like a Red Red Rose”（我的爱像一朵红红的玫瑰），其中最后三个词三个r字母连读，音韵之美，不可名状 。,Generally, in old English poetry, there are three alliterations per line: two in the first half line and one on the first foot of the second half line.( eg p.8-9)Through the repetition of so
19、unds and syllables, alliteration helps to create a mood or to unify a passage.,d. Beowulf towers above all other Anglo-Saxon literature, not only because it is a powerful poem about peoples hero written in true epic style, but also because it tells in artistic form the tale in a leisurely way, full
20、of elaborations in legendary details, and the verse rises at places to heights of poetic grandeur (magnificence).,The significance of Beowulf,a. This glorious epic presents us a vivid picture of the life of Anglo-Saxon people and highly praises the brave and courageous spirit of the fighting against the elemental forces （自然力）.,b. The epic reflects the situations the epoch（时代） of pagan tribalism and of the era of the Christianized feudal society.,c. The epic gives the vivid portrayal of a great national hero, strong and courageous people and his kinfolk.,
