英国文学史学生笔记,整理得很好

英国文学史学生笔记,整理得很好 英国文学简史 Part one: Early and Medieval English Literature Historical Background 1. When does early and medieval period refer to? “Early” here means English literature in primitive and slavery society. “Medieval” means English literature in feudal England before the Renaissance. 2. What main events happened during this period? Roman conquest English conquest Norman conquest Literature Achievements in old English period 1.two groups of English poetry in Anglo-Saxon period. The first group was the pagan poetry represented by Beowulf, the second was the religious poetry represented by the works of Caedmon and Cynewulf. 2. In the 8th century, Anglo-Saxon prose appeared. The famous prose writers of that period were Venerable Bede and Alfred the Great. Venerable Bede : is the first scholar and chronicler in England. The most important works : The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Alfred the Great : started the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Beowulf I. Definition of epic: an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. II. Story of Beowulf : P3-4 Questions : 1.setting :2. characters: 3.plot III. Some important points “Beowulf” is a folk legend brought to England by Anglo-Saxons from their continental homes. However it also reflected the features of the tribal society in Britain. Originally Beowulf, the great epic, was in oral form and it must be a collective creation. Beowulf in the epic is a legendary figure. In formal history you can not find a man named Beowulf. IV. Artistic features of “Beowulf’’ 1. Using alliteration Definition of alliteration: Words beginning with the same consonants alliterate with each other within each line. Each line of verse may contain an indefinite number of words or syllables but generally has four stresses, with a pause between the second and the third stresses. Some examples on P4 2. ?Using metaphor and understatement Definition of understatement: expressing something in a controlled way Understatement is a typical way for Englishmen to express their ideas. You may find some examples on P5 Literary Features of the Anglo-Saxon Period 1) secular(非宗教的) poetry, non religious poems but with Christian coloring; 2) created collectively and orally; 3) based on history, legend or events of the time; 4) for entertainment; th 5) unknown writers, written down by the monks in the 10 century Literature achievement in Middle English Period 1.Romance: ( for noble ) 2.Ballads: ( folk literature) (oral)( for English people) 3. Poetry: 1) William Langland (popular literature) 2) Chaucer ( the founder of English literature) 1. Romance: It is the most prevailing kind of literature in England on feudal period. It is a long composition, in verse or in prose. It describes the life and adventures of a noble hero. The central theme is loyalty to king and Lord. The code of manners and morals of a knight is Chivalry. The most important romance is king Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. 2. Ballads: a. It is the most important form of English folk literature. b. It is a story told in song, usually in 4-line stanzas with the second and fourth line rhymed. c. It is a literature of common people,( mainly the literature of the peasants) from them one is able to understand the outlook of the English common people in feudal society. thd. It flourished in England in the 15 century. e. The most important ballads in England are Robin Hood . 3. Poetry William Langland: a. life: b. content: 1.attack on the corruption of the rich and the wickedness of clergy 2.the political situation of the time 3.search for truth 4. attack on the seven Deadly Sins: (pride, lechery (色欲)，envy, wrath, Avarice, glutton, sloth) c. Social significance: 1.a classic of popular literature 2.kindled the toiling people’s sense of human dignity and equality before God 3.arousing revolutionary sentiment d. artistic features: 1.It is written in the form of a dream vision. 2.It is an allegory which relates truth through symbolism. But in the main, it is a realistic picture of medieval England. 3. The poem uses satire in his description of social abuses caused by the corruption 4.The poem is written in alliteration. 5.language style: lively speech of the countryside , blunt and unpolished words. Geoffrey Chaucer I. His life II. Literary career: 3 stages III. His works: a.Troilus and Criseyde b.The Canterbury Tales IV. His Contributions: , I. His Life , Born in a wine merchant’s family , Trip to the continent on diplomatic missions,two of which took him to Italy , Buried in Westminster Abbey, the poets’ corner , Political background:relation with John of Gaunt , II. Literary Career: , French period:The Book of the Duchess , Italian period: works adapted from the Italian: Troilus and Criseyde , English period: The Canterbury Tales He reached maturity and was free from dominant foreign influence. , III. His works: , The Book of the Dutchess 《公爵夫人之书》 , The House of Fame《声誉之堂》 , The Parliament of Fowls《百鸟议会》 , The Canterbury Tales《坎特伯雷故事集》 , Troilus and Criseyde 《特罗勒斯和克莱西》 Troilus and Criseyde , It is based on a poem by Boccaccio, his longest poem, written in the rhymed royal(君王 体)(a seven-line stanza in iambic pentameter rhyming ababbcc.) The Canterbury Tales , Questions : 1. the organization of the book ( the relationship between the general prologue and each tale) 2.The main features of Chaucer’s narration 3.The image of Wife of Bath , Basic information form: most of the tales are written in heroic couplet setting: Tabard Inn characters: types of literature: courtly romance, folk tale.,beast fable, story of travel and adventure, saint’s life, allegorical tale, sermon, alchemical account. Language: Middle English, vivid, exact, word- pictures Length: planned to be 120 stories. The General prologue,20 complete tales, 4 fragments, separate prologues to each tale with links, comments,quarrels ,etc. in between. Arrangement: linked through the host’s comments and prologue.two ways: the personality of the sthost affords a clear string of connection from the 1 to the last tale. There is an intimate connection between the tales and prologue. Typical characters: almost all medieval figures from different sides of life except noble and serfs. Character of the wife of Bath the owner of a cloth factory, light-hearted, merry, somewhat vulgar and talkative. a lengthy account of her feelings about marriage. , The Canterbury Tales’ significance reflection of his times--- a panoramic view of his contemporary life; reflection of his humanist idea---- he exposed the evils of the church, the corruption of the upper class, praise man’s intellect and love; he affirms men and women’s right to pursue their happiness and oppose the dogma of asceticism preached by church. , IV. Chaucer’s contributions: a. Forerunner of humanism b. The first realistic writer c. Father of English poetry d. Master of the English language Part Two: The English Renaissance Historical Background Renaissance and Humanism Main literary form: poetry Edmund Spencer drama: most important William Shakespeare essay: (prose) Francis Bacon The English Renaissance 1. Renaissance in Europe th a. It began in the 14 century in Italy. b. nature: a cultural and intellectual movement c. content: there arose a current for the study of Greek and Latin authors; a general dissatisfaction at the catholic and feudal ideas. d. two striking features: curiosity for classical literature interest in the activities of humanity II. Historical Background The establishment of Tudor Dynasty(1485-1603) Religious Reformation The establishment of Protestantism Commercial expansion abroad The war with Spain (English bourgeoisie fought for existence and power) III. Renaissance and Humanism Humanism a. Nature: a literary and philosophical system of thought which attempt to place the affairs of mankind at the center of its concerns. b. Origin: in Italy c. Source: based on a new reading of Greek and Roman literature, and an affirmation of the importance of Platonic philosophy and reinterpretation of the writings of Aristotle. d. Idea: It took the life of man in the presence as a major interest. e. Humanism was one of the most important factors giving rise to the Renaissance. It is an attitude rather than a philosophy. The main traits of the Renaissance Literature a. Its chief characteristic is the expression of secular values with man instead of God as the center of the universe. b. It emphasizes the dignity of man, affirms and eulogizes the value of man. c. It advocates the full expression of individualism and the fulfillment of one’s abilities against the despotic rule of the feudalism. d. It affirms the delight of earthly achievement as well as men’s desire for happiness and pleasure. Poetry I. Two poets before the Elizabethan Age: Thomas Wyatt; Henry Howard , Earl of Surrey a. sonnet: an exact form of poetry in 14 lines of iambic pentameter rhymed, introduced to England from Italy by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. b. Surrey: the first English blank verse, the form of poetry to be later masterly handled by Shakespeare and Milton. Two poets before the Elizabethan Age c. the songs and sonnets by Wyatt and Surrey was the first anthology of English lyric poems. II.Two poets of the Elizabethan Age 1. Philip Sidney a. life: well-known as a poet and critic of poetry. He is Spencer’s friend. Spencer wrote Shepherd’s Calendar to dedicate to him. He was a courtier, a scholar and soldier. b. his collection of love sonnets: Astrophel and Stella c. criticism: Apology for Poetry: represent the spirit of literary criticism of the Renaissance. 2. Edmund Spencer a. life : a minor noble family, good education, the Poet’s poet ,buried in Westminster Abbey. b. works: 1) The Shepherds’ calendar 2) Amoretti a sequence of 88 sonnets, containing Spencer’s love poems to his future wife, Elizabeth Boyle. Question: what are most famous Sonnet sequences of the Elizabethan Age? 3) Masterpiece : Faerie Queen Planned in 12 books but only 6 finished. Content: In the epic each hero or heroine represents a virtue. In the course of their trials, they come to fully embody that virtue. The virtues are Holiness, Temperance, Chastity, Friendship, Justice, and Courtesy. Form: allegory Language: has sweet melody and its lines are very musical Verse form: “Spenserian Stanza” Spenserian Stanza: First eight lines are iambic pentameter and ninth has two more syllables, rhyming ababbcbcc. theme: 1)nationalism 2) humanism 3) Puritanism Influence: used by all the later poets, especially imitated by the romantic poets of the 19th century.( Byron, Shelley, Keats) Everything in the story has two levels — as part of the story and as part of the allegory, or symbolic meaning. This can be seen in Book I, which summarizes the whole poem. As a Romantic adventure, this is the story of the Redcrosse Knight and Lady Una searching for Una’s parents, who are trapped by a dragon. The knight kills the dragon and so wins the right to be the lady’s husband. As a spiritual allegory, this is the story of a soul’s encounter with the seven deadly sins, its separation from and reunion with the one faith, and its final salvation by divine grace. c. school-belong: like Lyly and Sidney, Spencer was a court poet. d. position: as a model of poetical art among the Renaissance English poets, the 1st to make English the natural music in poetry. Prose I. Bible a) Translation of Bible: the first complete English Bible was translated by John Wycliffe(1324-1384), the morning star of the Reformation, and his followers.( from Latin to English) b) The authorized version of Bible: translated under the auspice of James I in 1611 and so it was called the King James Bible. This version is simple and dignified in language.( modern English has been fixed and confirmed.) II. The greatest humanist: Thomas More a. was born in a middle-class family. humanist leader of the early 16th century, a scholar, master of Latin, witty talker, music lover, great thinker; once Lord Chancellor; beheaded on a false charge of treason. b. Masterpiece , Utopia in 1516(in Latin) translated into English in 1551. , Form: a conversation between More and a returned voyager. , Comment : a. He is a far-sighted thinker, living on the eve of the bourgeois revolution. b. More was the first to see the relation between wealth and poverty and to bring up the ideal of communist society. He was one of the forerunner of modern socialist thought. , Question: What is More’s Limitation? III. Bacon( the most important prose writer) Sir Francis Bacon was an English writer, philosopher and statesman and was educated in Cambridge. When he was fourteen, Bacon finished his education and went to Paris. In the French capital, he began to know humanism. the House of Commons and started his In 1584, Francis Bacon was elected for political career. Bacon advised for the union of England and Scotland and suggested ways to deal with Roman Catholics. For all these he had done, he was given the title of knight in 1603. By the time of James I, he was named as Lord Chancellor in 1618. In 1621, he was accused by Parliament and they said that he had accepted bribes. For this reason his political career ended. Drama: 1. Three kinds of drama: a. the Miracle play: it is the root of English drama. It is based on Bible stories. Miracles were first performed in the church. b. the Morality play: It presents the conflict of good and evil with allegorical personages such as Mercy, Peace, Hate, Fally, etc.)( eg: Everyman) c. the Interlude: a short performance during the break.( eg: the play of the weather) 2. Two influences on Elizabethan Drama 1) influence from the classics. (Greek and Latin drama) 2) influence from the popular drama. 3. Gammer Gurton’s needle is the first English comedy, describing a quarrel over the loss of a needle. Gorboduc is the first English tragedy. The morality play Everyman at the end of 15th century makes the beginning of modern English drama. 4. The London theatre and the audience 5. playwrights: a. the university wits: they are Lily, Peele, Marlowe, Greene, Lodge and Nash, etc. The most influential is Marlowe. They had studied at the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge and then set up as professional writers, selling their learning and their “ wits” to the London public of playgoers and reading public as well. b. Marlowe c. Shakespeare d. Ben Jonson b. Marlowe Works: (tragedies) Doctor Faustus( for knowledge) Tamburlaine ( based on a German Legend, ambition) Jew of Malta ( greed for wealth) Themes of his plays: scorn of orthodox creeds praise of individuality , freed from the restraints of medieval dogmas and law. Position and achievements: He was the predecessor of Shakespeare He was the greatest pioneer of English drama. His two achievements: 1) He first made blank verse (unrhymed iambic drama), the principal instrument of English drama. 2) He replaced the stilted heroes of drama in the past by men of vitality and passion. He created the Renaissance hero for English drama. Shakespeare , Life : , Four periods in play- writing , His comedies , His tragedies , Historical plays , Poetical works , Features of Shakespeare’s drama , Four periods in play-writing 1st period: Features: a) It’s Shakespeare’s early experimental period. It is marked by youthfulness and rich imagination. b) by extravagance of language c) by the frequent use of rhymed couplets with blank verse d) He looked down upon the world as a just one. Justice would eventually win in the end. e) Love, faith, work and duty were the four elements that made the world right. Works: P 58 2nd period: Features: a) He worked as a master in play writing b) It was a period of rapid growth and development of his artistic power. c) He had a keen insight into human nature, great power of expression and genius for constructing a play. d) This period belongs to his best history plays. Works: P60 3rd period: features: a) The period of gloom and depression b) He was concerned with deposit matters of human life. c) He grew in experience, in vision and in sympathy d) His belief and trust in mankind had been shattered. e) He produced his four greatest tragedies. Works: P62 4th period: features: a) a period of unrealistic compromise and fantasy b) a period of restored serenity and tolerant resignation c) He sounds again a note of calm and hope and serene wisdom. d) His latest plays including Tempest have happy endings. Works:P63 , His comedies Shakespeare wrote his comedies in his early period. In these plays he portrayed the young people who had just freed themselves from the feudal fetters. He sang of their youth, their love and ideal of happiness. The heroes and heroines were sons and daughters of the Renaissance. They trust not in God or King but in themselves. , Two groups of characters: , Women characters: , 16 comedies together. His main comedies are: Merchant of Venice; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; As you like it; Twelfth Night. His tragedies , Shakespeare’s great tragedies are associated with a period of gloom and sorrow in his life. During this period, England witnessed a general unrest, and social contradictions became very sharp. What caused the writer’s personal sadness is unknown to us. It is generally attributed to the political misfortune of his friend and patron, Earl of Essex, who was killed by the Queen. Shakespeare wrote 11 tragedies. His main tragedies are: Hamlet; Othello; King Lear; Macbeth. All these plays express a profound dissatisfaction with life. They show the struggle and conflicts between good and evils, between justice and injustice. In these plays, the writer Shakespeare condemns the dark and evil society. , Historical plays Shakespeare’s historical plays are political plays. The principal idea of these plays is the necessity for national unity under one sovereign. At his time, this idea was anti-feudal in nature; and it summed up the general opinion of the rising bourgeoisie in Shakespeare’s own day. Among Shakespeare’s 10 historical plays, Henry IV and Henry V are two remarkable plays. , Shakespeare’s poetical works Venus and Adonis ; Lucrece are two long narrative poems. The bulk of Shakespeare's sonnets were written between 1593 and 1598. Each line of a sonnet is in iambic pentameter, and the rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg. His 154 sonnets seem to fall into two series: One series are addressed to W. H, evidently a patron, and the other addressed to "dark lady" who played the poet false. For depth of sentiment, for mastery of diction, for perfection of finish, they are among the most excellent of Elizabethan poetry. , Features of Shakespeare’s drama a) progressive significance of his theme b) successful character portrayal c) master hand in constructing plays d) the ingenuity of his poetry e) mastery of English language Ben Jonson I. Introduction: Poet, critic, poet’s laureate; Successor of Shakespeare. He was the greatest writers of comedy after Shakespeare. II. His plays: 1)His plays are written according to “ humors ”. Every character in his comedies personified a definite humor, so his characters are like caricature. 2)His plays were not deep but had much surface energy. 3)His masterpieces are Velpone and The Alchemist III. His contribution: a) humor b) forerunner of classicism English Literature in the seventeenth Century I .Social Background the English Revolution and the Restoration II. Literary characteristics: 1. literature of the Revolution period Puritan literature period is different from the literature of Elizabethan period in the following aspects: 1) Elizabethan literature had a marked unity and the feeling of patriotism and devotion to the Queen, but in the Revolution Period，all this was changed, the king became the open enemy of the people, and the country was divided by the struggle for political and religious liberty. So literature was as divided in spirit as were the struggling parties. 2) Elizabethan literature was generally inspiring. It throbbed with youth and hope and vitality(Literature in the Puritan Age expressed age and sadness. Even its brightest hours were followed by gloom and pessimism. 3) Elizabethan literature was intensely romantic(The romantic spirit sprang from the heart of youth(People believed all things, even the impossible(But in literature of the Puritan period, we cannot find any romantic ardor. 2.The main literary form of the period was poetry(Among the poets, Milton was the greatest. Besides him, there were two other groups of poets, the Metaphysical Poets and the Cavalier Poets. 3. Puritanism was the religious doctrine of the revolutionary bourgeoisie during this period. It preached thrift, sobriety, hard work, but with very little extravagant enjoyment of the fruits of labor. Worldly pleasures were condemned as harmful. This was precisely the outlook needed by the bourgeoisie for the accumulation of capital. Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two minds which possessed the imaginative faculty in a very eminent degree. One of these minds produced the Paradise Lost, the other The Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan(约翰?班扬) 1.life: son of a tinker. After receiving his early education at the Bedford grammar school ,he followed his father’ s trade. Later, He joined a Baptist society and became a preacher. Soon he became active both in preaching and writing. After restoration, he was arrested and kept in prison for preaching. He was the chief puritan writer to participate in the struggle against the corrupt fedual-aristocratic regimes of charlies II and James II after John Milton. 2. Works: Pilgrim’s Progress<<天路历程>> Bunyan’s most important work and one of the most popular books in the English languages, was written in the form of an allegory. , Allegory(寓言) It loosely describes any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning. This fictional literary narrative acts as an extended metaphor in which persons, abstract ideas, or events represent not only themselves on the literal level, but also stand for something else on the symbolic level. An allegorical reading usually involves moral or spiritual concepts that may be more significant than the actual, literal events described in a narrative. , It is a prose narrative symbolically concerning the human soul’s pilgrimage through temptation and doubt to reach salvation. , Other important allegorical works include Spencer’s Faerie Queen and Swift’s Gulliver’s travels. , Pilgrim’s Progress I. life: Milton is the greatest writer of the seventeenth century. Mastering the ancient languages and literature : Greek, Latin;“ the lady of the Christ” “ spokesman of the Revolution”. Milton was sent to Christ’s college, Cambridge, where he acquired a good knowledge of Latin. He was famous for his personal beauty and strictness of his life and was nicknamed “ the lady of the Christ’s”. II. literary career: a) up to 1641( First period) He was greatly influenced by humanism and the spirit of Elizabethan Age. His important poem is Lycidas, a pastoral elegy on the death of a college mate. b) From 1641 to 1654( second period) He wrote no poems but political essays and pamphlets. Areopafitica called for freedom of press. (prose) “ Defence of the English people” “ Second Defence of the English people” Pamphlets on marriage c) From 1655 to 1671( third period) Paradise Lost ( masterpiece) Paradise Regained Samson Agonistes III. works: a. Paradise Lost: epic in 12 books, written in blank verse source: old Testament theme: a revolt against God’s authority the fall of men ; man’s disobedience and the loss of paradise; the powers of man; craving for knowledge image: Satan 1) the real hero of the poem 2) He is a very firm revolt against God and makes man revolt against God 3) Though defeated he won the respects of his angles. 4) He is the spirit questioning the authority of God. b. Samson Agonistes poetical drama, modeled on the Greek tragedies, from the “ Book of Judges” in Old Testament”. Common between Samson and Milton John Milton IV. Features of Milton’s poetry: a. Milton is a great revolutionary poet of the 17th century. He was also an outstanding political pamphleteer of the revolution period. He dedicated himself to the revolutionary cause. He made a strong influence on the later English poetry. Every progressive English poet since Milton has drawn inspiration from him. b. Milton is a great stylist His poetry has a grand style. That is because he made a life-long study of classical and Biblical literature. His poetry is noted for sublimity of thought and majesty of expression. c. Milton is a great master of blank verse. He is the glorious pioneer to introduce blank verse into non-dramatic poetry. He has used it as the main tool in his masterpiece “ Paradise Lost”. His blank verse is rich in every poetic quality and never monotonous. d. Milton wrote the greatest epic in English literature. He made a strong influence to later English poetry. V. Exercise: How do you understand these plots? 1. God was surrounded by his angles, who never think of expressing any opinions of their own. 2. Satan and his followers freely discuss all issues in council. Why did Milton design the plots in such a way? Based on the text of Paradise Lost, how do you think Milton would justify his alterations of and additions to the Bible, given the fact that he was a devout Christian? Answer: It seems that Milton writes this epic to "justify the ways of God to men", but actually, it is not. God is depicted as a despot. This contradiction can be explained by the fact that Milton is a devout Christian, a Puritan, on one hand, and a fervent revolutionary, Republican, on the other. So we may say, that Milton's original purpose might be "to justify the ways of God to men", but it turns out to be an eloquent expression of the revolutionary spirit of the English bourgeois revolution, a call to resist tyranny and to continue the fight for freedom. Herein lies the significance of the work. 3.Satan is the most well-developed character in Paradise Lost. Is he a sympathetic character? Answer: One reason that Satan is easy to sympathize with is that he is much more like us than God or the Son are. As the embodiment of human errors, he is much easier for us to imagine and empathize with than an omniscient deity. Satan’s character and psychology are all very human, and his envy, pride, and despair are understandable given his situation. But Satan’s speeches, while undeniably moving, subtly display their own inconsistency and error. When Satan first sees Earth and Paradise in Book III, he is overcome with grief. His description of his situation is eloquent; his expression of pain is moving. Perhaps we pity Satan as he struggles to find his new identity while reflecting on his recent mistakes. Likewise, his feeling of despair resonates with feelings that all human beings undergo at some point. However, Satan’s despair becomes fuel for his ever-increasing evil, rather than the foundation for repentance. His anger and irrationality overcomes him, and he resolves to make evil his virtue. In many ways Satan becomes more understandable in this speech for his pitiable human qualities, and he becomes more interesting as well due to the unpredictability of his character. But overall, his ever-increasing stubbornness and devilish pride makes him less forgivable. Cavalier poets(骑士派诗人) Cavalier poets: (Term) A name given to supporters of Charles I in the Civil War. These poets were not a formal group, but all were influenced by Ben Johnson and like him Paid little attention to the sonnet; their lyrics are distinguished by short lines, precise but idiomatic diction(成语), and an urbane (温文尔雅的)and graceful wit(优雅风趣). Metaphysicals: a) It appears at the beginning of the 17th century. b) It is called “ Metaphysicals” by Samuel Johnson, the 18th century writer C) The poetry was too often laboured, intellectual, obscure. d) It’s concerned too much with philosopy. e) The representative is John Donne.( including Herbert, Marvell, Crashaw, cowley, Cleveland, Vaughan) f) marked by mysticism in content and fantastic in form. John Donne: a. founder of metaphysical poetry b. two groups of his poetry: youthful love lyrics: (songs and sonnets)(歌与十四行诗) sacred verses c. features: 1)original images and conceits 2) use of colloquial speech 3) flexibility of rhythm and meter 4) caustic(讽刺的) humor 5) sensuality is blended with philosophy, passion with intellect. The restoration literature I. Drama: the restoration comedy is notorious for its licentiousness, being full of love intrigue, seduction and promiscuity, thus providing amusement for upper class. Dryden is the only important dramatist. His masterpiece is All for Love.( a noble tragedy based on Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra). The typical form of drama is the heroic play. Old plays were revised. II. Prose: Good prose is simple, clear and natural; the restoration prose paved the thway for periodical essays, for the novelists of the 18 century. III. Poetry: a. Dryden was the most important poet, the poet laureate from 1668 to 1688. b. Dryden’s major satirical poems are Absalom and Architophel and the Medal. A period of reaction and degeneration IV. Dryden 1. The prominent figure in the literary world of the Restoration England. He was born of a family of landed gentry with puritan and parliamentary connection. He was a poet, playwright, critic, and translator. He was a versatile writer and made Poet laureate. 2.His works All for Love<< 一切为了爱>> ------- play It is written in blank verse, tells the story of Antony and Cleopatra in a totally different way from Shakespeare. It relates only the last part of Antony’s life and confines the dramatic conflict to the hero’s internal struggle between his love for Cleopatra and his worldly considerations for himself. An essay of Dramatic poesy<<论戏剧诗>> It takes the form of a dialogue and discusses the comparative merits of English and French drama and those of the old and new English drama. He favored the neo-classical rules of drama (including “three unities” of time, place and action) . He spoke for the use of rhymed verse for tragedy. It established his position as the leading critic of the day. 3.contribution:P125 a. He established the heroic couplet as one of the principal English verse forms. b. He clarified the English prose and made it precise, concise and flexible. c. He raised English criticism to a new level. d. He was the forerunner of the English classical school in the next century. The English Literature of the Restoration was modeled on classicism. Renaissance: the free expression of man’s individuality Classicism: upheld reason, law and order. Drama, poetry and prose should be controlled by some fixed rules. The Eighteenth century English Literature I. Historical background: 1. England became a constitutional monarchy.(君主立宪制). The capitalist system was established in England. A period of peaceful development. 2. the industrial revolution. 3. the appearance of new industrial proletariat.(工业无产阶级) II. The dominant ideology in the literary field th Britain in the 18 century is called Age of Enlightenment or Age of Reason. thEnlightenment dominates the whole 18 century. It promote the development of ththRenaissance in the 15 and 16 century. It will enlighten the world with modern philosophy and arts. Therefore, the literature in this period are heavily didactic and moralizing.(说教意味与道德主题) , Enlightenment (P127) A progressive intellectual movement throughout Western Europe. It was an expression of struggle of the bourgeoisie against feudalism. The enlighteners fought against class inequality, stagnation(僵化), prejudices and other survivals of feudalism(封建残余).They thought the chief means for bettering the society was "enlightenment" or "education" for the people. The English enlighteners were bourgeois democratic thinkers. , Question: Why are English enlighteners different from enlighteners in France? , Answer: They were different from those of France, for they appeared not before but after the bourgeois revolution. They set no revolutionary aim before them and what they strove for was to carry the revolution through to an end. , cultural progress Inspired by the spirit of the Enlightenment, people were encouraged to cultivate a sound sense of rationality and a witty intellectuality. More schools were set up throughout the country so as to provide a better education for the masses. As more people had now more money and more leisure time, and became better educated, a widely distributed reading public grew, especially among the well-to-do middle class women. This demanded more reading materials which would be of interest and satisfy their need for a rational and moral life. ?. Characteristics of the Literature 1. A General View The main literary stream of the 18th century was realism. What the writers described in their works were social realities. The main characters were usually common men. Most of the writers concentrated their attention on daily life. In this century the newspaper was born. Literature, which included the book, the newspaper and the magazine, became the chief instrument of the nation's progress. The new social and political conditions demanded expressions not simply in books but more especially in pamphlets, magazines and newspapers. Poetry, which had been the glory of English literature in the preceding ages, was inadequate for such a task. So prose had a rapid development in this age. The 18th century was an age of prose. A group of excellent prose writers, such as Addison, Steele, Swift, Fielding, were produced. Novel writing made a big advance in this century. The main characters in the novels were no longer kings and nobles but the common people. , The development of the literature in this period can be summarized as: th the predominance of neoclassical poetry and prose in the early decades of the 18 century; ththe rise and flourish of modern realistic novel in the middle years of the 18 century; and the appearance of gothic novel and the sentimental and pre-romantic poetry and fiction in the last thfew decades of the 18 century. 2. Neo-Classicism in English Literature(p128) This term mainly applies to the classical tendency which dominated the literature thof the early period of the 18 century. It found its artistic models in the classical literature of the ancient Greek and Roman writers, and tried to control literary creation by some fixed laws and rules drawn from their works, for example, rimed couplet instead of blank verse and the three unities of time, place and action，etc. It put the stress on the classical ideals of order, logic, restrained emotion, accuracy, good taste and decorum(端 庄得体). , Some fixed laws and rules , In writing plays they used rimed couplet instead of blank verse. They observed the three unities-the unities of time, place and action. They thought poetry should follow the ancient divisions, falling into lyric, epic, didactic, satiric or dramatic and each group should be guided by some peculiar principles. Prose should be precise, direct and flexible. All the neo-classicists followed these standards in writing. , Main writers thIn early 18 century, writers of the neo-classical school were Addison, Steele and Pope. In the middle decades of the century, Samuel Johnson became the leader of the classical school in English poetry and prose. IV. Richard Steele and Joseph Addison斯梯尔和艾迪生 1)In 1709 Steel started a literary periodical named “The Tatler’<<闲谈者 >>. In 1711, Addison collaborated with Steele to create a literary periodical called ‘The Spectator’<<旁观者>>. 2) Periodical: magazine or other publication that is published at a regular intervals. th 3) imitators in 18 c. : Johnson’s The Rambler <<漫游者>>and Idler <<闲散者>>. Goldsmith’s The Bee<<蜜蜂报>> 4)Steele’s and Addison’s contribution to the English Literature P134, 1,2,3 V. Alexander Pope Alexander Pope’s life th, a) the most important English poet in the first half of the 18 century. , b) two unfortunate things: a Roman Catholic family and deformed body , c)self-study with the help of dictionary and grammar , reading Greek and Latin works Alexander Pope’s work 1)Essay on criticism<<批评论>> 2) The Rape of the Lock <<卷发遇劫记>> 3) Dunciad <<群愚史诗>> 4)An Essay on man <<人论>> 5) Translation of Homer’s Illiad and Odyssay <<伊利亚特>> <<奥德塞>> 6)A editor of Shakespeare’s plays , Essay on criticism<<批评论>> It is a didactic poem written in heroic couplets. It tells poets and critics write and appreciate poetry according to principles set by the old Greek and Roman writers. , It sums up the art of poetry as taught Aristotle( Poetics)(<<诗学>>), Horace( Art of Poetry)(贺拉斯《诗艺》 , Boileau ( L’ Art Poetique)(布瓦洛《诗艺》) , Proverbial maxims in Essay on criticism “For fools rush in where angles fear to tread” “天使不敢涉足之处，蠢才蜂拥而至。” “ To err is human, to forgive, divine.” “错误人难免，宽恕最可贵。” “ A little learning is a dangerous thing.” “一知半解是一件危险的事。” , The Rape of the Lock <<卷发遇劫记>> , Plot: cutting off a lock of hair quarrel between two families , Form : the finest example of mock epic(讽喻式的英雄史诗) , mock epic , In contrast with an epic, a mock epic is a long poem that burlesques the classical epic by treating a trivial subject in a lofty style. The poet often takes an elevated style of language, but incongruously applies that language to mundane(平凡的) or ridiculous objects and situation. , The Rape of the Lock <<卷发遇劫记>> ,a poem of social satire , The strategy of Pope’s mock-epic is not to mock the form itself, but to mock his society in its very failure to rise to epic standards. , It is against the traditional epic subjects and the epic heroes. Pope wrote it to restore peace between the two families and ridicule the trivial accident, emphasizing the pettiness of the quarrel , the foolish meaningless life of aristocratic thbourgeois society of the 18 century England. Dunciad <<群愚史诗>> It is a satirical poem. The satire was directed against all the literary vices of the time. , An Essay on man <<人论>> It is a philosophical poem in heroic couplets. It consists of 4 letters to a philosopher: nature and state of man in the universe man as an individual man and society man and happiness Universe is best in spite of evil . Failure to see the perfection is due to our limited vision. Translation of Homer’s Illiad and Odyssay <<伊利亚特>> <<奥德塞>>: lack of sound knowledge of Greek, it is not an accurate version of the original one. A editor of Shakespeare’s plays: he lacked an intimate knowledge of the Elizabethan period and the quality of patience, so the edition of Shakespeare is full of errors. , Achievement a)He was so perfect in heroic couplets that no one can approach him. b)In the field of satiric and didactic verse, he was the undisputed master. c)He popularized the neo-classical literary tradition. He was one of the early representatives of the Enlightenment who introduced into English culture the spirit of rationalism and greater interest in the human world. He represented the highest glory and authority in matters of literary art and made great contributions to the theory and practice of prosody(诗体学). VI. Daniel Defoe(丹尼尔.笛福) , Defoe was a journalist, a pamphleteer, a poet, and above all those, he was a novelist. He has been regarded as the discover of the modern novel. , works Robinson Crusoe 《鲁滨逊漂流记》 Capital Singletion <<辛格顿船长>> Moll Flanders <<摩尔. 弗兰德斯>> Cononel Jacque << 陆军上校杰克>> , Robinson Crusoe 《鲁滨逊漂流记》 Main ideas 1)source: based on a real story of a Scottish sailor 2)character: Crusoe , Friday 3)image of Crusoe: P152 4)plot: loosely connected Picaresque st5)point of view: 1 person singular 6)style language: plain, smooth, easy, direct, almost colloquial, but never coarse language; works close to the vernacular(地方语) of ordinary people; use long, rambling sentences , question: 1.why did Crusoe stand for the English bourgeoisie? , character: practical and exact thrift, favor, labor, common person without wealth, accumulate wealth. , Every voyage is connected with some commercial enterprise. , Relation with Friday shows idea of colonization. 2.why does realism begin with Daniel Defoe? Defoe’s intention is that the readers should regard his novels as real stories. For that reason, he deliberately avoids all fine writing, so that the reader should concentrate only on a series of plausible(可信的) events. Defoe’s novels all take the form of memoirs or pretended historical narratives, everything in them gives the impression of reality. VII. Richardson , Life: limited education ;passion for letter- writing;story-teller , His works : Pamela, or virtue Rewarded (epistolary novel ) <<帕米拉>>, 又称 <<<贞洁得报>> Clarissa Harlowe <<克拉丽莎>> Sir Charles Grandison << 查尔斯. 格兰迪森爵士的历史>> , Pamela, or virtue Rewarded (epistolary novel ) , gave a detailed description of the English family life in the middle of the th18 century. , There is not much action, but analyses the thoughts and especially the feelings of the heroin in great detail. , Criticizes the bourgeois moral standards and moral hypocrisy. , It is widely considered a seminal (对以后发展有巨大影响的)influence Meaning of the title: In the preface, the author explains that it is the practice of seamen when I. Jonathan Swift(乔纳森.斯威夫特) they meet a whale to throw out an empty tub in order to divert his attention from attacking the 1.satire: An attack on or criticism of any stupidity or vice in the form of scathing( 严厉的)humor, ship. Swift sarcastically compares his work to a tub which may divert the attention from picking or critique of what the author sees as dangerous religious, political, moral or social standards. holes in the weak sides of the religion and government of his age. Satire became an especially popular technique used during the Enlightenment, in which it was believed that an artist could correct folly by using art as a mirror to reflect society. 2.Jonathan Swift’s Life: Born in Dublin, Ireland 3.works , The Battle of the Books 《书战》 , A Tale of a Tub 《木桶的故事》 , The Drapier’s letter 《一个麻布商的书信》 , A Modest Proposal 《一个小小的建议》 , Gulliver’s Travels 《格列佛游记》 , A Tale of a Tub 《木桶的故事》 on the direction the novel form was to take towards psychological analysis and self-examination( 自省). , Question: Why is Pamela a new thing? P154 1.love and life of ordinary people 2 .not only entertainment but also moral instruction 3.secrets thoughts and feelings besides doing and saying Clarissa Harlowe <<克拉丽莎>> , It is the best of Richardson’s novel. , It is written completely in letters. , Ideas reflect in the novel: sentimental ideas, marriage concept , heroin independence. , Sir Charles Grandison << 查尔斯. 格兰迪森爵士的历史>> , Represents Richardson’s ideal of manly virtue as Pamela his ideal of female virtue. , features of Richardson’s Novels Richardson is an outstanding novelist because he had much sympathy for women in their inferior social status and entered into detailed psychological study of female characters, and he not only showed the conflict between the helpless woman and the social evils around her, but also laid the moral hypocrisy of the aristocratic. Richardson is the first novelists of sentimentalist tradition. His novels have a moral purpose. His chief object in most of his works is to inculcate ( 灌输)virtue and good deportment(举止,风 度). 4. A Tale of a Tub《木桶的故事》 , Form: Parable(寓言) is a very short narrative about human beings presented so as to stress analogy with a general lesson that the narrator is trying to bring home to his audience. 5.Gulliver’s Travels 《格列佛游记》 , Part1: LiLLiput , Part2: Brobdingnag , Part3: Flying Island of Laputa , Part4: Houyhnms , Part 1 : LiLLiput a) Two parties: distinguished by the use of high and low heels. , Part 2: Brobdingnag A dwarf among men sixty feet in height. Superior both in wisdom and humanity and in stature. , Part3: Flying Island of Laputa Satirizing: Philosophers Scientists Historians Projectors , Part4: Houyhnms , How little a man was removed from the brute. , Pamphlets on Ireland , The Drapier’s letter 《一个麻布商的书信》 It is written as part of actual struggle against the debasement(贬值) of the Irish coin . , A Modest Proposal 《一个小小的建议》 The author suggests that poor Irish families should fatten up their children and sell them to the rich land owners, thus solving the twin problems of starving children and poverty in one blow. 6.Swift’s writing features a) Swift is one of the greatest masters of English prose. His language is simple ,clear and vigorous. He said, “ Proper words in proper places, makes the true definition of a style.” b) Swift is a master satirist. His satire is masked by an outward gravity and an apparent calmness conceals his bitter irony. c) Swift is one of the realist writers. His realism is quite different from Defoe’s. Defoe’s stories are based upon the reality of human life , while all of Swift’s satire is come from imagination, which is the chief means he uses in his satires. d) Swift expresses democratic ideas in his works. This exerts strong influence on later writers, such as Sheridan, Fielding, Byron and Bernard Shaw. II. Henry Fielding (亨利.菲尔丁) , Henry Fielding is the greatest novelist of the 18th century and is one of the most artistic that English literature has produced. He was not only a novelist, but also a dramatist, an essayist, a political pamphleteer, a learned authority on law and an able and efficient magistrate and a political economist. In a word, he was a versatile man. , His works Joseph Andrews<<约瑟夫.安德鲁>> The Life of Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great <<大伟人江奈生. 魏尔德>> The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling<<汤姆.琼斯> , Joseph Andrews It is Fielding's first novel. He wrote this novel with the intention of ridiculing Richardson' s novel Pamela. He chose Joseph Andrews, Pamela's brother, to be the hero of the novel. The situation is contrived by reversing the situation in Pamela. Joseph is turned out of doors by his mistress. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling , This novel is Fielding's masterpiece, which gives us a vivid and truthful panoramic picture of the 18th century England. It has touched upon all kinds of people and social problems, and shows the author's great sympathy for the poor and the oppressed, and his dislike for the wicked and deceitful persons and their bad and terrible actions. , Main characters in Tom Johns , Tom and Blifil stand in sharp contrast. Tom is described as an upright, frank, kind-hearted young man, who may sometimes be very rash and commit rather serious errors, particularly in his relations with women, yet who is always ready to help others and never once tries to harm any one for his own benefit. Blifil, on the other hand, pretends to be extremely moral and selfless, but actually he always thinks up tricks and practises them upon the other people, in order to get what he wants by lying and cheating. It is very clear that Fielding condemns Blifil as the embodiment of the social evils of his day and that he praises Tom who represents the simple folk. , writing features Fielding believed in the educational function of the novel. The object of his novels is to present a faithful picture of life, while sound teaching is woven into their very texture. Fielding is a master of style. His style is easy, unlabored and familiar, but extremely vivid and vigorous. His sentences are always distinguished by logic and musical rhythm. His command of language is remarkable. I. Sentimentalism P192 Graveyard poets(墓园派诗歌): A term applied to eighteenth-century poets who wrote meditative poems, usually set in a graveyard, on the theme of human mortality, in moods which range from pensiveness to profound gloom. The vogue resulted in one of the most widely known English poems, Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”. II. Pre-romanticism 1.William Blake (威廉.布莱克) , life: engraver and poet , works: Songs of Innocence (poem)(The little Black Boy; The chimney Sweeper) Songs of experience (poem)(Holy Thursday; The tiger) The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (prose)(prophetic book) (<<天堂与地狱 的婚姻>>)(revolt against oppression) , What’s the significance of the contrast:P198 , Features of his works: A mixture of simplicity and profundity innocence and experience He can express the profoundest ideas in simplest language. His poems are full of symbols. He is regarded as symbolist and a mystic. He is called pre-romantic or a forerunner of the Romantic poetry of the th19 century. 2.Robert Burns(罗伯特.彭斯) according to the subject matters: 1) Most of Burns’ poems are lyrics on love and friendship. They have a great charm of simplicity. They are very musical and can be sung, ‘A Red, Red Rose’ ,‘Auld Lang Syne’. 2) Some poems to express his hatred for the oppression of the ruling class and his live for freedom. 3) Wrote some patriotic poems. ‘My heart’s in the High Lands’ 4) Wrote some verse-tales , features of Burns’ poetry Burns is the greatest song writer in the world. He is the national poet of Scotland. Most of his poems and songs were written in Scottish dialect. Burns was a plowman. He came form the people and wrote for the people. He was the people’s poet. Burns had a deep knowledge and an excellent mastery of the old Scottish song tradition. He learned a lot from it in his poems. This was the main factor of his great success. III. Tobias Smollett (托比亚斯.斯摩莱特) , He was called father of nautical novel. , Works: st Roderick Random <<蓝登传>> (1 novel) Peregrine Pickle <<皮克尔传>> Humphry Clinker <<亨弗利.克林克>> (in an epistolary style, the best of his novels) (humor) IV. Laurence Stern(劳伦斯.斯特恩) Novelist of the sentimentalist school. Tristram Shandy <<项狄传>> A sentimental journey <<感伤的旅行>> , Comments: P176 1. sentiment counted far more than reason in contrast with classical writers. 2. His motto is “ to be free in the expression of your thoughts and emotions. th3. He has been remembered as a representative of sentimentalism in the 18 century. 4. He has been remembered as a true father of postmodernist novel. V. Richard Sheridan( 理查德.谢里丹) th, The most important English playwright of 18 century. , Works: the first comedy: The Rivals ( <<情敌>>) The school for Scandal : (<<造谣学校>>) a great comedy of manners Both plays satirize fashionable society with its materialism, gossip and hypocrisy. VI. Samuel Johnson(塞缪尔.约翰逊) P180 , Life: Lexicographer, critic, poet, buried in Westminster Abbey. , Works: poem: London; The Vanity of Human Wishes(<<人类欲望之虚幻>>) periodicals: The Rambler, The Idler >> criticism: Lives of poet<<诗人传 , Dictionary: marked the end of English writers reliance on the patronage of noblemen. (A letter to Lord Chesterfield ) , Importance of his Dictionary: It met the neoclassical need for standards and helped standardize vocabulary and usage. VII. Oliver Goldsmith(奥利弗.哥尔德斯密斯) , Life: important writer of Johnson’s circle, amiable and unpractical , poems: the traveler,(<<旅游人>>) The Deserted Village(<<荒村>>) ( heroic couplet), a romantic spirit representative poet ‘sentimentalist’ , novels: the Vicar of Wakefield<<威克菲尔牧师传>>) , comedy: She Stoops to Conquer <<屈身求爱>>P177 , essay: The Citizen of the World<<世界公民> , Comment: P189Goldsmith’s comedies are examples of the brief revival of English comedy in the 1770s transition period from classicism to romanticism.