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1、Chapter 1 Old and Medieval English Literature(4501066-1340)1.Beowulf: a typical example of Old English poetry is regarded as the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons. It is an example of the mingling of nature myths and heroic legends. 2.Romance: It uses narrative verse or prose to sing knightly advent
2、ures or other heroic deeds is a popular literary form in the medieval period. It has developed the characteristic medieval motifs of the quest, the test, the meeting with the evil giant and the encounter with the beautiful beloved. The hero is usually the knight, who sets out on a journey to accompl
3、ish some missions. There are often mysteries and fantasies in romance.Romantic love is an important part of the plot in romance. Characterization is standardized, While the structure is loose and episodic, the language is simple and straightforward. The importance of the romance itself can be seen a
4、s a means of showing medieval aristocratic men and women in relation to their idealized view of the world.2. Heroic couplet: Heroic couplet is a rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter. It is Chaucer who used it for the first time in English in his work The Legend of Good Woman.3. The theme of Beowulf:
5、The poem presents a vivid picture of how the primitive people wage heroic struggles against the hostile forces of the natural world under a wise and mighty leader. The poem is an example of the mingling of the nature myths and heroic legends.5. Chaucers achievement:He presented a comprehensive reali
6、stic picture of his age and created a whole gallery of vivid characters in his works, especially in The Canterbury Tales. He anticipated a new ear, the Renaissance, to come under the influence of the Italian writers. He developed his characterization to a higher level by presenting characters with b
7、oth typical qualities and individual dispositions. He greatly contributed to the maturing of English poetry. Today, Chaucers reputation has been securely established as one of the best English poets for his wisdom, humor and humanity.6. “The Father of English poetry”:Originally, Old English poems ar
8、e mainly alliterative verses with few variations. Chaucer introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace it. In The Romaunt of the Rose (玫瑰传奇), he first introduced to the English the octosyllabic couplet (八音节对偶句). In The Legend of Good Women, he used for the
9、first time in English heroic couplet. And in his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, he employed heroic couplet with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature. His art made him one of the greatest poets in English; John Dryden called him “the father of English poetry
10、”.【例题】The work that presented, for the first time in English literature, a comprehensive realistic picture of the medieval English society and created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life is most likely _. (0704)A. William Langlands Piers Plowman B. Geoffrey Chaucers The Canter
11、bury Tales C. John Gowers Confession Amantis D. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 【答案】BChapter 2: The Renaissance Period (14thmid-17th Century)1. The Renaissance: The Renaissance marks a transition from the medieval to the modern world. Generally, it refers to the period between the 14th & 17th centur
12、ies. It first started in Italy, with the flowering of painting, sculpture & literature. From Italy the movement went to embrace the rest of Europe. 2. Humanism: Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance. It sprang from the endeavor to restore a medieval reverence for the ancient authors and is freq
13、uently taken as the beginning of the Renaissance on its conscious, intellectual side. Through the new learning, humanists not only saw the arts of splendor and enlightenment, but the human values represented in the works. Thomas More, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare are the best represen
14、tatives of the English humanists. William Shakespeare1. The bibliographyWilliam Shakespeare is one of the most remarkable playwrights and poets the world has ever known.3. The major contributions38 plays (historical plays, tragedies and comedies) 2 narrative poems: Venus, The Rape of Lucrece 154 son
15、nets 4. His play-creationfive historical plays: Henry IV, part I, II, and III; Richard III; and Titus Andronicus（泰特斯, 提图斯）. four Comedies, including: The Comedy of Errors; The Two Gentlemen of Verona（维罗纳）; The Taming of the Shrew（泼妇的驯服）, and Loves Labors LostFive historical: Richard II, King John, H
16、enry IV, part I, II, Henry VSix comedies: A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, As You like(皆大欢喜), Twelfth Night, and the Merry Wives of Windsor（温莎公爵的快乐情妇）Two tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius CaesarSeven tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra（克利奥帕特拉）, Troilus and Cressida（特洛伊罗斯和克雷西达）, Coriolanus（科里奥兰纳斯）Two comedies: Alls Well That Ends Well, Measure for Measure
