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1、1Summary of Three Major Poets in 14th-Century EnglandChapter one1. Historical Background The Normans conquered in 1066In 1066, William the Conqueror and his Norman warriors defeated the Anglo-Saxons and made themselves masters of England. The Norman Conquest ended the purely Anglo-Saxon period and s
2、tarted a new period in English history - the Medieval Period in England (1066-1485).In the medieval period, chivalry was the important code of behavior for the knights. It served as a law that bound the often-lawless warriors. Violating the code of chivalry could mean the loss of honor.2. Middle Eng
3、lishFor three centuries after the Norman Conquest, three languages were used side by side in England. Latin and French were the languages of the upper classes, spoken at courts and used in churches and schools.In the 14th century thousands of words and expressions were borrowed from French and Latin
4、 and Greek, and many inflectional forms of the words were dropped and formal grammar simplified.3. Religious LiteratureBy far the largest proportion of surviving Middle English literature is religious.4. Romance and the Influence of French LiteratureMedieval romance was a type of literature that bec
5、ame a popular form of literature in the Middle Ages.Romance, in the original sense of the word, means the vernacular (native) language, as opposed to Lain, and later it means a tale in verse, embodying the life and adventures of knights.2In subject matters, romance naturally falls under three catego
6、ries:(1) The matter of France(2) The matter of Rome(3) The matter of BritainThe influence of the Norman Conquest upon English language and literature:After the conquest, the body of customs and ideals known as chivalry was introduced by the Normans into England. The knightly code, the romantic inter
7、est in women, tenderness and reverence paid to Virgin Mary were reflected in the literature.With the coming of the Normans, the Anglo-Saxons sank to a position of abjectness. Their language was mad a despised thing. French words of Warfare and chivalry, art and luxury, science and law, began to come
8、 into the English language. Thus three languages existed in England at that time. The Normans spoke French, the lower class spoke English, and the scholars and clergymen used Latin.The literature was varied in interest and extensive in range. The Normans began to write histories or chronicles. Most
9、of them were written in Latin or French. The prevailing form of literature in the feudal England was the Romance.5. Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400)5.1 Historical background(1) The Hundred Years War(2) The peasant uprising of 13815.2 John Wycliff (1324? -1384)He was important because he was one of the f
10、irst figures who demanded to reform the church in order to do away with the corruption and rottenness. He was also important because he was the man who translated the Bible into Standard English.5.3 Geoffrey Chaucers LifeChaucer opened a brilliant page in English literature and had a profound influe
11、nce on many important English poets. Chaucer is the father of modern English poetry. Chaucers poetry belongs to both the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.5.4 Geoffrey Chaucers Major Poems3The works of Chaucer are roughly divided into three periods, corresponding to the three periods in his life: the
12、French period, the Italian period and the mature period.The French period refers to the period of French influence and it extends from 1360 to 1372. The outstanding poem of this period is The Book of the Duchess.The second period is from 1372 to 1386 when he wrote under the influence of the Italian
13、literature. The most outstanding work is Troilus and Criseyde. Other poems of this period are The Parliament of Fowls, The House of Fame and The legend of Good Women.The third period covers the last fifteen years of his life. The Canterbury Tales was written in the years between 1387 and 1400. It ha
14、s a general prologue and twenty-four tales that are connected by “links”. The Canterbury Tales (1378-1400) is Chaucers monumental success.5.5 The Function of the General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales The General Prologue is usually regarded as the greatest portrait gallery in English literature.
15、It is largely composed of a series of sketches differing widely in length and method, and blending the individual and the typical in varying degrees. The purpose of the General Prologue is not only to present a vivid collection of character sketches, but also to reveal the authors intention in bring
16、ing together a great variety of people and narrative materials to unite the diversity of the tales by allotting them to a diversity of tellers engaged in a common endeavor, to set the tone for the story-telling - one of jollity which accords with the tone of the whole work; that of grateful acceptance of life, to make clear the plan for the tales, to motivate the telling of tales and to introduce the pilgrims and the time and occasion of the pilgrimage. The pilgrims are pe
