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1、I. The outline of British literature1. The old and medieval period(5thc.-16thc.)2. The English Renaissance (16thc.)3. The Period of Revolution and Restoration (17thc.)4. The Enlightenment (18thc.)5. Romanticism (1798-1832)6. Critical Realism (19thc.)7. Modernism (20thc.) Chapter I The Old And Mediev
2、al English Literature Section I The Anglo-Saxon Period (5th century 449-1066) 1. Historical Background 1) aboriginal inhabitants: the Celts 2) the Roman Conquest of Britain: 55 B.C - 5th c. Julius Caesar Christianity 3) the Anglo-Saxon period: 449A.D. the Teutonic tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes
3、exterminate the Celts Angle-land England, Anglo-Saxon English Old English 4) late 8th century, King Alfred the Great (849A.D.-901?) fighting back the Danes. 5) 1066. Norman Conquest: William, the Duke of NormandyThe Norman Conquest ended the Anglo-Saxon period in English history.Romans Angles, Saxon
4、s Danes (克努特王国) 11thc the French2. Literature 1) two divisions: Pagan literature and Christian literature597A.D., St. Augustine 7th century, all England was Christianized 2) Literary figures: scop / gleeman / minstrel, monks Latin has left its firm mark on the early English prose and poetry. The lea
5、rning center was the monasteries and abbeys.A. Caedmon凯德门: the first Anglo-Saxon poet Paraphrase: in which he turned the stories in the Bible into verse form“Sing me something Sing me the Creation”B. Cynewulf: 西涅武夫another representative figure in Anglo-Saxon literatureC. the Venerable Bede: the most
6、 prominent of the early prose writers in Anglo-Saxon period The Ecclesiastical History of the English People英国人民宗教史 “Father of English History”D. King Alfred the Great: translated some works from Latin: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle created the more natur
7、al English prose style3) The earliest form of literature: poetry, or poems and songs3. Beowulf1) the most important literary composition in Old English time2) national epic3) describing events taking place on the Continent approximately at the beginning of the 6th c.4) plot: Beowulf the teutonic her
8、o Hrothgar King of the DanesHeorot a great hallGrendel a half-human monster Grendels mother: she-monsterFiredrakeking of Geats for 50 years5) characterization:the hero Beowulf is essentially a legendary figure6) Beowulf is a mixture of paganism and Christian elementsThe story of the poem is about th
9、e life of Anglo-Saxons before they came to England, but the poem itself was written down after the conversion of the English to Christianity. 7) Most striking features in its poetical formA. alliteration: (TBp.4) e.g. of men was the mildest and most beloved, to his kin the kindest, keenest for prais
10、eB. kenning or metaphor: A conventional, poetic phrase used for, or in addition to, the usual name of a person or object.e.g.helmet bearer，hearth-companionwarriorswan-road, whale-path，seal-paththe seathe world candlethe sun C. understatement: A form of humor or irony in which something is intentiona
11、lly represented less strongly or strikingly than facts would warrant. It is an antonym of overstatement, exaggeration and hyperbole. e.g.not troublesomevery welcomeneed not praisea right to condemn.Additional Informationepic: A lengthy narrative poem in which action, characters, and language are on
12、a heroic level and style is exalted and even majestic. Major characteristics of an epic are:1) a setting remote in time and place,2) an objective, lofty, dignified style,3) a simple plot,4) a central incident (or series of incidents) dealing with legendary or traditional material5) a theme involving
13、 universal human problems6) a towering hero of great stature7) superhuman strength of body, character, or mind 8) supernatural forces entering the action.Some of the noted epics are Iliad and Odyssey by Homer; Beowulf; Dantes The Divine Comedy; Miltons Paradise Lost.Section II The Anglo-Norman Perio
14、d (1066-1500)1. Historical background: 1) Norman Conquest1066, Duke William of Normandythe feudal system of hierarchy: kingbaronsknightsthe Hundred Years War with France 1337-1453the Black Death of 1349-1350, 死亡1/3人口the peasant uprisings: 1381, Wat Tyler and John Ball.3 effects of Norman Conquest:A.
15、 the bringing of Roman civilizationB. the growth of nationality, i.e. a strong centralized government.C. the new language and literature英法百年战争1337-1453第一阶段英法两国为争夺王位和土地,进行了百年的残酷战争.英王爱德华三世Edward 111 在位其间1327-1377 为了争夺法国王位引发百年战争.法国一直处于劣势,部分土地落入英人手中. 英法百年战争 第二阶段图.英国本来一直处于上风,法国就快无力还击,可是一场瘟疫把英国梦碎!这种黑死病导致大量英军和国民死亡,英王再也无法顾及战争,只好于1360年跟法国签订和约,宣布放弃对法国王位的要求.英法百年战争 第三阶段1415-20.英王亨利五世Henry V 进攻法国,法军大败,被迫签下和约Treaty of Troyes,和约宣布法国沦为英法联合王国,英王亨利五世担任法国摄政王.英法百年战争第四阶段 1423-53年.英军占领法国北部,继续围攻南部重地奥尔良城.法国农家少女贞德,
