《lecture 2_the anglo-saxon period and the anglo-norman period》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《lecture 2_the anglo-saxon period and the anglo-norman period（44页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、Lecture 2English Literature of Early and the Middle AgesNancy Wang Sep. 9, 2021ContentsvI. The Anglo-Saxon PeriodEpic and BeowulfvII. The Anglo-Norman PeriodvRomance and Sir Gawain and the Green KnightvIII. Geoffrey ChaucervThe Canterbury TalesI.The Anglo-Saxon Period(4491066)vA. About the history(4
2、49-1066).v1. Ruler: Teutonic tribesv2. Society: primitive tribal societyv3. Countrys name: v Angle-landEnglandv4. Language: Anglo-Saxon or SaxonOld English B. Literaturev1. pagan/heathen Literature: v oral sagasv2. Christian Literature:v writings of monksvthe Greatest works:vThe Song of BeowulfC. Be
3、owulf: Englands national epicv1. Literary term: epicvEpics are long narrative poems that record the adventures of the hero whose exploits are important to the history of a nation. Typically they chronicle the origins of a civilization and embody its central beliefs and values. The style of epic is g
4、rand, formal, complex and serious. e.g. Homers Iliad and Odyssey. The action is simple, but full of magnificence.2. the Song of Beowulfvwriter: unknown scribevtime: the early 10th centuryvdiscovered: until 1705vstory setting: early 6th centuryvlength: 3182 linesvtype: Pagan or Christian?3. Character
5、s & Place vHrothgarthe King of the DanesvHeorota magnificent mead hallvGrendela half-human monstervBeowulfa prince of the GeatsvGrendels mothervMoor/MerevFire-breathing dragon4. Plot: v(1) fight against Grendelv(2) fight against v Grendels motherv(3) fight against the fire-breathing dragon v(4) Beow
6、ulfs death and funeral 5. Writing Featuresv1. a pagan poem, advanced pagan civilization, tribal society, first national epic, but not about England;v2. the use of alliteration, metaphors and understatements.ve.g. The seathe whale-road, the swan-roadv the soldiers the shield-menv the human bodythe bo
7、ne-housev the monstersoul-destroyer II. The Anglo-Norman Period(10661350)vA. Historical Backgroundv1. the Norman Conquest: The Duke of Normandy defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the battle of Hastings in the year 1066, and William was crowned as the King of England.v2. Norman Conquest marks the establish
8、ment of Feudalism in England. B. The influences of Norman Conquestv1. Politically, feudal system was established in England.v2. Religiously, Catholic Church had a stronger control over the country.v3. Languages: Great changes:v the Normans Frenchv scholars and clergyman Latinv native lower class Eng
9、lishv4. Literature: which language?vThe Norman lords spoke French, while their English subjects retained their old tongue. For a long time the scholar wrote in Latin and the courtier in French. There were almost no written literature in English for a time. Chronicles and religious poems were in Lati
10、n. Romances, the prominent kind of literature in the Anglo-Norman Period, were at first all in French.v5. influence on customs: vAfter the conquest, the body of customs and ideals known as chivalry was introduced by the Normans into England. The knightly code, the romantic interest in women, tendern
11、ess and reverence paid to Virgin Mary were reflected in the literature.C. Prevailing literary form-Romancev1. Romance (中世纪传奇中世纪传奇): a long composition, sometimes in verse and sometimes in prose, which described the life and adventures of a noble hero, usu. a knight. vEssential features:v1) It lacks
12、general resemblance to truth or reality.v2) It exaggerates the vices of human nature and idealizes the virtues.v3) It contains perilous adventures more or less remote from ordinary life. v4) It lays emphasis on the supreme devotion to a fair lady. 2. The Romance Cycles v(1) Matters of Britain advent
13、ures of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.v(2) Matters of France emperor Charlemagne and his peers.v(3) Matters of Greece and Rome Alexander the Great and some classical heroes. vThe central character of romances was the knight, a man of noble birth skilled in the use of weapons. He was
14、 commonly described as riding forth to seek adventures, taking part in tournaments, or fighting for his lord in battle. He was devoted to the church and the king. The code of manners and morals of a knight is known as chivalry.3. Knight and Chivalry 8 knightly virtuesv(a) humility v(b) honorv(c) sac
15、rificev(d) valorv(e) compassionv(f) spiritualityv(g) honestyv(h) justice 4. Arthurian Romancesv(1) the most important to English Literaturev(2) its origin in Celtic legendsv(3)“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight its culmination (metrical romance)v D. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?高文爵士和绿衣骑士高文爵士和绿衣骑士?v
16、1. The story: 4 cantosv (1) feast in the palacev (2) journey for the green chapelv (3) test in the castlev (4) blow in the chapel(1) Feast in the palacevSetting: New Years day / Camelot vCharacters: Arthur, his knights, the Green knightvChallenger: the Green KnightvThe challenged: the bravest knight
17、 at feastvThe challenge: the Green Knight will expose his neck to a blow of his own big battle-ax if any knight will agree to abide (忍受忍受) a blow in returnvResult: Gawain accepted the challenge, cut down the Green Knights head, and the Green Knight warned Gawain to be faithful to his promise.(2) Jou
18、rney for the green chapelv1) long journey through the wilderness on his steed;v2) adventures with storm and cold, beast and animals;v3) pray on Christmas eve: “Mary, mildest mother so dear.v4) sight of a great castlev5) who are in the castle? v An aged hero and his beautiful wife(3) Test in the cast
19、lev1) the compact between the host and Sir Gawain: each man shall give the other whatever good thing attained during the day.v2) What did the young wife do to Gawain?v3) What happened on the third day?v4) What did the host and Gawain do in the evening?(4) Blow in the chapelv1) Gawains being repeated
20、ly warnedv2) Where was the chapel and what did Gawain hear when he approached it?v3) What did Gawain do then?v4) What did the Green Knight explain to his action?v5) What was Gawains response when he knew the truth?v6) What is the ending of the story?SummaryvIn romances we see the epitome of the Engl
21、ish society in the medieval period. The romances, as a literary genre, prospered for about 300 years(1200-1500). It was written for the upper class, so it had little to do with the common people. 2) Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knightv(1) the culmination of the Arthurian romances.v(2) theme?v
22、 a series of tests on faith, courage, purity and human weakness for self-preservation. v(3) moral lesson?v By placing self-protection before honor, Gawain has sinned and fallen and become an image of Adam. Human excellence (美德美德) is marked by original sin, and the green girdle itself remains a perpe
23、tual reminder of his weakness.III. Chaucer & the Canterbury TalesvA. Geoffrey Chaucer(13431400)vthe father of English poetryvthe father of English fictionvThe 14th century: the age of B. 3 periods of his writing careerva. the 1st: youth and early manhoodvthe period of French influencevTranslations f
24、rom Frenchve.g. The Romaunt of the Rosevb. the 2nd: Italian influencev adaptations from Italian writersve.g. Troilus and Crisedec. The 3rd Period: the English periodvThe last 15 yearsvThe richest periodvThe Canterbury Talesva picture of English society in the Middle AgesC. The Canterbury Tales 1. St
25、oryvOn an April day, a group of English pilgrims meet outside the Tabard Inn and are joined by the innkeeper, just outside London. vThey set out on a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury to pay their respects to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. vThe group is described in deta
26、il, with characters from all classes, upper and lower, represented. vReligious characters, such as a prioress, monk and a Pardoner, travel alongside a shipman, miller, carpenter, reeve(城镇长官城镇长官), squire(乡绅乡绅), yeoman(自耕农自耕农) and a knight, among others. vHarry Bailly, the innkeeper, suggests that as
27、a game they all tell stories to each other along the way. vThe pilgrims agree to tell four stories each, two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way back. vThe person who tells the best story, as judged by the host, will have his supper paid for by the rest of the group. vThe tale-telling begin
28、s with the knight, each person telling a story that reflects their social position, and some telling stories which are intended to make fun of others in the group. vNo winner is chosen by the host in the end, and not all of the pilgrims have told their tales by the time the story ends. 2. Social sig
29、nificance of the Canterbury TalesvIt draws a true-to-life picture of English feudal society of Chaucers day. vTaking the stand of the rising bourgeoisie, Chaucer affirms mans right to pursue happiness and opposes the dogma of asceticism preached by the Church. vAs one of the forerunners of humanism,
30、 he praises mans energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life. His tales expose and satirize the social evils of his day. They criticize the degeneration of the noble, the heartlessness of the judge, and the corruption of the church. D. Chaucers Contributionv1. Forerunner of Humanism He praised man
31、s energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life.v2.The first realistic writer His tales expose and satirize the evils of the time.v3. Father of English poetry. He introduced from Italy and France the rhymed stanza of various types, especially heroic couplet to English poetry, instead of the old Angl
32、o-Saxon alliterative verse.Literary term: heroic coupletva pair of rhymed lines of iambic pentameter. The form was introduced into English by Chaucer, and widely used subsequently, reaching a height of popularity and sophistication in the works of Dryden and Pope.ve.g. The Canterbury Tales on p.24.
33、Master of the English language He was the first great poet who wrote in English language (Middle English), thus establishing English as the literary language.He did much in making the London dialect the foundation for modern English language.Homework:vRead Unit 2(p. 7-16) vPresentation topic: vWilliam Shakespeare & Hamletv What are the possible reasons for Hamlets hesitation in taking revenge?
