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1、The18thCenturyTheAgeofEnlightenmentHistorical BackgroundA.Aconstitutionalmonarchy-AftertheGloriousRevolutiontherulingpowerinEnglandpassedfromthekingtotheparliament.B.Thecontinuous,large-scaleenclosuresoflandresultedinruralbankruptcy.Thepovertyandmiseryoftheexploitedandunemployedlaboringmassesintheci
2、tiesincreased.C.The13formerBritishcoloniesinNorthAmericaAnnouncedtheirindependencein1776.D.TheIndustrialRevolution,whichstartedinthe1760s,exertedanimmenseimpactonhumanthinkingTheEnlightenmentMovementThe18th-centuryEnglandisknownastheAgeofEnlightenmentortheAgeofReason.TheEnlightenmentMovementwasaprog
3、ressiveintellectualmovementwhichflourishedinFrance&sweptthroughthewholeWesternEuropeatthetime.ThemovementwasafurtheranceoftheRenaissanceofthe15th&16thcenturies.Itspurposewastoenlightenthewholeworldwiththelightofmodemphilosophical&artisticideas.Theenlightenersconsideredthechiefmeansforthebettermentof
4、thesocietywas“enlightenment”or“education”forthepeople.TheEnlightenercelebratedreasonorration,equality,scienceandhumanbeingsabilitytoperfectthemselvesandtheirsociety.Theycalledforareferencetoorder,reason&rules&advocateduniversaleducation.FamousamongthegreatenlightenersinEnglandwerethosegreatwritersli
5、keJohnDryden,Alexanderpope&soon.NeoclassicismInthefieldofliterature,theEnlightenmentMovementbroughtaboutarevivalofinterestintheoldclassicalworks.Thistendencyisknownasneoclassicism.Accordingtotheneoclassicists,allformsofliteratureweretobemodeledaftertheclassicalworksoftheancientGreek&Romanwriters(Hom
6、er,Virgil,&soon)&thoseofthecontemporaryFrenchones.Theybelievedthattheartisticidealsshouldbeorder,logic,restrainedemotion&accuracy,&thatliteratureshouldbejudgedintermsofitsservicetohumanity.Thisbeliefledthemtoseekproportion,unity,harmony&graceinliteraryexpressions,inanefforttodelight,instruct&correct
7、humanbeings,primarilyassocialanimals.Thus,apolite,urbane,witty,&intellectualartdeveloped.SentimentalismSentimentalismisoneoftheimportanttrendsinEnglishliteratureofthemiddleandlaterdecadesofthe18thcentury.Alongwithanewvisionoflove,sentimentalismpresentedanewviewofhumannaturewhichprizedfeelingoverthin
8、king,passionoverreason,andpersonalinstinctsofpity,tenderness,andbenevolenceoversocialduties.Literaryworkofthesentimentalism,markedbyasinceresympathyforthepoverty-stricken,expropriated（征用）peasants,wrotethesimpleannalsofthepoor”.Writersofsentimentalismjustlycriticizedthecrueltyofthecapitalistrelations
9、andthegrosssocialinjusticesbroughtaboutbythebourgeoisrevolutions.Buttheyattackedtheprogressiveaspectofthisgreatsocialchangeinordertoeliminateitandsighedforthereturnofthepatriarchaltimeswhichtheyidealized.SentimentalismembracesapessimisticoutlookandblamesreasonandtheIndustrialRevolutionforthemiseries
10、andinjusticesinthearistocratic-bourgeoissocietyandindulgesinsentiment,hencethedefinitesignsofdecadenceintheliteraryworksofthesentimentaltradition.DevelopmentEarly18thCenturyneo-classicismAlexanderPope(poetry)proseliteratureAddisonandSteele(periodicals)thefirstrealisticfictionDefoeandSwiftMiddle18thC
11、enturyrealisticnovelsRichardson,FieldingandSmollettdramaRichardBrinsleySheridanthelastdecadesofthe18thcenturyNeo-classicismSamuelJohnson(poetryandprose)sentimentalismEdwardYoungandThomasGray(poetry)LaurenceSterneandOliverGoldsmith(prosefiction)pre-romanticismWilliamBlakeandRobertBurns(poetry)Classif
12、ication18世纪前期蒲伯（古典主义）艾迪生和斯蒂尔（古典主义期刊文学）笛福与斯威夫特（现实主义小说）18世纪中期理查生（现实主义）菲尔丁（现实主义）斯摩莱特（现实主义）18世纪后期撒缪尔约翰逊（古典主义）劳伦斯斯泰恩（感伤主义）哥尔斯密（感伤主义）谢莱丹（18世纪的最伟大的戏剧家）格雷（感伤主义）布雷克（前浪漫主义）彭斯（前浪漫主义）DanielDefoeasuccessfulbusinessman,atypicalhardworkingEnglishmanathisageajournalistandpoliticalpamphleteer,anovelistHefavorsthecap
13、italistadventureinannewworld.HisfirstandgreatestnovelisknownbyeveryoneinChinaonceasRobinsonCrusoe,themostfamoustaleofshipwreckandsolitarysurvivalinallliterature.HismajorworksDefoeisgenerallyconsideredthefirstgreatrealisticnovelistinEnglishfiction.Hebasedhisstoriesoncurrentevents&materials,suchasthem
14、aps&logsofactualseavoyages,personalmemoirs&historicaloreyewitnessreports.PerhapshismostpopularnovelisRobinsonCrusoe(1719)anadventurestorybasedpartlyontheactualexperienceofaman(In1704,AlexanderSelkirk,aScottishsailor,wasmarooned（孤立无援的）ontheislandofJuanFernandezintheAtlantic,andlivedtherealonefor4year
15、s.)whohadbeentrappedonadesertedisland.AJournalofthePlagueYear(1722)sometimesconsideredhisbestworkhassuchacolorful&detailedaccountoftheLondonplagueof1664&1665thatitseemstohavebeenwrittenbyanobserveronthescene.Defoesthirdmasterpiece,MollFlanders(1722)isalivelynoveltracingtheadventuresofafemalerogue.To
16、ldintheformofconfessions,thenarrativeincludesvividdescriptionsofthecourts,prisons,&othersocialinstitutionsofDefoesera.The Characteristics of his Novels(1)Dealwiththepersonalhistoryofsomeoftheheroesandheroines(2)Theall-powerfulinfluenceofmaterialcircumstancesorsocialenvironmentuponthethoughtsandactio
17、nsoftheheroortheheroinandthestruggleofthepoorunfortunateformereexistence,mixedwiththeirdesireforgreatwealtharehighlighted.(3)Thefirstliteraryworksdevotedtothestudyofproblemsofthelower-classpeople(4)Thedetailsofthenovelsareorganizedinavividwayandhisstoriesarebothcredibleandfascinating.(5)Hissentences
18、arevariable,sometimesshort,crispandplain,andsometimeslongandrambling,(6)Thelanguageissmooth,easy,colloquialandmostlyvernacular（本地的，方言的）.Robinson Crusoe(1719)RobinsonCrouse,anadventurestoryverymuchinthespiritofthetime,isuniversallyconsideredhismasterpiece.Inthenovel,DefoetracesthegrowthofRobinsonfrom
19、anaive&simpleyouthintoamature&hardenedman,temperedbynumeroustrialsinhiseventfullife.TherealisticpresentationofthesuccessfulstruggleofRobinsonsingle-handedlyagainstthehostilenatureprovesthebestpartofthenovel.CharacteranalysisThecharacterRobinsonisnotcommonsailor.Heisabusinessmanwhotakesoverseasbusine
20、ssashiscause.Heisalsoatypicaleighteenth-centuryEnglishmiddle-classmanwithagreatcapacityforwork,inexhaustibleenergy,courage,patience&persistenceinovercomingobstacles,instrugglingagainstthehostilenaturalenvironment.Heistheveryprototypeoftheempirebuilder,thepioneercolonist.Robinsonisabourgeoisiewithadv
21、enturousspiritRobinsonisabourgeoisieofpracticalspirit.Robinsonisbourgeoisieofcolonizingcharacter.A.Theartisticcharacterofthenovel:theconcretersofthedescriptionand vividness. The author does not express the character with hiswords but let the character show himself in his own action. Thecomplementsof
22、commentsanddiaries,B.Limitation:a.simplestructureb.looseandrepletionc.minorcharacterslackmuchimpressionJonathanSwiftIrish-born,oncewaspriestanddeanofaCathedralchurch,livedofteninEngland.SwiftisgenerallyconsideredthegreatestprosesatiristinEnglishliterature.Throughfables,allegories,&pamphletshesavagel
23、yexposedthevices&folliesofmankind&championedcommonsense.Hedefinedagoodstyleas“properwordsinproperplaces.”Clear,simple,concretediction,uncomplicatedsentencestructure,economyandconcisenessoflanguagemarkallhiswritings-essays,poemsandnovels.HisMainWorksTheBattleofBooks（ACollegeHistoryofEnglishLiterature
24、,P245）ATaleofaTubAModestProposalGulliversTravels(英国18世纪文学史，P101)GulliversTravelsThebookconsistsoffourbooks,eachofwhichdealswithoneofthefourvoyagesofLemuelGulliver,theprotagonist,tothefourremoteandfantasticcountriesLilliput,Brobdingnag,Laputa,andHouyhnhnms-afterhehasmetwithshipwrecks,orpiratesorother
25、unfortunatehappeningsonthesea.ThroughthedescriptionofGulliversadventures,Swiftstripsofftheveilthatcoversthehypocrisy,injustice,crudevicesofhissociety,toexposethemalltothesatire.Gullivers Travels(1726):amasterpieceofsatirenotonlyonallpartsofBritainbutalsoonthevice,follyandweaknessofthewholemankindPar
26、tI:voyagetoLilliput(小人国),thelandofminiaturePartII:voyagetoBrobdingnag(大人国),thelandofgiantPart:voyagetoLaputa(飞岛)PartIV:voyagetothelandofHouyhnhnms慧恩,具有人类理性的马匹,anoblebreedofthinking,talking,high-mindedhorsesfilthyinferiorcreaturecalledYahoos:thehumanraceJonathanspointofview:Houyhnhnms:nobleandrationa
27、lyetcoldanddullYahoos(格列弗游记中的一种人形兽):lowyetnatural1.Theirliteraryactivities:Theyjointlyrantwonewspapers,theTatler(from12April1709to2Jan.1711)andtheSpectators(from1March1711to6Dec.1712),andpublishedessaysdealingwithmanners,moralsandliterature.2.Theirimportance:Theiressaystruthfullyportrayedthesocialli
28、feofEngland,andpavedthewayforthecomingoftheEnglishnovel.RichardSteele(1672-1729)&JosephAddison(1672-1719)HenryFielding(1)FatheroftheEnglishNovel(2)Hewasthegreatestplaywrightinhisowntime.(3)Heisgenerallyregardedasthegreatestnovelistofthe18thcentury.(4)Thefirsttowritespecificallya“comicepicinprose”(喜剧
29、散文史诗),whosesubjectis“thetrueridiculous”inhumannature.MainWorksTheHistoryoftheAdventuresofJosephAndrewTheLifeofMrJonathanWild,theGreatAmeliaTheHistoryofTomJones,aFoundlingDonQuixoteinEnglandTheHistoryofTomJones,aFoundlingTomJones,generallyconsideredFieldingsmasterpiece,bringsitsauthorthenameofthe“Pro
30、seHomer.”Thepanoramicviewitprovidesofthe18thcenturyEnglishcountry&citylifewithdifferentplaces&about40charactersisunsurpassed.Thelanguageisoneofclarity&suppleness.Andlastofall,theplotconstructionisexcellent.Itisdividedinto3sections,6bookseach,clearlymarkedoutbythechangeofscenes:inthecountry,onthehigh
31、way&inLondon.Bythis,Fieldinghasindeedachievedhisgoalofwritingacomicepicinprose.IntroductionofTomJonesGenre:anovelSetting:SomersetandLondonCharacters:SquireAllworthy,arich,childlesswidowerBridget,AllworthyssisterTomJones,Bridgetsillegitimateson,Allworthysadoptedchild（theheroofthestory,whoishonest,kin
32、d-hearted,highspirited,loyal,andbrave,butimpulsive,wantingprudenceandfullofanimalspirit）MasterBlifil,BridgetssonbymarriageSquireWestern,alandlord,hisneighborBellaston,Sophiaskinswoman,livinginLondonSophia,WesternsdaughterPlot:（英国（英国18世纪文学选，世纪文学选，P211）1).Inthecountry.BothTomandBlifilareinlovewithSoph
33、ia.WesternarrangesamarriagebetweenSophiaandBlifilwhoisAllworthysheir,butSophialovesTom.2).Ontheroad.SophialeaveshometogotoLondontoseekthehelpofrelativeinLondon,LadyBellaston.Ontheway,shemeetsTomwhohasbeenturnedawaybyAllworthybecauseBlifilconvertshisaffectionforTomintoanger.TheygotoLondontogether.3).
34、InLondon.WhileSophiaandTomareinLondon,AllworthydiscoversthatTomishissisterBridgetsillegitimateson,andthatBlifilistreacherousperson.AllworthydisinheritsBlifilandmakesTomhisheir.HeandWesternarrangeamarriagebetweenTomandSophia.HisachievementinEnglishnovelFieldinghasbeenregardedbysomeasFatheroftheEnglis
35、hNovel,forhiscontributiontotheestablishmentoftheformofthemodernnovel.Ofalltheeighteenth-centurynovelistshewasthefirsttosetout,bothintheory&practice,towritespecificallyacomicepicinprose,thefirsttogivethemodernnovelitsstructure&style.Beforehim,therelatingofastoryinanovelwaseitherintheepistolaryform(as
36、eriesofletters),asinRichardsonsPamela,orthepicaresqueform(adventurouswanderings)throughthemouthoftheprincipalcharacter,asinDefoesRobinsonCrusoe,butFieldingadoptedthethird-personnarration,inwhichtheauthorbecomestheall-knowingGod.Hethinksthethoughtofallhischaracters,soheisable-topresentnotonlytheirext
37、ernalbehaviorsbutalsotheinternalworkingsoftheirminds.Inplanninghisstories,hetriestoretainthegrandepicalformoftheclassicalworksbutatthesametimekeepsfaithfultohisrealisticpresentationofcommonlifeasitis.TheCharacteristicsofThomasGraysPoetry(1)Asafamouspoetof“theGraveyardSchool”,Hispoemscarryhisprofound
38、contemplationaboutdeath,thesorrowsoflifeandthemysteriesofhumanlifewithatouchofhispersonalmelancholy.(2)Asaconscientiousartistofthefirstrate,Graywroteslowlyandcarefully,painstakinglyseekingperfectionofformandphrase.Hispoemsarecharacterizedbyanexquisitesenseofform.(3)Hisstyleissophisticatedandallusive
39、.(4)Hispoemsareoftenmarkedwiththeuniqueimages,rhythm,subtlestyleandthetraitofahighlyartificialdictionandadistortedwordorder.(5)Hispoetryhasauniquecharmofitsown.ThemeItisameditationonhumanmortality,thetragicdignityitgivestoallmankind,&thestability&serenityofrusticlife.TheElegyliesinGraysperfectexpres
40、sionofwhatallmenfeelaboutlife&death.Inthispoem,Grayreflectsondeath,thesorrowsoflife&themysteriesofhumanlifewithatouchofhispersonalmelancholy.Thepoetcomparestheordinarypeoplewiththegreatones,wonderingwhatthecommonscouldhaveachievediftheyhadhadthechance.Hereherevealshissympathyforthepoor&theunknown,bu
41、tmocksthegreatoneswhodespisethepoor&bringhavoconthem.LanguageThepoemaboundsinimages&arousessentimentinthebosomofeveryreader.Thoughtheuseofartificialpoeticdiction&distortedwordordermakeunderstandingofthepoemsomewhatdifficult,theartisticpolish-thesurecontroloflanguage,imagery,rhythm,&hissubtlemoderati
42、onofstyle&tone-givesthepoemauniquecharmofitsown.Thepoemhasbeenrankedamongthebestofthe18thcenturyEnglishpoetry.ElegyWritteninaCountryChurchyard1Thecurfewtollstheknellofpartingday,2Thelowingherdwindslowlyoerthelea,3Theplowmanhomewardplodshiswearyway,4Andleavestheworldtodarknessandtomerpo.library.utoro
43、nto.ca/poem/882.htmlglimmringlandscapeonthesight,6Andalltheairasolemnstillnessholds,7Savewherethebeetlewheelshisdroningflight,8Anddrowsytinklingslullthedistantfolds;9Savethatfromyonderivy-mantledtowr10Themopingowldoestothemooncomplain11Ofsuch,aswandringnearhersecretbowr,12Molestherancientsolitaryrei
44、gn.13Beneaththoseruggedelms,thatyew-treesshade,14Whereheavestheturfinmanyamouldringheap,15Eachinhisnarrowcellforeverlaid,16Therudeforefathersofthehamletsleep.17Thebreezycallofincense-breathingMorn,18Theswallowtwittringfromthestraw-builtshed,19Thecocksshrillclarion,ortheechoinghorn,20Nomoreshallrouse
45、themfromtheirlowlybed.21Forthemnomoretheblazinghearthshallburn,22Orbusyhousewifeplyhereveningcare:23Nochildrenruntolisptheirsiresreturn,24Orclimbhiskneestheenviedkisstoshare.25Oftdidtheharvesttotheirsickleyield,26Theirfurrowoftthestubbornglebehasbroke;27Howjocunddidtheydrivetheirteamafield!28Howbowd
46、thewoodsbeneaththeirsturdystroke!29LetnotAmbitionmocktheirusefultoil,30Theirhomelyjoys,anddestinyobscure;31NorGrandeurhearwithadisdainfulsmile32Theshortandsimpleannalsofthepoor.33Theboastofheraldry,thepompofpowr,34Andallthatbeauty,allthatwealtheergave,35Awaitsalikethinevitablehour.36Thepathsofgloryl
47、eadbuttothegrave.37Noryou,yeproud,imputetothesethefault,38IfMemryoertheirtombnotrophiesraise,39Wherethrothelong-drawnaisleandfrettedvault40Thepealinganthemswellsthenoteofpraise.41Canstoriedurnoranimatedbust42Backtoitsmansioncallthefleetingbreath?43CanHonoursvoiceprovokethesilentdust,44OrFlattrysooth
48、ethedullcoldearofDeath?45Perhapsinthisneglectedspotislaid46Someheartoncepregnantwithcelestialfire;47Hands,thattherodofempiremighthaveswayd,48Orwakdtoecstasythelivinglyre.49ButKnowledgetotheireyesheramplepage50Richwiththespoilsoftimedidneerunroll;51ChillPenuryrepressdtheirnoblerage,52Andfrozethegenia
49、lcurrentofthesoul.53Fullmanyagemofpurestrayserene,54Thedarkunfathomdcavesofoceanbear:55Fullmanyaflowrisborntoblushunseen,56Andwasteitssweetnessonthedesertair.57Somevillage-Hampden,thatwithdauntlessbreast58Thelittletyrantofhisfieldswithstood;59SomemuteingloriousMiltonheremayrest,60SomeCromwellguiltle
50、ssofhiscountrysblood.61Thapplauseoflistningsenatestocommand,62Thethreatsofpainandruintodespise,63Toscatterplentyoerasmilingland,64Andreadtheirhistryinanationseyes,65Theirlotforbade:norcircumscribdalone66Theirgrowingvirtues,buttheircrimesconfind;67Forbadetowadethroughslaughtertoathrone,68Andshutthega
51、tesofmercyonmankind,rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/882.htmlThestrugglingpangsofconscioustruthtohide,70Toquenchtheblushesofingenuousshame,71OrheaptheshrineofLuxuryandPride72WithincensekindledattheMusesflame.73Farfromthemaddingcrowdsignoblestrife,74Theirsoberwishesneverlearndtostray;75Alongthecoolseques
52、terdvaleoflife76Theykeptthenoiselesstenoroftheirway.77Yetevnthesebonesfrominsulttoprotect,78Somefrailmemorialstillerectednigh,79Withuncouthrhymesandshapelesssculpturedeckd,80Imploresthepassingtributeofasigh.81Theirname,theiryears,speltbythunletterdmuse,82Theplaceoffameandelegysupply:83Andmanyaholyte
53、xtaroundshestrews,84Thatteachtherusticmoralisttodie.85ForwhotodumbForgetfulnessaprey,86Thispleasinganxiousbeingeerresignd,87Leftthewarmprecinctsofthecheerfulday,88Norcastonelonging,lingringlookbehind?RichardBrinsleySheridan(1)TheonlyimportantEnglishdramatistoftheeighteenthcentury(2)TheRivalsandTheSc
54、hoolforScandalareregardedasimportantlinksbetweenthemasterpiecesofShakespeareandthoseofBernardShaw,andastrueclassicsinEnglishcomedy.(3)Moralityistheconstanttheme.(4)Hisplayscarryhisseveresatireandaretheproductofadramaticgeniusaswellasofawell-versedtheatricalman.AlexanderPopeAlexanderPope(1688-1744)isthemostimportantrepresentativeoftheEnglishclassicalpoetry.AmonghisimportantworkareEssaysonCriticism,TheRapeoftheLock,TheDunciad,EssayonMan.
