英国文学史
I. Old English Literature & The Late Medieval Ages
Epic: long narrative poems that record the adventures or heroic deeds of a hero enacted in vast landscapes. The style of epic is grand and elevated. Artistic features: 1. Using alliteration
Definition of alliteration: a rhetorical device, meaning some words in a sentence begin with the same consonant sound（头韵） Some examples on P5
2. Using metaphor and understatement
Definition of understatement: expressing something in a controlled way Understatement is a typical way for Englishmen to express their ideas
Geoffery Chaucer 杰弗里 ·乔叟1340~1400
(首创“双韵体”，英国文学史上首先用伦敦方言写作。约翰·德莱顿（John Dryden）称其为“英国诗歌之父”。代表作《坎特伯雷故事集》。) The father of English poetry.
writing style: wisdom, humor, humanity. ①
first time to use ‘heroic couplet’(双韵体) by middle English ②
Medieval Ages’ popular Literary form: Romance(传奇故事) Famous three：King Arthur
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Beowulf
II The Renaissance Period
A period of drama and poetry. The Elizabethan drama is the real mainstream of the English Renaissance. Renaissance: the activity, spirit, or time of the great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 17th century, marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world.
Three historical events of the Renaissance – rebirth or revival: 1. new discoveries in geography and astrology 2. the religious reformation and economic expansion 3. rediscovery of ancient Roman and Greek culture The most famous dramatists: Christopher Marlowe William Shakespeare Ben Johnson.
1. Edmund Spenser埃德蒙·斯宾塞1552~1599
（后人称之为“诗人的诗人”。） The poets’ poet. The first to be buried in the Poet’s corner of Westerminster Abbey
①
The theme is not “Arms and the man”, but something more romantic “Fierce wars and faithfull loves”. Artistic features:
1. Using Spenserian Stanza
Definition of Spenserian Stanza:a stanza of nine lines ababbcbcc. Eight lines in iambic pentameter, and last line in iambic hexameter.
②
The theme is to lament over the loss of Rosalind. ③
2. Thomas? More托马斯?莫尔1478~1535 One of the greatest English humanists ①
3. Francis? Bacon弗兰西斯·培根1561~1626
（哲学家、散文家；在论述探究知识的着作中提出了知识就是力量这一着名论断；近代唯物主义哲学的奠基人和近代实验科学的先驱。）
Philosopher, scientist, lay the foundation for modern science. The first English essayist.?
Writing style:brevity, compactness&powerfulness, well-arranging and enriching by Biblical allusions, metaphors and philosophy to man’s reason. ①
The theme of Of Studies: uses and benefits of study and different ways adopted by different people to pursue studies. 4. Ben Jonson
①
5. Christopher? Marlowe柯里斯托弗·马洛1564~1595 “University Wits”, the pioneer of English drama （完善了无韵体诗。）
Blank verse: written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.
①
6. William Shakespeare威廉·莎士比亚1564~1616?
① Historical plays: Henry VI ; Henry IV : Richard III ; Henry V ；Richard II；Henry VIII ②Four Comedies四大喜剧:
④Shakespeare Sonnet :
154
Three quatrain and one couplet, ababcdcdefefgg
A sonnet is a lyric consisting of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter restricted to a definition rhyme scheme.
III The 17th Century
1. John Milton约翰·弥尔顿1608~1674
（诗人、政论家;失明后写 《失乐园》、《复乐园》、《力士参孙》。） ①Epics:
②Dramatic poem: < Samson Agonistes>力士参孙 ③
This sonnet is written in iambic pentameter rhymed in abba abba cde cde, typical of Italian sonnet. Its theme is that people use their talent for God, and they serve him best sho can endure the suffering best. 2. John Bunyan约翰·班扬1628~1688
（代表作《天路历程》，宗教寓言，被誉为“具有永恒意义的百科全书”，是英国文学史上里程碑式着作。与但丁的《神曲》、奥古斯丁的《忏悔录》并列为世界三大宗教题材文学杰作。） Puritan poet(清教徒派诗人) ①Religionary Allegory:
3. John Donne
the Metaphysical poet(玄学派诗人).
Metaphysical Poetry(玄学诗)：（用语）the diction is simple, the imagery is from the actual, (形式)the form is frequently an argument with the poet’s beloved, with god, or with himself.（主题：love, religious, thought） Artistic features:
1. conceits or imagery奇思妙喻 2. syllogism三段论 ① Meditations 沉思录
The Flea 虱子 ② Songs And Sonnets
Holy Sonnets
③Valediction:
IV The 18th Century
A revival of interest in the old classical works, order, logic, restrained emotion(抑制情感) and accuracy The Age of Enlightenment/Reason: the movement was a furtherance of the Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centries, a progressive intellectual movement, reason(rationality), equality&science(the 18th century) 小说崛起：
In the mid-century, the newly literary form, modern English novel rised(realistic novel现实主义小说) Gothic novel(哥特式小说)：mystery, horror, castles(from middle part to the end of century) 1. Alexander? Pope亚历山大·蒲柏1688~1744
（18世纪英国最伟大的诗人，其诗多用“英雄双韵体”/ “ heroic couplets”。词句工整、精练、富有哲理性。）
One of the first to introduce rationalism to England. ①