英国文学考试复习资料

[标签:标题]篇一：英国文学史复习资料整理(1)? historical background: the making of BritainA. Briton (Celtic tribes)B. the Roman Conquest---Roman Briton1th Julius CaesarA.D.43 ClaudiusC. mid-5th Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons, Jutes)Anglo-Saxon periodD. Danish invasionlate 8th, Daneslate 9th, Alfred the Greatthe literaturethe literature of this period falls naturally isto two divisions—pagan and Christianpagan represents the poetry which the Anglo-Saxons probably brought with them in the form of oral sagasChristian represents the writings developed under teaching of the monks..All of the earliest poetry of England was copied by the monks, and seems to have been more or less altered to give it a religious coloring.The angles, an important Teutonis tribe, furnished the name for the new home, which was called Angle-land afterward shortened into England. The language spoken by these tribes is generally called Anglo-Saxon or Saxon.Literary term★Epic: a long narrative poem telling about the deeds of a great hero and reflecting the values of the society from which it originated. Many epics were drawn from an oral tradition and were transmitted by song and recitation before they were written down.(examples: Iliad, Odyssey, Chanson de Roland)2. Beowulf–national epic★the longest and most monument of A-S poems★the oldest surviving epic in British literature.? oral form (6th), earliest written record (7th or 8th)? set in Denmark and SwedenBeowulf1. 3183 lines2. contents:Beowulf centers on the narration of the exploits of the heroic figure beowulf.3 adventuresMonster---GrendelGrendel’s motherfiery dragonTheme: primitive people’s struggle against hostile forces of the natural world under a wise andmighty leader.Beowulf is not simply a man of great military prowess but he is forever eager to help others in distress and in his last adventure with the dragon he shows himself a worthy leader ready to sacrifice his own life for the welfare of his people.Features:＊part-historical and part legendary＊heathen tribal society, feudal elements, Christian coloring ＊A-S or old English; alliteration metaphorIn the year 1066, at the battle of Hastings, the Normans headed by William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the Anglo-Saxons.Brought to England is remarkable for its bright, romantic tales of love and adventure.England literature is also a combination of French and Saxon elements.The three chief effects of the conquest were1. the bringing of Roman civilization to England2. the growth of nationality a strong centralized government, instead of the loose union of Saxon tribes3. the new language and literature were proclaimed in Chaucer1 the Norman conquest accelerated the development of feudalism. ? on land: the ruling class possessed large tracts of land? on society: distinct class division, miseries of peasants? on language: scholar wrote in French and Latin; eiched English.The development of romance and knights’legends★Romance: A long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble man. The central character is the Knight, who has a noble birth, is skillful in the use of weapon and devotes to the church or King. The rules governing the manners and morals of a knight are known as chivalry.? Themes of romance:the matter of Britain—king Arthur and his knights of the Round Table (Arthurian romances) the matter of France—Charlemagne and his knights (Chanson deRoland)the matter of Rome—from the Trojan War to Alexander the GreatKing Arthur:＊historical figure of Celts; mythological figure in Welsh literature; ＊legendary hero in? Geoffery of Monmouth: “History of the Kings of Britain”? Layamon: “Brut”? Sir Tomas Malory: “Le Morte D?Arthur”? Anglo-Saxon? Later legends about a hero named Arthur were placed in this period of violence. The invaders were variously Angles, Saxons, Frisians, Jutes, but were similar in culture and eventually identified themselves indifferently as Angles or Saxons.The most outstanding single romance on the Arthurian legend—―Sir Gawain and the Green Knight‖(four sections)a.The fight between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight at King Arthur?s Christmas feast.b. Gawain?s adventures on the way to find the Green Knight of the Green Chapel篇二：英国文学史及选读__复习要点总结《英国文学史及选读》第一册复习要点1. Beowulf: national epic of the English people; Denmark story; alliteration, metaphors and understatements （此处可能会有填空，选择等小题）2. Romance （名词解释）3. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”: a famous roman about King Arthur’s story4. Ballad（名词解释）5. Character of Robin Hood6. Geoffrey Chaucer: founder of English poetry; The Canterbury Tales (main contents; 124 stories planned, only 24 finished; written in Middle English; significance; form: heroic couplet)7. Heroic couplet (名词解释)8. Renaissance（名词解释）9.Thomas More——Utopia10. Sonnet（名词解释）11. Blank verse（名词解释）12. Edmund Spenser“The Faerie Queene”13. Francis Bacon “essays”esp. “Of Studies”（推荐阅读，学习写正式语体的英文文章的好参照，本文用词正式优雅，多排比句和长句，语言造诣非常高，里面很多话都可以引用做格言警句，非常值得一读）14. William Shakespeare四大悲剧比较重要，此外就是罗密欧与朱立叶了，这些剧的主题，背景，情节，人物形象都要熟悉，当然他最重要的是Hamlet这是肯定的。

英国⽂学复习资料The Anglo-saxon period(450-1066)⼀，historical background1, History: The earliest settlers of British Isles were the Celts.2, Old English poetry.⼆，Northumbrian school and Wessex literature.1, Two Highlight in the development of Anglo-saxon literature:(1). Northumbrian school (2), Wessex literature.2,The first Anglo-Saxon poet: Caedmon —“paraphrase”3.Bede: —“the father of English History.”The Ecclesiastical History of English people. 4.King Alfred —the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle三．Epic1. Definition: A long narrative poem celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grand, ceremonious style.2. Anglo-Saxon Poetry—Beowulf (heroic epic)3.The earliest one is Widsith and last is Maldon .4.The plot: (1)fight with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, Firedrake.(2)the death and funeral5.the significance:6.National epic: Homer’s epic poetry(Greek);V irgil(Roman)7.Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.8.Kenning: A kind of metaphor usually used a phrase instead of a concrete noun.The Norman Period(1066-1350) ⼀．History background1. Norman conquest ended the Anglo-Saxon period2.the influence of Norman Conquest:(1)accelerated the development of feudalism in England.(2)the Anglo-Saxon, low position; English, despised thing.(3)three languages co-existed in England(French ,Latin, Old-English)⼆．Middle English1.the development of English Language2.the unique situation of language using during this time:French ,Latin, Old-English三．R omance1.Norman Conquest’s influence on English languageRomance——Frence——nobbles;lordsNo writtern——English——English subjet（⾂民）Chronicles,religious poem——Latin——scholar2.Definition: the Romance was the most prevailing kind of literature in feudal England which described the life andadventures of knights and reflects the spirit of chivalry in the form of verse. It’s usually about love, chivalry and religion.3.Rhyme:4.Bob: a line of two syllables.5.Wheel: a poem of four lines(a.b.a.b.)6.Three categories of Romans(1),The matter of France—Chanson de roland.(2), the matter of Rome—Alexander(3), The matter of Britain—Arthurian7. Sir Gawain and Green KnightAge of Chaucer⼀，History background1.The hundred years war between England and France(two kings for France throne)2, The peasant uprising of 1381,during the reign of king Richard 2⼆，John wycliff—The father of English prose.1,Contribution:(1),dedicated to religious reform(clergymen had no right to hold property and the civil authority had the right to deprive the church of property, if it proved unworthy of the people’s trust.),(2),Great contribution to English language (translated Bible into standard English)2,William Langland—the vision of Piers Plowman ; Allegory3, Allegory: A story or description in which the characters and events symbolize some deeper meaning.(primary meaning and secondary meaning)三，Chaucer—the father of English poetry(why?)1, Contribution to English literature:(1), Chaucer proved that the English language is a beautiful language and can be easily handled to express different moods.(2)，Chaucer greatly increased the prestige of the English language.(3) Chaucer’s works gave a comprehensive picture of his time.(4), the dramatic structure of his work has been highlycommended by critics.(5)Chaucer made a big improvement of English literature.2,Heroic couplet(英雄双韵体)（1），couplet （两⾏诗⼀押韵）（2），iambic pentameter(五步抑扬格)3，Canterbury Tales(1) Structure：24 tales connect by “links”(2)His plan; Chaucer met a group of 29 pilgrims at Canterbury on his way. To kill the time on their journey, they play a game that each pilgrim should tell two stories on the outward trip and another two on the way back. Chaucer and their host joined them, the host will be a judge and give a reward to the one who give the best tale.4,The significance of the Canterbury tales(1), it gives a comprehensive picture of Chaucer’s time.(2).the dramatic structure of his work has been highly commended by critics.（3），It reflects the Chaucer’s humor.(4),It’s a great contribution that Chaucer gave to the English language.The 15th century⼀,Historical background1. The Hundred Years War:(in1415,at the battle of Agincourt ,King Henry 5 defeated French Army)2,The War of the Rose s—Thirty Y ears War:(break out between two families ,at last King Henry 7 defeated Richard 3 ,and then married Elizabeth)3,The discovery of America and the new sea routes —Columbus4,Reformation of the church（the church Henry 8 founded is Anglican church新教）⼆，Popular Ballads(民谣)(belongs to folk literature)1.Definition：a narrative poem that tells a story2. the characters of ballad:(1), the beginning is abrupt (2),strong dramatic elements(3),using dialogue and action (4), the theme is often tragic(5),using ballad meter3, Ballad Meter(1), four-line stanzas(2), the odd numbered(奇数) lines have 4 feet each(3), the even numbered （偶数）lines have 3 feet each(4)，rhymes fall on the even numbered lines4，the popular ballad:Sir Patrick Spens帕特⾥克斯本⼠爵⼠Robin Hood and the three squires罗宾汉和三个乡绅三，Sir Thomas Malory——The Death of King Arthur 四，Early English palys1,The first comedy—Ralph Roister Doister(作者：Nicholas Vdall)2, History: In ancient Greece and Rome , drama was one of the popular forms of entertainment. And then used as part of religious services. By the 14th century, it developed into mystery plays (神秘剧)and miracle plays.（神话剧）3,Dramatic Terms.(1),script剧本（2）stage directions舞台说明（3），monologue 独⽩（4），aside旁⽩（5）,soliloque独⽩(6)act 幕（7）scene场（8）set布景4. Drama’s Definition: Drama is “a composition in prose or verse, adapted to be acted upon a stage, in which a story is related by means of dialogue and action, and is represented with accompanying gesture, costume, and scenery, as in real life.”The English Renaissance英国启蒙运动⼀，history backgroundEnglish navy defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.⼆,the enclosure movement(圈地运动)Definition: with development of wool trade, some of the nobles and burghers turned vast arable land into their pastures and many peasants became landless.三，H umanism1, renaissance(⽂艺复兴):the rebirth of literary movement that begin in the 14th century in Italy and later to France ,Spanish ,the Netherlands and English and its idea was humanism.2，Humanism: support the idea that man should be given the full freedom to enrich their emotional life,and in praise of man and pursuit of happiness in their life.四，William Shakespeare—playwright, poet, dramatist,actor.1.works: (1)sonnets(2)Mid-summer Nights Dream(3)Romeo and Juliet(4),The Merchant of V enice(5)As Y ou LikeIt(6),Hamlet(7),Othello(8),KingLear(9)Macbeth(10)The winters tale2, Sonnet Definition: is a short poem of 14 lines ,uauslly in iambic pentameter(五步抑扬格) with various rhyming schemes(韵脚)。

英国文学复习资料一、名词解释1.Byronic Heroes:1)the Byronic hero, characterized by Byron‟s ex—lover Lady CarolineLamb, first appeared in Byron‟s semi—autobiographical epic narrativepoem”Childe Harold‟s Pilgrimage” (恰尔德哈罗德游记) in 1812—1818.2)Byronic hero is a proud, mysterious rebel figure of noble origin, againsttyrannical rules or moral principles.3)Representative: Gordon Byron Don Juan2.Conceit:1)is a figure of speech which makes an unusual and sometimes elaboratelysustained comparison between two dissimilar things.2)In literature, a conceit is an extended metaphor with a complex logic thatgoverns a poetic passage or entire poem. By juxtaposing, usurping andmanipulating images and ideas in surprising ways, a conceit invites thereader into a more sophisticated understanding of an object ofcomparison. Extended conceits in English are part of the poetic idiom ofMannerism, during the later sixteenth and early seventeenth century.3)Representative: John Donne 17th century “The flea”3.Metaphysical poetry:1)About the beginning of the 17th century appeared a school of poets called“Metaphysicals” by Samuel Johnson, the 18th century writer2)The works of the metaphysical poets are characterized by mysticism incontent and fantasticality in form.3)John Donne is the founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry.His work: “The flea” Andrew Marvell ”To His Coy Mistress”4.The Renaissance:1)It is a cultural and artistic movement from the 14th century to the 17thcentury, beginning in Italy in the 14th century and gradually spread allover Europe.2)It marks a transition from the medieval to the modern world. Twofeatures are striking of this movement: a thirsting curiosity for classicalliterature; The keen interest in the activities of humanity. Humanism isthe key-note of the Renaissance.3)Representatives: William Shakespeare “Hamlet” Thomas More Utopia5.Romanticism in English poetry:1)Romanticism prevailed in England during the period 1798-1832. Itexpressed the ideology and sentiment of those classes and social stratawho were discontent with, and opposed to, the development ofcapitalism.2)Imagination, emotion and freedom are the focal points of romanticism.The particular characteristics of the literature of romanticism include:subjectivity and an emphasis on individualism; freedom from rules;solitary life rather than life in society; the beliefs that imagination issuperior to reason; and love of and worship of nature.3)Representatives: William Wordsworth “Lyrical Ballads” Jane AustenPride and Prejudice6.Dramatic Monologue:1)It first appeared in 1842, represented by Robert Browning‟s “My LastDuchess”.The Victorian period represented the high point of the dramatic monologue in English poetry.2)It is a kind of narrative poem in which one character speaks to one ormore listeners whose replies are not given in the poem.3)Representatives: Robert Browning “My Last Duchess”“Home-thoughts from abroad” Elizabeth Barrett Browning “Sonnetsfrom the Portuguese”7.The Stream of Consciousness:1)It is a psychological term indicating “the flux of conscious andsubconscious thoughts and impressions moving in the mind at any giventime independently of the person‟s will.” In late 19th century to 20thcentury2)It is a narrative mode. It is a literary technique that presents the thoughtsand feelings of a character as they occur without any clarification by theauthor.3)Representatives: Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway James JoyceUlysses8.Epiphany:1)It first appeared with James Joyce‟s Araby in the 20th century. It refers todeep insights that might be gained through incidents and circumstanceswhich seem outwardly insignificant.2)Representative: James Joyce Araby9.Critical Realism:1)It flourished in the forties and the beginning of the fifties. It refers to theworks studying the reality with a critical point of view. It attempts toreflect reaility faithfully and recreate the familiar everyday life; adopts acritical tone.2)The English critical realists criticized capitalist society from a democraticviewpoint and described the crying contradictions of bourgeois reality.3)Representatives: Dickens Great Expectations A Tale of Two Cities二、问答题1.Robert Browning(戏剧独白): “My Last Duchess”1)Dramatic Monologue: In literature, it refers to the occurrence of a singlespeaker saying sth. to a silent audience.2)“My Last Duchess” is a poem by Robert Browning, frequentlyrecognized as an example of the dramatic monologue. The poem iswritten in 28 rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter.3)This poem is loosely based on historical events involving Alfonso, theDuke of Ferrara, who lived in the 16th century. The Duke is the speakerof the poem, and tells us he is entertaining an emissary who has come tonegotiate the Duke‟s marriage (he has recently been widowed) to thedaughter of another powerful family. It is a typical example in which theduke, speaking to a non-responding audience reveals:A.The reasons for his disapproval of the behavior of his former duchessB.Some tyrannical and merciless aspects of his own personality4）Writing Styles:A.Dramatic monologueB.Rhythms are too fast, too rough and unmusicalC.Syntax is clipped and highly compressedD.Similes and illustrations appear too profuselyE.Allusions and implications are odd and far-fetched-obscurity2.Virginia Woolf(意识流) “Mrs. Dalloway”1) it is a novel by Virginia Woolf that details a day in the life of ClarissaDalloway, a fictional high-society woman in post-First World War England. It is one of Woolf's best-known novels, adopting the technique of the stream ofconsciousness. Nonlinear narrative structure and frequently changingnarrative perspective.2) Stream of consciousness: it is a psychological term indicating “the flux ofconscious and subconscious thoughts and impressions moving in the mind atany given time independently of the person‟s will.” In late 19th century to 20thcentury3) With an interior perspective, the story travels forwards and back in timeand in and out of the characters' minds to construct an image of Clarissa's lifeand of the inter-war social structure.4) Themes : the novel has two main narrative lines involving two separatecharacters (Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Smith); within each narrativethere is a particular time and place in the past that the main characters keepreturning to in their minds. For Clarissa, the "continuous present" (GertrudeStein's phrase) of her charmed youth at Bourton keeps intruding into herthoughts on this day in London. For Septimus, the "continuous present" of his time as a soldier during the "Great War" keeps intruding, especially in theform of Evans, his fallen comrade.3.W illiam Blake “The Ty ger”1)William Blake is an important poet representing the pre-romanticism inEnglish literature in whose masterpiece“The Tiger”the structural identicalness between the enlarged metaphor "tiger" and the deafening "anvil music"represents the splendid "making process of the tiger".2) ”The Tyger”, included in “Songs of Experience”, is one of Blake'sbest-known poems.3) Theme: God‟s creativityTone: rationalRhythm: blacksmithingRepetition: Tyger! Tyger!Image：mysterious, august4)Six quatrains in rhymed couplets; the meter is regular and rhythmic; fromthe perspective of a more experienced person.4.George Bernard Shaw “Mrs. Warren‟s Profession”(华伦夫人的职业)1) He was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School ofEconomics. He is a critical realistic dramatist. Shaw was against “art for art‟s sake.” He wrote, “For art‟s sake I will not face the toil of writing a sentence.”Shaw was a friend of progressive mankind. He supported the forces ofrevolution and democracy in their struggle against imperialism and reaction.2) The story centers on the relationship between Mrs. Kitty Warren and herdaughter, Vivie. Mrs. Warren, a former prostitute and current brothel owner, is described as "on the whole, a genial and fairly presentable old blackguard of a woman."It mainly tells how Mrs. Warren‟s daughter, who is well—educated happens to know her mother‟s real “profession”. She was about to blame her mother for being a procuress but after she got to know what her mother had been through she forgave and began to understand her.3) it is one of the “Plays Unpleasant”. Shaw shows that the guise ofbourgeois respectability horrible crimes and corruption are concealed. Shaw accuses the bourgeoisie of making profit by fostering prostitution. Mrs.Warren‟s own life experience as a whole cannot represent that of the ordinary, suffering poor women in capitalist society. The fate of poor women from the labouring masses is also touched upon in the play. He exposes and satirizes the whole capitalist system, shows his infinite sympathy for the exploited, and therefore sharply and daringly touches on the most fundamental problem of capitalist system.4) The play expresses criticism of the capitalism and the upper class. It alsoreflects the economic oppression of women.三、诗歌赏析1.William Wordsworth “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”1)It‟s rhyme scheme is ababcc(quatrain couplet). Each line is metered iniambic tetrameter. Its tone is free, pleasant and encouraging. Term:“That floats on high o‟er vales and hills” in line 2 and “Beside the lake,beneath the trees” in line 5) and assonance (e.g. “beneath the trees in line 5”and “ They stretched in never-ending line” in line 9) and consonance (e.g.“ vales and hills” in line 2 ). He arranges his poem in lines of iambictetrameter in the main with alternation of iambic trimeter.]3) it is a poem about nature. With his pure and poetic language,Wordsworth brings us into a beautiful world where there are daffodils, treesand breeze. We follow the poet at every turn of his feelings. We share hismelancholy when he “wandered lonely as a cloud” and his delight themoment his he art “with pleasure fills”. We come to realize the great power ofnature that may influence our life deeply as revealed in the poem.5)Wordsworth, in the poem, also employs figurative language to evoke notonly the visual effect but also the emotional response. (E.g. in line 1, thepoet makes a comparison between “I wandered lonely” and “a cloud” bythe use of simile, thus conveys to us his lonely and melancholy moodwith the image of “cloud”. In line 7, he also amplifies the visual effect bythe use of anothe r simile “Continuous as the stars that shine…” to evokeour sense of “daffodils” with the image of “stars” twinkling on the milkyway which is familiar to us all. He goes further to impress us with theimage of countless daffodils with an overstatement in line 9 “Theystretched in never-ending line”). Besides, natural things are also endowedwith human being‟s characters by the poet‟s subtle use of personification.(e.g. “Tossing their heads in sprightly dance” “The waves beside themdanced”) therefore, as we read the poem, we become aware of the poet‟sdeep love toward nature through his lovely and vivid description aboutnatural things with his figurative language.2.Percy Bysshe Shelley “Ode to the West Wind”1)The ode is a lyric poem dealing with the soft theme. The poem expresseshis desire for freedom and his resolution to sacrifice for the struggle forfreedom.2)Its rhyme scheme is aba bcb cdc ded ee. written in iambic pentameter.Its tone is optimistic and pleasant.3）The first stanza begins with the alliteration …wild West Wind’ (1.1). Theform of the apostrophe makes the wind also a personification. In the last lineof this canto the west wind is considered the …Destroyer’ because it drives thelast signs of life from the trees, and the …Preserver’ for scattering the seedswhich will come to life in the spring.That may be why he is looking forward to the spring and asks at the end ofthe last canto …If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?’. This is of course a rhetorical question because spring does come after winter, but the "if"suggests that it might not come if the rebirth is strong and extensive enoughand if it is not, another renewal—spring—will come anyway. Thus thequestion has a deeper meaning and does not only mean the change of seasons, but is a reference to death and rebirth as well. It also indicates that after thestruggles and problems in life, there would always be a solution. It shows usthe optimistic view of the poet about life which he would like the world toknow.补充：1)An adventure storyQuality: a sense of reality lifelikenessTheme: glorifies human labor. Labor is the source of pride and happiness2)Character of Robinson Crusoe:A.Robinson is an individual laborer, then became a master, until at last acolonizer. He is the prototype of the pioneer colonist; is a typical 18thcentury English middle-class man. He is capable, energetic, courageous,self-reliant, and persistent.B.The character of Robinson Crusoe is representative of the Englishbourgeoisie at the earlier stages of its development. He is most practicaland exact, always religious and at the same time mindful of his own profit.Robinson‟s every voyage is connected with some commercial enterprise.He own s a plantation where colored slaves are exploited. Defoe‟sbourgeois outlook manifests itself in the fact that he does not condemnNegro-slavery in his book. Though Robinson labors for his own existence,yet as soon as a native makes his appearance on the island, Robinsonassumes the role of a master. “Master” is the first word Friday learns fromRobinson. Here lies colonization in germ.3)The best part of the novel is the realistic account of the successful struggleof Robinson alone against the pitiless forces of nature on the island.。

Pre-Renaissance periodBeowulf : the first English national epicI. The position of the Beowulf:the first English national epicII.The story: (to simply narrate it )Beowulf←→ Grendel and his motherBeowulf←→ Fire dragonIII. Its artistic features1. I t’s a 3183-line verse written in true epic style and in Old English;2. the most evident feature: the use of alliteration; (refer to the history of literature By Liu Bingshan,)3. to use compound-words to serve as metaphors;4. the use of understatements: the impression and a color of humor.△5. the mixing of pagan elements with Christian colouring.Geoffrey ChaucerI. life :1. He was born in a wine merchant family in 1340;2. His early life as a page and his marriage acquainted him with knowledge about upper class;3.he was buried in Westminster Abbey, thus founding the “Poets Corner” . II. His Work: The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury TalesThe General Prologue...The PrioressThere was also a Nun, a Prioress,Whose name was gentle and full of guilelessness. “By St. Loy!” was the worst oath she would say. She sang mass well, in a becoming way,Intoning through her nose the words divine,And she was known as Madam Eglantine.She spoke good French, as taught at Stratford-Bow For the Parisian French she did not know.She was schooled to eat so primly and so well That from her lips no morsel ever fell.She wet her fingers lightly in the dishOf sauce, for courtesy was her first wish.With every bite she did her skillful bestTo see that no drop fell upon her breast.She always wiped her upper lip so cleanThat in her cup was never to be seenA hint of grease when she had drunk her share, She reached out for her meat with comely air. She was a great delight, and always triedTo imitate court ways, and had her pride,Both amiable and gracious in her dealings.As for her charity and tender feelings,She melted at whatever was piteous.She would weep if she but came upon a mouse Caught in a trap, if it were dead of bleeding. Some little dogs that took pleasure feedingOn roasted meat or milk or good wheat breadShe had, but how she wept to find one deadOr yelping from a blow that made it smart,And all was sympathy and loving heart.Neat was her wimple in its every plait,Her nose well formed, her eyes as gray as slate.Her mouth was very small and soft and red.She had so wide a brow I think her headWas nearly a span broad, for certainlyShe was not undergrown, as all could see.She wore her cloak with dignity and charm,And had her rosary about her arm,The small beads coral and the larger green,And from them hung a brooch of golden sheen,On it a large A and a crown above;Beneath, “all things are subject unto love.”I. Questions for discussion:1.What is the tone of the setting? How did the author achieve such settingof the tales?2.Summarize the character of the Prioress in this Prologue.3.To analyze Chaucer’s ways of characterization in this Prologue andthe language style of the selected part.II. To illustrate the terms.Heroic couplet: A two-line section of a poem, which rhymes and has five feet each in iambic meter(also termed as iambic pentameter ), and which has a meaning complete within itself.Example: The veins are bathed in li quor of such powerAs brings about the engen dering of the flower,(抑抑扬)ATT: For the convenience of the interpretation for the foot, some words are detached.Foot: A group of syllables forming a unit of verse, usually one foot contains at least one stressed word, or contains one stressed word and one or more than one unstressed words.III. Social significance of The Canterbury Tales (also function as a simple analysis)1.The Canterbury is not only a collection of stories strung by loosethread.(1) To affirm men and women’s right to pursue their happiness;(2) To oppose the dogma of asceticism;(3) To praise man’s energy, intellect and love of life.2.This work exposed the evil of time(1) the degeneration of the noble;(2) the heartless of judge;(3) the corruption of churchIV. Chaucer’s achievements in and contribution to English literature1.He is one of the earliest literary talents who embody humanism.2.Father of English poetry(1)the first great poet who wrote in English language;(2)introduced rhymed five accents in iambic meter to English poetry(heroic couplet)3.Founder of English realismThe prologue supplies a miniature of then English society (ways of narrating the stories and different social status of these pilgrims).4.His excellent works contribute a lot to establish English as theliterary language of the country. (set an example for the poets of later generation )5.He made London dialect as the standard for the modern English speech.Renaissance PeriodWilliam ShakespeareI. Life1. born of trader family in Stratford-on-Avon in 1564, and his family got into financial troubles;2. Fail to finish formal schooling for the reason of financial difficulties, he left for London.II. Shakespeare the dramatistHis plays are poetical dramas, most of which are written in blank verse which was created one of the famous university wits, Christopher Marlow. His career as a dramatist may be divided into three (or four) periods: (to be lectured later)Hamlet●The Monologue：To be: to exist, to live, to passively accept, to suffer;Not to be: to die, to take action to fight against fate.That is the question: this shows Hamlet confronted with both body and moral dilemma: whether to suffer passively or to take action to fight.◆three reasons for his dilemma:1.He receives Stoic philosophy: Forbearance is the noblest(顺从是最高的美德).Ciceronian philosophy: Duty is most important.These two views of philosophy are quite contradictory for Hamlet. (to interpret in depth )2.Religious reason: fear of after-life. (as obviously shown in this monologue: to die, to sleep)3. Odepus complex (commonly called mother complex): this view was put forward by some critic, which conducted a psychological analysis based on the Freudian philosophy. (to simply narrate the origin of this complex.)Points worthy of notice and interpretation in the monologuethe slings and arrows (a metaphor, ): attackTo die, to sleep (analogy)no more: to exist no moreheartache: spiritual painnatural shocks: physical pain and sufferingconsummation: final settlementdevoutly to be wished : to be passionately wishedperchance: perhapsay: yesrub: difficultyshuffled off: get rid ofmortal coil: trouble of mortal life, coil: bodypause: hinderrespect: consideration, thinkingwhips and scorns of time: the beat and sneer in the word we live in. wrong: ill treatmentContumely: despisingPangs: sharp painspurns that patient merit of th’ unworthy takes: kicks that a personof merit takes from the unworthy.Fardels: (archaic word) burdensA weary life: a burdensome lifeBut that : unlessConscience: reflection, consciousnessIs sicklied over :is covered withPale cast: sickly cover, sickly colorThought: anxious thought or melancholy thoughtEnterprise: the great causePith and moment: importanceWith this regard: on this account, for this reasonTheir current turn awry: change the directionAction: here refers to “take arms against the fate”Questions for discussion:Give thorough consideration to the whole play and the monologue we have covered, and answer these questions:1.What is the use of the spirit of Hamlet’s father in the developmentof dramatic plot ?2.What is the use of his father’s spirit in the development of Hamlet’s character?3.To analyze Hamlet’s character?4.To analyze the change of Hamlet’s attitude for Ophellia, what arethe reasons for the change?◆ Any other question concerning this play you want to put forward and explain. Welcome to speak your mind!III. Shakespeare the poet1. His sonnet (a general introduction about all 154 sonnets):Sonnet XVIIIPre-reading task:1. To contrast the tone of the 1st and 2nd stanza with the one of the 3rd, try to find the difference.2. What are denotation of such images as “summer’s day”, “buds of May” and “rough wind”?Notes:•thee: you•Summer’s day: warmth and beauty (best season for Shakespeare) •Thou art: you are•Temperate: mild•Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May: beauty is short-lived.•And every fair from fair sometimes decline (a inverted line): And every fair sometimes decline from fair.•By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimm’d (a inverted line): untrimm’d By chance, or nature’s changing course. Trim: dress Questions and task for sonnet 181. Consider the relationship among four stanzas to identify the special poetic pattern of Shakespearian sonnet.2. what is the theme of this sonnet?Edmund SpenserI.Spenser the man1. born of a poor merchant’s family;2. Educated at Merchant Tailor’s schoolIn this school, a teacher with humanism conveyed the idea of education as follows: “It’s not a mind, nor a body, that we have to educate, buta man, we can not divide him”.3. Studying in Cambridge University, he was under the influence of Platonism (one aspect: the inner beauty is more important than the beauty of appearance.) This may be found in his poetry; and he also got much influence from Phillip Sidney, this influence is of importance for his creation of sonnet.II. Spenser the poet (mainly his poem)1. Amoretti (爱情小唱)：a sequence of 88 poems, in which sonnet 54 and sonnet 75 are most famous.Pre-reading Questions for sonnet 54:1.What is the tone of this poem?2.Who is the speaker?3. Could you describe the changes of the speaker’s inner world, esp.his emotional changes?Sonnet 54Of this worlds theatre in which we stay,My love like the spectator ydly sitsBeholding me that all the pageants play,Disguysing diversly my troubled wits.Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fitsAnd mask in myrth lyke to a comedy:Sonne after when my joy to sorrow flits,I wane and make my woes a tragedy.Yet she, beholding me with constant eye,Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart:But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cryShe laughs and hardens evermore her heart.What then can move her? If nor merth nor mone,She is no woman, but a sencelesse stone.Question for discussion: What is the theme of this sonnet?Sonnet 75One day I wrote her name upon the strand,But came the waves and washed it away:Agayne I wrote it with a second hand,But came the tyde, and made my payne his pray.“Vayne man,” sayd she, “that doest in vaine assay,A mortall thing so to immortalize,For I my selve shall lyke to this decay,And eek my name bee wyped out lykewize.”“Not so,”quod I, “ let baser things devize,To dy in dust, but you shall live by fame:My verse your vertues rare shall eternize,And in the heavens wryte your glorious name,Where whenas death shall all the world subdew,Our love shall live, and later life renew.”Questions for sonnet 751. What are the connotations of such images in this sonnet as “wave”,“name” and “heaven”?Could you find some instances of comparison the poet used in this poem?2. In this sonnet, Spenser conveyed the idea of “our love shall live,and later life renew.” But, how can “our love live, and later life renew”?3. What is the theme of this sonnet?Connotation of some images in this sonnet:Term:Alliteration: Alliteration is a kind of rhyme with the initial sounds identical, identical sounds closely connects two or more words both insounds and in meaning.2. The Shepherds’ Calendar（牧童的月历）(1) A pastoral poem(田园诗，牧歌体诗) consisting 12 eclogues，one for each month, these eclogues are written in different meters;（2）The shepherd represents the poet and his friend;Most part of this poem are written in dialogue form, esp. the dialogue between the shepherd and his friend;（3）The dominant theme is love, and the theme of religion is also discussed.3. The Faire Queen(1) Spenser’s masterpiece;an epic written in a special verse form (Spenserian Stanza);(2) Planned in 12 books, but only 6 books and two cantos(诗章) of the 7th were finished;(3) hero and heroin: king Arthur and Gloriana;(4) the story: (adventures of 12 knights). It’s a vivid narrative of knightly adventures, it also involved moral, religion and political allegories, and all sorts of supernatural beings;(5) Each knight stands for a virtue: Holiness, Temperance, Chastity, Friendship, Justice and Courtesy, these virtues were acquired in the course of adventures.(6) thought of this poem: nationalism, humanism and puritanism.Spenserian Stanza(斯宾塞体): A special verse form consists of eight iambic pentameter lines followed by a ninth line of six iambic feet (an alexandrine).Remark: 斯宾塞体即五音步一行的八行加上六音步一行而形成的九行体。

名词解释1.Philosophy:The word “” is Greek for “love of wisdom” and has come to mean a systematic search for answerto life’s great questions.(哲学定义)2.Rationalism:Ancient Greeks believe that some universal truth has always existed and that reason is theprimary source of knowledge.（理性主义定义）3.Idealism:Human senses provide inexact concepts of things; only human reason can give us true knowledgeabout the world.（柏拉图Plato）(理念论/唯心主义定义）4.The Renaissance:The French word “renaissance” means “rebirth” in English. It refers to the rebirth ofknowledge in Europe, particularly the rediscovery of the Greco-Roman texts.（持续300年）(文艺复兴定义) 5.Magna Carta: The barons wrote the famous document called the Magna Carta, which they forced John toaccept on June 15, 1215 at Runnymede. This Magna Carta, also called the Great Charter, was designed to obtain public liberties and to control the king’s power.(大宪章定义)6.Puritan：The term “Puritan” comes from the desires of these English Christians to “purify” the AnglicanChurch by removing all traces of Roman Catholicism.(清教徒定义)7.Industrial Revolution(简称I.R): During the latter half of 18th century, a rapid series of changes began,especially in the field of manufacturing. There were so many new inventions the whole process is often described as ~~(工业革命定义)8.The factory of the world:British was once called~~~~~, because the Industrial Revolution promoted itsdevelopment of production.(世界工厂定义)9.The Enclosure Movement: In the end of 15th century, the cloth industry increased the value of wool. Raisingsheep became more profitable. Large areas of lands were often fenced by landlords without any warning to the peasants. This process is called~~~(圈地运动定义)10.Boston Massacre: On Mach 5, 1770, angry Boston citizens died and eight were wounded. Dubbed the“Boston Massacre”, the incident was regarded as proof of British tyranny.(波士顿惨案内容)（美国革命序曲) 11.1the Declaration of Independence: On July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress officially declaredindependence and formed the United States of America by adopting the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The document declared that “all men are created equal” and are “ endowed by their creator” with certain “ inalienable rights” including “life ,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.(独立宣言定义)12.checks-and-balances: The US Constitution also provided for checks-and-balances between the three branchesof government. Executive Branch—the president行政权—总统Legislative Branch—the Congress立法权—国会Judicial Branch—the U.S. Supreme Court司法权—最高法院Each branch was given powers and duties that ensured that the other branches would not have too much power.(三权分立，分权制衡定义)13.the New Deal: Roosevelt’s program of “Relief, Recovery and Reform” was popularly known as “the NewDeal”, a program that significantly and dramatically increased the national government’s intervention in the economy.(罗斯福新政定义)14.Prohibition: The 18th Amendment to the Constitution(1919) is known as “Prohibition”, because it prohibitedthe sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States.(禁酒法令定义)15.Cold War:The “Cold War”, a term popularized by Winston Churchill in 1946, means alternative forms ofwarfare that rely on limited violence and ideological, economic and political methods.(美苏冷战定义)16.Mayflower: In 1620, a group of 132 Separatists (Puritans who had “separated” or left the Church of England)boarded the Mayflower and sailed for Virginia. The Mayflower was blown off course and landed in what is now Massachusetts, far to the north of Virginia.(五月花)简答、填空、选择1.What role did Winston Churchill play in World War II? (丘吉尔在二战中起到什么作用？)⑴He played the important role in World War II.⑵In 1941, he led the country through the miracle of Dunkirk, that was 338000 allied solders’ evacuation to Britain.⑶In 1943, he met Stalin and Roosevelt at Teheran Conference and decided to open the Second Battlefield West Europe.⑷In 1945, he proposed to fight against the Japanese Army till the end of the war.2.Why did I.R firstly take place in Britain?（工业革命首先在英国爆发的原因？）There are four prerequisites.4个先决条件Firstly, the accumulation of original capital.资本的原始积累Second, the development of capitalistic farming.资本主义农业取得发展Third, the appearance of free labor reserve.自由劳动力的出现Fourth, the expansion of markets, domestic and foreign.国内外市场的扩张3.New York为什么叫Big Apple?New York’s nickname is “the Big Apple”, a phrase used by jazz musicians to explain the ultimate in achievement, size and excitement.4.The first major Greek philosopher was Thales. Thales claimed that Nature is rational. He asked, “From whatdo all things come and to what do all things return?”（泰勒斯）5.Furthermore,this was the origin of metaphysics, the philosophical study which probes the nature of realityitself.形而上学6.数学家Pythagoras explained the entire natural world with numbers.(提出数字3)3=1(unity）+2（diversity）Three elements of Universe------earth, ocean, heavenThree elements of World ------animals, plants, mineralsThree elements of Gods ------Jupiter, Neptune, PlutoThree elements of Goddess ------Fate, Revenge, Beauty早期基督教教义Trinity (三位一体)人类3个indispensables------body, soul, spirit7.赫拉克利特Heraclitus is remembered because he introduced the concept of change as the onlyunchanging reality in the universe.He compared life to a flowing river:A person cannot step into the same river twice.8.德谟克利特Democritus. He argued that everything in the universe obeys the laws of necessity(必然性法则).9.观点：机械论His mechanistic view of the world was accepted by western thinkers as early as the 16thcentury.10.“Atom” means “uncuttable”(原子→不可分割)11.At the time when Chinese scholars, Confucians and Taoists, were concerned with social relationships andhuman harmony with the natural world, Greek philosophers were arguing about what Nature itself was.12.Athens was famous for its writers, architects, sculptors, thinkers and sports contests, including the originsof the modern-day Olympic Games.(雅典，奥林匹克发源地)13.Socrates→Lived in Athens.(苏格拉底，雅典人)One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.He distinguished between two types of knowledge: inner knowledge and empirical knowledge.Inner指each person has Virtue which is not learned through the physical sense.Another major contribution was his question-and-answer technique.14.Aristotle亚里士多德If Plato’s motto was “Mind over Matter”, then Aristotle’s motto was “Matter over Mind”.Aristotle founded the science of logic. His method is called a syllogism which argues from a general principle to a specific examples:General Principle: All men are mortal.Connection: I am a man.Deductive Conclusion: I am mortal.15.牛顿运动定律Newton’s laws of motion explained all visible motions,from those of stars to those of tinypebbles.16.培根Bacon, a British statesman and writer, wrote the first description of the modern scientific method.“Of studies”, “Essays”17.笛卡尔Descartes has also been called the father of modern Rationalism and the father of modern westernphilosophy.(近代理性主义之父，近代西方哲学之父)I think; therefore, I am.我思故我在。

（完整word版）英国文学选读复习资料Part I The Middle AgeChapter 1 the Anglo-Saxon period (449-1066)1. Beowulf（贝奥武甫）: England’s national epic.（第一部民族史诗）2. artistic feature: ① using alliteration② using metaphor and understatementChapter 3 Geoffrey Chaucer (ca1343-1400)1.Geoffrey Chaucer is the father of English poetry and one of the most greatest narrative（叙事）poets of England.2.首创双韵体. tonico-syllabic verse. 运用London dialect.3. writing style: wisdom, humor, humanity.4.代表作：The Canterbury Tales-----In this book, Chaucer created a strikingly brilliant and picturesque panorama of his time and his country. In this poem Chaucer’s realism, trenchant irony and freedom of views reached such a high level of power that it had no equal in all the English literature up to the 16th century. But Chaucer was not entirely devoid of medieval prejudices. [乔叟为他那个时代和国家勾勒出一幅生机勃勃而又充满诗情画意的社会百态图。

British Writers and WorksI. Old English Literature & The Late Medieval Ages<Beowulf>贝奥武夫:the national epic of the Anglo-SaxonsEpic: long narrative poems that record the adventures or heroic deeds of a hero en acted in vast landscapes. The style of epic is grand and elevated.e.g. Homer’s Iliad and OdysseyArtistic features:ing alliterationDefinition of alliteration: a rhetorical device, meaning some words ina sentence begin with the same consonant sound (头韵)Some examples on P5ing metaphor and understatementDefinition of understatement: expressing something in a controlled wayUnderstatement is a typical way for Englishmen to express their ideasGeoffery 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 <The Canterbury Tale s>坎特伯雷故事集：first time to use ‘heroic couplet’(双韵体) by middle English②<Troilus and Criseyde>特罗伊拉斯和克莱希德③ <The House of Fame>声誉之宫Medieval Ages’popular Literary form: Romance(传奇故事)Famous three： King ArthurSir Gawain and the Green KnightBeowulfII The Renaissance PeriodA period of drama and poetry. The Elizabethan drama is the real mainstreamof 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 astrology2.the religious reformation and economic expansion3.rediscovery of ancient Roman and Greek cultureThe most famous dramatists:Christopher MarloweWilliam ShakespeareBen Johnson.1.Edmund Spenser 埃德蒙•斯宾塞 1552~1599(后人称之为“诗人的诗人”。

1. oral literatureepicBeowulf口述文学作品史诗第一部贝尔武甫Alliteration, the Middle Ages, the Middle English, Romance头韵中世纪Geoffrey ChaucerFather of English Poetry杰弗雷·乔叟英国诗歌之父The Canterbury Tales, pilgrim, the heroic couplet, iambic pentameter坎特伯雷故事集朝圣者英雄双韵体抑扬格五音步双行押韵诗2. William Shakespeare Bard of Avon威廉莎士比亚艾芬河的吟游诗人Tragedies: Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet(or Tragicomedy/Romance); 悲剧：哈姆雷特李尔王奥赛罗麦克白罗密欧与朱丽叶Comedies: Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Twelfth Night; 喜剧：仲夏夜之梦威尼斯商人皆大欢喜第十二夜Dramatic Romance: The Tempest戏剧性的浪漫：暴风雨；blank versesoliloquy, (Shakespearean) sonnet, rhyme scheme无韵诗独白（莎士比亚）十四行诗，韵律ababMelancholy，conflict, climax忧郁冲突高潮3. Francis Bacon, essay, prose, Essays, Utopia, plain style, parallelism, balance and opposition. 弗朗西斯·培根论文，散文，随笔乌托邦风格质朴，排比、平衡和反对Knowledge is power知识就是力量4. the Age of Prose, Enlightenment, reason, Neo-Classicism散文时代，启蒙，推理，新古典主义John Donne, Metaphysical School, conceit约翰·邓恩，玄学派别出心裁的比喻John Milton, Puritanism, epic, grand style, Paradise Lost约翰·弥尔顿，清教，史诗般的宏大风格，失乐园Daniel Defoe, Father of English Novel, adventure fiction, Robinson Crusoe丹尼尔·笛福，英国小说、冒险小说之父，鲁滨孙漂流记Jonathan Swift, satire, irony, A Modest Proposal, Gulliver's Travels, human nature, Yahoos乔纳森·斯威夫特，讽刺文学，反语，一个小小的建议，格列佛游记，人性，各种野蛮5. Romanticism, individualism, symbolism, image, ballad, Lake Poets, Poet Laureate浪漫主义，个人主义，象征主义，意象，民谣，湖畔派诗人，桂冠诗人William Blake, Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience威廉·布莱克，天真之歌，经验之歌William Wordsworth, Samuel T aylor Coleridge, Robert Southey威廉·华兹华斯，柯勒律治，罗伯特·骚塞nature, Lyrical Ballads, "emotion recollected in tranquility"自然，抒情歌谣，“平静中回忆起来的情感”6. George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron) , Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Don Juan, Byronic Hero拜伦（Lord Byron），Childe Harold's的圣朝，唐璜，拜伦式英雄Percy Bysshe Shelley, "To a Skylark", "Ode to the West Wind", prophecy雪莱的《致云雀》，《西风颂》，预言John Keats, "Ode on a Grecian Urn", "Ode to a Nightingale". "Beauty is truth, truth beauty."约翰济慈的《希腊古瓮颂》，《夜莺颂》。

英国文学史复习资料英国文学史复习资料第一章：中世纪文学1.1 安格鲁-撒克逊时期（5世纪-1066年）- 口头传统和史诗：《贝奥武夫》- 基督教文学：《凡尔登战役》1.2 后征服时期（1066年-1485年）- 基督教文学：《格尔罗与黛斯蒙德》- 骑士文学：《亚瑟王传说》、《罗宾汉传》第二章：文艺复兴时期（1485年-1603年）2.1 草原学派- 约翰·斯克利- 托马斯·莫尔2.2 伊丽莎白时代- 威廉·莎士比亚：《哈姆雷特》、《罗密欧与朱丽叶》 - 克里斯托弗·马洛：《第一部十诫》第三章：17世纪文学3.1 评剧派- 本·琼生：《伊丽莎白时代断头台上的十一个人》- 约翰·福特：《佩里克尔斯·普林》3.2 枪炮派- 约翰·洛克：《论人类理解》- 托马斯·霍布斯：《利维坦》第四章：启蒙时代（18世纪）4.1 洛克主义- 亚当·斯密：《国富论》- 大卫·休谟：《人性的研究》4.2 唯理主义- 亚历山大·波佩：《怪异小说》- 理查德·斯蒂文森：《金银岛》第五章：浪漫主义（19世纪）5.1 威廉·华兹华斯：《抒情诗》5.2 柯勒律治：《唐吉诃德》第六章：维多利亚时代6.1 珍奥斯汀：《傲慢与偏见》6.2 狄更斯：《雾都孤儿》6.3 奥斯卡·王尔德：《道林·格雷的画像》第七章：现代主义（20世纪）7.1 弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫：《至灵宴》7.2 乔治·奥威尔：《1984》7.3 约瑟夫·康拉德：《黑暗之心》第八章：后现代主义（20世纪末至今）8.1 萨尔曼·鲁西迪：《午夜的孩子》8.2 伊恩·麦克尤恩：《第二个苏格拉底》8.3 泽拉尔·纳西莫夫：《洛丽塔》总结：英国文学史涵盖了从中世纪到现代的丰富多样的文学作品。