英国文学问答题
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1 英国文学问答题
Chapter I Renaissance Period
1. What are the common characteristics shared by the characters created by Marlowe? In what
way is Marlowe a humanist writer? (p.21)
Marlowe reveals man’s pursue of happiness, knowledge and power. In this way, Marlowe a
humanist writer
2. What kind of character is Faustus?
Dr. Faustus is the hero created by Marlowe. He is one of the Renaissance heroes in Marlowe’s
plays. He is individualistic and full of ambition, facing bravely the challenge from God. He shows
Marlow’s humanistic idea of human dignity and capacity. In portraying Faustus, an introspective
and philosophical figure, Marlowe praises his soaring aspiration of knowledge while warning
against the sin of pride since Faustus’s downfall was caused by his despair in God and trust in
Devil.
3. Please analyze briefly Hamlet’s character features. What devices does Shakespeare use to
depict this sophisticated character? (P. 34)
4. What are the common characteristics shared by Shakespeare’s four tragedies? ( P.33)
5. Give a brief analysis of Hamlet, the titular character in Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. (P. 34)
6. William Shakespeare is one of the most remarkable playwrights and poets the world has ever
known. Briefly discuss his artistic achievements in characterization.
His major characters are neither merely individual ones nor type ones: they are individuals
representing certain types. Each character has his or her own personalities; meanwhile, they
may share features with others.
7. William Shakespeare is one of the most remarkable playwrights the world has ever known.
(1) Name his four greatest tragedies.
(2) What are the characteristics of the four tragedies in common?
(3) Briefly summarize each hero' s weakness of nature.
A. Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies are: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear,and Macbeth.
B. Each portrays somke noble hero, who faces the injustice of human life and is caught in a
difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of the whole nation.
C. Each hero has his weakness of nature: Hamlet, the melancholic scholar; Othello' s inner
weakness is made use of by the outside evil force; the old king Lear who is unwilling to totally
give up his power; and Macbeth' s lust for power stirs up his ambition and leads him to incessant
crimes.
8. "For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than in her custom; it is still her use
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which ling’ring penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off."
The above lines are taken from a speech made by Antonio, a major character in Shakespeare’s
play The Merchant of Venice. Why does Antonio say that Fortune is more kind to him than in her
custom?
This sentence means she, Lady Fortune, is more kind to him because she is taking away both
his wealth and life. The speaker is Antonio, it’s said that his ship have all been lost, and he is 2 penniless, and will have to pay the pound of flesh. (Because Shylock has made a strange bond that
requires Antonio to pay him a pound of flesh if he can’t repay him, the money that he borrowed
for his friend in due time.) (P38)
9. What are the themes expressed through the play The Merchant of Venice? (p.32)
10. William Shakespeare is one of the most remarkable playwrights the world has ever known.
( 1) Name his four greatest tragedies.
(2) What are the characteristics of the four tragedies in common?
(3) Briefly summarize each hero' s weakness of nature.
A. Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies are: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear,and Macbeth.
B. Each portrays somke noble hero, who faces the injustice of human life and is caught in a
difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of the whole nation.
C. Each hero has his weakness of nature: Hamlet, the melancholic scholar; Othello' s inner
weak¬ness is made use of by the outside evil force; the old king Lear who is unwilling to totally
give up his power; and Macbeth' s lust for power stirs up his ambition and leads him to incessant
crimes.
11. List three distinctive features of English Renaissance movement in literature and then illustrate
each with proofs from either the concerned chapter in your textbook or your own reading.
1) The first period of the English Renaissance was one of imitation and assimilation. Petrarch
was regarded as the fountainhead of literature by the English writers. Wyatt introduced the
Petrachan sonnet into England and Surrey brought in blank verse.
2) The Elizabethan drama, in its totality, is the real mainstream of the English Renaissance.
