简明英国文学史问题及答案.docx

Unti 9 Critial realism1.In the 19th century English Literature, a new literary trend_critical realism__ appeared after the romantic poetry.2.The greatest English relist of the 19th century was _CharlesDickens___, who pictures bourgeois civilization, and shows the misery and suffering of the common people.3.The Victorian Age in English literature was largely an age of prose,especially of the _novel__4.Robert Browning is a great experimenter in poetic art. He is bestknown for the technique of _dramatic monologue____5.The most important poet of the Victorian Age was _Tennyson___. Nextto him were Robert Browning and his wife.6.The novel __The_Pickwick Papers__ deals with the adventure of Mr.Pickwick, a retired old merchant, who is the founder and chairman of the Pickwick Club.7.!8.The novel “Oliver Twist” tells the story of a poor child named__Oliver Twist__ who is born in a workhouse and brought up under miserable conditions.9.The subtitle of “Vanity Fair “ is _A Novel Without a Hero___. Thewriter’s intention was not to portray individuals, but the bourgeois and aristocratic society as a whole.10.The main plot of “ Vanity Fair” centers on the story of two women:Amelia Sedley and _Rebecca Sharp___. Their character are in sharp contrast.11.Charlotte Bronte’s masterp iece is_Jane Eyre__.12.Emily Bronte’s masterpiece is _Wuthering Heights___.13.The author of the “Return of the Native “ is _Thomas Hardy____.14.George Eliot produced three remarkable novels including “ AdamBede”, “The Mill on the Floss” and “___’15.Among Hardy’s novels, the best-known are ____ and the “Jude theObscure”.16.。

1. ____________________________________ The national epic of the Anglo-Saxons is .A Robin HoodB Sir Gawain and the Green KnightC The Canterbury TalesD Beowulf2. __ w as the most outstanding single romance on the Arthurian legend written inalliterative verse.A The Canterbury TalesB Piers the PlowmanC Sir Gawain and the Green KnightD Beowulf3. __ w as famous for The Canterbury Tales.A Geoffrey ChaucerB John MiltonC William ShakespeareD Francis Bacon4. Most of the ballads of the 15th century focused on the legend about __ as a heroicfigure.A Green NightsB GawainC Robin HoodD Hamlet5.In the 16th century, Thomas More's work ______ became immediately popular after its publication.A Paradise LostB A Pleasant Satire of the Three EstatesC Of StudiesD Utopia6. __ was Edmund Spencer 's masterpiece which has been regarded as one of the great poems in the English language.A AmorettiB The Shepherd 's CalendarC The Faerie QueeneD Four Hymns7. __ is from Shakespeare 's sonnet No.18.A “Lemt e not to the marriage of true minds ”B “Tobe or not to be: that is the question ”C “ ShallI compare thee to a summer's day” D“ Nolonger mourn for me when I am dead”8. ___ , the “father of English poetry ”and one of the greatest narrative poets of England,was born in London about 1340.A. Geoffrey ChaucerB. Sir GawainC. Francis BaconD. John Dryden9. The four great tragedies written by Shakespeare are Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and ___A. Antony and CleopatraB. Julius CaesarC Twelfth NightD King Lear10. Which of the following does not belong to Shakespeare 's romantic love comedies?A Twelfth NightB The TempestC As You Like ItD The Merchant of VeniceD C A C D C C A D B1. All of the following are the most eminent dramatists in theRenaissance England except __________ .a. William Shakespeareb. Ben Jonsonc. Christopher Marlowed. Francis Bacon2. The English Renaissance period was an age ofa. poetry and dramab. drama and novelc. novel and poetryd. romance and poetry3. Paradise Lost is the masterpiece of ______a. William Shakespeareb. Robert Burnsc. John Miltond. William Blake4. Which of the following plays written by Shakespeare is history play ?a. A Midsummer Night ' s Dreamb. The Merry Wives of Windsorc. H enry IVd. King Lear5. The first official version of Bible known asthe Great Bible , was revised in ______a. 16th centuryb. 17th centuryc. 18th centuryd. 19th century6. Francis Bacon ' s Essays first published in 1597 has beenconsidered as an important landmark in the development of English , and as the firstcollection of essays in the English language.a. poetryb. epicsc. fictiond. prose7. Daniel Defoe was famous for his novel ___ whichfirst established his reputation.a. Gulliver ' s Travelsb. The Adventure of Robinson Crusoec. The Pilgrim ' s Progressd. Oliver Twist8. The famous poem “ A Red Red Rose ” was written bya. William Wordsworthb. George Byronc. Robert Burnsd. William Blake9. Mary Shelley ' s nvoel Frankenstein belongs to thetype of ____ which is often set in gloomy castles wherehorrifying, supernatural events take place.a. Gothicb. Realismc. Romanticismd. Classicism10. The first complete English Bible was translated by , “the morning star of the Reformationand his followers.A. William LanglandB. James IC. John WycliffeD. Bishop Lancelot AndrewsD A C C B D B C A C1. The literature of the Anglo-Saxon period falls naturally into two divisions, ___________ and Christian.a. Paganb. Romanc. Frenchd. Danish2. “ Poetry is Spontaneous ” was put forward by _______________a. Robert Burnsb. William Blakec. William Wordsworthd. Charles Lamb3. Which of the following writings can be regarded as typical belonging to the school of Romantic literature?c. Jane Eyrea. Don Juanb. Ulyssesd. Sons and Lovers4. ____ is the first important English essayist and thefounder of modern science in England.a. Francis Baconb. Edmund Spenserc. Thomas Mored. Sidney5. What is flourished in Elizabethan age more than any other form of literature?a. novelb.dramac. essayd. poetry6. The publication of _____ marked the beginning of theRomantic Age.a. Don Juanb. The Rime of the Ancient Marinerc. The Lyrical Balladsd. Ode to the West Wind7. Which of the following did not belong to Romanticism?a. John Keatsb. Percy Shelleyc. William Wordsworthd. Alfred Tennyson8. Frankenstein was filmed many times. Who wrote the book?a. Edgar Allan Poeb. James Joycec. Mary Shelleyd. Walter Scott9. In the mid-18th century, a new literary movement called came to Europe and then to England.a. Romanticismb. Classicismc. Realismd. Restoration10. Which of the following poem was not written by John Keats?a. Ode to the West Windb. Ode to Autumnc. Ode on a Grecian Urnd. Ode to a NightingaleA C A ABCD C A A1. William Shakespeare is one of the giants of ______a. Romanticismb. Critical Realismc. Aestheticismd. the Renaissance2. ______ is the first important religious poet in Englishliterature.a. John Donneb. George Herbertc. Caedmond. Milton3. _______ was the first to introduce thesonnet into English literature.a. Thomas Wyattb. William Shakespearec. Philip Sidneyd. Thomas Gray4. The English poets _______ , WilliamWordsworth, and Robert Southey, were known as “ Lake Poets ”because they lived in the LakeDistrict Northwestern England at the beginning ofthe 19th century.a. George Byronb. John Keatsc. Percy Shelleyd. Samuel Coleridge5. The most gifted of the “University Wits ”was ___ .A. John LilyB. Thomas KydC. Thomas GreeneD. Christopher Marlowe6. __ is one of the forerunners of modern socialistthought.A. Phillip SidneyB. Edmund SpenserC. Thomas MoreD. Christopher Marlowe7. Morality plays appeared after ____ .A. miracle playsB. mystery playsC. interludeD. Classical plays8. Which of the following is NOT regarded as one of characteristics of Renaissance?a. Exaltation of man 's pursuit of happiness in thislife.b. Cultivation of the genuine flavor of ancient culture.c. Tolerance of human weaknesses.d. Praise of man 's efforts in having his soul delivered.9. The most intellectual movement of the Renaissance was .A. the ReformationB. HumanismC. the Italian revivalD. Geographical exploration10. What is the relationship between Claudius and Hamlet?A. CousinsB. Uncle and nephewC. Father-in-lawD. Father and sonD C A D D C A D B B1. Which of the following is a typical feature of Swift's writings?A. Great wit.B. Bitter satire.C. Rich mythic allusions.D. Complicated sentence structures.2. __ is the leading figure of Metaphysical poetry.A. John DonneB. George HerbertC. Andre MarvellD. Henry Vaughan3. The _______ was a progressive intellectual movement throughout Western Europe in the 18th century.A. RomanticismB. HumanismC. EnlightenmentD. Sentimentalism4. Who was the greatest dramatist in the 18th century?A. Oliver GoldsmithB. Richard SheridanC. Laurence SterneD. Henry Fielding5. In which of the following works can you find the proper names“ Lilliput ” , “ Brobdingnag ” , “ Houyhnhnm” and “ Yahoo ”? A.The Pilgrim ' s ProgressB. The Faerie QueeneC. Gulliver ' s TravelsD. The School for Scandal6. _ poems can be divided into two categories: the youthfullove lyrics and the later sacred verses.A. John MiltonB. John BunyanC. John DonneD. John Dryden7. In The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan describes The Vanity Fair in atone.A. delightfulB. solemnC. sentimentalD. satirical8. Defoe 'Rsobinson Crusoe created the image of an enterprisingEnglishman, typical of the English bourgeoisie in the _________century.A. 17thB. 19thC. 18thD. 20th9. ___ compiled the A Dictionary of the English Languagewhich became the foundation of all the subsequent English dictionaries.A. Ben JohnsonB. Samuel JohnsonC. Alexander PopeD. John Dryden10. __ found its representative writers in the field of poetry, such as Edward Young and Thomas Gray, but it manifested itself chiefly in the novels of Lawrence Sterne and Oliver Goldsmith. A. Pre-romanticism B. RomanticismC. SentimentalismD. NaturalismB AC B C CD C B C。

刘意青《简明英国⽂学史》课后习题详解（⽂艺复兴与莎⼠⽐亚英国⽂艺复兴时期⽂学）【圣才出品】第3章英国⽂艺复兴时期⽂学1.How did England become the most powerful country during the Tudor reign? Key:The Tudor reign reached its summit during the time of Queen Elizabeth (reigning1558-1603),who adopted moderate policies to achieve a balance both between the rising middle class and the feudal lords and between the Protestants and the Catholics.It was a peaceful time and England became a powerful state.In 1588the English navy defeated the Spanish invincible Armada and thus eliminated her most dangerous enemy on the high seas and in the world trade. English ships started to visit lands all over theworld,including America and other distant countries.They brought home great wealth and fortunes and set up the first English colonies overseas as well.2.What does the word“Renaissance”mean and why do we call this historical period the English Renaissance Period? Key:Renaissance is a French word,meaning“rebirth”or“revival”,and in this particular context,it means the revival of arts and sciences of ancient Greece and Rome after the long years of neglect in the medieval time.In England,at first a great number of classical works were translated into English in the15th and16th centuries and English scholars and men of letters showed a strong interest in ancient Greek and Roman art and science.They followed in the wake of the intellectual and literary movement which began inthe14th century in Italy and later spread to France,Spain,Holland and other western European countries.This was usually called the Renaissance Movement in England and its ideal was Humanism.3.Give a brief account of Thomas More’s life and his major work Utopia.Key:Sir Thomas More(1478-1535)was the most prominent humanist of this period,and he was also a Parliament member and a judge by profession.He devoted his spare time to writing and wrote the famous book Utopia in Latin, which was published in1516.In the book More meets a traveler at Antwerp,who has seen a place called Utopia,or“Land of Nowhere”,where communism is adopted as the social system,education is offered to all people,including women,and religious differences are tolerated.It presents More’s ideal of the best possible government form.And since then the word“Utopia”has been used all over the world for ideals that are usually beyond human reach./doc/850d88410266f5335a8102d276a20029bc646312.html Spenser’s major literary work and tell what it is about.Key:Spenser’s major literary work is The Faerie Queene.(1)It is an allegorical romance in verse.According to his plan,there should be 12books,each telling the adventures of one knight dispatched by the Faerie Queen,Gloria,who represents glory in general and Queen Elizabeth in particular.(2)According to his contemporary thought,the virtuous man knows how togovern himself,and thus is qualified to govern others.(3)In the poem Spenser identifies the good ruler with the good man and emphasises the importance of education.(4)But Spenser only managed to finish six books,in which the six virtues of Truth,Temperance,Friendship,Justice,Chastity,and Courtesy are presented./doc/850d88410266f5335a8102d276a20029bc646312.html more writers(poets and playwrights)of this period and tell what you know about them.Key:(List out some writers in this period and introduce their lives and major works according to the textbook.)6.What are Bacon’s chief contributions?Key:Bacon’s chief contributions are that he wrote many significant works,which have become great wealth of human being.7.Who was the greatest playwright before Shakespeare?Discuss one of his plays. Key:Christopher Marlowe was the greatest playwright before Shakespeare.The Tragical History of Dr.Faustus,written in blank verse,is Marlowe’s masterpiece.The story is taken from a medieval German legend,but Marlowe emphasizes humanistic ideals through Faustus’pursuits.Fed up with the four subjects of medieval knowledge(theology,philosophy,medicine and law),he turns to magic to seek the supernatural.Finally he succeeds in raisingMephistophilis,the Devil’s servant and strikes a contract with him,by which Mephistophilis will satisfy his desires such as conjuring the spirit of Alexander the Great in a king’s court,marrying Helen of Greece,and so on.And in exchange for all these services done for him,he agrees to sell his soul to the Devil.He goes through endless spiritual and moral struggles between good and evil during his transaction with Mephistophilis.But,he also shows the Renaissance human spirit of pursuing knowledge and infinite power,as well as the courage to challenge fate and authority.Although Marlowe’s drama lacks variety of characterisation and construction,his success with the blank verse and his mighty dramatic lines mark him as the most important predecessor of Shakespeare.8.What kind of comedy is Ben Jonson’s special contribution?And as a playwright how different is Ben Jonson from Shakespeare?Key:“Comedy of humours”is Ben Jonson’s special contribution.He forms a nice contrast to Shakespeare.(1)Jonson’s theory of“humours”reduces his characters to types,who represent greed,vanity,falsehood,etc.They are flat,one-sided and have no development.Unlike him,Shakespeare digs deep into human nature and depicts the complexities of human relations.(2)Ben Jonson advocates classic Roman and Greek masters,strictly observes the three unities and disapproves of any mixture of the tragic with the comic,while Shakespeare creates according to his own judgment and the taste of the audience,and is very flexible in his handling of drama rules set by hispredecessors.Their differences were so obvious that later Samuel Johnson described one as the poet of art and the other as the poet of nature.However,Jonson could not but see the great talent in Shakespeare,and as a good playwright and a learned man himself,he also admired his rival.。

刘意青《简明英国⽂学史》课后习题详解（18世纪英国⽂学⼩说的兴起）【圣才出品】第9章⼩说的兴起1.Discuss the social and historical elements that promoted the birth of the modern novel in England.Key:There are several factors that promote the rise and the first flowering of the English novel.First,as we’ve said in the previous section,in the18th century science and technology developed fast,and printing grew as one of the most prosperous trades.Therefore,books were quickly printed and in comparatively larger numbers.Second,with the growth of capitalist economy,the middle class grew strong to become the dominant element in all the aspects of social,political and economic life of England.And with it an urban economy also came into being. Big cities like London increased in number in the country and farmers or the agricultural population swarmed into the city to gradually settle down as traders, servants,workers and apprentices.These new settlers in the cities formed a reading public that badly needed to improve themselves and they provided the necessity and possibility of the flourish of a book market.Third,with the development of industry,women were deprived of their previous opportunities of spinning and weaving at home.Without a way to earn a living,women who failed to marry into a family with secure financial means to support them were forced to work as maids,or became thieves,prostitutes orkept women in the cities.These women,no matter as an idle wife of a rich man,or as a servant girl,joined the public readers and some of them even became writers themselves who sold popular literary works to earn a living.Thus,by mid-18th century,a large book market had been established in England that sold reading stuff of all kinds,from journals and newspapers,political pamphlets,conduct books,travel guides,manuals for house decoration,ghost stories,romances,etc. to serious literature of poetry,drama and prose work written by classical masters like Swift and Johnson.2.Discuss Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe as a typical middle-class novel.Key:Readers of China are mostly familiar with this novel.In the past we emphasised Crusoe’s imperialist and capitalist side,because Marx says in his On the Capital that Crusoe is the typical representative of the rising capitalist class whose sole interest is to expand and exploit,and in Crusoe’s adventures we see how capital is accumulated at the early stage of capitalism.While what Marx says is correct,he only sees the story from a political and economic point of view.As a literary figure,Crusoe is more than just a money-grabbing capitalist and colonialist.He also shows many positive sides of the rising middle class,such as the love for labor,the industrious and thrifty life style,courage to explore strange lands,a curiosity to know the world,and the strong desire to test one’s own strength and establish one’s individual identity.3.What kind of novel did Richardson write?And discuss his two major novels toshow your points.Key:All Richardson’s novels and writings preach the Puritan ideology of hard work,honesty,thrift,industry,and,most of all,the importance of living a virtuous life.For example,his Pamela,or Virtue Rewarded and Clarissa,or The History of a Young Lady.In Pamela,or Virtue Rewarded,Pamela grew up into a beautiful and virtuous young woman with good taste and refined manners,getting through many hardships and threats,and finally she is married to his young master Mr.B, which indicates that her virtue is rewarded. In Clarissa,or The History of a Young Lady,unlike Pamela in birth,Clarissa Harlowe was the daughter of a rich merchant.She was both beautiful and virtuous and had her own share of wealth given to her by her grandfather.But such a young lady could not choose to marry a man she liked and respected,for her father and brother forced her to marry a rich but disgusting and vulgar merchant,in order to merge the property and wealth of the two families.To escape the hatedmarriage,Clarissa,inexperienced and innocent,fell into the hands of a rake Mr.Lovelace and was deceived and kidnapped to a brothel,and later drugged and raped.Although afterwards Lovelace realised his true feelings for Clarissa and proposed marriage,the virtuous girl could neither forgive him nor herself for harboring illusions toward a rake.Finally,she sought a slow suicidal death and wrote her own story as a warning to all the young women.4.How did Fielding name his panoramic novels?What are the main features of his novels?Key:Fielding named his panoramic novels“comic epic in prose”.Epics are usually written in verse,and the subjects are always adventures and heroic deeds of the heroes of noble birth.But here Fielding tells us that he has written a prose work with the epic scope and power,but the main protagonists are common people and even people of the low social status.This is a real revolution in the Western literary history in which literary genres abide by a rather strict rule of levels of style.Although Parson Adams and Joseph are still comic roles,they are no longer minor characters,but the centre of the story.In this experiment of Fielding’s,the new novel has paved way to the more realistic representation of common people’s experiences in the19th century.5.Why do we say that Tristram Shandy is a strange and difficult novel?In what way does this novel anticipate the postmodern novel tendencies?Key:We have several reasons to call Tristram Shandy experimental and difficult. First,it is perhaps the first English novel that does not respect the plot’s time sequence.Second,the book is made difficult by Sterne with a lot of typographical oddities.And third,he has employed a lot of sexual jokes such as his own unfortunate accidents during his mother’s conception of him and later the doctor’s crushing of his nose.Sterne is the first novelist who anticipates the postmodern violation of the temporal sequence of a narrative.。

英国文学试题及答案一、选择题（每题2分，共20分）1. 英国文学史上被誉为“英国文学之父”的诗人是：A. 乔叟B. 莎士比亚C. 弥尔顿D. 拜伦答案：A2. 下列哪部作品不是简·奥斯汀的作品？A. 《理智与情感》B. 《傲慢与偏见》C. 《曼斯菲尔德庄园》D. 《简·爱》答案：D3. 英国浪漫主义文学的代表人物包括以下哪些？A. 华兹华斯B. 雪莱C. 拜伦D. 以上都是答案：D4. 以下哪位作家不是英国文学中的“湖畔诗人”？A. 华兹华斯B. 柯勒律治C. 雪莱D. 南希答案：C5. “荒原”是哪位英国诗人的代表作？A. 艾略特B. 奥登C. 叶芝D. 狄兰·托马斯答案：A6. 下列哪部作品是弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫的代表作？A. 《到灯塔去》B. 《乌托邦》C. 《美丽新世界》D. 《1984》答案：A7. 英国现代主义文学的代表作家T.S.艾略特的代表作是：A. 《荒原》B. 《老人与海》C. 《了不起的盖茨比》D. 《太阳照样升起》答案：A8. 以下哪部作品是乔治·奥威尔的代表作？A. 《动物农场》B. 《杀死一只知更鸟》C. 《查泰莱夫人的情人》D. 《美丽新世界》答案：A9. 英国文学中“黑色幽默”的代表作家是：A. 弗朗西斯·培根B. 约瑟夫·海勒C. 弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫D. 乔治·奥威尔答案：B10. 英国文学中的“哥特式小说”起源于哪部作品？A. 《弗兰肯斯坦》B. 《呼啸山庄》C. 《简·爱》D. 《德古拉》答案：A二、填空题（每题2分，共20分）1. 英国文学史上的“文艺复兴”时期，代表作家有________和________。

答案：莎士比亚；克里斯托弗·马洛2. 英国文学中的“维多利亚时代”是指________年到________年。

答案：1837；19013. 英国文学中的“湖畔诗人”包括威廉·华兹华斯、________和________。

第3章英国文艺复兴时期文学1. How did England become the most powerful country during the Tudor reign? Key: The Tudor reign reached its summit during the time of Queen Elizabeth (reigning 1558-1603), who adopted moderate policies to achieve a balance both between the rising middle class and the feudal lords and between the Protestants and the Catholics. It was a peaceful time and England became a powerful state. In 1588 the English navy defeated the Spanish invincible Armada and thus eliminated her most dangerous enemy on the high seas and in the world trade. English ships started to visit lands all over the world, including America and other distant countries. They brought home great wealth and fortunes and set up the first English colonies overseas as well.2. What does the word “Renaissance” mean and why do we call this historical period the English Renaissance Period?Key: Renaissance is a French wor d, meaning “rebirth” or “revival”, and in this particular context, it means the revival of arts and sciences of ancient Greece and Rome after the long years of neglect in the medieval time.In England, at first a great number of classical works were translated into English in the 15th and 16th centuries and English scholars and men of letters showed a strong interest in ancient Greek and Roman art and science. Theyfollowed in the wake of the intellectual and literary movement which began in the 14th century in Italy and later spread to France, Spain, Holland and other western European countries. This was usually called the Renaissance Movement in England and its ideal was Humanism.3. Give a brief account of Thomas More’s life and his major work Utopia.Key: Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) was the most prominent humanist of this period, and he was also a Parliament member and a judge by profession. He devoted his spare time to writing and wrote the famous book Utopia in Latin, which was published in 1516.In the book More meets a traveler at Antwerp, who has seen a place called Utopia, or “Land of Nowhere”, where communism is adopted as the social system, education is offered to all people, including women, and religious differences are tolerated. It presents Mo re’s ideal of the best possible government form. And since then the word “Utopia” has been used all over the world for ideals that are usually beyond human reach.4. Name Spenser’s major literary work and tell what it is about.Key: Spenser’s major litera ry work is The Faerie Queene.(1) It is an allegorical romance in verse. According to his plan, there should be 12 books, each telling the adventures of one knight dispatched by the Faerie Queen, Gloria, who represents glory in general and Queen Elizabeth in particular.(2) According to his contemporary thought, the virtuous man knows how to govern himself, and thus is qualified to govern others.(3) In the poem Spenser identifies the good ruler with the good man and emphasises the importance of education.(4) But Spenser only managed to finish six books, in which the six virtues of Truth, Temperance, Friendship, Justice, Chastity, and Courtesy are presented.5. Name more writers (poets and playwrights) of this period and tell what you know about them.Key: (List out some writers in this period and introduce their lives and major works according to the textbook.)6. What are Bacon’s chief contributions?Key: Bacon’s chief contributions are that he wrote many significant works, which have become great wealth of human being.7. Who was the greatest playwright before Shakespeare? Discuss one of his plays. Key: Christopher Marlowe was the greatest playwright before Shakespeare.The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus, written in blank verse, is Marlowe’s masterpiece. The story is taken from a medieval German legend, but Marlowe emphasizes humanistic ideals through Faustus’ pursuits. Fed up with the four subjects of medieval knowledge (theology, philosophy, medicine and law), heturns to magic to seek the supernatural. Finally he succeeds in raising Mephistophilis, the Devil’s servant and strikes a contract with him, by which Mephistophilis will satisfy his desires such as conjuring the spirit of Alexander the Great in a king’s court, marrying Helen of Greece, and so on. And in exchange for all these services done for him, he agrees to sell his soul to the Devil. He goes through endless spiritual and moral struggles between good and evil during his transaction with Mephistophilis. But, he also shows the Renaissance human spirit of pursuing knowledge and infinite power, as well as the courage to challenge fate and authority. Although Marlowe’s drama lacks variety of characterisation and construction, his success with the blank verse and his mighty dramatic lines mark him as the most important predecessor of Shakespeare.8. What kind of comedy is Ben Jonson’s special contribution? And as a playwright how different is Ben Jonson from Shakespeare?Key: “Comedy of humours”is Ben Jonson’s special contribution.He forms a nice contrast to Shakespeare. (1) Jonson’s theory of “humours” reduces his characters to types, who represent greed, vanity, falsehood, etc. They are flat, one-sided and have no development. Unlike him, Shakespeare digs deep into human nature and depicts the complexities of human relations. (2) Ben Jonson advocates classic Roman and Greek masters, strictly observes the three unities and disapproves of any mixture of the tragic with the comic, while Shakespeare creates according to his own judgment and the taste of theaudience, and is very flexible in his handling of drama rules set by his predecessors.Their differences were so obvious that later Samuel Johnson described one as the poet of art and the other as the poet of nature. However, Jonson could not but see the great talent in Shakespeare, and as a good playwright and a learned man himself, he also admired his rival.。

1. Analyse the themes and artistic features of Beowulf.themes : The main theme of Beowulf is heroism. This involves far more than physical courage. It also means that the warrior must fulfill his obligations to the group of which he is a key member.artistic features : The most noticeable artistic feature is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of initial sounds, usually consonants, or consonant clusters. Alliteration is used off and on in modern poetry but it is an important device in Anglo-Saxon poetry. Another peculiar feature characteristic is the frequent use of kennings, to poetically present the meaning of one single word through a compound simile of two elements. Finally, the general mood and spirit of Anglo-Saxon epic poetry is both solemn and animated.2. Comment on Chaucer’s achievements and contributions with examples from his works.Chaucer learned from both French and Latin poetry and then worked out a unique style for the English poetry. The realism and humanistic concerns demonstrated in his works looked forward to the coming English Renaissance. Because he uses the English of the London dialect to compose poetry, it becomes a literary language, which is a language rich and expressive enough to use for literary purposes. We call the English used and developed by Chaucer and his contemporaries Middle English, which was the foundation of modern English. His masterpiece and representative work is The Canterbury Tales.3. Say something about Neoclassicism and its representation in Englishliterature.Neoclassicism was inspired by the rationality, simplicity grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome. These movements were between 18th and 20th centuries. There are many reasons that Neoclassicism happened in British. First, the glorious revolution made the constitutional monarchy was established. Second, there were many conflicts in the religious. Third, deism became a new force.During this time, English literature had many special changes. First English literature show respect for classic writers, especially the Roman. Second, many writers have a new thinking about poems. The poems became more formal and followed more rules.There were many good poets during this time, such as John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift and Johnson.4. Comment on Alexander Pope and his contributions to English poetry.Alexander Pope is the greatest poet of the Augustan age, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. His major works are An Essay on Criticism, An Essay on Man, The Rape of the Lock.He was so perfect in heroic couplets that no one can approach him. And in the field of satiric and didactic verse, he was the undisputed master. He popularized the neo-classical literary tradition. He was one of the early representatives of the Enlightenment who introduced into English culture the spirit of rationalism and greater interest in the human world. He represented the highest glory and authority in matters of literary art and made great contributions to the theory and practice of prosody.5. Write an introduction of Shakespeare, his life and his literary achievements.Shakespeare has been and is still one of the greatest playwrights the world has ever had. He was born and raised in Stratford-on-Avon. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer and part owner of a playing company, later known as The King’s Men. After he retired to Stratford in 1610, he still went on writing. He died in 1616. Shakespeare wrote altogether 37 plays and 154 sonnets. His contribution to the development of drama is tremendous. His major works are As You Like It, The Twelfth Night, Hamlet, King Lear and The Winter’s Tale.6. Give a historical review of the Old English Period.In about BC 600 Celts, who inhabited the upper Rhineland, started to migrate to the British Isles, and among them the Britons came to the Isles in BC 400 to BC 300. Later, the Romans invaded the British Isles. After the Romans, the Teutonic or Germanic tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes moved to live in the British Isles. Starting from the late 8th century, the Danes from Scandinavia came plundering the Isles. The greatest historical event that followed was the Norman Conquest of 1066. And gradually the English language entered a new period of its history.。

刘意青《简明英国文学史》配套题库【章节题库】（3-4章）【圣才出品】第3部分17世纪英国文学（1616-1688）一、填空题1.“With its hero traveling into different places with different companions the story discusses the features of each stage of human life.”（武汉大学2010研）Answer:“_____”by_____【答案】Pilgrim’s Progress;John Bunyan2.John Donne and his followers wrote what would later be called_____—complex highly intellectual verse filled with metaphors.（南开大学2008研；南开大学2007研）【答案】Metaphysical poetry【解析】约翰·多恩是英国十七世纪玄学派诗人，玄学派诗歌以奇特的意象和独具匠心的暗喻著称。

3.John Bunyan,a village tinker,with his strength and sincerity inscribed his name in the English literary history by his famous work_____written in the old-fashioned, medieval form of allegory and dream.（天津外国语2010研）【答案】Pilgrim’s Progress【解析】约翰·班扬的代表作《天路历程》被誉为“英国文学中最著名的寓言”。

4.The main part of the title of the novel Vanity Fair,or A Novel without A Hero istaken from the English writer_____’s work_____.（国际关系学院2009研）【答案】John Bunyan;The Pilgrim’s Progress【解析】《名利场》是萨克雷的代表作，该书名字来自于班扬的《天路历程》。

刘意青《简明英国文学史》模拟试题及详解（一）【圣才出品】刘意青《简明英国文学史》模拟试题及详解（一）I. Fill in the blanks1. Henry Fielding has been regarded as “_____”, for his contribution to the establishment of the form of the modern novel.【答案】Father of the English Novel【解析】亨利?菲尔丁被誉为“英国小说之父”。

2. _____ is generally considered to be Chauce r’s masterpiece.【答案】The Canterbury Tales【解析】《坎特伯雷故事集》被公认为是乔叟的代表作。

3. John Bunyan, a village tinker, with his strength and sincerity inscribed his name in the English literary history by his famous work _____ written in the old-fashioned, medieval form of allegory and dream.【答案】Pilgrim’s Progress【解析】约翰·班扬的代表作《天路历程》被誉为“英国文学中最著名的寓言”。

4. Heathcliff and Catherine are characters in _____ written by _____.【答案】Wuthering Heights, Emily Bront?【解析】Heathcliff和Catherine是英国小说家Emily Bront?小说《呼啸山庄》中的人物。

5. Pip is a character in _____.【答案】Great Expectations【解析】Pip是英国作家Charles Dickens的小说《远大前程》中的主角。

刘意青《简明英国文学史》配套题库【章节题库】（18世纪英国文学（1688-1780））第4部分18世纪英国文学（1688-1780）填空题1. Henry Fielding has been r egarded as “_____”, for his contribution to the establishment of the form of the modern novel. （吉林大学2007研）【答案】Father of the English Novel【解析】亨利?菲尔丁被誉为“英国小说之父”。

2. A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift is a sharp _____ against the social injustice in _____. （天津外国语学院2011研）【答案】satire,Ireland【解析】1729年斯威夫特发表的《一个温和的建议》是对英国政府对爱尔兰人民剥削压迫的极度讽刺。

这一宣传册建议爱尔兰的穷人把刚满一周岁的孩子卖给富人，富人可将孩子做成美餐，而穷人也将获得一笔收入。

3. The English novel began to prosper in 18th century as a new literary genre. In this period there appeared a number of great novelists such as _____, Daniel Defoe, and _____. （天津外国语学院2011研）【答案】Jonathan Swift,Samuel Richardson【解析】18世纪英国文学的小说家主要有Defoe, Swift, Richardson, Fielding, Smollett and Sterne等。

4. Author: _____ Title: _____. （南京大学2007研）At other times, the like battles have been fought between theYahoos of several neighborhoods, without any visible cause: those of one district watching all opportunities to surprise the next, before they are prepared. But if they find their project has miscarried, they return home, and, for want of enemies, engage in what I call a civil war among themselves.【答案】Author: Jonathan Swift. Title: Gullive r’s Travels【解析】题中文段节选自乔纳森的《格列佛游记》。

英国文学参考试题和答案一、选择题（每题2分，共20分）1. 英国文学中被称为“文学之父”的是哪位作家？A. 乔叟B. 莎士比亚C. 弥尔顿D. 狄更斯答案：A2. 下列哪部作品是乔叟的代表作？A. 《坎特伯雷故事集》B. 《失乐园》C. 《鲁滨逊漂流记》D. 《格列佛游记》答案：A3. 莎士比亚的四大悲剧中不包括以下哪部作品？A. 《哈姆雷特》B. 《奥赛罗》C. 《麦克白》D. 《威尼斯商人》答案：D4. 英国浪漫主义文学的代表人物不包括以下哪位？A. 华兹华斯B. 柯勒律治C. 拜伦D. 狄更斯答案：D5. 以下哪部作品是简·奥斯汀的代表作？A. 《傲慢与偏见》B. 《呼啸山庄》C. 《简·爱》D. 《理智与情感》答案：A6. 英国现代主义文学的代表人物不包括以下哪位？A. 弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫B. 詹姆斯·乔伊斯C. 托马斯·哈代D. T.S. 艾略特答案：C7. 以下哪部作品是乔治·奥威尔的代表作？A. 《动物庄园》B. 《美丽新世界》C. 《1984》D. 《好兵之死》答案：C8. 以下哪位作家是“愤怒的青年”运动的代表人物？A. 阿兰·西利托B. 约翰·奥斯本C. 弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫D. 乔治·奥威尔答案：B9. 以下哪部作品是威廉·戈尔丁的代表作？A. 《蝇王》B. 《老人与海》C. 《荒原》D. 《好兵之死》答案：A10. 以下哪位作家是后现代主义文学的代表人物？A. 萨尔曼·鲁西迪B. 伊恩·麦克尤恩C. 多丽丝·莱辛D. 托马斯·哈代答案：A二、填空题（每题2分，共20分）1. 英国文学史上第一部现实主义小说是________的作品《鲁滨逊漂流记》。

答案：丹尼尔·笛福2. 英国文学中“湖畔诗人”包括威廉·华兹华斯、________和塞缪尔·泰勒·柯勒律治。

英国文学试题及答案一、选择题（每题2分，共20分）1. 英国文学史上第一位伟大的诗人是：A. 威廉·莎士比亚B. 乔叟C. 约翰·弥尔顿D. 托马斯·哈代2. 以下哪部作品是乔治·奥威尔所著？A. 《1984》B. 《简·爱》C. 《傲慢与偏见》D. 《呼啸山庄》3. 被称为“英国文学之父”的是：A. 约翰·多恩B. 亚历山大·波普C. 威廉·华兹华斯D. 乔叟4. 以下哪位作家是维多利亚时代的代表人物？A. 威廉·布莱克B. 查尔斯·狄更斯C. 托马斯·哈代D. 约翰·弥尔顿5. 英国浪漫主义文学的代表人物包括以下哪些？A. 威廉·华兹华斯和塞缪尔·泰勒·柯勒律治B. 威廉·莎士比亚和本·琼森C. 托马斯·哈代和乔治·艾略特D. 奥斯卡·王尔德和罗伯特·布朗宁二、填空题（每题2分，共10分）6. 威廉·莎士比亚的戏剧作品分为______、______和历史剧。

7. 《鲁滨逊漂流记》的作者是______。

8. 英国现代主义文学的代表人物之一是弗吉尼亚·______。

9. 《简·爱》的作者是______。

10. 《傲慢与偏见》的作者是简·奥斯汀，这部小说属于______文学。

三、简答题（每题10分，共20分）11. 简述威廉·莎士比亚的四大悲剧及其主要特点。

12. 描述查尔斯·狄更斯的写作风格及其对社会的影响。

四、论述题（每题25分，共50分）13. 论述托马斯·哈代的自然主义在《德伯家的苔丝》中的体现。

14. 分析《1984》中乔治·奥威尔对极权主义社会的批判。

答案一、选择题1. B2. A3. D4. B5. A二、填空题6. 喜剧、悲剧7. 丹尼尔·笛福8. 伍尔夫9. 夏洛蒂·勃朗特10. 现实主义三、简答题11. 威廉·莎士比亚的四大悲剧包括《哈姆雷特》、《奥赛罗》、《李尔王》和《麦克白》。

The Period of Revolution and RestorationBl. During the "Glorious Revolution^, ______ was expelled and William was invited from Holland to be the King of England in 1688A.James IB. James IIC. Charles ID. Charles IIC2. Which one of the following work is not written by John Milton?A.Paradise LostB. Paradise RegainedC・ Julius Caesar D. Samson AgonistesD3. Which one of the following work is not written in John Miton^s blindness?A.Paradise LostB. Paradise RegainedC. On His Deceased WifeD. Defence of the English PeopleC4. John MiltorTs best known prose work ____ ，as a declaration of people's freedom of the press, has been a weapon in the later democratic revolutionary struggles A・Lycidas B. Of Reformation in EnglandC. AeropagiticaD. Defence of the English PeopleB5. The epic of Paradise Lost is based on the stories from _____A.The New TestamentB. The Old TestamentC The Ancient Greek Myths D. The Ancient Roman MythsA6. John Bunyan uses the everyday world of common experience as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of the soul toward God in his _________A.The Pilgrim^s Progress B・ LycidasC・ The Faerie Queene D・ Don JuanD7. Who does not belong to the Metaphysical school?A. John DonneB. George HerbertC. Andrew MarvellD. Robert Herrick C8. is an elaborate metaphor comparing two apparently dissimilar objects oremotions, often with an effect of shock or surpriseA. Soliloquy B・ Allegory C・ Conceit D. ForeshadowingA9. The Restoration comedy mainly provides amusement for _____A. the upper classB. the middle classC. the lower classD. the royal courtDIO. The following characteristics belong to the metaphysical poetry represented by John Donne except ______A. conceitsB. actual imagery and simple dictionC・ argumentative form D. elegant styleCll. In Paradise Lost, Satan says "We may with more successful hope resolve/To wage by force or guile eternal war,/Irreconcilable to our grand Foe". What does the "Eternal war” mean?A.To remove God from his throneB.To burn the Heaven downC.To corrupt God，s creation of man and woman一Adam and EveD.To beguile into a snake to threaten man5s lifeC12・ Paradise Lost is ___ masterpiece, which is an epic in 12 books, written in blank verse, about the heroic revolt of Satan against GocTs authorityA. John DonneB. Christopher MarloweC. John MiltonD. Spenser D13. The following description fits into Milton except _____________A.a great revolutionary poet of the 17th centuryB.an outstanding political pamphleteerC.a great stylist and master of blank verseD.a kind of elegant and refine styleC14. ____ is the most successful religious allegory in the English languageA. Genesis AB. The Holy WarC・ The Pilgrim^ Progress D・ ExodusB15. The true subject of John Donners poem, “The Sun Rising，： is to __A.attack the sun as unruly servantB.give compliments to the mistress and her power of beautyC・ criticize the surTs intrusion into the lover9s private lifeD・ lecture the sun on where true royalty and riches lieDI6. The phrase "to urge people to abide by Christian doctrines and to seek salvation through constant struggles with their own weaknesses and all kinds of social evils'，may well sum up the implied meaning of ______A. Gulliver's TravelsB. The Rape of the LockC・ Robinson Crusoe D・ The Pilgrim's ProgressC17. In The Pilgrim^s Progress, John Bunyan describes The Vanity Fair in a _______ toneA. delightfulB. satiricalC. sentimentalD. solemnA18・__ , poet, playwright, and critic, was the most distinguished literary figure of the Restoration PeriodA. John DrydenB. John BunyanC. John DonneD. Robert Burton AB19. Who of the following were the important metaphysical poets? ________________________ •A. John DonneB. George HerbertC.John MiltonD. Richard LovelaceAB20. John Milton wrote a number of pamphlets defending the English People. Choose them from the following _____ .A.Defiance of the English PeopleB.Second Defiance of the English PeopleC.L' AllegroD.Il PonderosaABC21. Which works were written by John Milton? ___ •A. Paradise LostB. Paradise RegainedC. Samson AgonistsD. VulpineABCD22. Paradise Lost is _______ .A・ John Milton^s masterpieceB・A great epic in 12 booksC.written in blank verseD.about the heroic revolt of Satan against GocTs authorityC23. John Milton wrote his best-known prose work, ______ , in the form of a speech addressed to the House of Parliament, I n which he appealed for the freedom of the press.A. Of Reformation in EnglishB. LucidaC・ Areopagitica D. U AllegroABCD24. Ben Johnson ______ .A.was the first poet laureate in the history of English literatureB.was a productive playwrightC.wrote a great number of comediesD.was the author of VulpineABC25. In his blindness, Milton wrote his most important poetic works, such as •A. Paradise Lost B. Samson AgonistsC. Paradise RegainedD. The Pilgrim^s ProgressCD26. The main literary form of the seventeenth century was poetry・ Among the poets, John Milton was the greatest. Besides him, there were two groups of poets. They areA. the lake poetsB. the university witsC. the Metaphysical poetsD. the Cavalier poetsE.the Active Romantic poetsABCD27. Choose the poets who belong to the Cavalier group. ______ .A. Sir John SucklingB. Richard LovelaceC. Thomas CarewD. Robert HerrickE・ Andrew Marvell F. George HerbertC28. To His Coy Mistress is one of _____ f amous poems.A. John DonneB. George HerbertC. Andrew MarvellD. Richard CrashawB29. Another school of poetry prevailing in 17th century was that of ________ , i . e •those verse-writers, often knights and squires, who sided with the King against the Parliament and Puritans.A. Metaphysical PoetsB. Cavalier PoetsC. John MiltonD. John DrydenD30. During this period of revolution and counter-revolution, ______ turned with the tide and always placed himself on the winning side. Thus, he has been called a time-saver by some critics.A. John MiltonB. John BunyanC.John DonneD. John DrydenA31. Which work was written by John Dryden? ____ •A.Absalom and AcidophilB.Annuls MirabilisC・ Alexander^ FeastD.Devotion upon Emergent OccasionsD32. _____ i s shown in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.A. UtopianismB. IdealismC・ Realism D. PuritanismB33. The Pilgrim^s Progress by John Bunyan is often said to be concerned with the search for ______ .A. material wealthB. spiritual salvationMark each statement True or False1./Satan, as the spirit questioning the authority of God, is the real hero of ParadiseLost T2.William Shakespeare and John Dryden have always been regarded as two patternsof English verse. F3./Between the Metaphysicals and the Cavaliers there is a similar awareness ofmortality, which is expressed as an intense melancholy by the former, and by the latter as a bitter consciousness of the transitoriness of human glory and joy. T 4.John Dryden wrote a lot of plays. One of them is Aasalom and Achitophel, atragedy dealing with the story as Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra・ F5.The main literary achievements of the 17th century lies in the poetry of JohnMilton, in the prose writing of John Donne, and in the plays and literary criticism of John Dryden. F6./While in Cambridge, Milton wrote his first important work, On the Morning ofChrist's Nativity. T7./John Donne's poems can be divided into two categories: the youthful love lyricsand the sacred verse. T8./George Herbert expresses his religious piety in The Alta匚T9./Robert Burton's masterpiece is The Anatomy of Melancholy, which claims tooffer the definition, symptoms, causes, properties and cure of melancholy, i.e.human disorder, especially love melancholy and religious melancholy. T10.In 165& Thomas Browne published another work, Religio Medici, written for theforty or fifty Roman funeral urns unearthed near Norwich. F11./Jeremy Taylor is best remembered for his Holy Living and Holy Dying, bothwritten to help the Anglican royalists during the reign of the Commonwealth・ T 12./The work that made Izaak Walton famous is The Compleat Angler, published in1653, during the period of fullest triumph of the Puritan revolution. T13.English literature in the 17th century, withnessed a flourish in a whole. F14.The Revolution Period is also called Age of Milton because it produced a greatpoet whose name is William Milton・ F15./The main literary form in literature of Revolution Period is poetry. T16.Among the English poets during the Revolution Period, John Donne was thegreatest one. F17.The greatest epic produced by Milton, Paradise Lost, is written in heroic couplet.F18.The peom of Samson \gonistes was “to justify the ways of God to man^\i.e.toadvocate submission to the Almighty. F19.It has been noticed by many critics that the picture of Satan surrounded by hisangels, who never think of expressing any opinions of their own, resembles the court of an abstract monarch. F20.In the field of prose writing of the Puritan Age, John Milton occupies the mostimportant place. F21./The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most popular pieces of Christian writingproduced during the Puritan Age. T22./John Bunyan's masterpiece ,the Pilgrim's Progress, is a narrative in whichgeneral concepts such as sins, despair, and faith are represented as people or as aspects of the natural world. T23./John Dryden is the most excellent representative of English classicism in theRestoration Period. T24.In his An Essay of Dramatic Poesy. John Bunyand showed his famousappreciation of Shakespeare. F25./Dryden wrote about 27 plays. The famous one is Ml for Love, a tragedy dealingwith the same story as Shadespeare\ Antony and Cleopatra. T26./The main literary achievements of the 17th century lies in the poetry of JohnMilton, in the prose writing of John Bunyand, and in the plays and literarycriticism of John Dryden. T27.Satan is the hero in Milton^s masterpiece Prometheus Unbound. F28./The works of the Metaphysical poets are characterized, generally speaking, bymysticism in content and fantasticality in fonri. T29.John Donne was the forerunner of the English classical school of literature in the18th century. FBlanks1.The bourgeoisie expelled James II and invited William .from Holland, to beKing of England.in 1688.This was the so-called " Glorious Revolution 二2.The Revolution period produced one of the most important poets in Englishliterature, whose name is John Milton •3..In the Revolution Period John Milton towers over his age as WilliamShakespeare towers over the Elizabethan Age and as Chaucer towers over theMedieval Period.4.During the civil war and the commonwealth, there were two leaders inEngland, Cromwell, the man of action, and John Milton 乙he man ofthought.5.John Milton wrote his masterpiece Paradise Lost during his blindness.6. __ Bunyan ___ wrote his masterpiece The Pilgrim's Progress during hissecond imprisonment.7. ____ Bunyan _____ gives a vivid and satirical description of Vanity Fairwhich is the symbol of London at the time of the 17th century writer.8.About the beginning of the 17th century appeared a school of poets called“ the Metaphysical poets “by Samuel Johnson, the 18th century write匚9._A11 for Love __ is Drydeifs tragedy based on the story of Antony andCleopatra under the influence of Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and Cleopatra.10.In 1642, the civil was broke out in England, and the royalists were defeatedby the parliament army led by ___ Cromwell _____ • In 1649, Charles I wassentenced to death and England was declared to be a common wealth11.Puritanism ______ was the religious doctrine of the revolutionarybourgeoisie during the English Revolution, which preached thrift, sobriety, hard work and unceasing labor but with no extravagant enjoyment of the fruits of labo匚12.With the ending of the reign of Elizabeth I, England was then convulsed withthe conflict between the two antagonistic camps, the Royalists andPuritans . the spokesman of the Revolution, wrote a number of pamphlets defending the English people13. ____ Samson Sgonistes _______ ended Milton^s writing life , the hero ofwhich is Milton himself14.John Bunyan's masterpiece, The Pilgrinfs Progress tells of the spiritualpilgrimage of Christian from the City of Destruction to theCelestial Citv15.The main literary form of seventeenth century was poetry. Among the poets,besides Milton and Runyan, there were two schools of poets:Metaphysical and Caralier _________ poets16. ______ is the founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry17.John Donne and his followers wrote metaphysical poetry what would later becalled highly intellectual verse filled with metaphors18.Sir Thomas Browne _____ and Jeremy Taylor _______ have been calledtwo representative baroque prose-writers in English literature for their elaborate and magnificent style.19.An eassay of Dramatic poesy ______ 、 John Dreden^ most famous prosecomposition established his position as the leading critic of the day20.Following the standards of classicism, John Dryden established the heroiccouplet _____ a s one of the principal English verse forms.Terms1.lyric2.epic3.baroque4.PuritanismAnswer the following questions1.How many books does Paradise Lost consist of ? Who are the four maincharacters in the epic, and what are the respective relations between them?2.What are the features of The Pilgrim^s Progress?3.What are John Donners writing features?4.As a rule, an allegory is a story in verse or prose with a double meaning: asurface meaning, and an implied meaning. List two works and examples of allegory. What is an allegory usually concerned with by its implied meaning?5.What is the theme of Paradise Lost?6.Please comment on the character of Satan in Paradise Lost7.What are the features of Milton，s poetry?8.Talk about Dryden，s contribution to English literature9.Tell the theme of Samson Agonistes10.To some extent, we can say, Samson is Milton, Why?。

why do we say that the victorian age was one of great changes?The Victorian era is generally agreed to stretch through the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). It was a tremendously exciting period when many artistic styles, literary schools, as well as, social, political and religious movements flourished. It was a time of prosperity, broad imperial expansion, and great political reform. It was also a time, which today we associate with "prudishness" and "repression". Without a doubt, it was an extraordinarily complex age, that has sometimes been called the Second English Renaissance. It is, however, also the beginning of Modern Times.The social classes of England were newly reforming, and fomenting.There was a churning upheaval of the old hierarchical order, and the middle classes were steadily growing. Added to that, the upper classes' composition was changing from simply hereditary aristocracy to a combination of nobility and an emerging wealthy commercial class. The definition of what made someone a gentleman or a lady was, therefore, changing at what some thought was an alarming rate. By the end of the century, it was silently agreed that a gentleman was someone who had a liberal public (private) school education (preferably at Eton, Rugby, or Harrow), no matter what his antecedents might be. There continued to be a large and generally disgruntled working class, wanting and slowly getting reform and change.Conditions of the working class were still bad, though, through the century, three reform bills gradually gave the vote to most males over the age of twenty-one. Contrasting to that was the horrible reality of child labor which persisted throughout the period. When a bill was passed stipulating that children under nine could not work in the textile industry, this in no way applied to other industries, nor did it in any way curb rampant teenaged prostitution.The Victorian Era was also a time of tremendous scientific progress and ideas. Darwin took his Voyage of the Beagle, and posited the Theory of Evolution. The Great Exhibition of 1851 took place in London, lauding the technical and industrial advances of the age, and strides in medicine and the physical sciences continued throughout the century. The radical thought associated with modern psychiatry began with men like Sigmund Feud toward the end of the era, and radical economic theory, developed by Karl Marx and his associates, began a second age of revolution in mid-century. The ideas of Marxism, socialism, feminism churned and bubbled along with all else that happened.The "prudishness" and "repressiveness" that we associate with this era is, I believe, a somewhat erroneous association. Though, people referred to arms and legs as limbs and extremities, and many other things that make us titter, it is, in my opinion, because they had a degree of modesty and a sense of propriety that we hardly understand today. The latest biographies of Queen Victoria describe her and her husband, Albert, of enjoying erotic art, and certainly we know enough about the Queen from the segment on her issue, to know that she did not in anyway shy away from the marriage bed. The name sake of this period was hardly a prude, but having said that, it is necessary to understand that the strictures and laws for 19th Century Society were so much more narrow and defined that they are today, that we must see this era as very codified and strict. Naturally, to an era that takes more liberties, this would seem harsh and unnatural.Culturally, the novel continued to thrive through this time.Its importance to the era could easily be compared to the importance of the plays of Shakespeare for the Elizabethans.Some of the great novelists of the time were: Sir Walter Scott, Emily, Anne, and Charlotte Bronte, Anthony Trollope, George Eliot, Oscar Wilde, and, of course, Charles Dickens. That is not to say that poetry did not thrive - it did with the works of the Brownings, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the verse of Lewis Carroll and Rudyard Kipling.An art movement indicative of this period was the Pre-Raphaelites, which included William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Christina Rossetti, and John Everett Millais. Also during this period were the Impressionists, the Realists, and the Fauves, though the Pre-Raphaelites were distinctive for being a completely English movement.As stated in the beginning, the Victorian Age was an extremely diverse and complex period. It was, indeed, the precursor of the modern era. If one wishes to understand the world today in terms of society, culture, science, and ideas, it is imperative to study this era.what's being Victorian?Being Vitorian suggests practices of prudery,false modesty and empty respectability,all of which came from the exaggeratedVictorian notion of the high standards of decency. People avoided talking about sex. And many writers expose the age's hypocrisy in their novel to champion honesty,sincerity and humanitarian love in human relationships.Choose to discuss one of Dickens' novels.A Tale of Two CitiesThemesThe Ever-Present Possibility of ResurrectionWith A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens asserts his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal level and on a societal level. The narrative suggests that Sydney Carton’s death secures a new, peaceful life for Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and even Carton himself. By delivering himself to the guillotine, Carton ascends to the plane of heroism, becoming a Christ-like figure whose death serves to save the lives of others. His own life thus gains meaning and value. Moreover, the final pages of the novel suggest that, like Christ, Carton will be resurrected—Carton is reborn in the hearts of those he has died to save. Similarly, the text implies that the death of the old regime in France prepares the way for the beautiful and renewed Paris that Carton supposedly envisions from the guillotine. Although Carton spends most of the novel in a life of indolence and apathy, the supreme selflessness of his final act speaks to a human capacity for change. Although the novel dedicates much time to describing the atrocities committed both by the aristocracy and by the outraged peasants, it ultimately expresses the belief that this violence will give way to a new and better society.Dickens elaborates his theme with the character of Doctor Manette. Early on in the novel, Lorry holds an imaginary conversation with him in which he says that Manette has been “recalled to life.” As this statement implies, the doctor’s eighteen-year imprisonment has constituted a death of sorts. Lucie’s love enables Manette’s spiritual renewal, and her maternal cradling of him on her breast reinforces this notion of rebirth.The Necessity of SacrificeConnected to the theme of the possibility of resurrection is the notion that sacrifice is necessary to achieve happiness. Dickens examines this second theme, again, on both a national and personal level. For example, the revolutionaries prove that a new, egalitarian French republic can come about only with a heavy and terrible cost—personal loves and loyalties must be sacrificed for the good of the nation. Also, when Darnay is arrested for the second time, in Book the Third, Chapter 7, the guard who seizes him reminds Manette of the primacy of state interests over personal loyalties. Moreover, Madame Defarge gives her husband a similar lesson when she chastises him for his devotion to Manette—an emotion that, in her opinion, only clouds his obligation to the revolutionary cause. Most important, Carton’s transformation into a man of moral worth depends upon his sacrificing of his former self. In choosing to die for his friends, Carton not only enables their happiness but also ensures his spiritual rebirth.The Tendency Toward Violence and Oppression in RevolutionariesThroughout the novel, Dickens approaches his historical subject with some ambivalence. While he supports the revolutionary cause, he often points to the evil of the revolutionaries themselves. Dickens deeply sympathizes with the plight of the French peasantry and emphasizes their need for liberation. The several chapters that deal with the Marquis Evrémonde successfully paint a picture of a vicious aristocracy that shamelessly exploits and oppresses the nation’s poor. Although Dickens condemns this oppression, however, he also condemns the peasants’strategies in overcoming it. For in fighting cruelty with cruelty, the peasants effect no true revolution; rather, they only perpetuate the violence that they themselves have suffered. Dickens makes his stance clear in his suspicious and cautionary depictions of the mobs. The scenes in which the people sharpen their weapons at the grindstone and dance the grisly Carmagnole come across as deeply macabre. Dickens’s most concise and relevant view of revolution comes in the final chapter, in which he notes the slippery slope down from the oppressed to the oppressor: “Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind.” Though Dickens sees the French Revolution as a great symbol of transformation and resurrection, he emphasizes that its violent means were ultimately antithetical to its end.SymbolsThe Broken Wine CaskWith his depiction of a broken wine cask outside Defarge’s wine shop, and with his portrayal of the passing peasants’ sc rambles to lap up the spilling wine, Dickens creates a symbol for the desperate quality of the people’s hunger. This hunger is both the literal hunger for food—the French peasants were starving in their poverty—and the metaphorical hunger for political freedoms. On the surface, the scene shows the peasants in their desperation to satiate the first of these hungers. But it also evokes the violent measures that the peasants take in striving to satisfy their more metaphorical cravings. For instance, the narrative directly associates the wine with blood, noting that some of the peasants have acquired “a tigerish smear about the mouth” and portraying a drunken figure scrawling the word “blood” on the wall with a wine-dipped finger. Indeed, the blood of aristocrats later spills at the hands of a mob in these same streets.Throughout the novel, Dickens sharply criticizes this mob mentality, which he condemns for perpetrating the very cruelty and oppression from which the revolutionaries hope to freethemselves. The scene surrounding the wine cask is the novel’s first tableau of the mob in action. The mindless frenzy with which these peasants scoop up the fallen liquid prefigures the scene at the grindstone, where the revolutionaries sharpen their weapons (Book the Third, Chapter 2), as well as the dancing of the macabre Carmagnole (Book the Third, Chapter 5).Madame Defarge’s KnittingEven on a literal level, Madame Defarge’s knitting constitutes a whole network of symbols. Into her needlework she stitches a registry, or list of names, of all those condemned to die in the name of a new republic. But on a metaphoric level, the knitting constitutes a symbol in itself, representing the stealthy, cold-blooded vengefulness of the revolutionaries. As Madame Defarge sits quietly knitting, she appears harmless and quaint. In fact, however, she sentences her victims to death. Similarly, the French peasants may appear simple and humble figures, but they eventually rise up to massacre their oppressors.Dickens’s knitting imagery a lso emphasizes an association between vengefulness and fate, which, in Greek mythology, is traditionally linked to knitting or weaving. The Fates, three sisters who control human life, busy themselves with the tasks of weavers or seamstresses: one sister s pins the web of life, another measures it, and the last cuts it. Madame Defarge’s knitting thus becomes a symbol of her victims’ fate—death at the hands of a wrathful peasantry.The MarquisThe Marquis Evrémonde is less a believable character than an archetype of an evil and corrupt social order. He is completely indifferent to the lives of the peasants whom he exploits, as evidenced by his lack of sympathy for the father of the child whom his carriage tramples to death. As such, the Marquis stands as a symbol of the ruthless aristocratic cruelty that the French Revolution seeks to overcome.Discuss the romantic elements in Jane Eyre and Wuthering HeightsJane Eyre One of the secrets to the success of Jane Eyre lies in the way that it touches on a number of important themes while telling a compelling story. Indeed, so lively and dramatic is the story that the reader might not be fully conscious of all the thematic strands that weave through this work. Critics have argued about what comprises the main theme of Jane Eyre. There can be little doubt, however, that love and passion, two romantic elements, together form a major thematic element of the novel.On its most simple and obvious level, Jane Eyre is a love story. The love between the orphaned and initially impoverished Jane and the wealthy but tormented Mr. Rochester is at its heart. The obstacles to the fulfilment of this love provide the main dramatic conflict in the work. However, the novel explores other types of love as well. Helen Burns, for example, exemplifies the selfless love of a friend. We also see some of the consequences of the absence of love, as in the relationship between Jane and Mrs. Reed, in the selfish relations among the Reed children, and in the mocking marriage of Mr. Rochester and Bertha. Jane realizes that the absence of love between herself and St. John Rivers would make their marriage a living death, too.Throughout the work, Brontë suggests that a life that is not lived passionately is not lived fully. Jane undoubtedly is the central passionate character; her nature is shot through with passion. Early on, she refuses to live by Mrs. Reed's rules, which would restrict all passion. Her defiance of Mrs. Reed is her first, but by no means her last, passionate act. Her passion for Mr.Rochester is all consuming. Significantly, however, it is not the only force that governs her life. She leaves Mr. Rochester because her moral reason tells her that it would be wrong to live with him as his mistress: "Laws and principles are not for the time when there is no temptation," she tells Mr. Rochester; "they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise against their rigor."Blanche Ingram feels no passion for Mr. Rochester; she is only attracted to the landowner because of his wealth and social position. St. John Rivers is a more intelligent character than Blanche, but like her he also lacks the necessary passion that would allow him to live fully. His marriage proposal to Jane has no passion behind it; rather, he regards marriage as a business arrangement, with Jane as his potential junior partner in his missionary work. His lack of passion contrasts sharply with Rochester, who positively seethes with passion. His injury in the fire at Thornfield may be seen as a chastisement for his past passionate indiscretions and as a symbolic taming of his passionate excesses.Wuthering Heights Romanticism, the literary movement traditionally dated 1798 to 1832 in England, affected all the arts through the nineteenth century. Wuthering Heights is frequently regarded as a model of romantic fiction. What is more, it is said to construct a biography of Brontё's life, personality, and beliefs. In the novel, she presents a world in which people marry early and die young, just like they really did in her times. Both patterns, early marriage and early death, are considered to be Romantic, as most artists of the Era died young. What Brontё describes in the novel is what she knows personally, those are scenes somehow taken from her own life and experience that the reader encounters while. The wild household of Wuthering Heights is set against the mild and tame Thrushcross Grange, the constant conflict between the nature and civilization changes the relationships between the characters, and the characters themselves, as they go on the journey into themselves searching for deeper truths they explore their limits, manoeuvre between natural impulses and artificial restraint. All of these Romantic elements are somehow closed within the 'Chinese box' narration, which sets the order of the story, but leaves a gateway of interpretation by providing it with the key to the unlimited imagination of the author.（283）4. poets who had some connection with the Pre-Raphaelite circle include Christina Rossetti, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, George Meredith, William Morris, and Algernon Charles Swinburne. Pre-Raphaelitism in poetry had major influence upon the writers of the Decadence of the 1890s, such as Ernest Dowson, Lionel Johnson, Michael Field, and Oscar Wilde, as well as upon Gerard Manley Hopkins and William Butler Yeats, both of whom were influenced by John Ruskin and visual Pre-Raphaelitism.Pre-Raphaelitism in painting had two forms or stages, first, the hard-edge symbolic naturalism of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood that began in 1849 and, second, the moody, erotic medievalism that took form in the later 1850s. Many critics imply that only this second, or Aesthetic, Pre-Raphaelitism has relevance to poetry. In fact, although the combination of realistic style with elaborate symbolism that distinguishes the early movement appears in a few poems, particularly in those by James Collinson and the Rossettis, this second stage finally had the largest -- at least the most easily noticeable -- influence on literature.As Anthony Harrison points out in his study of Christina Rossetti,the Pre-Raphaelites predictably etherealized sensation, displacing it from logical contexts and all normally expected physical relations with objects in the external world. With thePre-Raphaelites the sensory and even the sensual become idealized, image becomes symbol, and physical experience is superseded by mental states as we are thrust deeply into theself-contained emotional worlds of their varied personae. Very seldom do we have even the implied auditor of Browning's dramatic monologues to give us our bearings, to situate aspeaker's perceptions in the phenomenal world. In this respect Pre-Raphaelite poems resemble many from the first two volumes of their much-admired Tennyson (especially "Mariana," "The Lotos-Eaters," "The Palace of Art," and "Oenone"). However, unlike his Pre-Raphaelite emulators, Tennyson, after In Memoriam, for the most part rejected predominantly aesthetic poetry. [Christina Rossetti in Context]Nonetheless, if one looks for a poet whose work parallels the artistic project of thePre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, one immediately notices Robert Browning , whose work was enormously popular with them all and a particular influence on Rossetti, who wrote out Pauline (1833) from the British Museum copy. Like the paintings of the Brotherhood, Browning's poems simultaneously extend the boundaries of subject and create a kind of abrasive realism, and like the work of the young painters, his also employ elaborate symbolism drawn from biblical types to carry the audience beyond the aesthetic surface, to which he, like the painters, aggressively draws attention. One must mention the Browningesque element in Pre-Raphaelite poetry because it appears intermittently all the way up to Hopkins in self-consciously difficult language, the dramatic monologue, and elaborate applications of biblical typology.Aesthetic Pre-Raphaelitism, nonetheless, has most in common with the poets of this group, all of whom draw upon the poetic continuum that descends from Spenser through Keats and Tennyson -- upon the poetic line, in other words, that emphasizes lush vowel sounds, sensuous description, subjective psychological states, elaborate personification, and complex poetic forms, such as the sestina, borrowed from Italian and Provençal love poetry.What are the differences of Victorian poetry from the Romantic poetry that goes before it?(1)Differences: the glory of Victorian poetry has often been overshadowed by the Romantic poetry of the first 30 years of the century. Despite the fact that still went very strong and distinguished itself with its own special features. Poets of this period, though influenced by the Romanticists, were already conscious of the changes of the time and thus could not commit themselves only to the aesthetic pursuit of the strange, the remote and the beautiful of Wordsworth and Shelley. The Victorian poets may choose subject matter from remote times such as myths or legends, they may also write about nature and themes concerning love, death and beauty, but almost none of them wandered away from the immediate social issues of the time. Many poems were allegorical efforts to represent the poets’ concerns and thoughts about their contemporary reality.Another significant poetic phenomenon of the period was the flourishing of the dramatic monologue.(2) Features of Victorian literatures1) Literature in this Age has come very close to daily life, reflecting its practical problems and interests, and is a powerful instrument of human progress.2) The tendency of literature is strongly ethical; all the great poets, novelists, and essayists of the age are moral teachers.3) Science in this age exercises an incalculable influence. On the one hand it emphasizes truth as the sole object of human endeavor; it has established the principle of law throughout the universe; and it has given us an entirely new view of life, as summed up in the word “evolution,” that is, the principle of growth or development from simple to complex forms. On the other hand, its first effect seems to be to discourage works of the imagination. Though the ageproduced an incredible number of books, very few of them belong among the great creative works of literature.4) Though the age is generally characterized as practical and materialistic, it is significant that nearly all the writers whom the nation delights to honor vigorously attack materialism, and exalt a purely ideal conception of life.Comment on two poems by Tennyson1) Idylls of the King (1842-1885)It is his most ambitious work which took him over 30 years to complete. It is made up of 12 books of narrative poems, based on the Celtic legends of King Arthur & his Knights of the Round Table. But it is not a mere reproduction of the old legend, though. It is a modern interpretation of the classic myth. For one thing, the moral standards & sentiments reflected in the poem belong to the Victorians rather than to the medieval royal people. For another, the story of the rise & fall of King Arthur is, in fact, meant to represent a cyclic history of western civilization, which , in Tennyson's mind , is going on a spiritual decline & will end in destruction.Tennyson sought to encapsulate the past and the present in the Idylls. Arthur in the story is often seen as an embodiment of Victorian ideals; he is said to be "ideal manhood closed in real man" and the "stainless gentleman." Arthur often has unrealistic expectations for the Knights of the Round Table and for Camelot itself, and despite his best efforts he is unable to uphold the Victorian ideal in his Camelot. Idylls also contains explicit references to Gothic interiors, Romantic appreciations of nature, and anxiety over gender role reversals all point to the work as a specifically Victorian one.Tennyson tried to appeal to his Victorian audience by setting his female characters up as the opposite of what is good in the poem. In the Victorian age there was a renewed interest in the idea of courtly love, or the finding of spiritual fulfillment in the purest form of romantic love. This idea is embodied in the relationship between Guinevere and Arthur in the poem especially; the health of the state is blamed on Guinevere when she does not live up to the purity expected of her by Arthur as she does not sufficiently serve him spiritually. Tennyson's position as poet laureate during this time and the popularity of the Idylls served to further propagate this view of women in the Victorian age.2) In MemoriamPresumably it is an elegy on the death of Hall am, yet less than half of its l00 pieces are directly connected with him. The poet here does not merely dwell on the personal bereavement. As a poetic diary, the poem is also an elaborate & powerful expression of the poet's philosophical & religious thoughts - his doubts about the meaning of life, the existence of the soul & the afterlife, & his faith in the power of love & the soul's instinct & immortality. Such doubts & beliefs were shared by most people in an age when the old Christian belief was challenged by new scientific discoveries, though to most readers today, the real attraction of the poem lies more in its profound feeling & artistic beauty than in the philosophical & religious reflections. The familiar trance-like experience, mellifluous rhythm & pictorial descriptions make it one of the best elegies in English literature.The most loved of all his works is In Memoriam, which, on account of both its theme and its exquisite workmanship, is “one of the few immortal names that were not born to die.” The immediate occasional of this remarkable poem was his profound personal grief at the death of his fr iend Hall am. As he wrote lyric after lyric, inspired by this sad subject, the poet’s grief mourning for its dead and questioning its immortality took possession of him. Gradually the poem became an expression, first, of universal doubt, and then of universal faith,---a faith which rests ultimately not on reason or philosophy, but on the soul’s instinct for immortality. Theimmortality of human love is the theme of the poem, which is made up of over one hundred different lyrics. The movement takes us through three years, rising slowly from poignant sorrow and doubt to a calm peace and hope, and ending with a noble hymn of courage and faith,---a modest courage and a humble faith, love-inspired,---which will be a favorite as long as saddened men turn to literature for consolation.Tell Browning’s chief contributions to English poetry and discuss his poem “My Last Duchess”.(1)Browning’s Chief Contribution to LiteratureHe is famous for his development and his masterly creation of the “dramatic monologue.” His monologues often serve as masks that help to reveal the various facades of his characters as well as the poet’s own complex ideas. “My Last Duchess” is a good representative work in the form of dramatic monologue.Dramatic monologue refers to a lyric poem in which a speaker addresses himself to one or several listeners who don’t reply. Such poems not only tell stories but also reveal the personality and innermost soul of each character.His monologues, often short in length, effectively describe “souls in action.” When Thomas Hardy said that Browning was “the literary puzzle of the 19th century” he probably meant that his ideas were uncommonly rich and profound -(2)My Last Duchess"My Last Duchess" is Browning's best-known dramatic monologue. The poem takes its sources from the life of Alfonso II, duke of Ferrara of the 16th-century Italy, whose young wife died suspiciously after three years of marriage. Not long after her death, the duke managed to arrange a marriage with the niece of another noble man. This dramatic monologue is the duke's speech addressed to the agent who comes to negotiate the marriage. In his talk about his "last duchess," the duke reveals himself as a self-conceited, cruel & tyrannical man. The poem is written in heroic couplets, but with no regular metrical system. In reading, it sounds like blank verse.Say what you know about the Pre-Raphaelite poetry and discuss his poem "my last duchess"poets who had some connection with the Pre-Raphaelite circle include Christina Rossetti, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, George Meredith, William Morris, and Algernon Charles Swinburne. Pre-Raphaelitism in poetry had major influence upon the writers of the Decadence of the 1890s, such as Ernest Dowson, Lionel Johnson, Michael Field, and Oscar Wilde, as well as upon Gerard Manley Hopkins and William Butler Yeats, both of whom were influenced by John Ruskin and visual Pre-Raphaelitism.Pre-Raphaelitism in painting had two forms or stages, first, the hard-edge symbolic naturalism of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood that began in 1849 and, second, the moody, erotic medievalism that took form in the later 1850s. Many critics imply that only this second, or Aesthetic, Pre-Raphaelitism has relevance to poetry. In fact, although the combination of realistic style with elaborate symbolism that distinguishes the early movement appears in a few。