英美文学脉络梗概英美文学脉络概.doc

An Outline of British Literary History Early and Medieval English Literature Beowulf, epic in old Briton Romance: The Arthurian Legends; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (about 1375) Ballads(a story told in song): Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale Geoffrey Chaucer, the founder of English poetry: The Canterbury Tales (influenced by Italian writer Boccacio’s Decameron) The English Renaissance (16th—first half of 17th) Characteristic of Renaissance: 1) a thirsting curiosity for the classical literature; 2) keen interest in the activities of humanity (humanism) Thomas More, the greatest of the English humanists: Utopia Poets in this period: (The sonnet, an exact form of poetry in 14 lines of iambic pentameter intricately rhymed, was introduced to England from Italy by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard) Sir Philip Sidney (1554-86), love sonnets: “Astrophel and Stella” Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), “Discovery of Guiana” Edmund Spenser (1552-99), The Shepherd’s Calendar (a pastoral poem in 12 books); The Faerie Queene (his masterpiece dedicated to Queen Elizabeth). He is the first master to make Modern English the natural music of his poetic effusions. John Lyly (1554-1606), a romance writer for the gentle reader: Euphues Prose Writer: Francis Bacon (1561-1626), Essays (58 ones). It covers a wide variety of subjects, such as love, truth, friendship, parents and children, beauty, studies, riches, youth and age, garden, death, and many others. They have won popularity for their precision, clearness, brevity and force. Drama (the highest glory of English Renaissance) university wits: Lyly, Peele, Marlowe, Greene, Lodge and Nash. They made rapid progress in dramatic technique because they had a close contact with the actors and audience. Christopher Marlowe (1564-93): 1) Tamburlaine; 2) The Jew of Malta; 3) Doctor Faustus Ben Jonson (1572-1637): 1) Every Man in His Humor; 2) Volpone, or the Fox; 3) The Alchemist; William Shakespeare Four Tragedies: 1) Hamlet 2) Othello 3) King Lear