英国文学史2ndweek课件.ppt

Artistic Features messenger of humanism: affirmed human right to pursue earthly happiness and oppose religious asceticism; praised man’s energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life The first realist writer: explored the theme of the individual’s relation to the society in which he lived; developed characters who are morally and socially typical but specifically individual and realistic in detail. Artistic Features (continued) “father of English poetry”: introduced the rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter which is later to be called as the heroic couplet in The Canterbury Tales. aa, bb, cc… a great master of the English language : contributed to establishing English as the literary language of the country Internet resources /cantales.htm Providing e-texts of The Canterbury Tales with notes and vocabulary. /CHAUCER/ Providing medieval and modern English versions of The Canterbury Tales with notes and other research materials. William Langland (c. 1332-c.1400)威廉·朗格兰 The Vision of Piers Plowman a social protest voiced from the perspective of a common man Popular at that time, three versions, over 50 manuscripts still left today Little is known about its author Composed in forms of dream visions The Vision of Piers Plowman (c.1362)《农夫皮尔斯 》 Comments: a rich and realistic representation of the wretched living condition of people in the second half of the 14th century Dealing with down-to-earth subject matters Allegorical and satirical, didactic Language: plain and direct; images: clear and familiar The Gawain-Poet Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (c.1325-1400) 《高文爵士与绿衣骑士》 Comments romantic color as a medieval Romance: depiction of a remote world belonging to the Celtic legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table Influence on later works A chivalrous romance based on an legend of a Green knight who challenges and tests the courage and moral integrity of King Arthur’s knight Sir Gawain.  Unit Two The Beginning Period of British Lite