吴伟仁的英国文学史及选读.doc

History and Anthology of English Literature Part One The Anglo-Saxon Period Beowulf Questions: The earliest literature falls into two divisions ___________, and_______________. Christianity brings England not only __________ and___________but also the wealth of a new language. Who is Beowulf? And What is Beowulf? How did Beowulf come into being? Who is Grendel? And what is the result of Grendel’s fight with Beowulf? How did the Jutes hold the funeral for him? Key points of this part: The most important work of old English literature is Beowulf------- the national epic of the English people. It is of Germanic heritage, perhaps the greatest Germanic epic and contains evidently pre-Christian elements existing at first in an oral tradition, the poem was passed from mouth to mouth for generations before it was written down. The manuscript preserved today was written in the Wessex tongue about 1000A.D., consisting altogether of 3183 lines. There are three episodes related to the career of Beowulf: the fight with the monster, Grendel. The fight with Grendel’s mother, a still more frightful she-monster. The moral combat with the fire Dragon. The significance lies in the vivid portrayal of a great national hero, who is brave, courageous, selfless, and ever helpful to his people. There are three important features:: Alliteration (words beginning with the same consonant sound). This is characteristic of all old English verse. Metaphors and understatements. There are many compound words used in the poem to serve as indirect metaphors that are sometimes very picturesque. , e.g. “riging-giver” is used for King; “hearth-companions “for his attendant warriors; “Whale’s road” for the sea; “spear-fighter” for soldier etc. And as understatement we can see: “not troublesome” for welcome; “need not praise” for a right to condemn. This quality is often regarded as characteristic of the English people and their language. Mixture of pagan and Christian elements: the observing of omen