英国文学史46页.doc

Old Medieval English Literature Old English: 450-1066 Beowulf the national epic of the Anglo-SaonsMedieval English： 1066 - middle 14th century 1 Geoffrey Chaucer - the father of English poetry (wisdom, humor, humanity)The Canterbury Tales first time to use heroic couplet The Renaissance Period : 14th –mid 17th started in Italy A series of historical events: rediscovery of ancient Roman Greek culture new discoveries in geography astrology(占星学) the religious reformation economic expansion The Renaissance - rebirth or revival Humanism - the essence of the Renaissance, the dignity of human being the importance of the present life Best representatives: Thomas More, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare The Elizabethan drama: the real mainstream of English Renaissance Most famous dramatists: Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson 2Edmund Spenser - the poets poet 5 quality: 1) a perfect melody 2)a rare sense of beauty 3)a splendid imagination 4)a lofty(高尚的) moral purity and eriousness 5)a dedicated idealism The Shepherdes Calender lament(哀悼) over the loss of Rosalind The Faerie Queene 主角：Arthur - who possess 12 virtues Gloriana – the Fairy Queen The theme is not “Arms and the man,” but something more romantic – “Fierce warres and faithfull loves” READING: excerpt from The Faerie Queene 仙后 Content: Redcrosse Knight set out on his adventures. Christopher Marlowe – “University Wits”, the pioneer of English drama Hyperbole(夸张) Marlowe’s achievement: 1) blank verse无韵诗歌 It is Marlowe who brought vitality(活力) and grandeur(伟大) into the blank verse with his “mighty lines,” which carry strong emotions. 2) his creation of the Renaissance hero for English drama.(not strong in dramatic construction.) → the pioneer of English drama 3 tragedies: Dr. Faustus the human passion for knowledge, power and happiness Tamburlaine 帖木耳大帝 a play about an ambitious and pitiless overpowering king. The Jew of Malta 马尔他的犹太人non-drama The