英国文学导读 (42).pdf

Introduction The English novel flourished during the late 18th and early 19th century. There were two trends in the development of novels: romanticism -- represented by Walter Scott, mainly famous for his historical romances realism  Gradually, romanticism give way to realism.  The trend started with Jane Austen and later developed into a major novelistic tradition in the hands of Charles Dickens and William M. Thackeray. Literary trend  During this period of time appeared a new literary trend (mainly in fiction)– critical realism.  Realism:  It is opposed to romanticism;  Romanticism is to present life as we would have it to be;  Realism is to present life as it really is.  -- from A Glossary of literary Terms Literary trend  Realism in this period of time is often called critical realism because of the social function – social criticism.  English critical realism of the 19th century flourished in the 40s and 50s. Features of social criticism  The critical realists described with much vividness and great artistic skill the chief traits of the English society in the 19th century ;  They criticized the capitalist system from a democratic viewpoint: all the evils of the existing institutions and the society itself with its corrupted, vain and evil members were mercilessly exposed and criticized. 有缘学习更多+谓ygd3076考证资料 Representative Writers and Works  Writers like Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, the Bronte Sister and Mrs. Gaskell are the vey representatives.  Charlotte Bronte’s description of Lowood school painted a picture of the harsh life in this so-called charity school, which make Jane Eyre a representative work of critical realism.