征服英语英国文学复习资料

2021年1月19日发(作者：purchase)
The Anglo-saxon period(450-1066)
一，

historical background
1,
History:
The
earliest
settlers of
British
Isles
were
the
Celts.
2, Old English poetry.
二，
Northumbrian school and Wessex literature.
1,
Two
Highlight
in
the
development
of
Anglo- saxon
literature:
(1). Northumbrian school


(2), Wessex literature.
2,The
first
Anglo-Saxon
poet:
Caedmon
—

“
paraphrase
”

:
—

“
the father of English History.
”









The Ecclesiastical History of English people.
Alfred
—
the Anglo- Saxon Chronicle
三．
Epic
1.
Definition
: A long narrative poem celebrating the great
deeds
of
one
or
more
legendary
heroes,
in
a
grand,
ceremonious style.
2. Anglo-Saxon Poetry
—
Beowulf

(heroic epic)
earliest one is
Widsith
and last is
Maldon
.

plot:
(1)fight
with
Grendel,
Grendel
’
s
mother,
Firedrake.(2)the death and funeral
significance:

6.

National
epic
:
Homer
’
s
epic
poetry(Greek);V
irgil(Roman)
7.

Alliteration

:
Repetition
of
consonant
sounds
at
the
beginning of words.
8.

Kenning
:
A
kind
of
metaphor
usually
used
a
phrase
instead of

a concrete noun.
The

Norman Period(1066-1350)
一．

History background
1. Norman conquest ended the Anglo-Saxon period
influence of Norman Conquest:
(1)accelerated the development of feudalism in England.
(2)the Anglo-Saxon, low position; English, despised thing.
(3)three
languages
co-existed
in
England(French
,Latin,
Old- English)
二．

Middle English
1.

the development of English Language
2.

the
unique
situation
of
language
using
during
this
time:French ,Latin, Old-English
三．

R
omance
1.

Norman Conquest
’
s influence on English language
Romance
——
Frence
——
nobbles;lords
No writtern
——
English
——
English subjet
（臣民）

Chronicles,religious poem
——
Latin
——
scholar
2.

Definition
:
the Romance was the most prevailing kind
of literature in feudal England which described the life
and
adventures
of
knights
and
reflects
the
spirit
of
chivalry
in
the
form
of
verse.
It
’
s
usually
about
love,
chivalry and religion.
3.

Rhyme
:
4.

Bob
: a line of two syllables.
5.

Wheel
: a poem of four lines(a.b.a.b.)
6.

Three categories of Romans
(1),The matter of France
—
Chanson de roland.
(2), the matter of Rome
—
Alexander

(3), The matter of Britain
—
Arthurian

7.
Sir Gawain and Green Knight

Age of Chaucer
一，
History background

hundred
years
war
between
England
and
France(two kings for France throne)
2,
The
peasant
uprising
of
1381,during

the
reign

of
king Richard 2
二，

John wycliff
—
The father of English prose.
1,Contribution:
(1),dedicated to
religious
reform(clergymen
had no
right
to
hold
property
and
the
civil
authority
had
the
right
to
deprive the church of property, if it proved

unworthy of
the people
’
s trust.),
(2),Great
contribution
to
English
language
(translated
Bible into standard English)

2,William
Langland
—
the
vision
of
Piers
Plowman
;

Allegory
3,
Allegory
: A story or description in which the characters
and
events
symbolize
some
deeper
meaning.(primary
meaning and secondary meaning)
三，
Chaucer
—
the father of English poetry(why?)

1,
Contribution to English literature:
(1),
Chaucer
proved
that
the
English
language
is
a
beautiful language
and
can be
easily
handled to
express
different moods.
(2)
，
Chaucer
greatly
increased
the
prestige
of
the
English language.
(3) Chaucer
’
s works gave a comprehensive picture of
his time.
(4), the dramatic structure of his work has been highly
commended by critics.
(5)Chaucer
made
a
big
improvement
of
English
literature.
2,
Heroic couplet
(
英雄双韵体
)


（
1
）
，
couplet
（两行诗一押韵）

（
2
）
，
iambic pentameter(
五步抑扬格
)
3
，
Canterbury Tales
(1)
Structure
：
24 tales connect by
“
links
”



(2
)His plan
; Chaucer met a group of 29 pilgrims at

Canterbury on his way. To kill the time on their
journey,
they
play
a
game
that
each
pilgrim

should
tell
two
stories
on
the
outward
trip
and
another
two
on
the
way
back. Chaucer and their host joined them, the host will be
a
judge
and
give
a
reward to
the
one
who
give
the best
tale.
4,The significance of
the Canterbury tales
(1), it gives a comprehensive picture of
Chaucer’s
time.
(2).the dramatic
structure of his
work has
been highly
commended by critics.
（
3
）
，
It reflects the Chaucer
’
s humor.
(4),It
’
s
a
great
contribution
that
Chaucer
gave
to
the
English language.

The 15
th
century
一
,Historical background


1.
The
Hundred
Years
War:
(in1415,at
the
battle
of
Agincourt ,King Henry 5 defeated French Army)
2,
The War of the Rose
s
—
Thirty Y
ears War:(break out
between
two
families
,at
last
King
Henry
7
defeated
Richard 3 ,and then married Elizabeth)