英国文学教程Chapter One The Medieval Period.pptxVIP

Chapter One The Medieval Period Content 1. The Early History of England 2. Early English literature 3. Geoffrey Chaucer 1.4 The Social Condition and Religious Belief of Anglo-Saxon Leader: warrior Belief: the old mythology of Northern Europe marks on the language: Tuesday---Tiu 战神；Wednesday—Woden主神；Thursday---Thor雷神；Friday---frigg爱情女神（Monday—day of the moon, latin; Saturday---day of Saturn, latin; Sunday—day of the sun, latin） The conversion of the Anglo—Saxons to Christianity: in 597, St. Augustine, Kent consistent solid values Scriptures classical writings from the ancient Greeks pilgrimage to Rome changed intellectual outlook 1.5.1.The Danish Invasion from 787, Danish Vikings king Alfred the Great (849--901) of the kingdom of Wessex, the Anglo—Saxon Chronicle in 1042, the regained rule of the Anglo--Saxons A formula for the nation 2.2 Beowulf(a 3182—line alliterative verse) monumental work in English poetry of the Anglo—Saxon period/the national epic of the English people Germanic heritage pre-Christian elements pagan in spirit and matter Beowulf, the mixture of the pagan heroism and fatalism with Christian qualites the non—Christian story, the mixture of the thoughts on the power of a wise God, the evil be punished, the righteous be rewarded There are three episodes related in the career of Beowulf: (1) The fight with the monster, Grendel (2) The fight with Grendel’s mother, a still more frightful she-monster (3) The mortal combat with the Fire Dragon. (after being the king of the Geats for 50 years). Comments on the poetry The poem is more than a fairy story of heroes combating monsters. It recaptures the values, beliefs and longing of the Anglo—Saxon people before they came to England. It clearly mirrors their ideals---bravery, the love