英国文学史常耀重点知识.docVIP

A Survey of British Literature I. Early and Medieval Literature (Unit 2) 1. three conquests 2. the medieval period: 476 A. D—the 15th century 3. Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066): --oral traditions; --“Beowulf”: the national epic --Caedmon: the first known English religious poet 4. Anglo-Norman Period (1066-15th century): --Popularity of romancens; --Chaucer: the father of English poetry; --Ballads developed; 5. “Beowulf” --longest; an epic; features (Pagan and Christian coloring; kenning; metaphor) 6. Romance --Definition: It is a narrative verse of prose singing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds. Romances are popular in the medieval period. --“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 7. Geoffrey Chaucer --the father of English literature/poetry; --The Canterbury Tales: a double fiction; the Wife of Bath’s prologue; The Wife of Bath’s Tale; heroic couplet) 8. Ballad: --Definition:A story told in song, usually in four line stanzas, with the 2nd and the 4th lines rhymed. --Robin Hood Ballads. 9. Appreciation: --from “Beowulf” --from “The Canterbury Tales” II. The Renaissance (Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5,Unit 6) three discoveries Renaissance --a thristing curiosity for classical literature; --a keen interest in life and human activities. Humanism --individualism; the joy of the present life; reason; the affirmation of self-worth --Humanism emphasizes the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life. Humanists voiced their beliefs that man was the center of the universe and man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of the present life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders. Sonnet: --Definition: It is a poem of 14 lines that follows a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure; it expresses a single idea or theme. (Thomas Wyatt first introduced it to England) Shakespearean sonnet: --Definition: A Shakespearean sonnet consists of three four-line?stanzas?(called?quatrains) and a final?couplet?composed in?iambic pent