文艺复兴文.ppt

Renaissance English Literature Historical background 16th century -- a period of the breaking up of feudal relations and the establishing of the foundations of capitalism England – an absolute monarchy Religious Reformation -- end the rule of the Catholic Church -- king as both the head of Church and the head of state Protestantism --the official national religion Henry 8 ( a Tudor Monarch) Queen Elizabeth – the summit of absolute monarchy Elizabethan age: -- progress of bourgeois economy -- victory in the Spanish War -- commercial expansion abroad -- development of art and literature -- an unsettled time: peasants’ uprisings The Renaissance A transition from the medieval to the modern world Between the 14th and mid-17th century Renaissance: rebirth, revival Emphasis on the newly discovered Greek and Roman classics; the reintroduction into Western Europe of the full cultural heritage of Greece and Rome Essence: get rid of the old feudal ideas; introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie Humanism: keynote of Renaissance (individualism ) 1. A thirsting curiosity for the classical literature 2. The keen interest in the activities of humanity -- exalt human nature -- dignity of human beings -- importance of the present life -- the right to enjoy the beauty of this life -- the rebellious spirit against feudal rule and ecclesiastical domination The Idea of the Renaissance Literary features Lyrical poetry: England: a nest of singing birds -- variety, freshness, youthfulness, romantic feeling -- Thomas Wyatt: sonnet -- Henry Howard: blank verse -- Sir Philip Sidney: popularize sonnet sequence -- Edmund Spencer: “the poets’ poet” Sir Philip Sidney（1554-1586） Sonnet Astrophel and Stella 阿斯特罗菲尔和斯黛拉 阿斯特罗菲尔：爱星星的人 Latin 斯黛拉：天上之星 Critics Defense of Poetry 诗辩 -- Edmund Spencer: “the poets’ poet” (1552-1599) The Faerie Queene (an allegory) 1589-1596