EL-chapter3.pptVIP

英 国 文 学 English Literature 主讲 教师：刘际华 Chapter 3Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?-1400) I. The Three “Estates” (status) 1. The nobility (those that fought) 2. The clergy (those that prayed) 3. The peasantry (those who produced the food which supported those who fought and prayed) Geoffrey Chaucer II. Geoffrey Chaucer 1.??Literary career The French period (The Book of the Duchess) The Italian period (Troilus and Criseyde) The mature period (The Canterbury Tales) 2. Artistic Features (1) Messenger of Humanism Affirm mans right to pursue earthly happiness Praise mans energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life Expose and satirize the social vices, including religious abuses (2) The first important realistic writer Present a comprehensive realistic picture of the English society Create a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life Explore the theme of the individuals relation to the society (3) “Father” of English poetry Introduce the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry (e.g. heroic couplet) Develop his art of poetry (4)Master of the English language The first great poet to write in English language 4. Major Works The Book of the Duchess Troilus and Criseyde The Canterbury Tales III. The Canterbury Tales 1. The Framework (1) Previous collections of Stories The Thousand and One Nights Decameron by Boccaccio (2) Chaucer’s plan 30 pilgrims 4 stories each altogether 120 stories (3) Chaucer’s work consists of three parts The General Prologue 24 tales, two of which left unfinished Separate prologues to each tale with links, comments, and quarrels in between 2. Pilgrims Upper class (Knight, Squire, church people) Learned professions (Physician, Man of Law) Landed gentry (Franklin) Medieval manor people (Miller, Reeve) Mercantile class (Shipman, Merchant) Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Dyer, etc.) Laborer (Plowman) The prioress The Wife of Bath The Knight The Oxford Clerk Chaucer The pilgrims fall into several groups according to Chaucer’s