英国文学选读3h周.pptVIP

Lecture Three 16th century : William Shakespeare(1564-1616) Key Points: Renaissance literature (16th) William Shakespeare His plays/dramas Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare(1564-1616) William Shakespeare William Shakespeare(26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the worlds pre-eminent dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. He is often called Englands national poet and the Bard of Avon. His time and background House of Tudor 1485-1603 Henry VII ,1457—1509 Henry Ⅷ,1491—1547 Edward VI, 1547—1553 Mary I， 1516—1558 Elizabeth I，1533—1603 out of the dark Middle Ages The background: the society was in its transition from the feudalism to capitalism. (from Middle Ages to Modern times) The Renaissance The Renaissance, which means rebirth or revival, in essence, is a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of those old feudalist ideas in medieval Europe, to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie, and to recover the purity of the early church from the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. Humanism Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance. It emphasizes the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life. (It emphasized secular concerns, express the interests of the rising bourgeoisie). 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. Location of Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford on Avon Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s Time Stratford-upon-Avon Today Married Life London ? went to London at 21 The Globe Theatre ? opened in 1599  The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London The