《英美文学选读》英国文学The Modern Period.docVIP

PART ONE：ENGLISH LITERATUREChapter 5 The Modern Period 　　概　述　　（一）20世纪英国社会政治、经济文化背景　　1.In the second half of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century, both natural and social sciences in Europe had enormously advanced.　　2.When capitalism came into its monopoly stage, the sharpened contradictions between socialized production and the private ownership caused frequent economic depressions and mass unemployment.　　3.The catastrophic First World War tremendously weakened the British Empire and brought about great sufferings to its people as well. The postwar economic dislocation and spiritual disillusion produced a profound impact upon the British people, who came to see the prevalent wretchedness in capitalism. 　　4.The Second World War marked the last stage of the disintegration of the British Empire. Britain suffered heavy losses in the war: thousands of people were killed; the economy was ruined; and almost all its former colonies were lost. The once sun-never-set Empire finally collapsed.　　（二）非理性哲学　　1.In the mid-19th century, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels put forward the theory of scientific socialism.　　2.Darwins theory of evolution exerted a strong influence upon the people, causing many to lose their religious faith. The social Darwinism, under the cover of survival of the fittest, vehemently advocated colonialism of jingoism.　　3.Einsteins Theory of Relativity provided entirely new ideas for the concepts of time and space.　　4.Freuds analytical psychology drastically altered our conception of human nature.　　5.Arthur Schopenhauer, a pessimistic philosopher, started a rebellion against rationalism, stressing the importance of will and intuition.　　6.Friedrich Nietzsche went further against rationalism by advocating the doctrines of power and superman and by completely rejecting the Christian morality.　　7.Henry Bergson established his irrational philosophy，which put the emphasis on creation, intuition, irrationality and unconsciousness.