British Economy and Literature(英国经济与文化).ppt

Geoffrey Chaucer was the first court poet to write in English (not French) – called Middle English. The Canterbury Tales is a series of stories told by pilgrims on their way to the church in Canterbury. Le Morte D’Arthur (French for The Death of Arthur) was written in 1470 In the Elizabethan Era, the first theater opened in London. Works by Christopher Marlow, Ben Johnson, and William Shakespeare were performed on stage. 1611 King James ordered the Bible to be translated into English.  18th century literature concerned more with politics. Pamphlets were a popular form of expressing political views. Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels. Robert Burns wrote many poems in Scottish dialect. His works are still cherished today. Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe, one of the most famous stories of a shipwreck. Early 19th century – Romantic Period. The authors are more concerned with imagination and feelings, not politics or science. Much of the literature was written as poetry, not novels. William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, George Gordon (Lord Byron), Percy Bysshe Shelley are the most famous.  19th century novelists wrote in the romantic style too. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein Sir Walter Scott wrote stories about medieval and Scottish history Rob Roy Jane Austen wrote six novels about middle-class women looking for husbands. Her novels concentrate on the manners and customs of the people. Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion Bronte sisters were influenced by the romantic period also. Emily Bronte’s most famous work is Wuthering Heights Charlotte Bronte’s most famous work is Jane Eyre British Economy Major developed capitalist country World’s sixth largest economy Leading global trading country 2nd largest exporter and 3rd largest importer of commercial services 10th largest exporter and 6th largest importer of merchandise The economy of Great Britain relied hea