[英语学习]Lecture 4 The English Renaissance英国文学史.pptVIP

The English Renaissance(late 15th century ~ early 17th century) I. What is Renaissance? II. What is humanism? III. The English Renaissance IV. William Shakespeare His Works V. Analysis of Hamlet VI. Analysis of Sonnet 18 I. What is Renaissance? Renaissance is commonly applied to the movement or period in western civilization, which marks the transition from the medieval to the modern world. Generally, it refers to the period between the 14th and mid-17th century. It first started in Florence and Venice of Italy, with the flowering of painting, sculpture and architecture. From Italy the movement went to embrace the rest of Europe. In different countries, the movement occurred in different periods with different emphasis. What is Renaissance? The word “Renaissance” means “rebirth”( of learning). The Renaissance Period was marked by a reawakening of interest in learning, in the individual and in the world of nature. The Revival of learning led scholars back to the culture of Greece and Rome. The Rebirth of interest in the individual gave rise to a new appreciation of beauty, to a desire for self-expression in varied activities and to the creation of great works of art. The renewal of curiosity about the natural world ultimately drew men to discover new lands and new scientific truths. II. What is humanism? Humanism was a literary and philosophic system of thought which attempted to place the affairs of mankind at the center of its concerns. Originating in Italy during the Renaissance, it soon spread throughout most of western Europe. Humanist thought was based on a new reading of Greek and Roman Literature, an affirmation of the importance of Platonic philosophy, and a reinterpretation of the writings of Aristotle. It took as a major interest the life of man in the present, and unlike medieval philosophy, which postulated (要求,主张)a City of God in the hereafter(来世), it attempted to lay the foundations for a life of justice, nobility, and goodness on earth. What is