[文学]英国文学史 - 复制.ppt

英国文学史A Short History of English Literature 主讲教师：南健翀 Part Ⅰ Early and Medieval English Literature 1. The Making of England a. Roman Conquest (55 B.C.) Julius Caesar---the Roman conqueror the decline of Roman empire (410 A.D.) b. The Formation of English Language the three tribes from Northern Europe: Angles, Saxons and Jutes; Anglo-Saxon---Old English c. Religious Belief heathen people; Christianization 2. Beowulf---the National Epic of English People English Literature began with the Anglo-Saxon settlement in England Beowulf--- the national epic; 3183 lines; the plot: Hrothgar--- king of the Danes; Beowulf---a brave young man from southern Sweden; Heorot---the great hall; Grendel---a terrible creature; the fire-breathing dragon; the artistic features: a. the use of alliteration--- certain accented words in a line with the same consonant sound e.g. “The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free.” ----S.T.Coleridge b. the use of metaphors and understatements--- the characteristic of English people and their language e.g. “swan’s path” or “whale’s road” for sea; “sea-wood” for ship; “not troublesome” for very welcome; 3. Feudal England a. Norman Conquest and Its Influence Duke William; 1066; battle at Hastings; confiscated the lands of English lords; bestowed large patches to the Norman barons; the establishment of feudalism in England; French, English and Latin; English---the dominant speech in the country; b. Romance (for the nobles)