英美文学史Britishliterature.docVIP

A Brief Introduction to Literature Definition ① in letters (liter-: a Latin root, meaning letter) either be written down or be passed from mouth to mouth written / oral literature ② of artistic value 4 Genres in Literature ① Poetry (the oldest genre) Comparison: poetry: rhymed + image / implication (meaningful) verse: in rhymed language Old English Poetry: Beowulf (an epic, containing 3182 lines) (epic → not the record of history; a long narrative poem； deal with legendary or historical events of significance; contain a hero) Medieval English Poetry: Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales ② Drama (the 2nd genre) 3 kinds of dramas: comedy (optimistic), tragedy (pessimistic), tragi-comedy comedy → aim to amuse end happily tragedy → concerned with harshness injustice of life tragi-comedy → blend, usu. a serious story with a happy ending ③ Essay (the 3rd genre) Comparison: essay: literary genre prose: language → not rhymed / rhymeless 4 kinds of essays according to the purpose and method in turning out an English essay: Narration, Description, Exposition, Argumentation ④ Fiction (the youngest genre) Ⅰ. Old English Literature (450-1066 A. D.) 1. History Before entering upon the study of English literature, it is necessary to know something about the English people. The English people are of a mixed blood. The early inhabitants were Britons, a tribe of Celts. It was from the Britons that the island got its name of Britain, the land of Britons. Since historical times England has been conquered three times. It was conquered respectively by the Romans, the English, and the Normans. 3 Conquests: the Roman Conquest The Romans had ruled England for almost 4 centuries, but they had left not so much influence. When the Roman Empire declined, its troops left England and thus ended the Roman occupation in Britain. t