英国文学第一章.pptVIP

Part One Old English Period — Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066) The Old English Period 1. The history of the Old English Period 2. The literature of the Old English Period 3. Beowulf The History The stonehenge dates back to 1400-1800 BC. The History From 55 BC to 410 AD, the Romans conquered the land and transplanted its civilization. The History The Celts were probably the first inhabitants of the British Isles. One of their tribes, the Britons, named the place “Britain”, which meant “the land of the Britons”. The History The Teutonic tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded. In the 8th century, Danes invaded In the 9th century, King Alfred the Great united the kingdom The Literature Introduction: Basically barren in literary creations Two divisions: Pagan Christian Pagan Mostly the poems were songs about wars, sea-faring, and violence in a cruel world with little or no tenderness or joy. The Seafarer水手; The Fight at Finnisburg芬尼斯郡之战; The Wanderer流浪者; Waldhere瓦登希尔; The Battle of Maldom马尔登战役 Pagan Some told about the lives of the minstrels, ancient poet-singers, who roamed around entertaining people with stories often of superhuman deeds and in oral traditions. Widsith(威德西斯); The complaint of Deor迪奥的抱怨 Pagan Some others reflected and recorded the fine emotional texture of the first English people well for posterity. The wife’s Lament妻子的哀歌; Ruin 毁灭are good examples. Pagan Beowulf, England’s national epic. Beowulf Main characters of the poem: Main incidents of the poem: Writing features Beowulf Main characters of the poem: Beowulf, the hero; King of Sweden, Beowulf’s uncle; Hrothgar, the king of the Danish nation; Grendel, a sea-monster; Grendel’ mother; fire dragan. Beowulf Main incidents of the poem: 1. Beowulf’s fight with the monster Grendel in Hrothgar’s hall. 2. Beowulf’s slaying of Grendel’s mother in her lair. 3. Beowulf’s return in glory to his uncle, and his succession to the throne. 4. Beowulf’s victo