英国文学-1.-The-Anglo-Saxon-Period.pptxVIP

Part IChapter 1The Anglo-Saxon Period（449-1066）I. Historical Background: The Making of England1) The Roman Conquest * Introduced Latin ; * Introduced Christianity.2) The Anglo-Saxon Conquest *The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invaded; *Formed the Anglo-Saxon language (O.E.); * Were originally pagan (heathen) but later were converted.II. Characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon Literature: The most prominent feature? *Poetry: (1) Christian poetry Caedmon: Paraphrase Cynewulf (2) Pagan poetry: Widsith (《威兹瑟斯》 The Traveller’ s Song 《旅行家》 The Seafarer《航海家》 England’s national epic: The Song of Beowulf (《贝奥武甫》) (Essentiallly Pagan. Why? ) Epic (or Heroic Poetry): “An Epic is, originally, an oral narrative poem, majestic both in theme and style. Epics deal with legendary or historical events of national or universal significance, usually the exploits of a single individual…But the characteristics of the hero are national rather than individual, and the exercise of those traits in heroic deeds serves to gratify a sense of national pride […] They summarize and express the nature or ideals of an entire nation at a significant or crucial period of its history, e.g. Odyssey by the poet Homer. At other times they may synthesize the ideals of a great religious or cultural movement, e.g. The Divine Comedy by Dante.” (Wu, 2002: 364) The Song of Beowulf 1) Who is Beowulf? 2) What’s the first part of the poem mainly about？ 3) What’s the second part mainly about?Excerpt Reading (P. 11, Para. 3) “The kinsman of Hygelac, mighty man, watched how the evil-doer would make his quick onslaught. Nor did the monster mean to delay it, but, starting his work, he suddenly seized a sleeping man, tore at him ravenously, bit into his bone-locks, drank the blood from his veins, swallowed huge morsels; quickly he had eaten all of the lifeless one, feet and hands. He stepped closer, then felt with his arm for the brave-hearted man on the bed, reached out towards him, the foe with his hand