英国文学--Edmund-Spencer1552-1599.pptVIP

Edmund Spencer(1552-1599) Life Achievements in literature Masterpiece Qualities of Spenser’s poetry Life Born in London in 1552 to a merchant family. Educated in Cambridge, getting M. A. in 1576. Secretary to Lord Grey of Wilton, the Queen’s deputy in Ireland in 1580. Giving an immense estate with the castle of Kilcolm in Ireland in 1586. Married in 1594. Force to abandon Kilcolman Castle by a fierce Irish rebellion in 1598. Death “for want of bread” in Jan. 1599, buried in the “Poets’ Corner”. Literature achievements The Shepherds Calendar 1579 The Fairy Queen 1580-1599 Epithalamion 1594 (one of the most beautiful wedding hymns) The Fairy Queen Principal intention: （原始构思） to present through a “historical poem” the example of a perfect gentleman, “to fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline.” planning 12virtues of the private gentleman, and 12 books, each one with a different hero distinguished for one of the private virtues. The hero of heroes, who possesses all of the virtues, is Arthur, to play a role in each of the 12 major adventures, thus the recurring appearances of Arthur serve as a unifying element for the poem as a whole. Another character contributing to the unity of the work is Gloriana, the Fairy Queen, the Queen of Fairyland, which represents both glory and Queen Elizabeth. Only 6 books completed, with the 6 virtues: holiness, temperance, chastity, friendship, justice, courtesy. （神圣，节欲，贞洁，友谊，正义，礼貌。） Qualities of Spenser’s poetry A perfect melody. 完美的音律 A rare sense of beauty. 罕见的美感 A splendid imagination. 壮丽的想象 A lofty moral purity and seriousness. 高尚而纯洁、严肃的道德 A dedicated idealism. 绝对的理想主义 Poets’ poet Spenserian stanza (see page 38) Prose Writing and Francis Bacon(1561-1626) Life Achievements Quotes Essays Reference websites Bacon Time Line 1561, January 22, born in the family of Sir Nicholas Bacon ( Keeper of Privy Seal to Queen Elizabeth I); won the favor of the Queen, who once termed him “ the Youn