英国文学简史 常耀信 Chapters 1—2.pptVIP

Henry VII and Tudor Dynasty Chaucer’s life (1344-1400) Born in 1343 in London As a son of a wine merchant and deputy to the kings’ butler Little known about his education, he could read French, Latin and Italian. Was appointed to the household of the Countess of Ulster in 1357 and started his royal service since then. 5) In 1359-1360, went to France with Edward IIIs army during the Hundred Years War. 6) Got married in 1366 7) Went abroad several times for diplomatic and commercial missions. 8) especially in Italy, he met Boccaccio and Petrarch in 1372-73, much influence by the Italian humanists, such as Dante. 9) Died in 1400 and buried in the poet’s corner of Westminster Abby 10) Chaucer’s monument was erected in 1555. The Canterbury Tales A pilgrimage of 30 people on a route to and from Canterbury (England) To tell stories to amuse themselves on the way Harry Bailly, the innkeeper, promised a free meal for the best-storyteller In structure: prologue and 24 stories (intended to have more than 100 stories and kept unfinished and handed down in manuscripts) Prologue serves as a brief introduction, to enable readers to have a general view of the whole content. Among the 24 individual stories, 2 in prose and 22 in verse form. Wife of Bath’s Tele The Wife of Bath is depicted as the new bourgeois wife asserting her independence. The famous lines in Canterbury Tales Whan that Aprill, with his shoures sooteThe droghte of March hath perced to the rooteAnd bathed every veyne in swich licour,Of which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open eye-(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages ---------in Middle English Modern English version When in April the sweet showers fall That pierce