英国文学导读 (51).pdf

English Drama • At the turn of last century, English drama made a sudden progress under the influence of European drama. • A number of talented English dramatists appeared, making great contribution to the development of modern realistic drama in Britain. Among them are George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde. Realism in Modern English Drama • Features: • Characters are close to real life; • Conflicts reflect problems people meet in their daily activity • Shaw and Wilde drew material for their plays directly from the society of London and made it the setting for most of their plays. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) 1. Life Born in Dublin, educated at Trinity College, Dublin and at the University of Oxford In Oxford Wilde came into direct contact with the art and philosophy of various strands of Aestheticism. He became particularly well known for his role in the aesthetic and decadent movements. In 1895, at the peak of his career, Wilde was convicted of homosexual practices and sentenced to two years of hard labor in prison. Prison had ruined Wildes health and when he was released he went into exile in France where he lived under the name Sebastian Melmoth. He died in 1900. 2. Major Works The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888) • “High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large ruby glowed in his sword-hilt.” Major Works The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898) 有缘学习更多+谓ygd3076考证资料 Wilde’s plays – Lady Windermeres Fan (1892) – A Woman of No Importance (1893) – Salome (1894)