英国文学及作品选读复习笔记整理.pdfVIP

=====WORD 完整版可编辑专业资料分享===== Part one Pre-Classicism The Middle Ages ( 449 -- 1485 ) General Colors of English Literature ：1. Elegant and standard in language; 2. Melancholy and ironical in style or in tone; 3. Conventional and conservative in thematic concern and in literary thoughts. Main Literary Achievements 1.The Anglo-Saxon Period Beowulf --England’s national epic It well reveals the features of Anglo —Saxon English, such as 1) wide use of alliteration, 2) metaphors and understatements, 3)mixture of pagan and Christian elements. Alliteration ：Two or more words in a phrase or line have the same initial sound. 2. The Anglo-Norman Period 1）The Romances Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 2 ）English Ballads (Popular Ballads) “The character of Robin Hood is many —sided. Strong, brave and clever, he is at the same time tender-hearted and affectionate … But the dominant key in his character is his hatred for the cruel oppressors and his love for the poor and downtrodden.” (Liu Bingshan, 20) 3) The Medieval Drama 3. Geoffrey Chaucer (1340—1400) Chaucer’s main contributions to English literature (language) can be found from language aspect. 1) It is Chaucer who formally finished the blend of three languages, Anglo-Saxon English, Norman’s French and Latin to shape the early form of modern English. It is he who first used London Dialect English in formal writing, and it is due to his writing that modern English became the only national language accepted by all English people.2) Based on his application of London Dialect English in his writings, English became a bridge between literature and the great public. 3) First use of “heroic couplet ” ( the rhymed couplet of 5 accents in iambic meter/the rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter)4) He devoted a masterpiece The Can