文艺复兴文学摘要

文艺复兴文学1. Introduction of the Renaissance1) definition: European cultural movement, transition, Middle Ages, Modern Age,renewed interest in classical art, literature, and learning, ancient Roman and Greek culture2) Humanism is the key-note.2. English Renaissance1) Historical background: the wars of Roses; Henry Ⅷ’s Reformation, EnclosureMovement, commercial expansion2) Renaissance literatureProse: More, BaconPoetry: Skelton, Wyatt, Surrey, Sidney, SpenserProse-fiction: Lyly, Nashe, DeloneyDrama: Marlowe, Shakespeare, JonsonRenaissance poetry•Sir Thomas Wyatt: introduction into English poetry the Italian sonnet. •Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey: first poet to use: English sonnet form and blank verse •Sir Philip Sidney: “Areopagus”, noble, “Thy nec essity is greater than mine” the earliest writer to write sonnet sequence, pastoral romance and critical essay① “Astrophel and Stella”— 108 love sonnets② “Arcadia”: a pastoral romance:③ “Defence of Poesie (Poesy)” or “Apology for Poetry” (critical essay)•Edmund Spenser—the poets’ poet, “Areopagus”, Westminster Abbey beside Chaucer①“The Shepherd’s Calendar”: pastoral poem of 12 eclogues②“Amoretti”: sonnet sequence consisting of 88 love poems★ Spenserian sonnet: A sonnet form composed of three quatrains and a couplet in iambic pentameter with the rhyme scheme abab bcbc cdcd ee③“The Faerie Queene” —masterpiece: written in Spenserian Stanza: a 9-line stanzaform with the rhyme scheme of ababbcbcc and with the first eight lines in iambic pentameter and the last line in iambic hexameter or alexandrine④“Epithalamion”: wedding songs，to celebrate his love and marriage to his wife⑤. Characteristics of Spenser’s poetry and contributionsRenaissance Drama1. beginning period: Miracle Play, Morality Play, the Interlude, the Classical Play2. developing period: Christopher Marlowe (University Wits)1) “Tamburlaine the Great”, “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus”, “The Jew ofMalta”“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”2). Marlowe’s literary achievement①one-man tragedy②first made blank verse the principal instrument of English drama.③paved the way for the plays of Shakespeare④Renaissance hero: created by Marlowe in his drama.3. monument period: William Shakespeare1) narrative poems:“ Venus and Adonis”, “The Rape of Lucrece” and 154 sonnets2) historical plays:“Henry Ⅵ”, “Richard Ⅲ”, “Henry IV”3) comedies: written in the first period, optimism, disguise★“The Merchant of Venice”(1) introduction: Italian(2). Major characters: Portia, Shylock, Antonio, Bassanio—a gentleman of Venice＊Shylock: a creation of circumstance＊Portia: a new woman of the Renaissance, frees herself from the feudal fetters(3) Theme: victory of love and friendship over greed and brutality, hatred for theoppressors and sympathy for the oppressed★ “As You Like It”(1). introduction: pastoral, France(2). major characters: Duke Senior, Frederick, Rosalind, Orlando, Celia, Oliver＊Touchstone—the jester, accompany Rosalind to the “Forest of Arden”＊Rosalind: destroy limitations that society imposes on her as a woman★ “Twelfth Night or What you Will”(1). introduction: Italy(2). major characters: Viola, Orsino, Olivia, Sebastian★ “Much Ado about Nothing”(1). introduction: Italy(2).Major characters: Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio, Hero, Don John, Dogberry4) Tragedy: observe life with penetration, expose★ 4 tragedies based on ancient Roman history★“Timon of Athens”: bitterest of S’s plays★“Romeo and Juliet”: Italy, feudal family feud★ “Hamlet, prince of Denmark”(1). Introduction: Danish legend, most famous, “revenge play”(2): major characters: Claudius, Hamlet, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes＊Hamlet①a humanist: melancholy unbound love for the world, reverence for man, a firmbelief in man’s power over destiny②democratic tendency, melancholy★ “Othello, the Moor of Venice”(1).introduction: Italy(2). Major characters: Othello, Desdemona, Iago＊Othello: noble-minded＊Desdemona: defy social conventions＊Iago: hypocritical, evil in nature★ King Lear(1). introduction: old British legend(2). Major characters: King Lear Cordelia Goneril Regan＊King Lear: self-willed＊Cordelia: kindness, sacrifice★ Macbeth(1). introduction: shortest and bloodiest tragedy, Scottish history(2). Major characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, King Duncan, Macduff＊Macbeth and Lady Macbeth: strong ambition5) Comments on Shakespeare1) keen observation of the social realities, condemnation of the social evils, sympathyto people suffering from oppression and racial discrimination2) unity and ruling under one sovereign.4. ending period: Ben Jonson: poet laureate, “Sons of Ben”: Cavalier poets1) Poetry collections: “The Epigrams” “The Forest” “The Underwood”2) Masques (假面音乐舞剧): courtly dramatic entertainment emphasizing scenery andcostuming and music above other things, highest achievement.3) comedy of humors: Each of the characters in the drama has some dominatingpassion or peculiar qualitywhich determines the character’s behaviors, thoughtsand manners of speech.4) “Sejanus, His Fall”, “The Alchemist”, “Bartholomew Fair”, “Epicoene, or the SilentWoman” “Volpone, or the Fox” —most important (greed)5). firm stand for the “three unities”, disapproved of the mixture of serious andhumorous episodes in a play.•George Chapman, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, John Webster, Thomas Middleton, James ShirleyRenaissance prose1. Thomas More: “Utopia”—masterpiece, nowhere1). Book One: a realistic reflection of the English society, “even a beast’s life seemsenviable”2) Book Two: Utopian socialism3) limitation and influence2.Francis Bacon1).“The New Atlantis” 新大西岛utopian romance2). “Essays”随笔: 58 essays (“Of Studies”) the first collection of essays in English.3) Comments on Bacon① first essayist② founder of English materialistic philosophy and modern scienceProse fiction1. John Lyly: “Euphues; The Anatomy of Wit”2. Thomas Nashe: “The Unfortunate Traveller, or the Life of Jack Wilton” (firstpicaresque novel)3. Thomas Deloney: “Thomas of Reading”, “Jack of Newbury”, “The Gentle Craft”。