英美文学 作家作品

Beowalf:the only organic whole poem to come out of the period. the first major English poem and the greatest work of literature of the period; the first long epic poem in Europe written in the vernacular language. (probably) the greatest epic left by the ancient Germanic tribes; The most ancient epic since the demise of the Greek and Roman literatures.Definition:A Ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story.(The Robin Hood Ballads) Chaucer:the founder of English poetry. Chaucer’s contribution to English poetry lies chiefly in the fact that he introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types, especially rhymed couplet of iambic pentametre to English poetry, instead of the old Anglo-Saxon alliterative verse. He is the first great poet who wrote in the current English language. His production of so much excellent poetry was an important factor in establishing English as the literary language of the country.The significance of the The Canterbury T ales:1.it gives a comprehensive picture of Chaucer’s time2.the dramatic structure of the poem has been highly commended by critics .stories are cleverly woven together by links between the stories .stories are related to the personalities of the tellers3.Chaucer’s humour .Chaucer “the smyler with the knyf under the cloke”4.Chaucer’s contribution to the English language .He wrote in the London dialect to prove that English language is a beautiful language and can be handled to express different moods .Thus increased the prestige of eh English language.T omas More:Utopia.Edmund Spencer:The Shepherds Calendar/The Fairy Queen.Christopher Marlowe:The most prominent of the university wits. (Tamburlaine the Great/The tragic history of doctor Faustus)Francis Bacon:founder of English materialist philosophy. (Conciseness、Brevity、clearness、precision、Forcefulness)John Donne:the founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry.(The Flea). Comments on John Donne:1)In his life time, he exerted a measure of influence that none of his contemporaries ever dreamt of having.2)He was to Ben Johnson “the first poet f the world in some things”3)His poems are uneven in quality.John Milton:(Paradise Lost/Paradise Regained/Samson Agonistes.) God: somewhat ruthless and tynnical.Satan: The real hero of the poem. Satan represented the spirit of rebellion against unjust authority. Adam and Eve: embodying Milton’s belief in the powers of man.The Importance of John Milton:1) He was the third greatest English poet after Chaucer and Shakespeare, and the greatest to come out of the 17th century. He made a strong influence on the later English poetry. Every progressive English poet since Milton has drawn inspiration from him.2) He wrote the greatest epic in Englishliterature.3) He was a master of the blank verse, first used blank verse in non-dramatic works. 4) H e was a great stylist, and famous for his grand style.John Bunyan: Puritan writer of prose.(The Pilgrim’s Progress(Allegory))Jonathan Swift:(Gulliver’s Travels).Comments on Jonathan Swift:1)Swift is one of the realist writers. His realism is quite different from Defoe's. Defoe's stories are based upon the reality of human life, while Swift's come from imagination.2)Swift is a great satirist. His satire is apparent and powerful.3)Swift is one of the greatest masters of English prose. His language is simple, clear and vigorous.Daniel Defoe:The forerunner of English realistic novel.(Robinson Crusoe/Moll Flanders)Special Features of Defoe’s Writing:1)Defoe is a realistic writer. His stories are all real concerns of his time: people in their struggle to overcome the natural or social environment. All his works have a very strong verisimilitude.2)Defoe adopted the autobiographical form and made full use of his long trained journalistic skill by describing things in great detail and by using specific time and space. 3)Defoe’s style is characterized by a plain, smooth, easy, direct, and almost colloquial but never coarse language. Comments on Defoe：1）Defoe believed in the educational function of novel. 2）Defoe’s novel take th e form of memoirs or pretended historical narratives. They are chiefly told in the first person’s point of view. 3）English realism begins with Daniel Defoe. Henry Fielding：father of English novel.(Joseph Andrews/Tom Jones).Comments：1)Fielding's method of relating a story is telling the story directly by the author. 2)Satire abounds everywhere in Fielding's works. 3)Fielding believed in the educational function of the novel. The object of his novels is to present a faithful picture of life, while sound teaching is woven into their very texture.4)Fielding is a master of style. His style is easy, unlabored and familiar, but extremely vivid and vigorous.Pre-romanticism: Representatives(William Blake and Robert Burns) Significance(1marked the decline of classicism 2paved the way for the coming of romanticism in England)Robert Burns:position and his features:1)A great Scottish peasant poet; a national poet of Scotland2)Numerous are Burns’s songs of love and friendship.3)His great success was largely due to his comprehensive knowledge and excellent mastery of the old song traditions. 4)His poetry have a musical quality that helps to perpetuate the sentiment.Jane Austen:(Pride and Prejudice/Sense and Sensibility)Samuel T aylor Coleridge:The first critic of romantic school. Demonic poems:(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner/Kubla Khan)George Gordon Byron:(Don Juan)Percy Bysshe Shelley:(Ode to the West Wind)John Keats:(Ode on a Grecian Urn)。