自考英美文学选读重点整理
《英美文学选读》复习资料
《英美文学选读》复习指导资料《英美文学选读》复习指导资料一． 课程介绍：课程介绍：本课程由英国文学和美国文学两个部分组成。
主要内容包括英美文学发展史及代表作家的简要介绍和作品选读。
及代表作家的简要介绍和作品选读。
文学史部分从英美两国历史、文学史部分从英美两国历史、文学史部分从英美两国历史、语言、语言、语言、文化发文化发展的角度，简要介绍英美两国文学各个历史时代的主要历史背景、文学文化思潮、文学流派、社会政治、经济、文化等对文学发展的影响，主要作家的文学生涯，创作思想，艺术特色及其代表作品的主题结构、人物刻画、语言风格、思想意义等。
选读部分主要接选了英美文学史上各个时期重要作家的代表作品，包括诗歌、戏剧、小说、散文等。
戏剧、小说、散文等。
二． 《英美文学选读》的考核目标，按照识记，领会，应用规定应当达到的能力层次要求。
三个层次呈递进关系，其含义是：识记：识记： 有关的概念、定义、知识点等能够记住领会：领会： 在识记的基础上，能够把握基本概念、基本方法和彼此之间的关系和区别和区别应用了在领会的基础上，能运用本课程的基本理论，能运用本课程的基本理论，基本知识和方法来分析基本知识和方法来分析英美文学作品，并能用英语正确表达。
Part 1 English Literature An Introduction to Old and Medieval English Literature 一．重点：有关这部分的文学史内容一．重点：有关这部分的文学史内容1．古代英国文学和中世纪英国文学的起始阶段2．英国文学史上的第一部民族史诗----Beowulf 3．中世纪文学的主要文学形式-----Romance 4．Geoffrey Chaucer 的文学贡献的文学贡献二．练习：二．练习：1. Choose the best answer for each blank. 1). The period of ______ English literature begins from about 450 to 1066, the year of ______. A . Old----Renaissance A. Old----Renaissance B. Middle---- the Norman Conquest of England C . Middle ---- Renaissance C. Middle ---- Renaissance D. Old---- the Norman Conquest of England 2).. 2).. The The The Medieval Medieval Medieval period period period in in in English English English literature literature literature extends extends extends from from from 1066 1066 1066 up up up to to to the the ______ century. A . mid-13th A. mid-13th B. mid-14th C. mid-15th D. mid-16th 3). Beowulf, a typical example of Old English poetry, is regarded today as the national ______ of the Anglo-Saxons. A . sonnet A. sonnet B. essay C. epic D. novel 4). 4). In The Canterbury Tales, ______ presented to In The Canterbury Tales, ______ presented to us us a comprehensive realistic a comprehensive realistic picture picture of of of the the the English English English society society society of of of his his his time time time and and and created created created a a a whole whole whole gallery gallery gallery of of of vivid vivid characters from all walks of life. A. A. Geoffrey Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer B. B. William Shakespeare Shakespeare C. C. Francis Bacon D. William Langland 5). 5). For For For the the the Renaissance, Renaissance, Renaissance, ______ ______ ______ was was was regarded regarded regarded as as as the the the English English English Homer. Homer. His reputation reputation has has has been been been securely securely securely established established established as as as one one one of of of the the the best best best English English English poets poets poets for for for his his wisdom, humor and ______. A . Geoffrey Chaucer----wits A. Geoffrey Chaucer----wits B. William Shakespeare----wits C . Geoffrey Chaucer----humanity C. Geoffrey Chaucer----humanity D. William Shakespeare----humanity 6). After the conquest of 1066, three languages co-existed in England. They are ______, ______ and ______. A . Old English, Greek, Latin A. Old English, Greek, Latin B. Old English, French, Latin C . Old English, Greek, French C. Old English, Greek, French D. English, Greek, French 7). 7). Geoffrey Geoffrey Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer Chaucer is is is the the the greatest greatest greatest writer writer writer of of of the the the Medieval Medieval Medieval period period period in in in English English literature. In “The Legend of Good Women”, he used for the first time in English the rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter which is to be called later the ______. A . couplet A. couplet B. blank verse C. heroic couplet D. epic 8). 8). Thematically Thematically Thematically the the the poem poem poem “Beowulf” “Beowulf” “Beowulf” presents presents presents a a a vivid vivid vivid picture picture picture of of of how how how the the primitive people wage heroic struggle against the hostile forces of the ______ world under a wise and mighty ______. A. A. spiritual----hero B . B. natural----leader C. spiritual----god D. natural----monster 9). It can be said that though essentially still a medieval writer, Geoffrey Chaucer bore marks of humanism and anticipated a new ______ to come. A . man A. man B. theory C. doctrine D. era 10). 10). Geoffrey Geoffrey Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer Chaucer introduced introduced introduced from from from France France France the the the rhymed rhymed rhymed stanzas stanzas stanzas of of of various various types to English poetry to replace the Old English ______ verse. A . rhymed A. rhymed B. alliterative C. social D. visionary 2. Explain the following literal terms. 1). Romance 2). Heroic Couplet 3). Epic 3. Answer the following questions. 1). How many groups do the Old English poetry poetry divided into? What divided into? What are they? Which group does Beowulf belong to? Why? 2). What is the contribution of Geoffrey Chaucer to English literature? Chapter1. The The Renaissance Period一．重点一．重点前言部分前言部分1． 文艺复兴的起源，起始时间，内容及特征2． 人文主义的有关主张及对文学的影响人文主义的有关主张及对文学的影响3． 文艺复兴时期的主要文学形式及其特征练习：练习：Renaissance Period 1. Choose the best answer for each blank. 1). 1). The The The Renaissance, Renaissance, Renaissance, in in in essence, essence, essence, is is is a a a historical historical historical period period period in in in which which which the the the European European ______ thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of those old feudalist ideas in medieval medieval Europe, Europe, Europe, to to to introduce introduce introduce new new new ideas ideas ideas that that that expressed expressed expressed the the the interests interests interests of of of the the the rising rising bourgeoisie, and to recover the purity of the early church form the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. A . Greek and Roman A. Greek and Roman B. humanist C. religious D. loyal 2). 2). Generally, Generally, Generally, the the the ______ ______ ______ refers refers refers to to to the the the period period period between between between the the the 14th 14th 14th and and and mid-17th mid-17th centuries. centuries. It It It first first first started started started in in in Italy, Italy, with with the the the flowering flowering flowering of of of painting, painting, painting, sculpture sculpture sculpture and and literature. From Italy the movement went to embrace the rest of Europe. A. Medieval Period B . B. Renaissance C. Old English Period D . D. Romantic Period 3). ______ is is the the the essence essence of of the the the Renaissance. Renaissance. Thomas More, Christopher Marlowe and _______ are the best representatives of the English humanists. A. Humanity---- William Shakespeare B. Humanism-----Francis Bacon C. Humanity---- Geoffrey Chaucer D. Humanism----William Shakespeare 4). The Elizabethan ______ is the real mainstream of the English Renaissance. The The most most most famous famous famous dramatists dramatists dramatists in in in the the the Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance England England England are are are Christopher Christopher Christopher Marlowe, Marlowe, William Shakespeare, and ______. A . novel--- Geoffrey Chaucer A. novel--- Geoffrey Chaucer B. poetry----Francis Bacon C . drama----Ben Jonson C. drama----Ben Jonson D. drama----Geoffrey Chaucer 5). Humanism sprang from the endeavor to restore a medieval reverence for the antique antique authors authors authors and and and is is is frequently frequently frequently taken taken taken as as as the the the beginning beginning beginning of of of the the the Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance on on on its its conscious, intellectual side, for the Greek and ______ civilization was based on such a conception that ______ is the measure of all things. A . Roman ---- moral A. Roman ---- moral B. French---- reason C. Roman---- man D. French---- God 6).One of the major result of the Reformation in England was the fact that the Bible in English was placed in every church and services were held in English instead of ______ so that people could understand. A. Latin B. French C. Greek D. Anglo-Saxon 7). 7). Wyatt, Wyatt, Wyatt, in in in the the the Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance period, period, period, introduced introduced introduced the the the Petrarchan Petrarchan Petrarchan ______ ______ ______ into into England, while Surrey brought in ______ verse. A. drama----free B . B. sonnet----blank C . C. terzarima----blank D. couplet----free 8). 8). In In In the the the early early early stage stage stage of of of the the the English English English Renaissance, Renaissance, Renaissance, poetry poetry poetry and and and ______ ______ ______ were were were the the most outstanding forms and they were carried on especially by William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. A. fiction B. dramatic fiction C. poetic drama D. novel 9). 9). By By By emphasizing emphasizing emphasizing the the the dignity dignity dignity of of of human human human beings beings beings and and and the the the importance importance importance of of of the the present life, ______ voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of this life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders. A. humanists B. Protestants C. Catholics D. playwrights 10). ______ was the first important English essayist. He was also the founder of modern science in England. A . A. A. Edmund Edmund Edmund Spenser Spenser B. B. Christopher Christopher Christopher Marlowe Marlowe C. C. Francis Francis Francis Bacon Bacon D. Ben Jonson 2. Explain the following literal terms. 1). the Renaissance Period 2). blank verse 3). Humanism 3. Answer the following questions. 1). 1). Make Make Make a a a comment comment comment on on on the the the influence influence influence of of of Italian Italian Italian literary literary literary works works works upon upon upon the the literature in the Renaissance England. 2). Make a comment on humanism 3). 3). What are the typical characteristics of literary works produced in Renaissance England? 文艺复兴时期的主要作家。
英美文学选读自考重点
英美文学选读自考重点英美文学选读是自考中一门重要且富有魅力的课程，它涵盖了英国和美国文学发展历程中的众多经典作品和重要作家。
对于自考生来说，掌握重点内容是顺利通过考试的关键。
以下将为您详细介绍英美文学选读自考的重点。
一、英国文学部分1、古英语时期与中世纪文学这一时期的重点是了解英国文学的起源和早期发展。
比如，《贝奥武甫》是英国文学史上第一部重要的史诗，要理解其主题、结构和语言特点。
另外，乔叟的《坎特伯雷故事集》也是重点，需掌握其对人物的刻画、叙事技巧以及反映的社会现实。
2、文艺复兴时期文学文艺复兴时期的英国文学成就斐然。
威廉·莎士比亚是重中之重，他的戏剧作品如《哈姆雷特》《罗密欧与朱丽叶》《麦克白》等，要深入研究其人物塑造、情节设置、主题思想以及对人性、命运、爱情等问题的探讨。
同时，还需了解这一时期其他重要作家如托马斯·莫尔的《乌托邦》。
3、 17 世纪文学这一时期的玄学派诗歌和清教徒文学是重点。
约翰·多恩的玄学派诗歌以奇特的比喻和复杂的思维著称，要理解其诗歌的独特风格和思想内涵。
而弥尔顿的《失乐园》《复乐园》等作品，则要把握其宗教主题和史诗般的气魄。
4、 18 世纪文学启蒙运动时期的英国文学注重现实和理性。
丹尼尔·笛福的《鲁滨逊漂流记》是必读作品，要分析主人公的形象和作品所反映的殖民主义、个人奋斗等主题。
此外，乔纳森·斯威夫特的《格列佛游记》也是重点，理解其讽刺手法和对社会现象的批判。
5、 19 世纪浪漫主义文学浪漫主义时期的诗人如威廉·华兹华斯、塞缪尔·泰勒·柯勒律治、拜伦、雪莱和济慈的作品都需要认真研读。
了解他们各自的诗歌风格、主题以及对自然、爱情、自由等的追求。
同时，简·奥斯汀的小说《傲慢与偏见》也是常考内容，要分析其细腻的人物描写和婚姻爱情观。
6、 19 世纪现实主义文学查尔斯·狄更斯的作品在这一时期占据重要地位，如《雾都孤儿》《大卫·科波菲尔》《双城记》等，要理解其对社会现实的批判和对人性的关怀。
自考英美文学选读_重点总结【英国】Chapter 5 The Modern Period现代时期
【英国】Chapter 5 The Modern Period现代时期1. The once sun-never-set Empire finally collapsed.日不落帝国终于日薄西山了。
2. Arthur Schopenhauer, a pessimistic philosopher, started a rebellion against rationalism, stressing the importance of will and intuition.德国哲学家亚瑟.叔本华的悲观主义与反理性哲学强调了人的意愿与直觉的重要性。
3. Friedrich Nietzsche advocated the doctrines of power and superman and by completely rejecting the Christian morality.尼采继承了叔本华的理论后，更进一步的反叛理性主义与基督教精神，推崇强权与霸权。
4. Henry Bergson established his irrational philosophy, which put the emphasis on creation, intuition, irrationality and unconsciousness.亨利.伯格森在前人基础上创立了非理性哲学，强调创造力，直觉，非理性与无意识。
5. The appalling shock of the First World War severely destroyed people’s faith in the Victorian values.一战的毁灭性灾难摧垮了人们对维多利亚道德标准的信奉。
6. The French symbolism, appearing in the late 19th century, heralded modernism.19世纪晚期法国的象征主义预示了现代主义的诞生。
自考英美文学选读必考重点第四讲文艺复兴时期
3. Language and style :
A. Irony is a good means of dramatic presentation . Disguise is also an important device to create dramatic irony , usually with woman disguised as man .
The Tempest :
a. The Tempest , an elaborate and fantastic story , is known as the best of his final romances .
b. The Tempest is a typical example of his Pessimistic view toward human life and society in his late years .
2. The romantic comedies : A . The theme : …takes an optimistic attitude toward love and youth , and
the romantic elements are brought into full play . The example : The important play among the comedies is the Merchant of
Venice . a. The traditional theme :
《英美文学选读》自学资料全
《英美文学选读》自学资料-(全)American LiteratureChapter one : The romantic periodI. Emerson’s transcendentalism and his attitude toward nature:1.Transcendentalism—it is a philosophic and literary movement that flourish in New England, as a reaction against rationalism and Calvinism. It stressed intuitive understanding of god without the help of the church, and advocated independence of the mind.2. Emerson’s transcendentalism:The over-soul—it is an all-pervading power goodness, from which all things come and of which all are a part. It is a supreme reality of mind, a spiritual unity of all beings and a religion. It is a communication between an individual soul and the universalover-soul. And he strongly believe in the divinity and infinity of man as an individual, so man can totally rely on himself.3.His toward nature:Emerson loves nature. His nature is the garment of the over-soul, symbolic and moral bound. Nature is not something purely of the matter, but alive with God’s presence. It exercise a healthy and restorative influence on human beings. Children can see nature better than adult.II. Hawthorne’s Puritanism and his black vision of man:1. Puritanism—it is the religious belief of the Puristans, who had intended to purify and simplify the religious ritual of the church of England.2. his black vision of man—by the Calvinistic concept of original sin, he believed that human being are evil natured and sinful, and this sin is ever present in human heart and will pass one generation to another.3. Young Goodman Brown—it shows that everyone has some evil secrets. The innocent and naïve Brown is confronted with the vision of human evil in one terrible night, and then he becomes distrustful and doubtful. Brown stands for everyone ,who is born pure and has no contact with the real world ,and the prominent people of the village and church. They cover their secrets during daily lives, and under some circumstances such as the witch’s Sabbath, they becomewhat they are. Even his closed wife, Faith, is no exception. So Brown is aged in that night.III. The symbolism of Melville’s Mobby-Dick1.The voyage to catch the white whale is the one of the mind in quest of the truth and knowledge of universe.2. To Ahab, the whale is an evil creature or the agent of an evil force that control the universe. As to readers, the whale is a symbol of physical limits, or a symbol of nature. It also can stand for the ultimate mystery of the universe and the wall behind which unknown malicious things are hiding.IV. Whitman and his Leaves of Grass :1. Theme: sing of the “en-mass” and the self / pursuit of love, happiness, and ***ual love / sometimes about politics (Drum taps)2. Whitman’s originality first in his use of the poetic form free verse(i.e. poetry without a fixed beat or regular rhyme scheme),by means of which he becomes conversational and casual.3.He uses the first person pronoun “I” to stress individualism, and oral language to acquire sympathy from the common reader. Chapter two : The realistic periodI. The character analysis and social meaning of Huck Finn inAdventure of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainHuck is a typical American boy with “a sound heart and a deformed conscience”. He appears to be vulgar in language and in manner, but he is honest and decent in essence. His remarkable raft’s journey down on the Mississippi river can be regarded as his process of education and his way to grow up. At first, he stands by slavery, for he clings to the idea that if he lets go the slave, he will be damned to go to hell. And when the “King” sells Jim for money, Huck decides to inform Jim’s master. After he thinks of the past good time when Jim and he are on the raft where Jim shows great care and deep affection for him, he decide to rescue Jim. And Huck still thinks he is wrong while he is doing the right thing.Huck is the son of nature and a symbol for freedom and earthly pragmatism. Through the eye of Huck, the innocent and reluctant rebel, we see the pre-Civil War American society fully exposed. Twain contrasts the life on the river and the life on the banks, the innocence and the experience, the nature and the culture, the wilderness and the civilization.II. Daisy Miller by Henry James1. Theme: The novel is a story about American innocence defeated by the stiff, traditional values of Europe. James condemns the American failure to adopt expressive manners intelligently and point out the false believing that a good heart is readily visible to all. The death of Daisy results from the misunderstanding between people with different cultural backgrounds.2. The character analysis of Daisy: She represents typical American girl, who is uninformed and without the mature guidance. Ignorance and parental indulgence combine to foster he assertiveself-confidence and fierce willfulness. She behaves in the same daring naive way in Europe as she does at home. When someone is against her, she becomes more contrary. She knows that she means no harm and is amazed that anyone should think she does. She does not compromise to the European manners.3. The character analysis of Winterbourne: He is a EuropeanizedAmerican, who has live too long in foreign parts. He is very experience and has a problem understanding Daisy. He endeavors to put her in sort of formula, i.e. to classify her.III. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser:1. Theme: The author invented the success of Carrie and the downfall of Hurstwood out of an inevitable and natural judgment, because the fittest can survive in a competitive, amoral society according to the social Darwinism.2. The character analysis of Carrie: She follows the right direction toa pursuit of the American dream, and the circumstances and her desire for a better life direct to the successful goal. But she is not contented, because with wealth and fame, she still finds herself lonely. She is a product of the society, a realization of the theory of the survival of the fittest.3. The character analysis of Hurstwood: He is a negative evidence of the theory of the survival of the fittest. Because he is still conventional and can not throw away the social morals, he is not fitted to live in New York.Chapter three : The Modern PeriodI. Ezra Pound and his theory of Imagism1. The principles: a. direct treatment of the thing; b. to use absolutely no word that does not contribute to the presentation; c. to compose in the sequence of the musical; d. to use the language of common speech and the exact word; e. to create new rhythms; f. absolutely freedom in the choice of subject.2. Imagism is to present an intellectual and emotional complex in an instant of time. An imagistic poem must present the object exactly the way the thing is seen. And the reader can form the image of the object through the process of reading the abstract and concrete words.II. Frost and his poetry on nature:Frost is deeply interested in nature and in men’s relationship to nature. Nature appears as an explicator and a mediator for man and serve as the center of reference of his behavior. Peace and order can be found in Frost’s poetical natural world. With surface simplicity of his poems, the thematic concerns are always presented in rich symbols. Therefore his work resists easy interpretation.III. F. Scott Fitzgerald and his The Great Gatsby1. Theme: Gatsby is American Everyman. His extraordinary energy and wealth make him pursue the dream. His death in the end points at the truth about the withering of the American Dream. The spiritual and moral sterility that has resulted from the withered American Dream is fully revealed in the article. However, although he is defeated, the dream has gave Gatsby a dignity and a set of qualities. His hope and belief in the promise of future makes him the embodiment of the values of the incorruptible American Dream .2. The character analysis of Gatsby: Gatsby is great, because he is dignified and ennobled by his dream and his mythic vision of life. He has the desire to repeat the past, the desire for money, and the desire for incarnation of unutterable vision on this material earth. For Gatsby, Daisy is the soul of his dreams. He believe he can regain Daisy and romantically rebels of time. Although he has the wealth that can match with the leisured class, he does not have their manners. His tragedy lies in his possession of a naive sense and chivalry.IV. Ernest Hemingway’s artistic features:1. The Hemingway code heroes and grace under pressure:They have seen the cold world ,and for one cause, they boldly and courageously face the reality. They has an indestructible spirit for his optimistic view of life. Whatever is the result is, the are ready to live with grace under pressure. No matter how tragic the ending is, they will never be defeated. Finally, they will be prevail because of their indestructible spirit and courage.2.The iceberg technique:Hemingway believe that a good writer does not need to reveal every detail of a character or action. The one-eighth the is presented will suggest all other meaningful dimensions of the story. Thus, Hemingway’s languag e is symbolic and suggestive.V. The character analysis of Emily in A Rose for Emily:Emily is a symbol of old values, standing for tradition, duty and past glory. But she is also a victim to all those she cares and embrace. The source of Emily’s stran geness is from her born pride and self-esteem, the domineering behavior of her father and the betrayal of her lover. Barricaded in her house, she has frozen the past to protect her dreams. Her life is tragic because the defiance of the community, her refusal to accept the change and her extreme pride have pushed her to abnormality and insanity.【自考版重要资料汇总】自烤成柴engBus清洁工会员等级: 超级版主发帖数量: 1,243精华数量: 0所持现金: 3128英币银行状态:正常用户积分: 10来自: 注册日期: 2006-02-06# 22006-02-16 14:04English LiteratureChapter One The Renaissance PeriodI. Shakespeare’s sonnets1. With a few exceptions, Shakespeare writes his sonnets in the popular English form of three quatrains and a couplet. The couplet usually ties the sonnet to one of the general themes, leaving the quatrains free to develop the poetic intensity.2. The sonnet’s most common themes concern the destructive effects of time, the quickness of physical decay, and the loss of beauty, vigor, and love. Although the poems celebrate life, they are always with a keen awareness of death.3. His sonnet 18 expresses that beautiful things can rely on the force of literature to reach eternity. Literature is created by man, thus it declares man’s eternity. The poem shows the mighty self-confidence of the newly class.The vivid, variable and rich images reflect the lively and adventurous spirits of those who were opening new world.[/font]II. Shakespeare’s A Merchant of Venice1. Theme(1) Justice vs. mercy: Shakespeare suggests that all men should bemerciful. There is a further aspect of justice—the injustice revealed in the Christians’ treatment of the Jews.(2) Appearance vs. reality: e.g. superficial or external beauty vs. moral or spiritual beauty or truth (in the case of three caskets); the letters of law vs. the spirit of the law.(3) Commercial or material values vs. love: True love is much more worthwhile than money and material values. Antonioepitomizes true love in his friendship for Bassanio.2. The character analysis of ShylockShylock is a Jewish usurer, and he is a tragic-comic character.He is comic because he finally becomes the one punished by his own evil deed. He is avaricious. He accumulates as much wealth as he can and he even equates his lostdaughter with his lost money. He is also cruel. In order to revenge, he would rather claim a pound of flesh from his enemy Antonio than get back his loan.He is tragic, because he is the victim of the society. As a Jew, he is not treated equally by the society. The law is harsh to him. He has to make as much money as he can in order to protect him. He is abused by Antonio, so he wants to get revenge.III. The character analysis of HamletHamlet is a scholar and a warrior. His father has been killed by his uncle, Claudius, who then take the throne and marries his mother. Hamlet is informed by the ghost of his father to take revenge, but the weakness of indecisiveness or indetermination in his character always delay his action, and finally leads to his tragic fall of death. Hamlet is not a man of action, but a man of thinking at first. He hesitates at some crucial moments. At last when he is forced to take some actions, he does kill Claudiusgloriously, but he also sacrifices his own life.IV. Donne and his “The Sun Rising”1. Metaphysical poet: He wrote poems by using unconventional and surprising conceits and full of wit and humor, but sometimes the logic argument and conceits become pervasive. The language is colloquial but powerful, creating unorthodox images on the reader’s mind.2. His “The Sun Rising”: In this poem, the love’s wedding room has been intruded by sun and the man takes offence at the intrusion. He attack the sun as an unruly servant, and finally he allow the sun to enter their chamber and warm them. The poem’s true subject is the lady—his true emotional love. Every insult to the sun is a compliment to the lady.[font=Times New Roman]V. Milton’s Paradise Lost :1.Structure: The story is taken from the Old Testament. It extends chronologically from the exaltation of Christ before the creature of universe to the second coming of Christ. Geographically, it ranges over the entire world.2. The character analysis of Satan:He has the strength, the courage and the capacity for leadership, but he devoted all those qualities toevil. His defiance of God shows his egoistic pride, his false conception of freedom, and his alienation from all good. His own evil and damnation give him potentially tragic dimensions. Therefore, Satan is enveloped in dramatic irony because he fight in ignorance of the unshakable power of God and goodness.3.Features: Parallel and contrastThe central conflict and contrast between good and evil are intensified by the contrast between heaven and hell, light anddarkness, love and hate, reasonand passion, etc.自烤成柴engBus清洁工会员等级: 超级版主发帖数量: 1,243精华数量: 0所持现金: 3128英币银行状态:正常用户积分: 10来自: 注册日期:2006-02-06# 32006-02-16 14:04English LiteratureChapter One The Renaissance PeriodI. Shakespeare’s sonnets1. With a few exceptions, Shakespeare writes his sonnets in the popularEnglish form of three quatrains and a couplet. The couplet usually ties thesonnet to one of the general themes, leaving the quatrains free to develop thepoetic intensity.2. The sonnet’s most common themes concern the destructive effects of time,the quickness of physical decay, and the loss of beauty, vigor, and love.Although the poems celebrate life, they are always with a keen awareness ofdeath.3. His sonnet 18 expresses that beautiful things can rely on the force ofliterature to reach eternity. Literature is created by man, thus it declaresman’s eternity. The poem shows the mighty self-confidence of the newly class.The vivid, variable and rich images reflect the lively and adventurous spiritsof those who were opening new world.II. Shakespeare’s A Merchant of Venice1. Theme(1) Justice vs. mercy: Shakespeare suggests that all men should be merciful. There is a further aspect of justice—the injustice revealed in the Christians’ treatment of the Jews.(2) Appearance vs. reality: e.g. superficial or external beauty vs. moral or spiritual beauty or truth (in the case of three caskets); the letters of law vs. the spirit of the law.(3) Commercial or material values vs. love: True love is much more worthwhile than money and material values. Antonio epitomizes true love in his friendship for Bassanio.2. The character analysis of ShylockShylock is a Jewish usurer, and he is a tragic-comic character.He is comic because he finally becomes the one punished by his own evil deed. He is avaricious. He accumulates as much wealth as he can and he even equates his lost daughter with his lost money. He is also cruel. In order to revenge, he would rather claim a pound of flesh from his enemy Antonio than get back his loan.He is tragic, because he is the victim of the society. As a Jew, he is not treated equally by the society. The law is harsh to him. He has to make as much money as he can in order to protect him. He is abused by Antonio, so he wants to get revenge.III. The character analysis of HamletHamlet is a scholar and a warrior. His father has been killed by his uncle, Claudius, who then take the throne and marries his mother. Hamlet is informed by the ghost of his father to take revenge, but the weakness of indecisiveness or indetermination in his character always delay his action, and finally leads to his tragic fall of death. Hamlet is not a man of action, but a man of thinking at first. He hesitates at some crucial moments. At last when he is forced to take some actions, he does kill Claudius gloriously, but he also sacrifices his own life.IV. Donne and his “The Sun Rising”1. Metaphysical poet: He wrote poems by using unconventional and surprising conceits and full of wit and humor, but sometimes the logic argument and conceits become pervasive. The language is colloquial but powerful, creating unorthodox images on the reader’s mind.2. His “The Sun Rising”: In this poem, the love’s wedding room has been intruded by sun and the man takes offence at the intrusion. He attack the sun as an unruly servant, and finally he allow the sun to enter their chamber and warm them. The poem’s true subject is the lady—his true emotional love. Every insult to the sun is a compliment to the lady.V. Milton’s Paradise Lost :1.Structure: The story is taken from the Old Testament. It extends chronologically from the exaltation of Christ before the creature of universe to the second coming of Christ. Geographically, it ranges over the entire world.2. The character analysis of Satan:He has the strength, the courage and the capacity for leadership, but he devoted all those qualities to evil. His defiance of God shows his egoistic pride, his false conception of freedom, and his alienation from all good. His own evil and damnation give him potentially tragic dimensions. Therefore, Satan is enveloped in dramatic irony because he fight in ignorance of the unshakable power of God and goodness.3.Features: Parallel and contrastThe central conflict and contrast between good and evil are intensified by the contrast between heaven and hell, light and darkness, love and hate, reason and passion, etc.自烤成柴engBus清洁工# 4 2006-02-16 14:04会员等级: 超级版主发帖数量: 1,243精华数量: 0所持现金: 3128英币银行状态:正常用户积分: 10来自: 注册日期: 2006-02-06Chapter Two The Neo-classicalPeriodI. The allegorical meaning of “The Vanity Fair” in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s ProgressThe Vanity Fair refers to the real world where people have become so degenerated that all they are concerned is to buy and sell everything they can. It allegorically represents vanity both in the society and in people’s heart, so people are spiritually lost. However, the pilgrims refuse to buy any of the things in the Vanity Fair. Its purpose is to urge people to abide by Christian doctrines and seek salvation through constant struggle with their own weakness and social evils. Christians’ refusal shows that they are one step nearer the Celestial City.II. Pope’s point of view on poetry criticism and the characteristics of his own poetry1. Pope’s point of view on poetry criticism is best shown in his An Essays on Criticism. He emphasizing that literary works should be judged by classical rules of order, reason, logic, restrained emotion and good taste. He calls on people to turn to the old Greek and Roman writers for guidance. He advises the critics not to stress too much the artificial use of conceit or the external beauty of language, but to pay special attention to true wit which is best set in a plain style.2. Pope’s poem strictly follows his idea of neoclassicism. He developed a satiric, concise, smooth, graceful and well-balanced style, and finally brought to its last perfection of the heroic couplet.III. The social satire of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s TravelsThe account of Lilliputian life, especially the games for people at court, alludes to the similar ridiculous practices or tricks in the English government. The description of the competition in the games before the royal members leads to the fact that the success of those government officials such as the Prime Minister lies not in their being any wiser or better but in their being more dexterous in the game. This alludes to the practices in England. And the pompous words singing of the Lilliputian emperor ridicule the aristocratic arrogance and vanity.IV. Henry Fielding and his Tom JonesIt is a good example of “comic epic in prose”. Fielding describes the fight between Molly and the villagers and her fistfight with Goody Brown in the grand style of the Homeric epic. He first of all calls on the Muses to assist him in recounting the fight as if it were of great historical importance. Like Homer who would list names of gods involved in the battle, he lists the names of the villagers. He treats Molly as a great hero at battle, an “Amazonian heroine”. Besides, he uses a mock-epic tone and seems very solemn about what he is describing. He uses formal words and refined language. Finally, he makes use of different figures of speech, particularly, irony and hyperbole.V. Thomas Gray and his “Elegy Written in a County Church”In the poem, Gray presents a picture of the quiet and solitary county at dusk through the sounding of the curfew, the home-coming plowman, the tinkling of bells under the necks of the cattle, the moping owl, the narrow cell (grave), etc.. He bemoans the fate of those common laborers who are now buried in the graves, tries to imagine how they had lived as loving parents and hardworking people, and praise their homely joys. He then express his contempt for those noblemen who once lived a pompous life, and despised the poor, but havee nded up in a way no better than the ordinary folk. We can see Gray’s sympathy for the poor and contempt for the rich.Chapter Three The Romantic Period I. Wordsworth and his “I wandered lonely as a cloud”The poem is crystal clear and lucid. Below the immediate surface, we find that all the realistic details of the flowers, the trees, the waves, the wind, and all the realistic details of the active joy, are absorbed into an over-all concrete metaphor, the recurrent image of the dance. The flowers, the stars, the waves are units in this dancing pattern of order in diversity, of linked eternal harmony and vitality. Through the revelation and recognition of his kinship with nature, the poet himself becomes as it were a part of the whole cosmic dance.II. Shelley and his “Ode to the West Wind”In the poem, Shelley eulogizes the west wind as a powerful phenomenon of nature that is both destroyer and preserver. The wind enjoys boundless freedom and has the power to spread messages far and wide. The keynote in the poem is Shelley’s ever-present wish for himself and his fellow men to sharethe freedom of the west wind, remembering meanwhile his own and commonhuman miseries. And the dominant mood is that of hope rather than despair,as the poet is hoping for the realization of the freedom and joy. The optimismexpressed in the last two lines show the poet’s critical attitude toward the uglysocial reality and his faith in a bright future for humanity.III. John Keats and his “Ode on a Grecian Urn”In the poem Keats shows the contrast between the permanence of art and thetransience of human passion. The poet has absorbed himself into the timelessbeautiful scenery on the Grecian urn: the lovers, musicians and worshipperscarved on the urn, and their everlasting joys. They are unaffected by time,stilled in expectation. This is the glory and the limitation of the world conjuredup by and object of art. The urn celebrates but simplifies intuitions of joy bydefying our pain and suffering. But at last, the urn presents his ambivalenceabout time and the nature of beauty.IV. The character analysis of Elizabeth in Jane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceElizabeth is a beautiful young lady in the Bennets. She is intelligent,contrasting her empty-minded, snobbish and vulgar mother. She is a womenof distinct character. She is not passive, but pursue her true love bravely. Sheturns down Mr. Collin’s marriage proposal and seeking her happiness withDarcy, the one she possesses true affection for her. She is also courageous.When Darcy’s aunt lady comes to force her into a promise of never consentingto marry Darcy, she boldly challenges her authority, contempt and arrogance.On the whole, Elizabeth is a typical image of the good, attractive lady in the19th century.自烤成柴engBus清洁工# 52006-02-16 14:04Chapter Two The Neo-classical会员等级: 超级版主发帖数量: 1,243精华数量: 0所持现金: 3128英币银行状态:正常用户积分: 10来自: 注册日期: 2006-02-06PeriodI. The allegorical meaning of “The Vanity Fair” in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s ProgressThe Vanity Fair refers to the real world where people have become so degenerated that all they are concerned is to buy and sell everything they can. It allegorically represents vanity both in the so ciety and in people’s heart, so people are spiritually lost. However, the pilgrims refuse to buy any of the things in the Vanity Fair. Its purpose is to urge people to abide by Christian doctrines and seek salvation through constant struggle with their own weakness and social evils. Christians’ refusal shows that they are one step nearer the Celestial City.II. Pope’s point of view on poetry criticism and the characteristics of his own poetry1. Pope’s point of view on poetry criticism is best shown in hi s An Essays on Criticism. He emphasizing that literary works should be judged by classical rules of order, reason, logic, restrained emotion and good taste. He calls on people to turn to the old Greek and Roman writers for guidance. He advises the critics not to stress too much the artificial use of conceit or the external beauty of language, but to pay special attention to true wit which is best set in a plain style.2. Pope’s poem strictly follows his idea of neoclassicism. He developed a satiric, concise, smooth, graceful and well-balanced style, and finally brought to its last perfection of the heroic couplet.III. The social satire of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s TravelsThe account of Lilliputian life, especially the games for people at court, alludes to the similar ridiculous practices or tricks in the English government. The description of the competition in the games before the royal members leads to the fact that the success of those government officials such as the Prime Minister lies not in their being any wiser or better but in their being more dexterous in the game. This alludes to the practices in England. And the pompous words singing of the Lilliputian emperor ridicule the aristocratic arrogance and vanity.IV. Henry Fielding and his Tom JonesIt is a good example of “comic epic in prose”. Fielding describes the fightbetween Molly and the villagers and her fistfight with Goody Brown in the grand style of the Homeric epic. He first of all calls on the Muses to assist him in recounting the fight as if it were of great historical importance. Like Homer who would list names of gods involved in the battle, he lists the names of the villagers. He treats Molly as a great hero at battle, an “Amazonian heroine”. Besides, he uses a mock-epic tone and seems very solemn about what he is describing. He uses formal words and refined language. Finally, he makes use of different figures of speech, particularly, irony and hyperbole.V. Thomas Gray and his “Elegy Written in a County Church”In the poem, Gray presents a picture of the quiet and solitary county at dusk through the sounding of the curfew, the home-coming plowman, the tinkling of bells under the necks of the cattle, the moping owl, the narrow cell (grave), etc.. He bemoans the fate of those common laborers who are now buried in the graves, tries to imagine how they had lived as loving parents and hardworking people, and praise their homely joys. He then express his contempt for those noblemen who once lived a pompous life, and despised the poor, but have ended up in a way no better than the ordinary folk. We can see Gray’s sympathy for the poor and contempt for the rich.Chapter Three The Romantic Period I. Wordsworth and his “I wandered lonely as a cloud”The poem is crystal clear and lucid. Below the immediate surface, we find that all the realistic details of the flowers, the trees, the waves, the wind, and all the realistic details of the active joy, are absorbed into an over-all concrete metaphor, the recurrent image of the dance. The flowers, the stars, the waves are units in this dancing pattern of order in diversity, of linked eternal harmony and vitality. Through the revelation and recognition of his kinship with nature, the poet himself becomes as it were a part of the whole cosmic dance.II. Shelley and his “Ode to the West Wind”In the poem, Shelley eulogizes the west wind as a powerful phenomenon of nature that is both destroyer and preserver. The wind enjoys boundless freedom and has the power to spread messages far and wide. The keynote in the poem is Shelley’s ever-present wish for himself and his fellow men to share the freedom of the west wind, remembering meanwhile his own and common human miseries. And the dominant mood is that of hope rather than despair, as the poet is hoping for the realization of the freedom and joy. The optimism。
自学考试英美文学选读要点中英文概要
1234代价,与敌人同归于尽。
51. In his life, Milton shows himself a real revolutionary, a master poet and a great prose writer. 弥尔顿毕生都展现了真正的革命精神和非凡的诗歌才华。
52. Paradise Lost:人类由于理性不强,意志薄弱,经不起考验,暗示英国自产主义革命失败的原因。
Chapter2 The Neoclassical Period(1660-1798新古典主义1. In short, it was an age full of conflicts and divergence of values. 总之, 这一时期是矛盾与价值观分歧的时期。
2. The eighteenth-century England is also known as the Age of Enlighte nment or the Age of Reason. 英国的十八世纪也同时是启蒙主义时代, 或曰理性时代。
3. Its purpose was to enlighten the whole world with the light of modern philosophical and artistic ideas. 运动的主旨便是用当代哲学与艺术思想的晨光启迪整个世界。
4. Enlighteners held that rationality or reason should be the only, the fin al cause of any human thought and activities. They called for a referenc e to order, reason and rules. 启蒙者主张理性是任何人思想与行动的唯一缘由。
他们大力提倡秩序,理性及法律。
5. As a matter of fact, literature at the time, heavily didactic and moralizi ng, becamea very popular means of public education. 其实, 当时的文学作品种充满了说教与道德理念,就已经成为大众教育的良好工具。
自考英美文学选读(00604)
应用必背单元Chapter 1 The Ren aissa nee Period (2)Chapter 2 The Neoclassical Period (6)Chapter3 The Romantic Period. (9)Chapter 4 The Victorian Period (14)Chapter 5 The Modern Period (18)Chapter 1 The Renaissance Period1. 文艺复兴的主要作家及其作品1) Edmund Spenser: The Faerie Queene2) Christopher Marlowe: Dr Faustus Tamburlaine3) William Shakespeare: Henry IV; The Merchant of Venice; Hamlet; Othello;King Lear; Macbeth; Romeo and Juliet.4) John Donne: The Songs and Sonnets; The Sun Rising; Death, Be Not Proud5) John Milton: Paradise Lost; Paradise Regained; Samson Agonisttes2. 文艺复兴The Renaissanceis a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of those old feudalist ideas in medieval Europe, to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie, and to recover the purity of the early church form the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.3. 人文主义Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance. It sprang from the endeavor to restore a medieval reverence for the antique authors and is frequently taken as the beginning of the Renaissanceon its conscious, intellectual side, for the Greek and Roman civilization was based on such a conception that man is the measure of all things. Thus, by emphasizing the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life, they voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of this life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders.4. 玄学诗The term “metaphysical poetry”is commonly used to name the work of the 17th-century writers who wrote under the influence of John Donne. With a rebellious spirit the metaphysical poets tried to break away from the conventional fashion of the Elizabethan love poetry. The diction is simple as compared with that of the Elizabethan or the Neoclassic periods, and echoes the words and cadences of common speech. The imagery is drawn from the actual life. The form is frequently that of an argument with the poet's beloved, with God, or with himself.5. 莎士比亚的诗歌的主题、意向Shakespeare, as a humanist of the time, is against religious persecution and racial discrimination, against social inequality and the corrupting influence of gold andmoney. In his plays, he does not hesitate to describe the cruelty and anti-natural character of the civil wars, but he did not go all the way against the feudal rule. Shakespeare is against religious persecution and racial discrimination, against social inequality and the corrupting influence of gold and money.Shakespeare has accepted the Renaissance views on literature. He holds that literature should be a combination of beauty, kindness and truth, and should reflect nature and reality.A. Shakespeare's views on literature:Shakespeare has accepted the Renaissance views on literature. He holds that literature should be a combination of beauty, kindness and truth, and should reflect nature and reality. Shakespearealso states that literary works which have truly reflected nature and reality can reach immortality.B. The characteristics of Shakespear'se characters:Shakespear'es major characters are neither merely individual ones nor type ones; they are individuals representing certain types. Each character has his or her own personalities; meanwhile, they may share features with others.C. The characteristics of Shakespear'se plot:Shakespear'es plays are well-known for their adroit plot construction. Shakespeare seldom invents his own plots; instead, he borrows them from some old plays or storybooks, or from ancient Greek and Roman sources.D. The characteristics of Shakespear'se language:It is necessary to study the subtlest of his instruments—the language. Shakespearecan write skillfully in different poetic form, like the sonnet, the blank verse, and the rhymed couplet. He has an amazing wealth of vocabulary and idiom. His coinage of new words and distortion of the meaning of the old ones also create striking effects on the reader.3. 莎士比亚的四大悲剧：Shakespear'es greatest tragedies are: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. They have some characteristics in common. Each portrays some noble hero, who faces the injustice of human life and is caught in a difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of the whole action. Each hero has his weakness of nature. With the concentration on the tragic hero, we see the sharp conflicts between the individual and the evil force in the society, which shows that Shakespeare is a great realist in the true sense. Hamlet the melancholic scholar; Othello 's inner weakness is made use of by the outside evil force; the old King Lear who is unwilling to totally give up his power; and Macbeth 's lust for power stirs up his ambition and leads him to incessant crimes.4. 邓恩诗歌的主题、意向<The Songs and Sonnets>. Love is the basic theme. Donne holds that thenature of love is the union of soul and body. The perfection of human lovers will not be made with souls alone. This thought is quite contrary to the medieval love idea which merely put stress on spiritual love. Donne's interest lies in dramatizing and illustrating the state of being in love.5. 戏剧《威尼斯商人》的主题和主要人物的性格分析In his romantic comedies, Shakespearetakes an optimistic attitude toward love and youth, and the romantic elements are brought into full play. The most important play among the comedies is The Merchant of Venice. The sophistication derives in part from the play between high, outgoing romance and dark forces of negativity and hate. The traditional theme of this play is to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio, to idealize Portia as a heroine of great beauty, wit and loyalty, and to expose the insatiable greed and brutality of the Jew.Compared with the idealism of other plays, The Merchant of Venice takes a step forward in its realistic presentation of human nature and human conflict. Though there is a ridiculous touch on the part of the characters restrained by their limitations, Shakespeare's youthful Renaissance spirit of jollity can be fully seen in contrast to the medieval emphasis on future life in the next world.6. 哈姆雷特的性格分析Hamlet has none of the single-minded blood lust of the earlier revenger. It is not because he is incapable of action, but because the cast of his mind is so speculative, so questioning, and so contemplative that action, when it finally comes, seems almost like defeat, diminishing rather than adding to the stature of the here. Trapped in a night mare world of spying, testing and plotting, and apparently bearing the intolerable burden of the duty to revenge his father's death, Hamlet is obliged to inhabit a shadow world, to live suspendedbetween fact and fiction, language and action. His life is one of constant role-playing, examining the nature of action only to deny its possibility, for he is too sophisticated to degrade his nature to the conventional role of a stage revenger.The hero Hamlet in Shakespeare's play Hamlet is noted for his hesitation to take his revenge, his melancholy nature of action only to deny possibilities to do anything. He came to know that his father was murdered by his uncle who became king. He hated him so deeply that he wanted to kill him. But he loved his widowed mother who later married his uncle, and he was afraid to hurt his mother. And also, when everything was ready for him to kill his uncle, he forgave him for his uncle was praying to God for his crime. Thus he lost the good chance. Hamlet represented humanism of his time.7. 诗歌《失乐园》的结构、人物性格、语言特点的分析Working through the tradition of a Christian humanism, Milton wrote Paradise Lost, intending to expose the ways of Satan and to“justify the ways of God to men.”At the center of the conflict between human love and spiritual duty lies Milton 's fundamental concern with freedom and choice; the freedom to submit to God's prohibition on eating the apple and the choice of disobedience made for love.Eve, seduced by Satan's rhetoric and her own confused ambition-as well as the mere prompting of hunger- falls into sin through innocent credulity. Adam falls by consciously choosing human love rather than obeying God. In the fall of man Adam discovered his full humanity. But man's fall is the sequel to another and more stupendous tragedy, the fall of the angels.The freedom of the will is the keystone of Milton 's creed. His poem attempts to convince us that the unquestionable truth of Biblical revelation means that an all-knowing God was just in allowing Adam and Eve to be tempted and, of their free will, to choose sin and its inevitable punishment. And, thereby, it opens the way for the voluntary sacrifice of Christ which showed the mercy of God in bringing good out of evil.Chapter 2 The Neoclassical Period1. 新古典时期的作家及其作品1) John Bunyan ：<The Pilgrim's Progress>2) Alexander Pope：<An Essay on Criticism> <The Dunciad> <The Rape of theLock> <An Essay on Man>3) Daniel Defoe：<Robinson Crusoe>4) Jonathan Swift ：<A Tale of a Tub> <The Battle of the Books> <The Drapier'sLetters> <Gulliver's Travels> <A Modest Proposal>5) Henry Fielding：<The History of Jonathan Wild the Great> <The History ofTom Jones a Foundling> <The History of Amelia>6) Samuel Johnson：<To the Right Honorable the Earl of Chester field>7) Richard Brinsley Sheridan：<The School for Scandal>8) Thomas Gray ：<Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard>2. 启蒙运动The Enlightenment Movement was a progressive intellectual movement which flourished in France and swept through the whole Western Europe at the time. The movement was a furtherance of the Renaissance of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Its purpose was to enlighten the whole world with the light of modern philosophical and artistic ideas. They believed that the artistic ideals should be order, logic, restrained emotion and accuracy and that literature should be judged in terms of its service to humanity. They seek proportion, unity, harmony and grace in literary expressions, in an effort to delight, instruct and correct human beings. Thus a polite, elegant, witty, and intellectual art developed.3. 新古典主义In the field of literature, the Enlightenment Movement brought about a revival of interest in the old classical works. This tendency is known as neoclassicism. According to neoclassical period, all forms of literature were to be modeled after the classical works of the ancient Greek and Roman writers(Homer etc) and those of the contemporary French ones. They believed that the artistic ideals should be order, logic, restrained emotion and accuracy, and that literature should be judged in terms of its service to humanity.4. 英雄双行诗Prose should be precise, direct, smooth and flexible; Poetry should be lyrical 抒情的)，epical(叙事诗的,英雄的,有重大历史意义的)，didactic, satiric or dramatic, andeach class should be guided by its own principles; Drama should be written in the Heroic Couplets(iambic pentameter rhymed in two lines); the three unities of time,space and action should be strictly observed; regularity in construction should be adhered to, and type characters rather than individuals should be represented.5. 英国现实主义小说The modern English novel, which, contrary to the traditional romance of aristocrats, gives a realistic presentation of life of the common English people. Thus —the most significant phenomenon in the history of the development of English literature in the eighteenth century —is a natural product of the Industrial Revolution and a symbol of the growing importance and strength of the English middle class.6. 《天国历程》中“名利场”的寓意The Pilgrim's Progress is the most successful religious allegory in the English Ianguage. Its purpose is to urge people to abide（遵守，坚持）by Christian doctrines and seek salvation through constant struggles with their own weaknesses and all kinds of social evils. It is not only about something spiritual but also bears much relevance to the time. Its predominant metaphor（r寓意，隐喻）—life as a journey—is simple and familiar.7. 蒲伯的文学（诗歌）批评观点及其诗歌特色An Essay on Criticism, the poem, as a comprehensive study of the theories of literary criticism, exert great influence upon Pope's contemporary writers in advocating the classical rules and popularizing the neoclassicist tradition in England. The whole poem is written in a plain style, hardly containing any imagery or eloquence and therefore makes easy reading. Pope satirized all sorts of false learning and pedantry in literature, philosophy, science and other branches of knowledge.8. 鲁滨逊漂流记的特点The all-powerful influence of material circumstances or social environment upon the thoughts and actions of the hero or the heroine is highlighted. The struggle of the poor unfortunate for mere existence, mixed with their desire for great wealth, comes into conflict with the social environment which prevents them from obtaining the goal under normal circumstances and thus forces them into criminal actions or bold adventures.In most of his works, he gave his praise to the hard-working, sturdy middle class and showed his sympathy for the downtrodden, unfortunate poor.Robinson is here a real hero: a typical eighteenth-century English middle-class man, with a great capacity for work, inexhaustible energy, courage, patience and persistence in overcoming obstacles, in struggling against the hostile naturalenvironment. He is the very prototype（n雏形，范例，原型）of the empire builder, the pioneer colonist. In describing Robinson's life on the island, Defoe glorifies（v 赞美，美化）human labor and the Puritan（W青教徒）fortitude（n 刚/坚毅，不屈不挠）,which save Robinson from despair and are a source of pride and happiness9. 《格列佛游记》的社会讽刺As a whole, the book is one of the most effective and devastating criticisms and satires of all aspects in the then English and European life-socially, politically, religiously, philosophically, scientifically, and morally. Its social significance is great and its exploration into human nature profound.The exaggerated smallness in Part1 works just as effectively as the exaggerated largeness in Part 2. the similarities between human beings and the Lilliputians and the contrast between the Brobdingnagians and human beings both bear reference to the possibilities of human state. Part 3, though seemingly a bit random, furthers the criticism of the western civilization and deals with different malpractices and false illusions about science philosophy, history and even immortality. The last part, where comparison is made through both similarities and differences, leads the reader to fundamental question: What on earth is a human bein、g10. 菲尔丁“散文体史诗Fielding was the first to set out, both in theory and practice, to write specifically a "comic epic in prose". He adopted" the third—person narration," in which the author becomes the "al—l knowing God." He "thinks the thought " of all his characters, so he is able to present not only their external behaviours but also the internal workings of their minds. In planning his stories, he tries to retain the grand epical form of the classical works but at the same time keeps faithful to his realistic presentation of common life as it is.11. 格雷诗歌的主题与意象It is more or less或多或少）conn ected with the mela ncholy eve nt of death of Richard West, Gray's intimate friend. In this poem, Gray reflects on death, the sorrows of life, and the mysteries of human life with a touch of his personal melancholy. The poet compares the common folk with the great ones, wondering what the commons could have achieved if they had had the chance. Here he reveals his sympathy for the poor and the unknown, but mocks the great ones who despise the poor and bring havoc（n/v 破坏，混舌L ） on them.His poems, as a whole, are mostly devoted to a sentimental lamentation or meditation on life, past and present. His poems are characterized by an exquisite sense of form. His style is sophisticated and allusive. His poems are often marked with the trait （n 特征，特点）of a highly artificial diction and a distorted word order.Chapter3 The Romantic Period1. 浪漫主义时期的作家及其作品1) William Blake: Songs of Experience Songs of Innocence2) Marriage of Heaven and Hell3) William Wordsworth: The Prelude Composed upon Westminster Bridge4) Lyrical Ballads I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud5) The Solitary Reaper6) Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Kubla Khan The Rime of the Ancient Mariner7) George Gordon Byron: Don Juan Childe Harold ' s Pilgrimage8) Song for the Ludites9) Percy Bysshe Shelley: To a Skylark Men of England10) Ode to the West Wind11) John Keats: Ode to a Nightingale Ode on a Grecian Urn12) Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice2. 浪漫主义Romanticism actually constitutes a change of direction from attention to the outer world of social civilization to the inner world of the human spirit. In essenceit designates a literary and philosophical theory which tends to see the individual as the very center of all life and all experience. It also places the individual at center of art, making literature most valuable as an expression of his or her unique feelings and particular attitudes, and valuing its accuracy in portraying the individual 's experiences.3. 浪漫主义时期文学特点的分析A. In poetry writing, the romanticists employed new theories and innovated newtechniques, for example, the preface to the second edition of the Lyrical Ballads acts as a manifesto for the new school.B. The romanticists not only extol the faculty off imagination, but also elevate theconcepts of spontaneity and inspiration.C. They regarded nature as the major source of poetic imagery and the dominantsubject.D. Romantics also tend to be nationalistic.4. 浪漫主义(所选作品)的主题、意象分析A. To Wordsworth, nature acts as a substitute for imaginative and intellectual engagement with the development of embodied human beings in their diverse circumstances. It's nature that gives him“strength and knowledge full of peace.Wordsworth thinks that common life is the only subject of literary interest. The joys and sorrows of the common people are his themes. His sympathy always goes to the suffering poor.B. Byron puts into Don Juan his rich knowledge of the world and the wisdom gained from experience. It presents brilliant pictures of life in its various stages of love, joy, suffering, hatred and fear. The unifying principle in Don Juan is the basic ironic theme of appearanceand reality, ie. what things seem to be and what they actually are. Byron's satire on the English society in the later part of the poem can be compared with Pope's; and his satire is much less personal than that of Pope's, for Byron is here attacking not a personal enemy but the whole hypocritical society. And the diverse materials and the clash of emotions gathered in the poem are harmonized by Byron's insight into the difference between life's appearance and its actuality.5. a. The Romantic MovementIt expressed a more or less negative attitude towards the existing social & political conditions that came with industrialization & the growing importance of the bourgeoisie. The Romantics felt that the existing society denied people theiressential human needs, so they demonstrated a strong reaction against thedominant modes of thinking of the 18th-century writers & philosophers. Where their predecessors saw man as a social animal, the Romantics saw him essentially as an individual in the solitary state & emphasized the special qualities of each individual's mind. Romanticism actually constitutes a change of direction from attention to the outer.b. The Gothic novelIt is a type of romantic fiction that predominated in the late 18th century & was one phase of the Romantic movement, its principal elements are violence, horror & the supernatural, which strongly appeal to the reader's emotion. With its descriptions of the dark, irrational side of human nature, the Gothic form has exerted a great influence over the writer of the Romantic period. Works like The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) by Ann Radcliffe & Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley are typical Gothic romance.(2) Characteristics of Romantic literature in English history.The Romantic period is an age of poetry Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley & Keats are the major Romantic poets. They started a rebellion against the neoclassical literature, which was later regarded as the poetic revolution. Wordsworth & Coleridge were the major representativesof this movement. They explored new theories & innovated new techniques in poetry writing. They saw poetry as a healing energy: they believed that poetry could purify both individual souls & the society. The Romantics not only extol the faculty of imagination, but also stress the concept of spontaneity & inspiration, regarding them as something crucial for true poetry. The natural world comes to the forefront of the poetic imagination. Nature is not only the major source of poetic imagery, but also provides the dominant subject matter.Wordsworth is the closest to nature.To escape from a world that had became excessively rational, as well as excessively materialistic & ugly, the Romantics would turn to other times & places, where thequalities they valued could be convincingly depicted. Romantics also tend to be nationalistic, defending the great poets & dramatists of their own national heritage against the advocates of classical rules who tended to glorify Rome & rational Italian & French neoclassical art as superior to the native traditions. To the Romantics, poetry should be free from all rules. They would turn to the humble people & their everyday life for subjects, Romantic writers are always seeking for the Absolute, the Ideal through the transcendenceof the actual. They have also made bold experiments in poetic language, versification & design, & constructed a variety of forms on original principles of structure & style.6. 小说《傲慢与偏见》的主题和主要人物的性格分析Austen's main literary concern is about human beings in their personal relationships. Because of this, her novels have a universal significance. She is particularly preoccupied with the relationship between men & women in love. Stories of love & marriage provide the major themes in all her novels.1) Structure, characterization & language styleThe structure of the novel is exquisitely deft, the characterization in the highest degree memorable, while the irony has a radiant shrewdness unmatched elsewhere. At the heart of the novelist's exploration of the marriage, property & intrigue lies the exhilarating suspense of the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet & Darcy, & Jane Austen's delicate probing of the values of the gentry. The moments of high comedy in the novel are always related to deeper issues. Elizabeth's rejection of the odious Mr. Collins suggests her independence & self-esteem, but when Collins is accepted by her friend Charlotte Lucas, we see the reality of marriage as a necessary step if a woman is to a void the wretchedness of aging spinsterhood. Conversely, in the elopement of Lydia & Wickham, we are shown the dangers of feckless relationships unsupported by money. The comic characters in Pride & Prejudice are: Mr. & Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins & that monstrous snob Lady Catherine de Burgh, who make us laugh even as they parody erroneous views of marriage & class.5. 应用Characteristics of Jane Austen's novels1) Austen's novels describe a narrow range of society & events: a quiet, prosperous, middle class circle in provincial surroundings, which she knew well from her own experience2) Her subject matter is also limited, for most of her novels deal with the subject of getting married, which was in fact the central problem for the young leisure-class lady of that age, who had no other choice in her life but to find a good husband.3) Austen's interest was in human nature; in her depiction of human nature, instead of being fascinated by great waves of elevated emotion, by passion or heroic experience, she focused on the trivial & petty details of everyday living, which became very interesting through her truthful & lively description.4) Austen's novels are brightened by their witty conversation & omnipresent humor. Her language shines with an exquisite touch of lively gracefulness, elegant & refined, but never showy.6. 简奥斯丁对英国文学的伟大贡献：A ．Jane Austen is one of the most important Romantic novelists in Englishliterature. She creates six influential novels.B．Her main literary concern is about human beings in their personalrelationships. She makes trivial daily life as important as the concerns abouthuman belief career and salient social events. This is what makes her important in English literature.C．Jane Austen has brought the English novel, as an art of for, to its maturity becauseof her sensitivity to universal patterns of human behavior and heraccurate portrayal of human individuals.D．She describes the world from a woman's point of view, and depicts a group of authentic and common women.7. Wordsworth 的写作风格1) The Lyrical Ballads differs in marked ways from his early poetry, notablythe uncompromising simplicity of much of the language, the strongsympathy not merely with the poor in general but with particular,dramatized examples of them, and the fusion of natural description withexpressions of inward states of mind.2) According to subjects, Wordsworth's short poems can be classified intotwo groups: poems about nature and poems about human life.3) To Wordsworth, nature acts as a substitute for imaginative and intellectualengagement with the development of embodied human beings in theirdiverse circumstances. I'ts nature that gives him“strength and knowledgefull of peace.4) Wordsworth thinks that common life is the only subject of literary interest.The joys and sorrows of the common people are his themes. His sympathyalways goes to the suffering poor.5) Wordsworth's deliberate simplicity ad refusal to decorate the truth ofexperience produced a kind of pure and profound poetry which no otherpoet has ever equaled.8. Romantic poets 与Romantic Age 的不同处：The poetic ideals announced by Words worth and Coleridge provided a major inspiration for the brilliant young writers who made p the second generation of English Romantic poets. Wordsworth and Coleridge both became more conservative politically after the democratic idealism. The second generation of Romantic poets are revolutionary in thinking. They set themselves against the bourgeois society and the ruling class.9. Songs of innocence 与Songs of ExperieneeA. Songs of Innocence is a lovely volume of poems, presenting a happy andinnocent world, though not without its evils.B. Songs of Experience paints a different world, a world of misery, disease, warand repression with melancholy tone.C. The two books hold the similar subject-matter, but the tone, emphasis andconclusion differ.Chapter 4 The Victorian Period1. 维多利亚时期的主要作家与作品1) Charles Dicke ns: Oliver Twist; The Pickwick Paper; David Copper field.;Dombey and Son; A Tale of Two Cities; Bleak House; Hard Times; GreatExpectation; Our Mutual Friend.2) Emily Bronte: Wutheri ng Heights.Charlotte Bron te: Jane Eyre3) Alfred Tennyson: Ulysses; In Memoriam; Break, Break, Break;Dora; Crossing the Bar; Morte d' Arthur; The Gardener's Daughter; ThePrin cess4) Robert Browning: The Ring and the Book; My Last Duchess5) George Eliot: The Mill on the Floss: Middlemarch: Daniel Deron da; Romola6) Thomas Hardy: Under the Greenwood Tree; Far From the MaddingCrowd: The Return of the Native; The Mayor of Casterbridge: Tess of theD 'Urbervilles1. 宪章运动The worse ning liv ing and work ing con diti ons, the mass un employme nt fin ally gave rise to the Chartist Moveme nt. The En glish workers got themselves orga ni zed in big cities and brought forth the People's charter, in which they demanded basic rights and better living and working conditions. They, for three times, made appeals to the gover nment, with hun dreds of thousa nds of people's sig natures. The moveme nt swept over most of the cities in the country. Although the movement declined to an end in 1848, it did bring some improvement to the welfare of the working class. This was the first mass movement of the English working class & the early sign of the awakening of the poor, oppressed people.2. 功利主义Almost everything was put to the test by the criterion of utility, that is, the extent to which it could promote the material happ in ess. This theory held a special appeal to the middle-class in dustrialists, whose greed drove them to exploit ing workers to the utmost and brought greater sufferi ng and poverty to the work ing mass.3. 批判现实主义The Victorian Age is an age of realism rather than of romanticism-a realism which strives to tell the whole truth showing moral and physical diseases as they are. To be true to life becomes the first requirement for literary writing. As the mirror of truth, literature has come very close to daily life, reflecting its practical problems and interests and is used as。
(完整word版)新大纲自考《英美文学选读》笔记总结背完必过
《英美文学选读》笔记背完必过Part One: English LiteratureAn Introduction to Old and Medieval English LiteratureI Understanding and application: (理解应用)1. England’s inhabitants are Celts. And it is conquered by Romans, Anglo Saxons and Normans. The Anglo-Saxons brought the Germanic language and culture to England, while Normans brought the Mediterranean civilization, including Greek culture, Rome law and the Christian religion. It is the cultural influence of these two conquests that provided the source for the rise and growth of English literature.2. The old English literature extends from about 450 to 1066, the year of the Norman conquest of England.3. The old English poetry that has survived can be divided into two groups: The religious group and the secular one4. Beowulf: a typical example of Old English poetry is regarded as the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons. It is an example of the mingling of nature myths and heroic legends.5. After the Norman’s conquest, three languages co-existed in England. French is the official language that is used by king and the Norman lords. Latin is the principal tongue of church affairs and in universities. Old English was spoken only by the common English people.6. In the second half of 14th century, English literature started to flourish with the appearance of writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Gower, and others II Recite: (识记再现)1. Romance:①It uses narrative verse or prose to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds is a popular literary form in the medieval period.②It has developed the characteristic medieval motifs of the quest, the test, the meeting with the evil giant and the encounter with the beautiful beloved.③The hero is usually the knight, who sets out on a journey to accomplish some missions. There are often mysteries and fantasies in romance.④Romantic love is an important part of the plot in romance.Characterization is standardized, While the structure is loose and episodic, the language is simple and straightforward.⑤The importance of the romance itself can be seen as a means of showing medieval aristocratic men and women in relation to their idealized view of the world.2. Heroic couplet:Heroic couplet is a rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter. It is Chaucer who used it for the first time in English in his work The Legend of Good Woman.3. The theme of Beowulf:The poem presents a vivid picture of how the primitive people wage heroic struggles against the hostile forces of the natural world under a wise and mighty leader. The poem is an example of the mingling of the nature myths and heroic legends.4. The Wife of Bath in The Canterbury Tales:The Wife of Bath is depicted as the new bourgeois wife asserting her independence. Chaucer develops his characterization to a higher artistic level by presenting characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions.5. Chaucer’s achievement:①He presented a comprehensive realistic picture of his age and created a whole gallery of vivid characters in his works, especially in The Canterbury Tales.②He anticipated a new ear, the Renaissance, to come under the influence of the Italian writers.③He developed his characterization to a higher level by presenting characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions.④He greatly contributed to the maturing of English poetry. Today, Chaucer’s reputation has been securely established as one of the best English poets for his wisdom, humor and humanity.6. “The F ather of English poetry”:Originally, Old English poems are mainly alliterative verses with few variations.①Chaucer introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace it.②In The Romaunt of the Rose (玫瑰传奇), he first introduced to the English the octosyllabic couplet (八音节对偶句).③In The Legend of Good Women, he used for the first time in English heroic couplet.④And in his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, he employed heroic couplet with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature.⑤His art made him one of the greatest poets in English; John Dryden called him “the father of English poetry”.【例题】The work that presented, for the first time in English literature, a comprehensive realistic picture of the medieval English society and created awhole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life is most likely ______________.(0704)A. William Langland’s Piers PlowmanB. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury TalesC. John Gower’s Confession AmantisD. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight【答案】B【解析】(P4.para.2)本题考查的是中世纪时期几位诗人作品的创作主题和创作范围。