中世纪英国文学概述
英国文学各个时期流派

英国文学史各个时期中的文学流派古英语和中古英语时期古英语时期是指英国国家和英语语言的形成时期.最早的文学形式是诗歌, 以口头形式流传,主要的诗人是吟游诗人.到基督教传入英国之后,一些诗歌才被记录下来.这一时期最重要的文学作品是英国的民族史诗《贝奥武夫》,用头韵体写成.古英语时期(1066?1500)从1066年诺曼人征服英国,到1500年前后伦敦方言发展成为公认的现代英语.文学作品主要的形式有骑士传奇,民谣和诗歌.在几组骑士传奇中,有关英国题材的是亚瑟王和他的圆桌骑士的冒险故事,其中《高文爵士和绿衣骑士》代表了骑士传奇的最高成就.中世纪文学中涌现了大量的优秀民谣,最具代表性的是收录在一起的唱咏绿林英雄罗宾汉的民谣.3,最重要的诗人是被称为"英国诗歌之父"的乔叟,代表作是《坎特伯雷故事集》,取得了很高的艺术成就.他首创了诗歌的双韵体?每两行压韵的五步抑扬格,后被许多英国诗人采用.乔叟用伦敦方言写作,奠定了用英语语言进行文学创作的基础,促进了英语语言文学的发展.文艺复兴时期的英国文学得到了空前的发展,在诗歌,散文和戏剧方面尤其兴盛.诗歌方面,新的诗体形式如十四行诗,无韵体诗被介绍到英国.重要的诗人有Philip Sidney,他不仅写了许多优美的十四行诗,还创作了最早的诗歌理论作品之一《诗辩》.Edmund Spenser用斯宾塞诗节创作了着名长诗《仙后》.莎士比亚除了戏剧创作之外也是一位伟大诗人,着有两部叙事诗,两部长诗和154首十四行诗.英文的《圣经钦定本》作成于1611年,不仅具有重大的宗教意义,也是一部伟大的文学作品,并且对英国的语言文化产生了深远的影响.它的纯朴,平易,明晰的散文风格奠定了英国散文的传统.一个着名的哲学家兼散文家是Francis Bacon,他的文学着作主要有《随笔》,收录了他在各个时期发表的58篇随笔,思想深刻,文笔简洁,富有警句格言.戏剧代表文艺复兴时期英国文学的最高成就.主要戏剧家有马洛(Christopher Marlowe), 莎士比亚(W. Shakespeare).17世纪的英国文学17世纪是英国社会剧烈动荡的时期之一,由于君主专制和资产阶级之间的矛盾,爆发了1642年的内战并导致了1688年的"光荣革命".与政治斗争和资产阶级革命思想紧密相连的是宗教斗争和清教徒思想.因此这一时期的文学和艺术多展示革命思想的发展与成长,并带有浓厚的清教主义倾向.两个代表作家是弥尔顿和班扬.弥尔顿的代表作〈失乐园〉和班扬的代表作〈天路历程〉都取材于〈圣经〉.〈天路历程〉是一部寓言作品,用"基督徒"到达天国的历程象征人类追求美好未来的进程.18世纪的英国文学18世纪产生了一种进步思潮?启蒙运动,这一时期的思想家和作家们崇尚理性,认为启蒙教化是改造社会的基本手段,因此18世纪又被称为"理性的时代".在文学领域体现为18世纪上半期的新古典主义,代表作家有诗人蒲伯(A. Pope)和期刊随笔的创始人斯梯尔(R.Steele)和艾迪生(J.Addison).18中期兴起了英国现代小说,出现了大批有影响的小说家.理查逊(Samuel Richardson)的小说〈帕美拉〉(Pamela)采用书信体形式对人物的心理活动进行细致的描写,大大丰富了小说的创作方法.哥尔德史密斯(Oliver Goldsmith)的〈威克菲牧师传〉(The Vicar of Wakefield)是英国文学史上着名的感伤小说之一.劳伦斯斯特恩(Laurence Sterne)打破传统的叙事方法,创作了〈项迪传〉,而被认为是英国现代派文学的先驱.迪福(Daniel Defoe)是英国文学史上第一个现实主义小说家,代表作是〈鲁滨逊漂流记〉.讲述故事情节并分析鲁滨逊这一人物形象.斯威夫特是英国文学史上着名的讽刺小说家,以犀利的文笔对教会和社会的虚伪腐败进行了辛辣的讽刺.代表作是〈格列佛游记〉菲尔丁是英国最杰出的小说家之一,在理论与实践上都为英国小说的发展作出了贡献.在他的代表作〈汤姆?琼斯〉中,他塑造了众多栩栩如生的人物,展示了错综复杂的社会矛盾.讲述故事情节,分析主题和主要人物形象19世纪的英国文学19世纪英国文学主要包括上半期的浪漫主义时期和中后期的批判现实主义小说.布来克和罗伯特?彭斯属于前浪漫主义诗人.布来克的代表作品有〈天真之歌〉和〈经验之歌〉.彭斯是着名的苏格兰民族诗人,写了很多脍炙人口的歌颂友谊,爱情,自由,平等的诗歌,其中〈一朵红红的玫瑰〉广为流传.浪漫主义全盛时期以华滋华斯与柯律维治联合发表〈抒情歌谣集〉为开始,到瓦尔特斯各特的逝世为止,主要文学成就为诗歌,涌现了华滋华斯为代表的"湖畔派"诗人和拜伦,雪莱,济慈等富有革命理想,颂扬自由与解放的诗人.19世纪中后期的批判现实主义作家真实地描写了英国资产阶级的社会生活,暴露和批判了资产阶级社会的罪恶,对人民群众寄予了深刻的同情.狄更斯是英国最杰出的批判现实主义小说家,善于描写社会底层人们的生活和思想,作品题材广泛,思想深刻;萨克雷则善于描写上层社会形形色色的人物.批判现实主义女性小说家及她们的代表作品:Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Mrs. Gaskell, George Eliot.分析简?爱这一人物形象并分析小说的主题思想.托马斯?哈代是19世纪末20世纪初英国最伟大的现实主义小说家,他称自己的作品是"性格与环境的小说".代表作品是〈德伯家的苔丝〉.20世纪的现代派作家人们对西方文明的危机感和第二次世界大战的恶果促成了西方现代派文学的形成.主要表现为意识流小说,代表作家有詹姆斯乔伊斯和弗洁尼亚沃尔夫.乔伊斯的小说〈尤利西斯〉描写的是现代都市居民庸俗,猥琐的精神生活.弗洁尼亚的〈到灯塔去〉则运用了娴熟的象征手法和意识流技巧.英国文学发展史及每个阶段的特点毋庸置疑,英国小说是世界艺术之林中的一大景观。
英国文学简史分类

英国文学简史分类一、古英国文学古英国文学是指公元5世纪至公元11世纪之间的英国文学作品。
这一时期的文学作品主要以英国盎格鲁人和撒克逊人的口头传承方式流传下来。
最早的古英国文学作品是口头传承的史诗,如《贝奥武夫》和《西德里克史诗》。
这些作品描绘了英雄壮举和神话传说,展现了古英国人的价值观和文化背景。
二、中世纪文学中世纪文学是指公元11世纪至15世纪之间的英国文学作品。
这一时期的文学作品受到基督教和法国文学的影响,主题涉及爱情、骑士精神和宗教信仰等。
最著名的中世纪文学作品是《亚瑟王传奇》,它描绘了亚瑟王和圆桌骑士的故事,体现了骑士精神和中世纪的价值观。
此外,还有一些宗教戏剧,如《诗篇》和《谢弗尔诗篇》等,用于教育和传播基督教信仰。
三、文艺复兴文学文艺复兴文学是指16世纪至17世纪初期的英国文学作品。
这一时期的文学作品受到古希腊罗马文化的影响,主题多样化,包括诗歌、戏剧、散文等。
著名的文艺复兴文学作品包括莎士比亚的戏剧作品,如《哈姆雷特》和《罗密欧与朱丽叶》,以及约翰·米尔顿的史诗《失乐园》等。
这些作品在文学史上具有重要地位,对后世的文学创作产生了深远影响。
四、启蒙时代文学启蒙时代文学是指18世纪的英国文学作品。
这一时期的文学作品反映了对理性、科学和人权的追求。
著名的启蒙时代作家包括约翰·洛克、伊莱扎·海伍德和亚当·斯密等。
他们的作品涉及政治、哲学和经济等领域,对当时社会产生了重要影响。
其中,洛克的《人类理解论》被认为是启蒙运动的经典之作。
五、浪漫主义文学浪漫主义文学是指19世纪初期的英国文学作品。
这一时期的文学作品强调个人情感、自然景观和想象力。
著名的浪漫主义作家包括威廉·华兹华斯、塞缪尔·泰勒·柯勒律治和乔治·戈登·拜伦等。
他们的作品描绘了自然的壮丽和人类的内心世界,对后世文学产生了深远影响。
其中,华兹华斯的《抒情诗集》被誉为浪漫主义诗歌的代表作品。
英国文学的发展及其代表作品

英国文学的发展及其代表作品引言英国文学是世界文学中一个极其重要的组成部分,具有悠久而辉煌的历史。
本文将探讨英国文学的发展历程,并介绍一些代表性的英国文学作品。
古代英国文学1.安格鲁-撒克逊时期(5世纪至11世纪)•凯尔特传统和民间故事•赫鲁晓斯史诗《贝奥武夫》2.中世纪文学(11世纪至15世纪)•亚瑟王传说(如马拉里《亚瑟王与圆桌骑士》)•杰弗里·乔叟的《坎特伯雷故事集》文艺复兴时期1.伊丽莎白时代(16世纪末至17世纪初)•威廉·莎士比亚的戏剧作品(如《哈姆雷特》、《罗密欧与朱丽叶》)•约翰·密尔顿的史诗作品《失乐园》2.马洛里时代(17世纪中期至18世纪初)•约翰·邓恩的诗集《鸟》•亚历山大·蒲柏的散文作品浪漫主义和维多利亚时代1.浪漫主义(18世纪末至19世纪初)•威廉·华兹华斯和塞缪尔·泰勒·柯勒律治的诗歌作品•简·奥斯汀的小说《傲慢与偏见》2.维多利亚时代(19世纪中期至20世纪初)•查尔斯·狄更斯的小说作品(如《雾都孤儿》、《双城记》)•奥斯卡·王尔德的戏剧作品(如《道林·格雷的画像》)现代英国文学1.20世纪早期•维吉尼亚·伍尔夫的小说《到灯塔去》•T.S.艾略特的诗歌集《荒原》2.当代文学•伊恩·麦克尤恩的小说作品(如《失落之城》、《英国病人》)•玛格丽特·阿特伍德的小说作品(如《使女的故事》)结论英国文学在各个时期都有着令人惊叹的成就,塑造了世界文学的重要角色。
从古代传统到现代创新,英国文学将继续为我们带来无尽的享受和启发。
注:以上只是一些代表性的英国文学作品,因篇幅限制未能详尽涵盖全部作品。
英国文学概述

Anthony Trollope
英格兰南部农村青年男女走投无路,陷于绝望的悲惨故事 Tess of the D'Urbervilles Jude the Obscure
幕布 - 极简大纲笔记 | 一键生成思维导图
主要作品是巴塞特郡系列小说Barchester Series
Samuel Bulter Erehwon The Way of All Life 批评中产阶级的价值观,矛头直指维多利亚时代的家庭,宗教,道德
以幻灭为主题的小说 Thomas Hardy
以多塞特郡及该郡附近的农村地区作为背景,早期作品描述的是英国农村的恬静景象与明朗的田 园生活,后期作品明显变得低沉,其主题思想是无法控制的外部力量和内心冲动决定着个人命运 并造成悲剧
启蒙时期(17世纪后-18世纪中
1688年,光荣革命推翻复辟王朝,确立君主立宪制,进入相对稳定的发展时期
18世纪初:新古典主义
推崇理性,强调明晰对称,极致,优雅,追求艺术形式的完美与和谐
Alexander Pope
模仿罗马诗人诗,以说教于讽刺为主,多采用英雄双韵体,但缺乏深厚情感
散文繁荣,其风格基本建立在新古典主义美学原则之上
公元1066年:法国诺曼底人征服英格兰,法文化成为主流,时兴浪漫传奇(骑士精神) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 中古英语传奇最精美的作品之一 关于亚瑟王与他的骑士,歌颂勇敢、忠贞、美德 与其相关的传奇文学专门描写高贵的骑士所经历的冒险生活和浪漫爱情,是英国 封建社会发展到成熟阶段一种社会理想的体现
英国文学的历史与文化发展

英国文学的历史与文化发展英国文学源远流长,可以追溯到中世纪。
在文学发展的历史中,有许多名家巨匠,如莎士比亚、狄更斯、乔叟等等,他们作品的思想性和艺术性深刻而卓越,对世界文学都产生了深远的影响。
本文将介绍英国文学的历史与文化发展。
中世纪(500-1500)在中世纪,普通老百姓在接受教育和文化方面几乎没有机会,因此,大部分作品都是由高层贵族或教会的神职人员写的。
诗歌和故事往往反映着教会的影响力。
在这个时期写作的主要作家是《贝奥武夫》(Beowulf)作者未知的诗人,他的作品反映了盎格鲁-撒克逊民族在古代的传说和历史。
文艺复兴(1500-1600)文艺复兴时期,英国文化进入了一个新时代。
文艺复兴运动将思想和文艺结合在一起,使人们对知识和文化的重视达到了新的高度,同时也激发了英国文化的自豪。
在这个时期,莎士比亚是英国文学界无可争议的巨匠。
他的作品深刻地反映了人性的复杂和历史的变革。
《哈姆雷特》、《麦克白》和《罗密欧与朱丽叶》等莎士比亚的作品不仅在当时风靡一时,而且现在依然是文学经典。
17世纪在17世纪,英国文学独具特色。
这个时期的作家主要关注国家事务、社会变革和宗教改革。
约翰·洛克的人类论思想对欧洲和美国的启蒙思想都产生了深远的影响,且始终是以其国家批判而闻名的罗素在其《利益常识》中作了充分的解释和陈述。
伊丽莎白时代的骑士小说家John Bunyan写了一部脍炙人口的作品《天路历程》,这部作品反映了基督教信仰的纯真和坚韧不拔。
18世纪在18世纪,知识分子的阶层逐渐成为了社交界的主角。
这个时期的小说开始反映现实生活,主题涉及到爱情、家庭、财富和社会地位等等。
乔纳森·斯威夫特的《格列佛游记》和丹尼尔·笛福的《鲁滨逊漂流记》都是代表作品。
同时,诗歌家亦不遑多让。
从反叛和批判的角度去看,威廉·布莱克的作品极具代表性。
他视图阐述的人性的暴政和苦难都会激起困惑和反思。
19世纪19世纪的英国文学被称为“维多利亚文学”。
英国文学简史

英国文学简史笔记一.早中世纪文学:Early and Medieval English Literature (约5 世纪-1485)The an cestor: Celts凯尔特人).Life style: Primitive life(原始生活).Language: Celtic (凯尔特语)(Britons大不列颠语).最早的英国史:1. Roman Co nquest. (55BC--410AD)---Julius Caesar.2. An glo-Saxon Con quest. (450--1066)---A nglos, Saxo ns. Jutes 朱特人).3. Norman Conquest. (1066--1350).中期英国史:1.Romanee罗曼史):love, chivalry(骑士精神),religion;2.3 major themes: (1).Matter of Fran ee;(2) .Matter of Greece and Rome;(3) .Matter of Brita in. nguage: 3 Ian guage.文学作品:I.Geoffrey Chaucer杰弗里。
乔叟):Chaucer's works:(1) . The Canterbury Tales(坎特伯雷故事集);(2) . The Wife of Bath (巴斯夫人);(3) . Roma nee of the Rose 玫瑰传奇);⑷.The House of the Fame 声誉殿堂);(5) .The Parliament of Fowls (百鸟会议);(6) .Troilus and Cressie特洛伊斯和克莱西德).Chaucer's contribution to the English language:(1) . The " father of En glish poetry";(2) . He introdueer from France and Italy the rhymed (押韵的)stanzas of various types, especially the rhymed couplet of 5 acce nts in iambic meter ( heroic couplet抑扬格、五音步诗),instead of the Old English alliterative(头韵的)verse;(3) . For the first time in English literature, he presented to us a comprehensive realistic picture( 现实主义)of the English society of life in his masterpiece" The Canterbury Tales(坎特伯雷故事集)";(4) . He was the first En glish poet who wrote in En glish, thus establishi ng En glish as the literature Ian guage;(5) , He did much in making the London dialect(方言)the foun dati on for moder n En glish Ian guage.Chaucer's social significance:(1) . Influeneed by the early Italian Renaissanee, Chaucer affirmed man's right to pursue earthly happ in ess and opposed asceticism, praised man's en ergy, in tellect, and love of life;(2) . Mean while, he also exposed and satirized the social evils, esp.,the religious abuses.2. The Song of Beowulf 贝奥武甫,a here)3. The English Ballads (大众民谣):a story told in song.; in various Englishand Scottish dialects.---- Robin Hood (罗宾汉),who is strong, brave, clever, ten der-hearted and affect ion ate深情的).二、文艺复兴时期文学:The English Renaissanee (15世纪后期-17世纪初)文艺复兴时期形成的思想体系被称为人文主义.几个过渡时期:1. The Hun dred Year's War: 1337--1453;2. The wars of the Rose(玫瑰战争/蔷薇战争):源于两个皇族所选的家微。
英国 上古及中世纪英国文学简介

PART ONE: ENGLISHG LITERTUREAn Introduction to Old and Medieval EnglishLiteratureSince historical times, England, where the early inhabitants were Celts, has been conquered three times. It was conquered by the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Normans. England was not much affected by the Roman Conquest, but she felt the full weight of the other two conquests. The Anglo-Saxons brought to England the Germanic language and culture, while the Normans brought a fresh wave of Mediterranean civilization, which includes Greek culture, Roman law, and the Christian religion. It is the cultural influences of these two conquests that provided the source for the rise and growth of English literature.The period of Old English literature extends from about 450 to 1066, the year of the Norman conquest of England. The Germanic tribes from the Northern Europe brought with them not only the Anglo-Saxons language, the basis of Modern English, but also a specific poetic tradition, which is both bold and strong, mournful and elegiac in spirit. Generally speaking, the Old English poetry that has survived can be divided into two groups: the religious group and the secular one. The poetry of the religious group is mainly on biblical themes.Genesis A, Genesis B and Exodus are poems based on the Old Testament; whereas The Dream of the Rood comes from the New Testament. In this poem, Christ is portrayed as the young warrior striding to embrace death and victory, while the rood (cross) itself takes on the burden of his suffering. In addition to these religious compositions, Old English poets produced the national epic poem, Beowulf, and a number of more or less lyrical poems of shorter length, which do not contain specific Christian doctrines but evoke the Anglo-Saxons sense of the harshness of circumstance and the sadness of the human lot. The wanderer, Deor, The Seafarer, and The wife's Complaint are among the most beautiful in this secular group. The harsh climate of North Sea strongly affected the tone or mood of the poets. The life is sorrowful, and the speakers are fatalistic, though at the same time courageous and determined.Beowulf, a typical example of the Old English poetry, is regarded today as the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons. However, the hero and setting of Beowulf have nothing to do with England, for the story took place in Scandinavia. The poem was originally in an oral form, sung by the bards (minstrels) at the end of the 6th century. The present script was written down in the 10th century. Beginning and ending with the funeral of a great king, and composed against a background of impending disaster, Beowulf describes the exploits of the Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, in fighting against the monster Grendel, hisrevengeful mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. In these sequences Beowulf is shown not only as a glorious hero but also as a protector of the people. Thematically 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 nature myths and heroic legends. For instance, the battle between Beowulf and the Dragon symbolically represents that phase of Winter and Summer myth in which the Summer God, here embodied by Beowulf, fights his last battle against the Winter Dragon in order to rescue the treasures of earth, that is, the golden corn and ruddy fruits. Having given them back to men, Beowulf himself dies of the Winter's breath.The Norman Conquest brought England more than a change of rulers. Politically, a feudalist system was established in England; religiously, the Roman-backed Catholic Church had a much stronger control over the country; and great changes also took place in languages. After the conquest, three languages co-existed in England. French became the official language used by the king and the Norman lords; Latin became the principal tongue of church affairs and in universities; and Old English was spoken only by the common English people. Thus, Britain was opened up to the whole European continent.With the Norman Conquest starts the medieval period in English literature which covers about four centuries. In the early part of the period, i.e. from 1066 up to the mid-14th century, there was not much to say about literature in English. It was almost a barren period in literary creation. But in the second half of the 14th century, English literature started to flourish with the appearance of writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Gower, and others. In comparison with Old English literature, Middle English literature deals with wider range of subjects, tones and genres. Popular folk literature also occupies an important place in this period. Its presentation of life is not only accurate but also lively and colorful, though the originality of thought is often absent in the literary works of this period. Besides, Middle English literature strongly reflects the principles of the medieval Christian doctrine, which were primarily concerned with the issue of personal salvation.Romance which uses narrative verse or prose to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds is a popular literary form in the medieval period. It has developed the characteristic medieval motifs of the quest, the test, the meeting with the evil giant and the encounter with the beautiful beloved. The hero is usually the knight, who sets out on a journey to accomplish some missions - to protect the church, to attack infidelity, to rescue a maiden, to meet a challenge, or to obey a knightly command. There is often a liberal use of the improbable, sometimes even supernatural, things in romance such as mysteries and fantasies. Romantic love is an important part of the plot in romance. Characterization is standardized, so that heroes, heroines and wicked stewards can be easily moved from one romance to another. While the structure is loose and episodic, thelanguage is simple and straightforward. The 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. If the epic reflects a heroic age, the romance reflects a chivalric one.Among the three great Middle English poets, the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the one who produced the best romance of the period; while William Langland is a more realistic writer who dealt with the religious and social issues of his day in Piers Plowman. However, it is Chaucer alone who, for the first time in English literature, presented to us a comprehensive realistic picture of the English society of his time and created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life in his masterpiece The Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer is the greatest writer of this period. Although he was born a commoner, he did not live as a commoner; and although he was accepted by the aristocracy, he must always have been conscious of the fact that he did not really belong to that society of which birth alone could make one a true member. Chaucer characteristically regarded life in terms of aristocratic ideals, but he never lost the ability of regarding life as a purely practical matter. The art of being at once involved in and detached from a given situation is peculiarly Chaucer's.The influence of Renaissance was already felt in the field of English literature when Chaucer was learning from the great Italian writers like Petrarch and Boccaccio in the last part of the 14th century. Chaucer affirmed man's right to pursue earthly happiness and opposed asceticism; he praised man's energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life; he expose and satirized the social vices, including religious abuse. It thus can be said that though essentially still a medieval writer, Chaucer bore marks of humanism and anticipated a new ear to come.From his birth do death, Chaucer dealt continually with all sorts of people, the highest and lowest, and his observant mind made the most of this ever-present opportunity. His wide range of reading gave him plots and ideas, but his experience gave him models of characters. In his works, Chaucer explores the themes of the individual's relation to the society in which he lives; he portrays clashes of characters' temperaments and their conflicts over material interests; he also shows the comic and ironic effects obtainable from the class distinctions felt by the newly emerged bourgeoisie as in the case of the Wife of Bath who is depicted as the new bourgeois wife asserting her independence. In short, Chaucer develops his characterization to a higher artistic level by presenting characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions.Chaucer introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace the Old English alliterative verse. In The Romaunt of the Rose, he first introduced into English the octosyllabic couplet. 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 heroic couplet. And in The CanterburyTales, Chaucer employed the heroic couplet with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature. In addition to his contribution to English prosody, Chaucer also developed the art of the literature itself beyond anything to be found in any other medieval literature. In Troilus and Criseyde, he gave the world what is virtually the first modern novel. In The Canterbury Tales, he developed his art of poetry still further towards drama and the art of the novel. Though Chaucer was entirely rooted in the soil of the Middle Ages, his art is so fully realized as to carry him beyond his time and make him one of the greatest poets in English. John Dryden, who modernized several of the Canterbury tales, called Chaucer the father of English poetry.Chaucer dominated the works of his 15th-century English followers and theso-called Scottish Chaucerians. For the Renaissance, he was the English Homer. Edmund Spenser paid tribute to him as his master; many of Shakespeare's plays show thorough assimilation of Chaucer's comic spirit. Today, Chaucer's reputation has been securely established as one of the best English poets for his wisdom, humor, and humanity.。
中世纪英国文学的特点和作品

中世纪英国文学的特点和作品中世纪英国文学的特点主要有以下几个方面:1. 宗教性质:中世纪英国文学具有浓厚的宗教性质,这是因为中世纪的英国社会以基督教为主导,并且教会在社会中的地位非常重要。
因此,许多中世纪英国文学作品都围绕着宗教主题展开,如《坎特伯雷故事集》中的《牧师的故事》等。
2. 骑士精神:中世纪英国文学中常常描写骑士的冒险英勇精神。
骑士被视为英雄的象征,他们追求荣誉、勇敢和忠诚。
这种骑士精神在中世纪的英国文学作品中得到了广泛的表现,如《亚瑟王传奇》中的亚瑟王和圆桌骑士们。
3. 传统民间故事:中世纪英国文学中还有许多传统的民间故事和传说。
这些故事通常以诗歌的形式出现,如《贝奥武夫》和《罗宾汉》等。
这些故事往往以传统的英雄和英雄主义为主题,反映了当时社会的价值观和道德观念。
4. 口头传统:中世纪英国文学在创作和传播上主要依靠口头传统。
在这个时期,大多数人是文盲,他们无法阅读和写作。
因此,文学作品通常是通过口头传统的方式流传下来的,例如民间故事、传说和歌谣等。
中世纪英国文学的代表作品有很多,下面我将介绍几部比较著名的作品:1. 《坎特伯雷故事集》:这是中世纪英国文学中最重要的作品之一,由乔叟创作。
故事集以一群朝圣者的旅程为背景,他们在旅途中相互讲述故事。
这些故事涵盖了各个社会阶层和不同主题,既有宗教故事,也有爱情故事和喜剧故事等。
2. 《亚瑟王传奇》:这是关于亚瑟王和他的圆桌骑士的故事。
故事中充满了冒险、魔法和英雄主义的元素,以及对骑士道德和荣誉的追求。
《亚瑟王传奇》描绘了一个理想化的中世纪英国,被视为中世纪英国文学的经典之作。
3. 《贝奥武夫》:这是一部史诗般的诗歌作品,描绘了贝奥武夫与怪物格列茅斯的斗争。
作品中充满了英雄主义、战斗和荣誉的元素,以及对勇敢和忠诚的赞美。
《贝奥武夫》被认为是中世纪英国文学的杰作之一。
4. 《罗宾汉》:这是关于罗宾汉和他的弟兄们的故事,他们在森林中与不公正的贵族和腐败的教会作斗争。
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中世纪英国文学概述
中世纪文学(约 5 世纪-1485)
英国最初的文学同其他国家最初的文学一样,不是书面的,而是口头的。
故事与传说口头流传,并在讲述中不断得到加工、扩展,最后才有写本。
公元 5 世纪中叶,盎格鲁、撒克逊、朱特三个日耳曼部落开始从丹麦以及现在的荷兰一带地区迁入不列颠。
盎格鲁-撒克逊时代给我们留下的古英语文学作品中,最重要的一部是《贝奥武甫》(Beowulf),它被认为是英国的民族史诗。
《贝奥武甫》讲述主人公贝尔武甫斩妖除魔、与火龙搏斗的故事,具有神话传奇色彩。
这部作品取材于日耳曼民间传说,随盎格鲁-撒克逊人入侵传入今天的英国,现在我们所看到的诗是 8 世纪初由英格兰诗人写定的,当时,不列颠正处于从中世纪异教社会向以基督教文化为主导的新型社会过渡的时期。
因此,《贝奥武甫》也反映了 7、8 世纪不列颠的生活风貌,呈现出新旧生活方式的混合,兼有氏族时期的英雄主义和封建时期的理想,体现了非基督教日耳曼文化和基督教文化两种不同的传统。
公元 1066 年,居住在法国北部的诺曼底人在威廉公爵率领下越过英吉利海峡,征服英格兰。
诺曼底人占领英格兰后,封建等级制度得以加强和完备,法国文化占据主导地位,法语成为宫廷和上层贵族社会的语言。
这一时期风行一时的文学形式是浪漫传奇,流传最广的是关于亚瑟王和圆桌骑士的故事。
《高文爵士和绿衣骑士》(Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 1375-1400)以亚瑟王和他的骑士为题材,歌颂勇敢、忠贞、美德,是中古英语传奇最精美的作品之一。
传奇文学专门描写高贵的骑士所经历的冒险生活和浪漫爱情,是英国封建社会发展到成熟阶段一种社会理想的体现。
14 世纪以后,英国资本主义工商业发展较快,市民阶级兴起,英语逐渐恢复了它的声誉,社会各阶层普遍使用英语,为优秀英语文学作品的产生提供了条件。
杰弗利·乔叟(Geoffrey Chaucer,1343-1400)的出现标志着以本土文学为主流的英国书面文学历史的开始。
《坎特伯雷故事》(The Canterbury Tales)以一群香客从伦敦出发去坎特伯雷朝圣为线索,通过对香客的生动描绘和他们沿途讲述的故事,勾勒出一幅中世纪英国社会千姿百态生活风貌的图画。
乔叟首创英雄诗行,即五步抑扬格双韵体,对英诗韵律作出了很大贡献,被誉为"英国诗歌之父".乔叟的文笔精练优美,流畅自然,他的创作实践将英语提升到一个较高的文学水平,推动了英语作为英国统一的民族语言的进程。