吴版英国文学笔记.doc

An introduction to British Literature Part I The Ancient (450-1066) and Middle English period; 1.1. The period of Old English and Beowulf 1.2 Old // Medieval English 1.2.1 Geoffrey Chaucer 1.2.2 The Canterbury Tales Part I The Ancient (450-1066) and Middle English period (1066--- the end of the 14th century //1400) 1.1 The period of Old English extends from about 450 to 1066, the year of the Norman conquest of England. Generally speaking, the Old English poetry that has survived can be divided into two groups: the religious group and the secular one. The former is mainly on biblical themes while the latter shows the harshness of circumstances and the sadness of the human lot/ fate. Beowulf, a typical example of old English poetry, is regarded today as the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons written in over 3000 lines. However the hero and the setting of it 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. It describes the exploits of Beowulf, in fighting against the monster Grendel, his revengeful mother and a fire dragon. Beowolf is shown not only as a glorious hero but also a protector of the people. Thematically the poem presents a vivid picture of how the primitive people struggle 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. 1.2 Old // Medieval English (1066--- the end of the 14th century //1400) In comparison with old English literature, Middle English literature deals with a wider range of subjects, is uttered by more voices and in a greater diversity of styles, tones and genres. Popular fold literature also occupies an important place in this period. Middle English literature strongly reflects the principles of the medieval Christian doctrine, which were primarily concerned with the issue of personal salvation. 1.2.1