英国文学史（期中复习）.docVIP

1、Medieval Literary Genres Heroic Epic Beowulf Over 3000 lines, in Anglo-Saxon or Old English. First recorded in the 8th century; the earliest manuscript, the 10th century. A hybrid of fact with legend: similarly, Heracles in Greece, Yi in China. A pagan story with Christian overlay: “God” frequently mentioned; future life; Grendel, a descendant of Cain. Narrator: minstrel. Oral tradition Romance It was a long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero. The central character of romance was the knight, a man of noble birth skilled in the use of weapons. He was commonly described as riding forth to seek adventures, taking part in tournaments, or fighting for his lord in battle. He was devoted to the church and the king. The code of manners and morals of a knight is known as chivalry Ballad A ballad is a story told in song, usually in 4-line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhymed. When it was chanted by ballad-singers, the audience joined in a refrain which usually followed each stanza. The ballads (British) are in various English and Scottish dialects. They were created collectively by the people and constantly revised in the process of being handed down from mouth to mouth. Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale Robin Hood: a collection of 15th-century medieval ballads Get Up and Bar the Door Sir Patrick Spens 2、Geoffrey Chaucer : An Epoch-making Figure His Masterpiece: The Canterbury Tales A collection of 20-odd stories: 20 complete, 4 fragments A unifying narrative scheme: a fictitious pilgrimage, 30 travelers to Canterbury, for a homage to Sir Thomas a Becket, 4 stories each traveler to and from the destination, very much like Boccacio’s Decameron; Salient features of his narration: enormous sense of humor, royalty to reality, infinite sense of humanity; The General Prologue: portraits of people from all walks of life; selective and inclusive; two focuses-the holy orders and the middle class. 3