英国文学期末复习资料.doc

1,Old English Literature (A.D.600-about A.D.1100) Poetry: Beowulf 《贝尔伍夫》: the author is unknown （Secular literature世俗文学） 1, Hrothgar胡鲁斯加王, King of the Danes, and Beowulf, a brave young man, 2, the first great English literary work, the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons passed from mouth to mouth for hundreds years, was written down in the 10th century, Features: 1, Each half line has two main beats. 2,There is no rhyme. Instead, each half line is joined to the other by alliteration头韵. 3,Things are described indirectly and in combinations of words. 4, As is known, the Anglo-Saxons were Christianized by the end of the 7th century. Major themes: 1.This epic presents a vivid picture of how the primitive people wage heroic struggles against the hostile forces of the natural world represented by Grendel, his mother and the fire-breathing dragon under the wise and mighty leader. 2.The poem conveys a hope that the righteous will triumph over the evil. Beowulf stands for all that is good, brave and proper, while the monsters stand for evil. Prose: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle盎格鲁-撒克逊编年史 1,written under the encouragement and supervision of King Alfred the Great (849-899)阿尔弗雷德大帝 2,an early history of the country which begins with Caesar’s conquest凯撒征服 and is a monument不朽的作品 of Old English Prose. Aelfric埃尔弗里克（mostly religious)：His prose style is the best in Old English. And he uses alliteration头韵 to join his sentences together. 2，Middle English Literature (from about 1100 to about 1500) Norman Conquest(1066): the English VS the Norman armiesplace:near Hastings黑斯廷斯 Result: the leader of English, Harold, was killed, English lost decisive battle William, the Conqueror, became the King of England 1. Politically, a feudalist system封建制度 was established in England.（feudalism） 2. Religiously, the Roman Catholic Church had a much stronger control over the country. 3. Great changes took place in the English language. 4. The conquest opened up England to the whole Europea