I. Historical Background
II.Old English PoetryIII. Beowulf
I. Historical Background(see textbook)
I.1 Old English period (449-1066)I.1.1 The early inhabitants: Celts
I.1.2 England was conquered by the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons (different tribes of Teutons)
I.1.3 Angle-land: shortened into England
I.1.4 The Old English language: also called Anglo-Saxon or Saxon which was spoken from A.D. 600 to about 1100.II. Old English Poetry
II.1 The literature: pagan and Christian
II.1.1 Poets: Caedmon: Paraphrase of the BibleCynewulf: four poems but nothing remains. II.1.2 Other poems: Genesis A:Genesis BII.1.3 Prose
Anglo-Saxon ChronicleIII. Beowulf
III.1 Brief introductionForm：poetry
Author: anonymousType: English epic
Time: about 6th -7th centuryPlace: in Denmark Setting: Scandinavia
Main Characters: Beowulf: the hero; Hrothgar: King of the DanesStory or Plot: 3182 lines, 3 parts
The poem can be divided into three parts: The fight against Grendel
The fight against Grendel's mother The fight against the Dragon
III.2 Artistic features
III.2.1 Sound: no end rhyme, but alliteration
III.2.2 Rhythm:Each half-line has two main beats and each half-line is joined to the other by alliteration.
III.2.3 Meter: rising meter
III.2.4 Tone: originally in an oral form, sung by the bards.III.2.5 Alliteration and understatementAlliteration and Understatement & metaphors Alliteration
Of men he was the mildest and most beloved, To his kin the kindest, keenest to praise.
Understatement
e.g. sea: swan's path, whale's road, the waves,the sea-streams, or the ocean-way a ship: a sea-goer, a sea-boat, a sea-wood , or a wave-floaterIII.3 The Theme, Character, Features
It gives us an interesting picture of life in those old days. It tells us of fierce fights and brave deeds of the leader and the sufferings of his men. It has praised the bravery, keeping promise, and loyalty.
In the poem, Beowulf is strong, courageous, and selfless, ready to risk his life in order to rid his people of evil monsters.
It is a valuable narrative poem, which records the valuable custom of that time. It is mainly about his three major adventures.
Lecture 3: Middle English Literature (1066--1510)(or: Medieval Literature)I. Historical BackgroundI.1. The Norman Conquest
I.1.1 Battle of Hastings (1066)
I.1.2 Co-existed three languages : French, Latin, II.Medieval English LiteratureII.1 Medieval Romance
II.1.1 Three subjects of English romances: 1) the `matter’ of Rome
2) the `matter’ of France3) the `matter’ of BritainII.1.2 the Gawain-poet II.1.3 Features
a. to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds in verse or prose
b. The poems tell us the motifs of the quest, challenge, test, and meeting with the
evil giant..
c. The hero is the knight, setting out on a journey to accomplish some goal --to
protect the church and the poor, to attack infidelity, to rescue a maiden, to meet a challenge, or to obey a knightly command.
d. mysteries and fantasies (improbable, supernatural) e. romantic love
f. standardized characterization
g. The language and style are simple and straightforward. h. The romance reflects a chivalric age.
II.1.4 Romance: King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table:Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Form：poetry
Author: anonymous
Type: romance of knights
Time: about 6th centuryPlace: in EnglandMain Characters:
Gawain, one of the knights of the round table; the Green Knight
II.1.4 Plot
1) Green Knight challenges and Sir Gawain accepts the challenge.2) Gawain looks for the Green Chapel and live in the castle.
3) the life in the castle: three days, three gifts,and the green girdle
4) Gawain is brought into the Green Chapel and is wounded by the Green Knight.II.1.6 Artistic featuresuse of alliteration
He dowellez per al pat day, and dressez on per morn,Askez erly hys armez, and alle were pey bro3t.Fyrst a tule tapit ty3t over pe flet
And miche wats pe gyld gere pat glent peralofte
II.1.6 Theme: Its theme is a series of tests on faith, courage, purity and human weakness for self-preservation.II.Medieval English Literature (4)II.3 The English Ballads (textbook)II.3.1 The Geste of Robin Hood 1) the Characters of Robin Hood 2) Robin Hood and Allin-a-DaleII.3.2 Get up and Bar the DoorWhat is ballad?
Ballad: A narrative poem written in four-line stanzas, characterized by swift action and narrated in a direct style.
Ballads are anonymous narrative songs that have been preserved by oral
transmission. English ballad includes also a great number of humorous ballads. The character of Robin Hood is many sided, Strong, brave and clever, he is at the same time tender-hearted and affectionate.III. Geoffrey Chaucer
III.1 His position and his life
III.2 His literary career: three periods and his major worksIII.3 Selected reading: The Canterbury Tales
III.4 His contributions and his artistic features to English literature
He died in 1400, buried in Westminster Abbey, thus founding the “Poets’ Corner”. Westminster Abbey
III.2 His literary career: three periods and his works
III.2.1 Period of French influence: (1359-1372) . Translated French works into English: The Romance of the Rose;other poems. The first original work:The Book of the Duchess
III.2.2 Period of Italian influence:(1372-1386): Troilus and Criseyde (1372-7); The Legend of Good Women (1385); The House of Fame; The Parliament of Fowls
III.2.3 Period of so-called realism (1386-1400): The Canterbury Tales.III.3.
The Canterbury Tales Form：poetry
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
Type: romance of knights, Saint's legend, folk storyTime: to 14 century
Place: in England
III.3.1 In the current English
Translated by Theodore MorrisonAs soon as April pierces to the root
The drought of March, and bathes each bud and shootThrough every vein of sap with gentle showersFrom whose engendering liquor spring the flowers;Translated by Nevill Coghill
When the sweet showers of April fall and shootDown through the drought of March to pierce the root,Bathing every vein in liquid powerIII.3.2 Plot17,000 lines
From which there springs the engendering of the flower,
The poet and other 29 pilgrims tell stories on their journey from London to Canterbury. Each is to tell two stories while going and two returning.Plan: over 120
Result: 24 tales (of which two are left unfinished)Several points of view
1. As an anthology of medieval literary types: Almost every type of medieval literature is represented here.1) Knight's Tale is a romance.2) Miller's Tale is a fabliau.
3) Second Nun's Tale a saint's legend4) Prioresses Tale a \"miracle of virgin”
5) sermons, beast fables, contemporary anecdotes, and allegories
In short, it is a virtual storehouse of the kinds of literature to be found in Chaucer's
day. (Grennen,1997:9)
2. As the story of a pilgrimage.
Original poem
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soteThe droghte of Marche hath perced to the roteAnd bathed every veyne in swich licour,of which vertu engendred is the flour;
III.4 His contributions and his artistic features
III.3.1 The Father of English Poetry: heroic couplet
3. As a representative view of 14th-century English society. 4. As a framed story
e.g. Whan that Aprille with his shoures swote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote
III.3.2 The Founder of English Realism(The First Realistic Writer)III.3.3 The Master of English Language: the dialect of London.III.3.4 Messenger of Humanism ( forerunner of humanism;). Questions
1) How successful is the \"framing\" device used in the Canterbury Tales?
2) How unique and important is the Canterbury Tales as a document in the history
of the social great changes of the Fourteenth Century?Subjects for research and critical analysis
1) A comparison of any one of the Canterbury tales with its source or analogue.2) A summary and analysis of the recent criticism of a single tale.3) Chaucer's use of imagery in one of the tales.
4) An analysis of the irony of situation in some tales.5) An analysis of the attitude toward women in the Canterbury Tales. 6) Medieval medicine.
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