lecture 2_the anglo-saxon period and the anglo-norman period

1、Lecture 2English Literature of Early and the Middle AgesNancy Wang Sep. 9, 2021ContentsI. The Anglo-Saxon PeriodEpic and BeowulfII. The Anglo-Norman PeriodRomance and Sir Gawain and the Green KnightIII. Geoffrey ChaucerThe Canterbury TalesThe Anglo-Saxon Period(4491066)A. About the history(449-1066)

2、.1. Ruler: Teutonic tribes2. Society: primitive tribal society3. Countrys name: Angle-landEngland4. Language: Anglo-Saxon or SaxonOld English B. Literature1. pagan/heathen Literature: oral sagas2. Christian Literature: writings of monksthe Greatest works:The Song of BeowulfC. Beowulf: Englands natio

3、nal epic1. Literary term: epicEpics are long narrative poems that record the adventures of the hero whose exploits are important to the history of a nation. Typically they chronicle the origins of a civilization and embody its central beliefs and values. The style of epic is grand, formal, complex a

4、nd serious. e.g. Homers Iliad and Odyssey. The action is simple, but full of magnificence.2. the Song of Beowulfwriter: unknown scribetime: the early 10th centurydiscovered: until 1705story setting: early 6th centurylength: 3182 linestype: Pagan or Christian?3. Characters & Place Hrothgarthe King of

5、 the DanesHeorota magnificent mead hallGrendela half-human monsterBeowulfa prince of the GeatsGrendels motherMoor/MereFire-breathing dragon4. Plot: (1) fight against Grendel(2) fight against Grendels mother(3) fight against the fire-breathing dragon (4) Beowulfs death and funeral 5. Writing Features

6、1. a pagan poem, advanced pagan civilization, tribal society, first national epic, but not about England;2. the use of alliteration, metaphors and understatements.e.g. The seathe whale-road, the swan-road the soldiers the shield-men the human bodythe bone-house the monstersoul-destroyer II. The Angl

7、o-Norman Period(10661350)A. Historical Background1. the Norman Conquest: The Duke of Normandy defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the battle of Hastings in the year 1066, and William was crowned as the King of England.2. Norman Conquest marks the establishment of Feudalism in England. B. The influences of

8、Norman Conquest1. Politically, feudal system was established in England.2. Religiously, Catholic Church had a stronger control over the country.3. Languages: Great changes: the Normans French scholars and clergyman Latin native lower class English4. Literature: which language?The Norman lords spoke

9、French, while their English subjects retained their old tongue. For a long time the scholar wrote in Latin and the courtier in French. There were almost no written literature in English for a time. Chronicles and religious poems were in Latin. Romances, the prominent kind of literature in the Anglo-

10、Norman Period, were at first all in French.5. influence on customs: After the conquest, the body of customs and ideals known as chivalry was introduced by the Normans into England. The knightly code, the romantic interest in women, tenderness and reverence paid to Virgin Mary were reflected in the l

11、iterature.C. Prevailing literary form-Romance1. Romance (中世紀(jì)傳奇): a long composition, sometimes in verse and sometimes in prose, which described the life and adventures of a noble hero, usu. a knight. Essential features:1) It lacks general resemblance to truth or reality.2) It exaggerates the vices o

12、f human nature and idealizes the virtues.3) It contains perilous adventures more or less remote from ordinary life. 4) It lays emphasis on the supreme devotion to a fair lady. 2. The Romance Cycles (1) Matters of Britain adventures of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.(2) Matters of Fra

13、nce emperor Charlemagne and his peers.(3) Matters of Greece and Rome Alexander the Great and some classical heroes. The central character of romances 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 tourn

14、aments, 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.3. Knight and Chivalry 8 knightly virtues(a) humility (b) honor(c) sacrifice(d) valor(e) compassion(f) spirituality(g) honesty(h) justice 4. Arthuria

15、n Romances(1) the most important to English Literature(2) its origin in Celtic legends(3)“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight its culmination (metrical romance) D. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?高文爵士和綠衣騎士?1. The story: 4 cantos (1) feast in the palace (2) journey for the green chapel (3) test in the ca

16、stle (4) blow in the chapel(1) Feast in the palaceSetting: New Years day / Camelot Characters: Arthur, his knights, the Green knightChallenger: the Green KnightThe challenged: the bravest knight at feastThe challenge: the Green Knight will expose his neck to a blow of his own big battle-ax if any kn

17、ight will agree to abide (忍受) a blow in returnResult: Gawain accepted the challenge, cut down the Green Knights head, and the Green Knight warned Gawain to be faithful to his promise.(2) Journey for the green chapel1) long journey through the wilderness on his steed;2) adventures with storm and cold

18、, beast and animals;3) pray on Christmas eve: “Mary, mildest mother so dear.4) sight of a great castle5) who are in the castle? An aged hero and his beautiful wife(3) Test in the castle1) the compact between the host and Sir Gawain: each man shall give the other whatever good thing attained during t

19、he day.2) What did the young wife do to Gawain?3) What happened on the third day?4) What did the host and Gawain do in the evening?(4) Blow in the chapel1) Gawains being repeatedly warned2) Where was the chapel and what did Gawain hear when he approached it?3) What did Gawain do then?4) What did the

20、 Green Knight explain to his action?5) What was Gawains response when he knew the truth?6) What is the ending of the story?SummaryIn romances we see the epitome of the English society in the medieval period. The romances, as a literary genre, prospered for about 300 years(1200-1500). It was written

21、for the upper class, so it had little to do with the common people. 2) Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight(1) the culmination of the Arthurian romances.(2) theme? a series of tests on faith, courage, purity and human weakness for self-preservation. (3) moral lesson? By placing self-protection

22、 before honor, Gawain has sinned and fallen and become an image of Adam. Human excellence (美德) is marked by original sin, and the green girdle itself remains a perpetual reminder of his weakness.III. Chaucer & the Canterbury TalesA. Geoffrey Chaucer(13431400)the father of English poetrythe father of

23、 English fictionThe 14th century: the age of B. 3 periods of his writing careera. the 1st: youth and early manhoodthe period of French influenceTranslations from Frenche.g. The Romaunt of the Roseb. the 2nd: Italian influence adaptations from Italian writerse.g. Troilus and Crisedec. The 3rd Period:

24、 the English periodThe last 15 yearsThe richest periodThe Canterbury Talesa picture of English society in the Middle AgesC. The Canterbury Tales 1. StoryOn an April day, a group of English pilgrims meet outside the Tabard Inn and are joined by the innkeeper, just outside London. They set out on a pi

25、lgrimage from London to Canterbury to pay their respects to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The group is described in detail, with characters from all classes, upper and lower, represented. Religious characters, such as a prioress, monk and a Pardoner, travel alongside a shi

26、pman, miller, carpenter, reeve(城鎮(zhèn)長(zhǎng)官), squire(鄉(xiāng)紳), yeoman(自耕農(nóng)) and a knight, among others. Harry Bailly, the innkeeper, suggests that as a game they all tell stories to each other along the way. The pilgrims agree to tell four stories each, two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way back. The p

27、erson who tells the best story, as judged by the host, will have his supper paid for by the rest of the group. The tale-telling begins with the knight, each person telling a story that reflects their social position, and some telling stories which are intended to make fun of others in the group. No

28、winner is chosen by the host in the end, and not all of the pilgrims have told their tales by the time the story ends. 2. Social significance of the Canterbury TalesIt draws a true-to-life picture of English feudal society of Chaucers day. Taking the stand of the rising bourgeoisie, Chaucer affirms

29、mans right to pursue happiness and opposes the dogma of asceticism preached by the Church. As one of the forerunners of humanism, he praises mans energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life. His tales expose and satirize the social evils of his day. They criticize the degeneration of the noble, the heartlessness of the judge, and the corruption of the church. D. Chaucers Contribution1. Forerunner of Humanism He praised mans energ