英美文學(xué)英國(guó)部分重點(diǎn)

EnglishandAmericaliteratures

IntroductionofEnglishliterature

1.England'sinhabitantsisCelts.AnditisconqueredbyRomans,Anglo

SaxonsandNormans.TheAnglo-SaxonsbroughttheGermaniclanguageandcultureto

England,whileNormansbroughttheMediterraneancivilization,includingGreekculture,

RomelawandtheChristianreligion.

2.theoldEnglishliteratureextendsfromabout450to1066,theyearofthe

NormanconquestofEngland.

3.OldEnglishliteraturehassurviveddividedintotwogroups.

Religiousgroup:GenesisA

GenesisBbasedonbiblicalthemestheOldTestament

Exodus

TheDreamoftheRood

Thesecularone:TheWanderer

Deor

Theseafarer

Thewife'scomplaint

Beowulf:atypicalexampleofOldEnglishpoetry,isregardedasthenationalepicofthe

Anglo-Saxons.Itisanexampleoftheminglingofnaturemythsandheroiclegends.

AftertheNorman'sconquest,threelanguagesco-existedinEngland.Frenchifthe

officiallanguagethatisusedbykingandtheNormanlords.Latinistheprincipal

tongueofchurchaffairsandinuniversities.OldEnglishwasspokenonlybythe

commonEnglishpeople.

Inthesecondhalfof14thcentury,GerofferyChaucer,WilliamLangland,JohnGower,

andothers

Recite:

1.Romance:whichusesnarrativeverseorprosetosingknightlyadventuresor

otherheroicdeedsisapopularliteraryforminthemedievalperiod.Ithasdevelopedthe

characteristicmedievalmotifsofthequest,thetest,themeetingwiththeevilgiantand

theencounterwiththebeautifulbeloved.Theheroisusuallytheknight,whosetsout

onajourneytoaccomplishsomemissions.Thereisoftenmysteriesandfantasiesin

romance.Romanticloveisanimportantpartoftheplotinromance.Characterizationis

standardized,Whilethestructureislooseandepisodic,thelanguageissimpleand

straightforward.Theimportanceoftheromanceitselfcanbeseenasameansof

showingmedievalaristocraticmenandwomeninrelationtotheiridealizedviewofthe

world.

2.heroiccouplet:Heroiccoupletisarhymedcoupletofiambicpentameter.Itis

ChaucerwhouseditforthefirsttimeinEnglishinhisworkTheLegendofGood

Woman.

3.DefinetheperiodofOldEnglishliteratureandmedievalliterature:

TheperiodofOldEnglishliteraturebeginswiththeAnglo-SaxonssettlementinEngland

atabout450to1066,theyearoftheNormanConquestofEngland.TheMedievalPeriod

inEnglishliteraturestartat1066,theyearoftheNormanConquest,andendsatabout

the15thcentury,isalmostabarrenoneinliterarycreation.Whileinthelaterperiod,

startingfromthesecondhalfofthe14thcentury,Englishliteratureflourisheswiththe

appearanceofwriterslikeGeoffreyChaucer,WilliamLangland,JohnGower,and

others,

4.ThethemeofBeowulf:thepoempresentsavividpictureofhowtheprimitive

peoplewageheroicstrugglesagainstthehostileforcesofthenaturalworldundera

wiseandmightyleader.Thepoemisanexampleoftheminglingofthenaturemyths

andheroiclegends.

5.WhatdoesthecharacterthewifeofBathinTheCanterburyTalesrepresent?

Andhowdoestheauthordevelophischaracterization?

TheWifeofBathisdepictedasthenewbourgeoiswifeassertingherindependence.

Chaucerdevelopshischaracterizationtoahigherartisticlevelbypresentingcharacters

withbothtypicalqualitiesandindividualdispositions.

6.Chauceriscalled"thefatherofEnglishpoetry"andhasmadegreat

contributionstoEnglishpoetryandEnglishliterature.PleasediscussChaucer'sliterary

achievementandwhyheiscalled"thefatherofEnglishpoetry"

Chaucer'sachievement:

1.hepresentedacomprehensiverealisticpictureofhisageandcreatedawhole

galleryofvividcharactersinhisworks,especiallyinTheCanterburyTales.2.He

anticipatedanewear,theRenaissance,tocomeundertheinfluenceoftheItalian

writers.3.Hedevelopedhischaracterizationtoahigherlevelbypresentingcharacters

withbothtypicalqualitiesandindividualdispositions.4.hegreatlycontributedtothe

maturingofEnglishpoetry.Today,Chaucer'sreputationhasbeensecurelyestablished

asoneofthebestEnglishpoetsforhiswisdom,humorandhumanity.

2.whyheiscalled"thefatherofEnglishpoetry":

originally,OldEnglishpoemsaremainlyalliterativeverseswithfewvariations.Chaucer

introducedfromFrancetherhymedstanzasofvarioustypestoEnglishpoetryto

replaceit.InTheRomauntoftheRose,hefirstintroducedtotheEnglishthe

octosyllabiccouplet.InTheLegendofGoodWomen,heusedforthefirsttimein

Englishheroiccouplet.Andinhismasterpiece,TheCanterburyTales,heemployed

heroiccoupletwithtrueeaseandcharmforthefirsttimeinthehistoryofEnglish

literature.HisartmadehimoneofthegreatestpoetsinEnglish,JohnDrydencalled

him"thefatherofEnglishpoetry".

ChapterITheRenaissancePeriod

1.Renaissance:itismarksatransitionfromthemedievaltothemodernworld.

Generally,itreferstotheperiodbetweenthe14thandmid17thcenturies.Itfirststarted

fromItalyandthenspreadalloverEurope.Therenaissance,whichmeans11rebirth"or

revival",isactuallyamovementstimulatedbyaseriesofhistoricalevents,suchasthe

rediscoveryofancientRomanandGreekculture,thenewdiscoveriesingeographyand

astrology,thereligiousreformationandtheeconomicexpansion.TheRenaissance,

therefore,inessence,isahistoricalperiodinwhichtheEuropeanhumanistthinkers

andscholarsmadeattemptstogetridofthoseoldfeudalistideasinmedievalEurope,

tointroducenewideasthatexpressedtheinterestsoftherisingbourgeoisie,andto

recoverthepurityoftheearlychurchfromthecorruptionoftheRomanCatholic

Church.

2.thebackgroundoftheEngland

TheEnglandisunrest,andisavolcanicperiodofEnglishhistory.Thewar-likenobles

seizedthepowerofEnglandandturneditintoself-destruction.Thefrightfulreignof

RichardIIImarkedtheendofcivilwars,untilthereignofHenryVIII(1509-1547)thatthe

RenaissancereallybegantoshowitseffectinEngland

3.Humanism:itistheessenceoftheRenaissance.Humanismisasystemof

beliefsupheldbywritersandartistsoftheRenaissanceperiodintheirfightingagainst

medievalasceticism.Itstatesthatmanisgodly,thatmanisabletofindtruth,goodness

andbeauty,andthatmanisincontrolofthepresentliferatherthanbeingcontrolledby

God.Briefly,humanismputsmanatthecenteroftheirbeliefsandtakesmantobethe

measureofeverythingwhiletheformerasceticismputsGodatthecenteroftheir

beliefsandtakespersonalsalvationtobethemostimportantthingontheearthfor

man.

4.Religiousreformation:itisMartinLuther,aGermanProtestant,whoinitiated

theReformation.LutherbelievedthateverytrueChristianwashisownpriestandwas

entitledtointerprettheBibleforhimself.

HenryVIIIwasregardedasthefaithfulsonoftheCatholic,hiswifecutthetieswith

Rome

EdwardVIthereformofthechurch'sdoctrineandteachingwascarriedout

MarytherewasaviolentswingtoCatholicism.

Elizabeth'sreignProtestantismhasbeenfirmlyestablished.

Thereligiousreformationwasactuallyareflectionoftheclassstrugglewagedbythe

newrisingbourgeoisieagainstthefeudalclassanditsideology.

5.blankverse:istheunrhymediambicpentameterline,ItwasSurreywhofirst

broughtitinandMarlowewhoperfecteditwithhis"mightyline"

6.metaphysicalpoetry:Theterm"metaphysicalpoetry"iscommonlyusedto

nametheworkofthe17thcenturywriterswhowroteundertheinfluenceofJohnDonne.

Witharebelliousspirit,themetaphysicalpoetstriedtobreakawayfromthe

conventionalfashionoftheElizabethanlovepoetry.Thedictionissimpleandechoes

thewordsandcadencesofcommonspeech.Theimageryisdrawnfromtheactuallife.

Theformisfrequentlythatofanargumentwiththepoet'sbeloved,withGod,orwith

himself.ModernpoetslikeT.S.Eliothavebeenmostlyaffectedbythemetaphysical

influence.

7.TheRenaissanceherisMarlowe'screation,Suchaheroisalways

individualisticandfullofambition,facingbravelythechallengefrombothgodsand

men.HeembodiesMarlowe'shumanisticidealofhumandignityandcapacity.Different

fromthetragicheroinmedievalplays,whoseeksthewaytoheaventhroughsalvation

andGod'swill,heisagainstconventionalmoralityandcontrivestoobtainheavenon

earththroughhisownefforts,Withtheendlessaspirationforpower,knowledge,and

glory,theherointerpretsthetrueRenaissancespirit.BothTamburlaineandFaustusare

typicalinpossessingsuchaspirit.

8.giveagreatincentivetosomething

9.WilliamCaxton,whointroducedprintingintoEngland.IncludingThe

CanterburyTablesandMalory'sMorteDarthur

10.it'sthemainstreamofthesth

11.itcouldbedatedbacktothe......

12.interludesandmoralityplaysthrivinginthemedievalperiod

13.butthedevelopmentofthedramaintoasophisticatedartform

14.theymadeavividdepictionofthesharpconflictsbetweenfeudalismandthe

risingbourgeoisieinatransitionalperiod.

15.FrancisBacon(1561-1626),thefirstimportantEnglishessayist,isbestknownfor

hisessayswhichgreatlyinfluencedthedevelopmentofthisliteraryform.Hewasalso

thefounderofmodernscienceinEngland.Hiswritingspavedthewayfortheuseof

scientificmethod.Thus,heisundoubtedlyoneoftherepresentativesoftheEnglish

Renaissance.

16.themainwriters

A.EdmundSpenser(1552-1599)receivededucationfirstatMerchantTaylor's

SchoolandthenatPembrokeCollege,Cambridge.TheShepheardesCanlender,

Epithalamion—themostbeautifulweddinghymnsfortheirmarriage.Spenser's

masterpieceisTheFaerieQueene,tofashionagentlemanornoblepersoninvirtuous

andgentlediscipline.TheRedcrosseknightinBook/andSirGuyoninBookII

ThefivemainqualitiesofSpenser'spoetryare:a.aperfectmelody;b.araresenseof

beauty;c.asplendidimagination;d.aloftymoralpurityandseriousness;e.adedicated

idealism.Inadditiontotheabove,Spenserusesstrangeformsofspeechandobsolete

wordsinordertoincreasetherusticeffect.ItisSpenser'sidealism,hisloveofbeauty,

andhisexquisitemelodythatmakehimknowas"thepoets"poet.

B.ChristopherMarlowe:(1564-1593)asonofaCanterburyshoemaker.Firsttothe

King'sSchool,thenCambridge.Asamanofletters.PlayTamburlaine,Dr

Faustus,isgiftedofthe"UniversityWits",TheJewofMalta,EdwardII,non-dramatic

poetryincludesHeroandLeander,11thePassionateShepherdtoHisLove"andaverse

translationofQ/id'sAmores,pioneerofEnglishdrama

TamburlaineisaplayaboutananambitiousandpitilessTartarconquerorinthe

fourteenthcenturywhorosefromashepherdtoanoverpoweringking.Byfloutingthe

givenorderandtramplingondespairingprinces,Tamburlainedisplayedahigh-aspiring

mindthatwasself-createdandcarriedbyloveanddreamsbeyondthelimitsofmoral

existence.Hisvictorieswereatriumphofimmensenaturalenergyandofruthlessness

overequallycruelbutweakanddecadentcivilizations.Bydepictingagreatherowith

highambitionandsheerbrutalforceinconqueringoneenemyafteranother.Beinga

cruelconqueror,findsconsummatehappinessinsubduingotherkingdoms.Noenemy,

exceptDeath,candefeathim,hisdeathendsingloryalthoughhefinallyadmitshis

limitationsofachievements,andevenhislimitationsasahumanbeing.

Dr.FaustusisaplaybasedontheGermanlegendofamagicianaspiringforknowledge

andfinallymeetinghistragicendasaresultofsellinghissoultotheDevil.Theplay's

dominantmoralishumanratherthanreligious.Itcelebratesthehumanpassionfor

knowledge,powerandhappiness;italsorevealsman'sfrustrationinrealizingthehigh

aspirationsinahostilemoralorder.Andtheconfinementtotimeisthecruelestfactof

man'scondition.

Dr.FaustusisthegreatestofMarlowe'splays,inwhichtheoldGermanlegendiffreely

reshaped.Faustusisagreatscholarboredofhispresentstudyontheacademic

curriculumandturnstoblackmagic.ByconjurationhecallsupMephistophilis,the

Devils'sservant.Faustusmakesabondtosellhissoultothedevilinreturnfor

twenty-fouryearsoflifeinwhichhemayhavetheservicesofMephistophilistogivehim

everythinghedesires.Withthehelpofdevil,Faustusbringshismagicalartintofull

playandseesthePope,AlexandertheGreatandeventhebeautifulHelenofGreece.

MeanwhileFaustushasexperiencedmuchinternalconflict,symbolizedinthe

appearancesofbothGoodAngelandBadAngel.Inthefinalscene,thereremainsonly

theterrifyingsoliloquyinwhichtheanguishofthehero'smindispoignantlyexpressed.

ThePassionateShepherdtoHisLove:thisshortpoemisconsideredtobeoneofthe

mostbeautifullyricsinEnglishliterature.Itderivesfromthepastoraltradition,inwhich

theshepherdenjoysandidealcountrylife,cherishingapastoralandpureaffectionfor

hislove.Strongemotionisconveyedthroughthebeautyofnaturewhereloversarenot

disturbedbyworldlyconcern.

Comelivewithmeandbemylove

Andwewillallthepleasuresprove

Thatvalleys,groves,hills,andfields

Woods,orsteepymountainyields

Andwewillsitupontherocks,

Seeingtheshepherdsfeedtheirflocks.

Byshallowriverstowhosefalls

Melodiousbirdssingmadrigals.

AndIwillmaketheebedsofroses,

Andathousandfragrantposies,

Acapofflowers,andakirtle,

Embroideredallwithleavesofmyrtle;

Agownmadeofthefinestwool,

Whichfromourprettylambswepull;

Fairlinedslippersforthecold,

Withbucklesofthepurestgold;

Abeltofstrawandivybuds,

Withcoralclaspsandamberstuds,

Andifthesepleasuresmaytheemove,

Comelivewithme,andbemylove.

Theshepherdsswainsshalldanceandsing

ForthydelighteachMaymorning;

Ifthesedelightsthymindmaymove,

Thenlivewithmeandbemylove.

C.WilliamShakespeare

(1564-1616)isoneofthemostremarkableplaywrightsandpoetstheworldhasever

known.Hisworksinclude38plays,154sonnetsand2longpoems.Bornina

merchant'sfamily.InLondonhewritetheplaywrite:LordChamberlain'sMenwhichwas

laterrenamedKing'sMen.RobertGreene,oneofthe11UniversityWits",declaredhimto

be"anupstartcrow."Twopoems:VenusandAdfonisandTheRapeofLucrece

Threeperiods:

Oneperiod:

Historyplays:HenryVI,PartsI,II,andIII,RichardIII,TitusAndronicus;fourcomedies:

TheComedyofErrors,TheTwoGentlemenofVerona,TheTamingoftheshrew,and

Love'sLabour'sLost

Twoperiod

Secondperiod:fivehistories:RichardII,KingJohn,HenryIV,PartsIandII,HenryV

Sixcomedies:AMidsummerNight'sDream,TheMerchantofVenice,MuchAdoAbout

Nothing,Asyoulikeit,TwelfthNight,andTheMerryWivesofWindsor

Twotragedies:RomeoandJuliet,JuliusCaesar.

Thirdperiod:

Tragedies:Hamlet,Othello,KingLear,Macbeth,AntonyandCleopatra,Troilusand

Cressida,andCoriolanus.

Twocomedies:All'sWellThatEndsWellandMeasureforMeasure.

Lastperiod:

Romantictragicomedies:Pericles,Cymbeline,TheWinter'sTaleandTheTempest

Twoplays:HenryVIIIandTheTwoNobleKinsmen

Mainworks:

MerchantofVenice:hestatesthesophisticationderivesinpartfromtheplaybetween

high,outgoingromanceanddarkforcesofnegativityandhate.Thetraditionalthemeof

theplayistopraisethefriendshipbetweenAntonioandBassanio.toidealizePortiaas

aheroineofgreatbeauty,witandloyalty,andtoexposetheinsatiablegreedand

brutalityoftheJew.Burnowtheviewschanged,itisverydifficulttoseeShylockasa

conventionalevilfigure.Andmanypeopletodaytendtoregardtheplayasasatireof

theChristians'hypocrisyandtheirfalsestandardsoffriendshipandlove,theircunning

waysofpursuingworldlinessandtheirunreasoningprejudiceagainstJews..compare

theothersworksofhim,ittakesastepforwardinitsrealisticpresentationofhuman

natureandhumanconflict.

RomeoandJuliet:whicheulogizesthefaithfulnessofloveandthespiritofpursuing

happiness.Theplay.thoughatragedy,ispermeatedwithoptimisticspirit..

Hamlet,Othello,KingLear,andMacbeth:Theyhavesomecharacteristicsincommon.

Eachportrayscomenoblehero,whofacestheinjusticeofhumanlifeandiscaughtina

difficultsituationandwhosefateiscloselyconnectedwiththefateofthewholenation.

Eachherohashisweaknessofnature:Hamlet,themelancholicscholar-prince,faces

thedilemmabetweenactionandmind.Othello'sinnerweaknessismadeuseofbythe

outsideevilforce;andKingLearwhoisunwillingtototallygiveuphispowerhimself

sufferfromtreacheryandinfidelity;andMacbeth'slustforpowerstirsuphisambition

andleadshimtoincessantcrimes.

Hamlet:thefirstofthegreattragedies,isgenerallyregardedasShakespeare'smost

popularplayonthestage,forithasthequalitiesofa"blood-and=thunder"thrillerand

aphilosophicalexplorationoflifeanddeath.Itbasedonawidespreadlegendin

northernEurope,ShakespearetakesthebareoutlinesofRevengeTragedy,butwhathe

addsininfinitelymoreinterestingthanwhatheadopts.Andthetimelessappealofthis

mightydramaliesinitscombinationofintrigue,emotionalconflictandsearching

philosophicmelancholy11tobe,ornottobethatisthequestion".

D.FrancisBacon(1561-1626),arepresentativeoftheRenaissanceinEngland,is

awell-knownphilosopher,scientistandessayist.Helaysthefoundationformodern

sciencewithhisinsistenceonthescientificwayofthinkingandfreshobservation

ratherthanauthorityasabasisforobtainingknowledge.HisEssaysisthefirstexample

ofthatgenreinEnglishliterature,whichhasbeenrecognizedasanimportantlandmark

inthedevelopmentofEnglishprose.AndsomephraseshaveevenenteredtheEnglish

literarytradition.Attheheightofhiscareer,underKingJames,hebecameLordKeeper

andthenLordChancellorofEngland.Buthewaslateraccusedoftakingbribesin

office.

Mainworks:

Hisworkscanbedividedintothreegroups.

Firstgroup:TheAdvancementofLearning,NovumOrganum,andenlargedLatin

versionofTheAdvancementofLearning.Hisphilosophicalworksalsobelongtothe

firstgroup.

Secondgroup:mainliteraryworks.ThemostfamousisEssays.Includedtenshort

articles,theenlargededitionof1612andthirty-eightessays.Otherworksofthegroup

areApophthagmesNewandOld,TheHistoryoftheReignofHenryVII,andunfinished

TheNewAtlantis.

Thirdperiod:MaximsofLaw,TheLearnedReadingupontheStatuteofUSES.

TheAdvancementofLearning:itisagreattractoneducation.InbookI,Baconhighly

praisesknowledge,refutingtheobjectionstolearningandoutliningtheproblemswith

whichhisplanistodeal.Alsoheanswersthechargethatlearningisagainstreligion.In

ordertoillustratethisidea,hedividesknowledgeintotwokinds.Oneistheknowledge

obtainedfromtheDivineRevelation.Theotheristheknowledgefromtheworkingsof

humanmind.Heseparatestheologyfromscientificobservationsandexperiments,thus

makingagreatstepforwardinscience.Thesecondbookisasurveyoflearning,which

explainsitsimportanceinscholarship.AccordingtoBacon,man'sunderstanding

consistsofthreeparts:historytoman'smemory,poetrytoman'simaginationand

creation,andphilosophytoman'sreason.

NovumOrganum:isasuccessfultreatisewritteninLatinonmethodology.Itisthemost

impressivedisplayofBacon'sintellect.Theargumentisfortheuseofinductivemethod

ofreasoninginscientificstudy.ButBaconfirstexpoundsthefourgreatfalse

conceivingsthatbesetmen'smindandpreventthemfromseekingthetruth.Theninhis

secondbook,Baconsuggeststheinductivereasoning,i.e.proceedingfromthe

particulartothegeneral,inplaceoftheAristotelianmethod,thedeductivereasoning,

i.e.proceedingfromthegeneraltotheparticular.Byputtingforwardthistheory,Bacon,

asahumanistintellect,showsthenewempiricalattitudestowardtruthaboutnature

andbravelychallengesthemedievalscholasticists.

MontaigneistheBacon'steacher,learneconomicandflexiblewayofwriting.

Baconcaresmoreaboutaxiomsundertheguidanceofwhichmanthinksandactsthan

humannatureormorality.

Bacon'sessaysarefamousfortheirbrevity,compactnessandpowerfulness.Yetthere

isanobviousstylisticchangeintheEssays.Thesentencesinthefirsteditionare

chargedandcrowdedwithsymmetries.Theyarecomposedinaratheraffectedway.

However,thefinaleditionnotonlyenlargestherangeoftheme,butalsobringsforththe

looserandmorepersuasivestyle.Theessaysarewell-arrangedandenrichedby

Biblicalallusions,metaphorsandcadence.

OfStudiesisthemostpopularofBacon's58essays.Itanalyzeswhatstudieschiefly

servefor,thedifferentwaysadoptedbydifferentpeopletopursuestudies,andhow

studiesexertinfluenceoverhumancharacter.Forcefulandpersuasive,compactand

precise,OfStudiesrevealstousBacon'smatureattitudetowardslearning

E.JohnDonne(1572-1631),istheleadingfigureofthe11metaphysicalpoetry",it'smain

characteriswitharebelliousspirit,themetaphysicalpoetstriedtobreakawayfromthe

conventionalfashionoftheElizabethanlovepoetry.Thedictionissimpleascompared

withthatoftheElizabethanortheNeoclassicperiods.Andechoesthewordsand

cadencesofcommonspeech.Theimageryisdrawnfromtheactuallife.Theformis

frequentlythatofanargumentwiththepoet'sbeloved,withGod,orwithhimself.

Hispoemsgiveamoreinherentlytheatricalimpressionbyexhibitingaseemingly

unfocuseddiversityofexperiencesandattitudes,andafreerangeoffeelingsand

moods.Themodeisdynamicratherthanstatic,withingenuityofspeech,vividnessof

imageryandvitalityofrhythms,whichshowanotablecontrasttotheotherElizabethan

lyricpoemswhicharepure,serene,tuneful,andsmooth-running.Themoststriking

featureofDonne'spoetryispreciselyitstangofreality,inthesensethatitseemsto

reflectlifeinarealratherthanapoeticalworld.Herbert,Vaughan,Crashaw,Marvelland

Cowleyarealsoconsideredtobemetaphysicalpoets.,hemainwritingsermonsand

religiouspoems.

Mainworks:TheElegiesandSatires,TheSongsandSonnets.HolySonnets,Ahymnto

GodtheFather.

TheSongsandSonnets,inthispoemsDonneisprobablybestknown,containsmostof

hisearlylyrics.Loveisthebasictheme.Donneholdsthatthenatureofloveisthe

unionofsoulandbody.IdealismandcynicismaboutlovecoexistinDonne'slove

poetry.,sometimesexpressesthefutilityandinstabilityofloveinhispoems.His

interestliesindramatizingandillustratingthestateofbeinginlove..

Inhispoetry,Donnefrequentlyappliesconceits.Hisconceitsmaybedividedintotwo

kinds:easyonesanddifficultones.Easyconceits,foundinallElizabethanpoetrywith

imagesconcerningmythologyandnaturalobjects,arenotanovelty;thedifficultones

relylargelyonthechoiceofimagery.Donne'simagesarelinkedwithnewresources

suchaslaw,psychologyandphilosophywhichendowhispoetrywithlearningandwit.

Hispoetryinvolvesacertainkindofargument,sometimesinrigidsyllogisticform.He

seemstobespeakingtoanimaginedhearer,raisingthetopicandtryingtopersuade,

convinceorupbraidhim.

VIJohnMilton(1608-1674)takepartinthestruggleforhumanliberty,thusputtinghis

pentotheserviceoftherevolutionarycause,

Mainworks:ParadiseLost,ParadiseRegained,SamsonAgonistes.Milton'sliterary

achievementscanbedividedintothreegroups:theearlypoeticworks,themiddle

prosepamphlets,theearlyperiod,Lycidas,Areopagitica,,theParadiseLostistheonly

generallyacknowledgedepicinEnglishliteraturesinceBeowrlf;andthelastoneisthe

mostperfectexampleoftheversedramaaftertheGreekstyleinEnglish.

ParadiseLostisalongepicdividedinto12books.Thethemeisthe11FallofMan".In

heaven,SatanledarebellionagainstGod.Defeated,heandhisrebelangelswerecast

intoHell.However,Satanrefusedtoaccepthisfailure,vowingthat11alIwasnotlost".

ThepoemgoesontotellhowSatantookrevengebytemptingAdamandEve,thefirst

humanbeingscreatedbyGod,toeatfruitfromthetreeofknowledgeagainstGod's

instructions.Fortheirdisobedience,AdamandEveweredrivenoutofParadise.They

weresorryforwhattheyhaddoneandprayedtoGod.Inthelastbooktheyweregiven

thehopeforredemption.ThepoemendedwithAdamandEvewalkingawayfrom

Paradise,handinhand,andthegatesofEdenwereclosedbehindthem..

Paradiselost:isMilton'smasterpiece.ThestoryistakenfromtheOldTestament:Satan

andotherangelsrebelagainstGod,buttheyaredefeatedanddrivenfromHeaveninto

Hell.EvenamidstthefurnaceofHell,Satanisdeterminedtofightback.Heassumesthe

shapeofasnakeandcomestotheGardenofEden,aparadisewhereAdamandEve

live.God,afterknowingSatan'splot,sendstheArchangelRaphaeltowarnAdamand

EveofSatan.However,SatanstillsucceedsinseducingEvetoeatthefruitfromthe

TreeofKnowledge,whichhasbeentotallyforbiddenbyGod.Asaresult,AdamandEve

areexiledbyGodfromtheparadiseandthereafterlivealifefullofhardship.

5.QuestionsandAnswers

1.thefivemainqualitiesofSpenser'spoetryare:a.aperfectmelody;b.araresenseof

beauty;c.asplendidimagination;d.loftymoralpurityandseriousness;e.adedicated

idealism.

2.Whafsthe"ofstudies":itanalyzeswhatstudieschieflyservefor,thedifferentways

adoptedbydifferentpeopletopursuestudies,andhowstudiesexertinfluenceover

humancharacter.Forcefulandpersuasive,compactandprecise,,lofstudies"revealsto

usBacon'smatureattitudetowardslearning.

1.Marlowe'sgreatestachievementliesinthatheperfectedtheblankverseand

madeittheprinciplemediumofEnglishdrama.Hissecondachievementinhiscreation

o