英国文学史及选读
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
English Literature
College of Foreign Languages
China Three Gorges University
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Teaching Outline
 Part One: The Anglo-Saxon Period(449-1066)
 1 Anglo-Saxon Conquest
 2 Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Literature or the Old
English Literature
 3 Anglo-Saxon Poetry (The Song of Beowulf )
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Teaching Outline
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Part Two: The Anglo-Norman Period(1066-1350)
1 The Norman Conquest
2 The influence of the Norman Conquest on the English
Language and Literature
3 The Romances in the Anglo-Norman Period
4 Romance Cycles
5 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
The Anglo-Saxon Period (449—1066)
 Historical background: Before410 A.D.
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About 449
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Anglo-Saxon, or Old English
 Literature characteristics:The literature of this period is
divided into pagan literature and Christian literature.
 Representative achievement of Anglo-Saxon period—
The Song of Beowulf
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
The Song of Beowulf
 The Song of Beowulf is England’s national epic. It was
written by an unknown scribe at the beginning of the
10th century and was discovered in 1705. It reflects
events which took place approximately at the
beginning of the 6th century.
 The epic consists of 3182 lines and is to be divided into
two parts. It is not a Christian but a pagan poem. The
whole poem presents us an all-round picture of the
tribal society and Christian culture. The use of the
alliteration is another notable feature. Three stresses
of the whole line are made even more emphatic by the
use of alliteration.
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Epic:
 It is, originally, an oral narrative poem, majestic both
in theme and style. Epics deal with legendary or
historical events of national or universal significance,
involving action of broad sweep and grandeur.
Typically, an epic includes several features: the
introduction of supernatural forces that shape the
action; conflict in the form of battles or other physical
forces combat; and stylistic conventions such as an
invocation to the Muse, and set speeches couched in
elevated language. They summarize and express the
nature or ideals of an entire nation at a significant or
crucial period of its history. Eg: Iliad 《伊利亚特》，
Odyssey《奥德赛》 Paradise Lost 《失乐园》，The Divine
Comedy《神曲》。
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Part One: The Anglo-Saxon Period(449-1066
 1 Anglo-Saxon Conquest
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1.1 The making of England
three tribes :Angles, Saxons and Jutes
Anglo-Saxon Conquest ( the 5th century)
Angles-the east midland
-kingdom of East Angles
Saxons- the southern part of the island
England
Jutes - the southeastern corner of the island
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
1 Anglo-Saxon Conquest
 Anglo-Saxons---- Angles, Saxons and Jutes
 Englishmen
 Language---- the Old English (foundation)
 The history of English literature began
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
2 Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Literature
 2.1 General Characteristics
a verse literature in oral form/ unknown creators /a
written form long after its composition
 2.2The two divisions of Anglo-Saxon 1literature
 2.2.1 Two divisions: pagan , Christian (textbook)
 2.2.2 English Poetry in Anglo-Saxon period
the pagan poetry (Beowulf) ,
the religious poetry ( see textbook)
 2.2.3 English Prose in Anglo-Saxon period
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3 Anglo-Saxon Poetry
 What is the oldest surviving epic in British
literature?
 written by an anonymous scribe (an unknown
scribe
 the national epic of the English people
 describes the adventures of a great
Scandinavian hero Beowulf of the sixth
century
 3182 lines
 a written form long after its composition
 housed in the British Library, London
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3.1 What is epic?
 What are three types of poetry ?
 What is a narrative poem ?
 Epic :it is a long narrative poem telling about the deeds
of a great hero and reflecting the values of the society
from which it originated
 What are the main incidents of the poem Beowulf?
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3.2 The Subject Matter of The Song of Beowulf
(back)
 Four incidents of the poem
 Beowulf’s fight with the monster Grendel in
Hrothgar’s hall.
 Beowulf’s slaying of Grendel’s mother in her
lair.
 Beowulf’s return in glory to his uncle, and his
succession to the throne.
 Beowulf’s victory in death over the fire dragon
fifty years later
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3.3 How do you comment on the hero Beowulf?
 Class discussion:
How do you comment on the hero Beowulf?
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3.4 Features of Beowulf
 3.4.1 alliteration
 Alliteration is mainly a poetic device. It refers to the
repetition of consonants, especially at the beginning of
words. In alliterative verse, certain accented words in a
line begin with the same consonant sound.
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3.4 Features of Beowulf
3.4.2metaphors and understatements
Metaphor: a figure of speech that makes a comparison
between two things that are basically dissimilar.
 understatement :A figure of speech that consists of saying
less than one means, or of saying what one means with less
force than the occasion warrants.
“not troublesome” for very welcome
“need not praise” for a right to condemn.
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College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Part Two: The Anglo-Norman Period(1066-1350)
 1 The Norman Conquest
 Duke William /1066 /Hastings/the King of
England /the establishment of feudalism in
England/the feudal social structure /the
pyramid in Egypt /King William - barons and
knights
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
2 .1The influence of the Norman Conquest on the English Language
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Three languages existed in England at that time:
the Normans spoke French
the lower class spoke English
the scholars and clergymen used Latin
Many French words were adopted into the English
language.
Example: calf, swine and sheep for the animals
veal, pork, mutton are the French for the
flesh
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
2 .2The influence of the Norman Conquest on the English Literature
chivalry (ideal knight’s characteristics) was
introduced by the Normans into England.
 The prevailing form : Romance.
 In romance, the chivalric love, faith and
courage of the Middle Ages in Europe is
always emphasized.
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3 The Romances in the Anglo-Norman Period
 3.1 Romance: It was a long composition,
sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose,
describing the life and adventures of a noble
hero.
 3.2 The essential features of the Romance
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
3.2 The essential features of the Romance
 3.2.1 It lacks general resemblance to reality.
 3.2.2 The central character was always the
knight. He was devoted to the church and the
king.
 3.2.3The theme of loyalty to king and lord was
repeatedly emphasized. The devotion to a fair
lady was also emphasized.
 3.2.4 The adventures are remote from our
ordinary life.
 3.2.5 It exaggerates the vices of human
nature and idealizes the virtue.
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
4 Romance Cycles
 4.1The matters of France deal with the
adventures of Charles the Great and his peers.
 4.2 The matters of Roman deal with the tales
from Greek and Roman sources.
 4.3 The matters of Britain mainly deal with
the adventures of King Arthur and his Knights
of the Round.
The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
is the culmination of the Arthurian romances.
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
5 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
5.1About the story
written in the late fourteenth century
four sections, 2530 lines, from Celtic legend
two stories:
the testing at Bercilak’s castle
the beheading of the Green Knight at the
beginning and the return blow at the end
 Sir Gawain
 the Green Knight
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College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
5 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
 5.2 Comments on the romance Sir Gawain and
the Green Knight
 the culmination of the Arthurian romances
 in form---combination of French and Saxon
element
 two main motifs :
 the testing of faith, courage and purity
 the proving of human weakness for selfpreservation
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
5 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
 The story well told
the careful interweaving of one episode with
another
suspense and surprise
the psychological analysis
language is simple and straightforward
 Shortcomings:
 superstition and supernatural elements
 the heroic adventures of Sir Gawain -- for
adventure’s sake.
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Assignment
 Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale p58-p65
 Get Up and Bar the Door p65-p67
 Sir Patrick Spens p67-70
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU
HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Collection
Questions?
College of Foreign Languages, CTGU