Social background: the making of England; the invasion of Roman Empire in 4th AD ;
the attacks of Danish Vikings, etc
2. Literature: Beowulf , the earliest literature, the national epic of the Anglo-Saxon, one of
the striking features - the use of alliteration
*epic------a long narrative poem i...
Chapter I. The Anglo-Saxon Period (the earliest time---1066)
1. Social background: the making of England; the invasion of Roman Empire in 4th AD ;
the attacks of Danish Vikings, etc
2. Literature: Beowulf , the earliest literature, the national epic of the Anglo-Saxon, one of
the striking features - the use of alliteration
*epic------a long narrative poem in elevated style presenting characters of high position
in a series of adventures which form an organic whole. The earliest epic: Homer’s Iliad
and Odyssey
*alliteration------In alliterative verse, certain accented words in a line begin with the
same consonant sound.
Chapter II. The Medieval Period (1066---15th century)
1. Social background: the Norman conquest under William, Duke of Normandy, the
battle of Hastings in 1066; the mark of establishment of feudalism
2. Literature: Langland ; English Ballad; Romance; Chaucer
*Langland------“Piers the Plowman” and allegory
*allegory------a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons and actions in a
narrative are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. It attempts
to evoke a dual interest, one in the events, characters and setting presented, and the
other in the ideas they’re intended to convey or the significance they bear. For example,
ideas of patience, purity, and truth are symbolized by the persons who are characters in
the story.
*ballad------the most important department of English folk literature; a story told in
song, usually in 4-line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhymed. Of paramount
importance are the ballads of Robin Hood.
*Romance------the most prevailing kind of literature in feudal
England; a long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes
in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero.
The romances had nothing to do with the common people.
They were composed for the noble, of the noble, and in most
cases by the poets patronized by the noble. The romance of
King Arthur is comparatively the more important for the
history of English literature.
*Chaucer------the founder of English poetry; the father of
English poetry; introduction of the rhymed stanza of various types from France to
1
, English poetry, instead of the old alliterative verse; the 1st great poet who wrote in the
English language; making the London dialect the standard for the modern English
speech.
*The Canterbury Tales------a picture of the 14th century England; beginning with a
general prologue; with the influence of Boccaccio’s “Decameron”.
Chapter III. English Renaissance (15th and 16th century)
1. Social background: Hundred Years’ War and civil wars; the weakening of nobility and
the rising of bourgeoisie; the new Monarchy; the Reformation and the weakening of the
power of church; Enclosure movement and commercial expansion
2. Literature: Renaissance; Humanism; Thomas More; Edmund Spencer; Francis Bacon;
drama
*Renaissance------The Renaissance marks the transition from the medieval to the
modern world; It means rebirth or revival of letters; It is a historical period in which
thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of those old feudalist ideas, to introduce
new ideas that expressed the interest of the rising bourgeoisie, and to recover the purity
of the early church from the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. Two features are
striking of this movement: thirsting curiosity for the classical literature and the keen
interest in the activities of humanity.
*Humanism------key-note of the Renaissance; emphasis on the dignity of human beings
and the importance of the present life; belief in the right to enjoy the beauty of this life
and the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders.
*Thomas More and his Utopia
*Edmund Spencer and his The Faerie Queen; his reputation known as “the poets’ poet”
*Francis Bacon---the first English essayist, famous for his Essays
3. Drama---the highest glory of the English Renaissance with Christopher Marlowe,
Shakespeare and Ben Jonson
*Christopher Marlowe---the most gifted of the “university wits”, Doctor Faustus, blank
verse first used in his drama.
*Ben Jonson---his praise of Shakespeare; “Volpone”
Soul of the Age
The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage!
……
To whom all scenes of Europe homage owe.
He was not of an age, but for all time!
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