英国文学资料

?Battle is a way of life at that time.

?Strength and courage are basic virtues for both kings and his warriors.

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? 2) The king should protect his people and show gentleness and generosity to his warriors. ?And in return, his warriors should show absolute obedience and loyalty to the king.

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?3) By praising Beowulf’s wisdom, strength and courage, and by glorifying his death for his people, the poem presents the heroic ideal of a king and his good relation to his warriors and people.

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?2. 1) the use of alliteration

? 2) the use of the strong stress and predominance of consonants

? 3) the use of vivid poetic diction and parallel expressions for a single idea

Part II: The Anglo-Norman Period (1066—1350) Medieval English Literature

?A. Historical background

?1. The Normans were a race of sea rovers living in Scandinavia. In the 10th century, they conquered

a part of northern France called Normandy.

Part II: The Anglo-Norman Period (1066—1350)

the Anglo-Saxons. The Battle of Hastings The Battle of Hastings

Part II: The Anglo-Norman Period (1066—1350)

?2. In 1066, at the battle of Hastings, the Normans headed by William, Duke of Normandy, defeated

?3. After the conquest, feudal system was established in English society.

1200-1300; 1300-1400; 1400-1500 Norman Stone Castles in the British Isles Horses in trappings B. Literature

?Chivalry：derived from the French word chevalier, indicating one who rides a horse； ? the knightly code

the romantic interest in women

tenderness and reverence paid to Virgin Mary

Chivalry

B. Literature

?1. three chief effects of the Conquest ?1) the bringing of Roman civilization ?2) the growth of nationality

?3) the new language and literature B. Literature

?Latin and French _ the languages of the upper classes ( courts, churches and schools) English _ the common people

?The inflectional system of Old English was weakened and a large number of French words had been absorbed.

Words about enjoyment and pleasure _ French origin bull/ beef; calf/veal; sheep/mutton English words from French ?1. –tion: portion; section

?2. –ty: university ( universite )

?3. –able/ible: capable; impossible; terrible ?4. –ous: delicious; fabulous; precious (-eux) ?5. –ate: tolerate; create; enumerate (-er )

?6. –ize/ise: privatize; realize; modernize (-iser) B. Literature ?2. four kinds:

a. Geoffrey’s history: Geoffrey of Monmouth History of the Kings of Britain b. the work of the French writers c. Riming/rhythmic chronicles

d. metrical Romances, or tales in verse

C. The Romance in Anglo-Norman Period

?1. Romance: It is a literary genre popular in the Middle Ages, dealing, in verse or prose, with legendary, supernatural or amorous subjects and characters. The term is applied to tales dealing with loves and adventures of kings, queens, knights and ladies and including unlikely or supernatural happenings.

★ 2. Essential Features of the Romance ( 1200-1500) ?1). It lacks general resemblance to truth or reality.

?2). It exaggerates the vices of human nature and idealizes the virtues. ?3). It contains perilous adventures more or less remote from ordinary life.

★ 2. Essential Features of the Romance ( 1200-1500) ?4). It lays emphasis on supreme devotion to a fair lady.

?5). The central character of the romance is the knight, a man of noble birth skilled in the use of weapons.

Charles the Great, Alexander the Great and King Arthur

C. The Romance in Anglo-Norman Period

?3. Romance Cycles or Groups:

? a. the matter of France: about Charlemagne and his peers/knights

? b. the matter of Greece and Rome: about Alexander, the Trojan War and the fall of Troy ? c. the matter of Britain: king Arthur and his Round Table knights

King Arthur

?King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against the Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The Legend of King Arthur

?石中剑（The Sword in the Stone） King Pellinore ?王者之剑（Excalibur）

Mordred ?阿瓦隆(Avalon)

英格兰西南的格拉斯顿堡（Glastonbury）玻璃岛(The Isle of Glass ) The Death of King Arthur Knights of the Round Table The Winchester Round Table

?To never do outrage nor murder. (永不暴怒和谋杀。 ) ?Always to flee treason. (永不背叛。 )

?To by no means be cruel but to give mercy unto him who asks for mercy. (永不残忍，给予求降者以宽恕。)

? ?

The Winchester Round Table

?To always do ladies, gentlewomen and widows succor. (总是给予女士以援助。 )

?To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows. (永不胁迫女士。)

?Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels. (永不因争吵而卷入战斗。 )

The Holy Grail Launcelot and Gawain