《英美文學(xué)選讀》串講講義(高度歸納版)

1、英美文學(xué)選讀應(yīng)考指導(dǎo)一、教材說明英美文學(xué)選讀是全國高等教育自學(xué)考試英語專業(yè)本科段的必修課程，也是廣大考生比較頭疼的課程。教材大體可以分為兩個大的部分，文學(xué)發(fā)展史和作家介紹及作品選讀。讓考生頭疼的事情是課本信息量太大，考綱要求的內(nèi)容較多，學(xué)習(xí)的時候理不出頭緒，也不便記憶。事實上，文學(xué)課有著相當(dāng)強的邏輯性和系統(tǒng)性，只要我們把握住這一點，這門課程并不難學(xué)，也不難考過。二、考情分析2009年，本門課程的考試大綱做了一些調(diào)整，這種調(diào)整在某種程度上減輕和考生的復(fù)習(xí)負擔(dān)，但也同時考察的內(nèi)容更細，更全。（一）關(guān)于考核要求的調(diào)整考核要求中每章概述內(nèi)容不作調(diào)整；“該時期的重要作家”只包含對考核知識點中保留的重要作

2、家的相關(guān)內(nèi)容的考核。（二）大綱調(diào)整后的特點（1）新大綱更加突出了英美各個文學(xué)時期的時代特點。如：文藝復(fù)興時期的戲劇和詩史，浪漫主義時期的詩歌等。從這個意義上講，命題的重點突出了。（2）新大綱中考核的作家，都是每一個文學(xué)時期文學(xué)潮流的最具代表性的作家，都是對該時期文學(xué)的發(fā)展起到?jīng)Q定作用的作家。從這個意義上講，命題的焦點集中了。（3）新大綱中所保留的作家的作品大多是廣大考生耳熟能詳?shù)淖髌?，從這個意義上講，考試的難度降低了。三、復(fù)習(xí)方法（一）概述：考試大綱調(diào)整以后，可命題的作家的數(shù)量減少了，但命題的深度會增加；同時，由于作家數(shù)量的減少，這也意味著在每一章的概述部分和作品選讀部分的命題點會增多。（二）

3、每章概述部分的復(fù)習(xí)重點在對這部分的復(fù)習(xí)中，重點關(guān)注每一個文學(xué)時期的界定以及其標志性事件；另外每一個文學(xué)時期的時代特點和突出文學(xué)成就也是考查的重點，還有本時期同時存在的文學(xué)流派的特點也是重點內(nèi)容。（三）每章重點作家的復(fù)習(xí)重點作家的文學(xué)史上的地位和貢獻；作家的代表作以及代表作的中心大意和所反映的社會現(xiàn)實；作家的寫作風(fēng)格和寫作特點也是命題的重點。（四）每章作品選讀的復(fù)習(xí)重點作品選讀前面的斜體字部分的簡介和概括；作品中的名句；作品選讀中的注釋部分，小說作品中的人物關(guān)系。四、結(jié)束語考綱的實施，從總體上講，命題的重點突出了，密度增加了，深度也拓展了，但是，整體難度不會有太大的變化。對于考生而言，復(fù)習(xí)的內(nèi)容

4、刪減了，壓力減輕了，考試也就容易了。在對新考綱解讀完了之后，剩下的事情就是大家去聽后面的串講，認真學(xué)習(xí)，通過考試！Part One: English LiteratureAn Introduction to Old and Medieval English Literature = 1 * ROMAN I Understanding and application: (理解應(yīng)用)1.Englands inhabitants are Celts. And it is conquered by Romans, Anglo Saxons and Normans. The Anglo-Saxons b

5、rought the Germanic language and culture to England, while Normans brought the Mediterranean civilization, including Greek culture, Rome law and the Christian religion. It is the cultural influence of these two conquests that provided the source for the rise and growth of English literature.2. The o

6、ld English literature extends from about 450 to 1066, the year of the Norman conquest of England.3. The old English poetry that has survived can be divided into two groups: The religious group and the secular one4. Beowulf: a typical example of Old English poetry is regarded as the national epic of

7、the Anglo-Saxons. It is an example of the mingling of nature myths and heroic legends. 5. After the Normans conquest, three languages co-existed in England. French is the official language that is used by king and the Norman lords. Latin is the principal tongue of church affairs and in universities.

8、 Old English was spoken only by the common English people.6. In the second half of 14th century, English literature started to flourish with the appearance of writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Gower, and others = 2 * ROMAN II Recite: (識記再現(xiàn))1. Romance: = 1 * GB3 It uses narrative

9、verse or prose to sing knightly adventures or other heroic deeds is a popular literary form in the medieval period. = 2 * GB3 It has developed the characteristic medieval motifs of the quest, the test, the meeting with the evil giant and the encounter with the beautiful beloved. The hero is usually

10、the knight, who sets out on a journey to accomplish some missions. There are often mysteries and fantasies in romance.Romantic love is an important part of the plot in romance. Characterization is standardized, While the structure is loose and episodic, the language is simple and straightforward. Th

11、e importance of the romance itself can be seen as a means of showing medieval aristocratic men and women in relation to their idealized view of the world.2.Heroic couplet: Heroic couplet is a rhymed couplet of iambic pentameter. It is Chaucer who used it for the first time in English in his work The

12、 Legend of Good Woman.3. The theme of Beowulf: The poem presents a vivid picture of how the primitive people wage heroic struggles against the hostile forces of the natural world under a wise and mighty leader. The poem is an example of the mingling of the nature myths and heroic legends.4. The Wife

13、 of Bath in The Canterbury Tales:The Wife of Bath is depicted as the new bourgeois wife asserting her independence. Chaucer develops his characterization to a higher artistic level by presenting characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions.5. Chaucers achievement:He presented a

14、 comprehensive realistic picture of his age and created a whole gallery of vivid characters in his works, especially in The Canterbury Tales. He anticipated a new ear, the Renaissance, to come under the influence of the Italian writers. He developed his characterization to a higher level by presenti

15、ng characters with both typical qualities and individual dispositions. He greatly contributed to the maturing of English poetry. Today, Chaucers reputation has been securely established as one of the best English poets for his wisdom, humor and humanity.6.“The Father of English poetry”:Originally, O

16、ld English poems are mainly alliterative verses with few variations. Chaucer introduced from France the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace it. In The Romaunt of the Rose (玫瑰傳奇), he first introduced to the English the octosyllabic couplet (八音節(jié)對偶句). In The Legend of Good Wome

17、n, he used for the first time in English heroic couplet. And in his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, he employed heroic couplet with true ease and charm for the first time in the history of English literature. His art made him one of the greatest poets in English; John Dryden called him “the fathe

18、r of English poetry”.【例題】The work that presented, for the first time in English literature, a comprehensive realistic picture of the medieval English society and created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life is most likely _. (0704)A. William Langlands Piers Plowman B. Geoffrey

19、Chaucers The Canterbury Tales C. John Gowers Confession Amantis D. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 【答案】B【解析】(P4.para.2) 本題考查的是中世紀時期幾位詩人作品的創(chuàng)作主題和創(chuàng)作范圍。A答案是農(nóng)夫皮爾斯及其作者威廉蘭格倫他在其作品中描述了他那個時期的宗教與社會問題。 C愛人的告白，D高文爵士和他的綠衣騎士都是約翰高厄的作品，屬于時最精美的騎士文學(xué)作品;然而只有喬叟，在英國文學(xué)史上第一次向我們展示了表現(xiàn)當(dāng)時英國社會的一幅綜合性、現(xiàn)實主義的畫卷,在他的代表作坎特伯雷故事集中塑造了一系列來

20、自社會各階層的生動形象的人物。本 章 小 結(jié)本章重點：Chaucer and his achievement本章提示：本部分內(nèi)容以選擇題考查，所以，復(fù)習(xí)時以識記為主。Chapter 1: The Renaissance PeriodGeneral Introduction考核要求:1. 識記：（1）文藝復(fù)興時期的界定（2）歷史文化背景2. 領(lǐng)會: （1）文藝復(fù)興運動的意義與影響（2）文藝復(fù)興時期的文學(xué)特點（3）人文主義的主張及對文學(xué)的影響3. 應(yīng)用：文藝復(fù)興，人文主義及玄學(xué)詩等名詞的解釋考點串講:The Renaissance: The Renaissance marks a transiti

21、on from the medieval to the modern world. Generally, it refers to the period between the 14th & 17th centuries. It first started in Italy, with the flowering of painting, sculpture & literature. From Italy the movement went to embrace the rest of Europe. The Renaissance, which means rebirth or reviv

22、al, is actually a movement stimulated by a series of historical events, such as:The re-discovery of ancient Roman & Greek culture The new discoveries in geography & astrology, the religious reformation & the economic expansion. The Renaissance, therefore, in essence is a historical period in which t

23、he European humanist thinkers & scholars made attempts to get rid of those old feudalist ideas in medieval Europe, to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourgeoisie, & to recover the purity of the early church from the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.【例題】The Renai

24、ssance is actually a movement stimulated by a series of historical events EXCEPT_.(0804)A. the rediscovery of ancient Roman and Greek cultureB. the vast expansion of British colonies in North AmericaC. the new discoveries in geography and astrologyD. the religious reformation and the economic expans

25、ion【答案】B【解析】(P7. para1)文藝復(fù)興是歐洲中世紀和現(xiàn)代社會的分水嶺，它的發(fā)生有著深刻的社會歷史根源，當(dāng)時的社會發(fā)展刺激了文藝復(fù)興的發(fā)生，如地理天文大發(fā)現(xiàn)，席卷歐洲的宗教改革以及對古希臘，古羅馬文化的發(fā)掘等。2. Humanism: Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance. It sprang from the endeavor to restore a medieval reverence for the ancient authors and is frequently taken as the beginning of the

26、 Renaissance on its conscious, intellectual side, for the Greek and Roman civilization was based on such a conception that man is the measure of all things. Through the new learning, humanists not only saw the arts of splendor and enlightenment, but the human values represented in the works. Renaiss

27、ance humanists found in the classics a justification to exalt human nature and came to see that human beings were glorious creatures capable of individual development in the direction of perfections, and that the world they inhabited was theirs not to despise but to question, explore, and enjoy. Thu

28、s, by emphasizing the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life, they voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy the beauty of this life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders. Thomas More, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespea

29、re are the best representatives of the English humanists.3. The Renaissance in England:The first- the beginning (1485-1558) - imitation and assimilationPoetry: Wyatt & SurreyThe former introduced the Petrarchan sonnet into England, while the latter brought in blank verse.The second - (the peak) the

30、Elizabeth Age (1558-1603) -The Elizabethan dramaPoetry: Spenser & MarloweSpenserian stanza: Spenserian stanza was invented by Edmund Spenser. It is a stanza of nine lines, with the first eight lines in iambic pentameter & the last line in iambic hexameter, rhyming ababbcbcc.Drama: Marlowe & Shakespe

31、are The Renaissance hero: A Renaissance hero refers to one created by Christopher Marlowe in his drama. Such a hero is always individualistic and full of ambition, facing bravely the challenge from both gods and men. He embodies Marlowes humanistic ides of human dignity and capacity. Different from

32、the tragic hero in medieval plays, who seeks the way to heaven through salvation and gods will, he is against conventional morality and contrives to obtain heaven on earth through his own efforts. With the endless aspiration for power, knowledge, and glory, the hero interprets the true Renaissance s

33、pirit. Both Tamburlaine and Faustus are typical in possessing such a spirit.The Elizabethan drama: It is the real mainstream of English Renaissance. It could be dated back to the Middle Ages.English material was put into the regular form of the Latin comedies of Plautus and Terence.Tragedies were in

34、 the style of SenecaThe most famous dramatists in the Renaissance England are: Marlowe, Shakespeare & Ben JacksonThe third further development (1603-1660)Poetry: John Donne & John MiltonMetaphysical poetry: The term metaphysical poetry is commonly used to name the work of the 17th century writers wh

35、o wrote under the influence of John Donne. With a rebellious spirit, the metaphysical poets tried to break away from the conventional fashion of the Elizabethan love poetry. The diction is simple as compared with that of the Elizabethan or the Neoclassic periods, and echoes the words and cadences of

36、 common speech. The imagery is drawn from the actual life. The form is frequently that of an argument with the poets beloved, with God, or with himself.Drama: Ben JacksonEssay: Francis BaconHe is the first important English essayist, is known for his essays which greatly influenced the development o

37、f this literary form. He is also the founder of modern science in England. His writings paved the way for the use of scientific methodThe typical authors during this period考核要求:1.一般識記：重要作家的文學(xué)生涯2.識記：重要作品及主要內(nèi)容3.領(lǐng)會：重要作家的創(chuàng)作思想，藝術(shù)特色及其代表作品的主題結(jié)構(gòu)，人物塑造，語言風(fēng)格，藝術(shù)手法，社會意義等。4.應(yīng)用：（1）莎士比亞詩歌的主題，意象（2）喜劇威尼斯商人的主題和主要人物性格分

38、析（3）哈姆雷特的性格分析（4）史詩失樂園的結(jié)構(gòu)，人物性格，語言特點等的分析考點串講:. William Shakespeare1. The bibliographyWilliam Shakespeare is one of the most remarkable playwrights and poets the world has ever known.2. Viewpoints Viewpoints on politics: necessity of mighty and just sovereign, and the condemn to the anti-nature and ant

39、i-humanism of the feudal warsanti-feudalismViewpoints on religion: against the religious persecution and racial discrimination, against the social inequality and the corrupting influence of the gold and money-anti-CatholicismViewpoint on literature: literature should be a combination of beauty, kind

40、ness and truth, and should reflect nature and reality-humanism3. The major contributions38 plays (historical plays, tragedies and comedies) 2 narrative poems: Venus, The Rape of Lucrece 154 sonnets 4. four stages for his play-creationThe first stage: his dramatic career is one of the apprenticeships

41、 five historical plays: Henry IV, part I, II, and III; Richard III; and Titus Andronicus（泰特斯, 提圖斯）. four Comedies, including: The Comedy of Errors; The Two Gentlemen of Verona（維羅納）; The Taming of the Shrew（潑婦的馴服）, and Loves Labors LostThe second stage, his style became highly individualized, Five hi

42、storical: Richard II, King John, Henry IV, part I, II, Henry VSix comedies: A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, As You like(皆大歡喜), Twelfth Night, and the Merry Wives of Windsor（溫莎公爵的快樂情婦）Two tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius CaesarThe Third stage is the peak o

43、f his creation, included his greatest tragedies and his so-called dark comedies:Seven tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra（克利奧帕特拉）, Troilus and Cressida（特洛伊羅斯和克雷西達）, Coriolanus（科里奧蘭納斯）Two comedies: Alls Well That Ends Well, Measure for MeasureThe last period of Shakes

44、peares includes his principal romantic tragicomedies: Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winters Tale, and The Tempest Two final plays: Henry III, and The Two Noble Kinsmen5. About his dramashistorical playsShakespeares history plays are mainly written under the principle that national unity under a mighty an

45、d just sovereign is a necessity.The three history plays in the reign of Henry VI are the beginning of Shakespeares epic treatment of English history.Romantic ComediesIn his romantic comedies, Shakespeare takes an optimistic attitude toward love and youth, and the romantic elements are brought into f

46、ull play. They are The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Nights Dream, As You like, Twelfth Night, but the most important one is The Merchant of Venice.TragediesThe successful romantic tragedy is Romeo and Juliet, which eulogizes the faithfulness of love and the spirit of pursuing happiness.Shakespear

47、es greatest tragedies are Hamlet,-the first of greatest tragedies, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth(麥克白.)They have some characteristics in commonWilliam Shakespeares four great tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. They have some characteristics in common. Each portrays some noble hero, w

48、ho faces the injustice of human life and is caught in a difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of the whole nation. Each hero has his weakness of nature: Hamlet, the melancholic scholar prince, faces the dilemma between action and mind; Othellos inner weakness is made

49、use of by the outside evil force; the old king Lear who is unwilling to totally give up his power makes himself suffer from treachery and infidelity; and Macbeths lust for power stirs up his ambition leads him to incessant crimes.Romantic tragicomediesThe Tempest is a typical example of his pessimis

50、tic view towards human life and society in his late year6. About his sonnetsLyric: A poem, usually a short one, which expresses a speakers personal thoughts or feelings. The elegy, ode, and sonnet are all forms of the lyricThe theme: most of the sonnets concerns with the flying of the time, and the

51、youth, beauty, belief and the love are also gone.7. Shakespeares writing characteristicsThe progressive significance of the theme-humanismThe successful character portrayalwomens charactersThe masterhand in constructing the plotThe ingenuity of his poetryThe mastery of his language8. About selected

52、readingabout sonnet 18Sonnet 18 is one of the most beautiful sonnets written by Shakespeare, in which he has a profound meditation on the destructive power of time and the eternal beauty brought forth by poetry to the one he loves.Typical lines:ShallIcomparetheetoasummersday?Thouartmorelovelyandmore

53、temperate:The theme: Immortality, Beauty and loveabout The Merchant of VeniceMajor characters:Bassanio: - a young Venetian court Portia, acceptedAntonio: -a merchant of Venice, all money invented in ships, at sea, return not on time Shylock:-the Jewish usurer (放高利貸者)Portia:- standing for the great b

54、eauty, wit and loyalty Main plot:Bassanio, a young Venetian, would like to travel to Belmont to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia. He approaches his friend Antonio, a merchant, for three thousand ducats needed to subsidize his traveling expenditures as a suitor for three months. As all of

55、 Antonios ships and merchandise are busy at sea, Antonio approaches the Jewish moneylender Shylock for a loan, and the reward of breaking the returning oath is a pound of fresh from Antonios body. Court happening: unsuccessful persuading, no more and no less than one pound of flesh, spilling no drop

56、 of bloodThe analysis to the personalities:Antonio: -faithful to friend, Shylock:-greedy, brutal and inhuman Portia:- beautiful, witty and loyal Theme: traditional theme of the play is to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio, to idealize Portia as a heroine of the great beauty, wit and

57、 loyalty, and to expose the greed and brutality of the Jew.Typical lines:Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. (Act i. Sc. 2.)The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. (Act i. Sc. 3.)Mislike me not for my complexion, the shadowd livery of the burnishd sun. (Act ii

58、. Sc. 1.)In the twinkling of an eye. (Act ii. Sc. 2.)All that glisters is not gold. (Act ii. Sc. 7.)about HamletThe Major characters:Hamlet: the title character, is the son of the late king, for whom he was named. He has returned to Elsinore Castle from Wittenberg, where he was a university student.

59、 Claudius: is the King of Denmark, elected to the throne after the death of his brother, King Hamlet. Claudius has married Gertrude, his brothers widow. Gertrude: is the Queen of Denmark, and King Hamlets widow, now married to Claudius. the Ghost: appears in the exact image of Hamlets father, the la

60、te King Hamlet. Major plot:Hamlet feels a responsibility to avenge his fathers murder by his uncle Claudius, but Claudius is now the king and thus well protected. Moreover, Hamlet struggles with his doubts about whether he can trust the ghost and whether killing Claudius is the appropriate thing to