The Renaissance英国文学文艺复兴时期总结

1、精选文档The RenaissanceThis is a greatest and most advanced revolution in the human history. This is the age the giants are needed and produced. -F. Engles Brief introduction Renaissance in European history, refers to the period between 14th century to 17th century. It started in Italy and ended in Engl

2、and and Spain. “Renaissance” means “revival”, the revival of interest in Ancient Greek and Roman culture and getting rid of conservatism in feudalist Europe and introducing new ideas that express the interests of the rising bourgeoisie. Renaissance sprang first in Italy (Florence and Venice) with th

3、e flowering of paintings, sculpture and architecture, and gradually spread all over Europe; Renaissance originally indicated a revival of classical arts and science (ancient Greek and Roman culture) after the dark ages of medieval obscurantism. During the period of Renaissance:1. the Roman Catholic

4、Church was shaken, 2. old sciences revived and new sciences emerged, 3. national languages and cultures took shape, 4. art and literature flourishedBrief introduction There arose an interest in the manuscripts surviving from ancient Greece and Rome. Classical learning and philosophy were enthusiasti

5、cally studied. The intellectual wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome encouraged a rebirth of human spirit，a realization of human potential for development and creation Never before in human history were men and women so eager to create and discover something newIn Italy a group of artists，scientists，po

6、liticians，and writers created the most brilliant page of culture and science in Renaissance EuropeExamples: Copernicus (哥白尼) asserted that the earth was not the center of the universe； The passionate Petrarch produced sonnets that influenced Shakespeare and many others； Boccaccio(卜伽邱) wrote tales of

7、 eternal charm: The Decameron； Marco Polo (马可波罗) made journeys into the remote kingdom of China； Michelangelo（米开朗琪罗），Leonardo da Vinci (达芬奇)，Raphael (拉斐尔)，and Titian (提香) created paintings and sculptures that are invaluable treasures of the worldEssence and features Essence: It is the reflection of

8、the rise of bourgeoisie in the sphere of cultural life.（另版本）：Renaissance, in essence, is a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars made attempts to: to get rid of conservatism in Feudalist Europe; to introduce new ideas that expressed the interests of the rising bourge

9、oisie, to lift the restrictions in all areas placed by the Roman church authorities. Briefly it is the reflection of the rise of bourgeoisie in the sphere of cultural life. Features: there are two striking features A thirsting curiosity for the classical literature. The keen interest in the activiti

10、es of humanity. Renaissance and Humanism Renaissance: the term originally indicated a revival of classical arts and science after the dark ages of medieval obscurantism. Indeed, a great number of the works of classical authors were translated into English during the 16th century. Humanism： The progr

11、essive thinkers of the humanists held their chief interest not in ecclesiastical knowledge, but in man, his environment and doings and bravely fought for the emancipation of man from the tyranny of the church and religious dogmas.Humanism is the key-note of the Renaissance. It reflected the new outl

12、ook of the rising bourgeois class;HumanismHumanism is the essence of the Renaissance. It sprang from the endeavor to restore a reverence for the Greek and Roman civilization based on the conception that man is the measure of all things. Contrary to the subordination of individuals to the feudal rule

13、s and the sacrifice of earthly life for a future life in the medieval society, Renaissance 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 for perfection.By emphasizing the dignity of hu

14、man beings and the importance of the present life, they voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders. Features of humanism in Renaissance Emphasizing the power, value and dignity of the human being and holding

15、that human beings are glorious creatures The core of Renaissance thought is the greatness of man/giants . This is best summarized in the lines of Shakespeares Hamlet What a piece of work is man; how noble in reason; how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable; in action how

16、 like and angel; in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals. 人是一件多么了不起的杰作！多么高贵的理性！多么伟大的力量！多么优美的仪表！多么文雅的举动！在行为上多么像一个天使！在智慧上多么想一个天神！宇宙的精华！万物的灵长！ 1. Emphasizing secular happiness and individualism against the medieval ideas of asceticism; 2.shifting mans interest fr

17、om Christianity to humanity, from religion to philosophy, from beauty and greatness of God to the beauty of human body in all its joys and pains. 3. Applying Aristotles theory, Humanist literature mainly use realistic style and take literature as the mirror or miniature of the society. Influence and

18、 English RenaissanceInfluences: 1.These Italians, and many others, helped to make Italy the center of the Renaissance movement in Europe. 2.The movement changed the medieval Western Europe into a modern one 3.The intellectual wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome encouraged a rebirth of human spirit，a r

19、ealization of human potential for development and creationEnglish Renaissance:Oxford Reformers: the Oxford reformers, scholars and humanists introduced classical literature to England. Education was revitalized and literature became more popular. This was Englands Golden Age in literature. There app

20、eared many English literary giants such as Shakespeare, Spenser, Johnson, Sidney, Marlowe, Bacon and Donne.English RenaissanceContentsl I.TheSixteenthCentury Englandl II. Renaissance in Englandl III. The main artistic stylesl IV. William Shakespearel V. Francis BaconI. The Sixteenth Century England1

21、. Enclosure Movement2. The establishment of absolute monarchy3. Religious reformation4. International situation5. Cultural preparatil The background of the humanism in Europel The introduction of printing led to an enlarged reading public and a commercial market for literature;l The great economic a

22、nd political changes led to the rise of democracy;l The spirit of nationalism;l The growing of new science” etc. Characteristics of the Elizabethan Age 1. An age of comparative religious tolerance; 2. An age of comparative social contentment; 3. An age of dreams, of adventures, of unbounded enthusia

23、sm; 4. An age of intellectual liberty, of growing intelligence and comfort among all classes and of unbounded patriotism. II. Renaissance in England The time: mainly from the reign of Henry VIII, Edward, Mary and then to Queen Elizabeth and Jacobean Eraa. Beginning: the last years of the 15-th centu

24、ry-first half of the 16-th centuryb. Flourishing: the Elizabethan Age (1558-1603) c. Declining: the period of James I (1603-1625) early 17-th century The flowering of English literatureThe second half of the 16th century, “a nest of singing birds”The early period: imitation and assimilation, transla

25、ted works, poetry and poetic drama were the most outstanding literary forms. Sonnet: an exact form of poetry in 14 lines of iambic pentameter intricately rhymed. Blank verse: iambic pentameter unrhymedThe latter period: Drama the real mainstream of the English Renaissance “university wits”: Lyly, Pe

26、ele, Marlowe, Greene, Lodge and Nash who entered the dramatic circle between the years 1587-93. they were all of humble birth and struggled for a livelihood by writing. Through hard work, they revised old plays and wrote new ones. They made rapid progress in dramatic techniques because they has clos

27、e contact with the actors and audiences. They were looked down upon by the gentlemen and suspected by the government. It was their industrious works that furnished the Elizabethan stage. Christopher Marlowe William ShakespeareIII. The main artistic stylesThe artistic styles as lyric poetry, narrativ

28、e poetry, drama are maturized; new styles which characterized the modern literature such as sonnets, short stories and novels were produced. translation: Ovids Metamorphoses, Homers Iliad, Montaignes Essays travel books: Mores Utopia poetry: Edmund Spenser drama: “University Wits”, Marlowe, Shakespe

29、are essay: Francis Bacon Thomas More and his Utopia Forerunner of utopian socialism An imaginative travel narrative written in the form of conversation between More and Hythloday, a returned voyager describing an ideal state governed by reason. The subject is the search for the best possible form of

30、 government: Utopia-a community of property-a pure, pre-Marx form of communism. Poetry: Edmund Spenser and his works The Shepherds Calendar 牧人日历: 12 pastoral poems and eclogues, one for each month, put into the mouths of speakers distinguishing themselves as shepherds, really representing Spenser an

31、d his friends. Amoretti爱情小诗: a series of 88 sonnets in honor of his lover Elizabeth. All except one was written in the Spenserian sonnet. Epithlamion 婚后曲: marriage hymns to celebrate his marriage with Elizabeth. The Faerie Queene仙后: The blending of religious and historical allegory with chivalric ro

32、mance: a long poem planned 12 books. 12 knights for the qualities of the chivalric virtues- the six completed books are holiness, temperance, chastity, friendship, justice and courtesy. Fairy QueenQueen Elizabeth, the knights as a whole - England, the evil figuresenemies.Themes of the poem : l natio

33、nalism( celebration of Queen Elizabeth)l humanism (strong opposition to Roman Catholicism),l Puritanism (moral teaching)Spenserian stanza: it is a nine-line stanza with the first 8 lines iambic pentameter and the ninth, iambic hexameter 六步格的诗rhyming abab,bcbc,c which is the typical verse in The Faer

34、ie Queene.For its rare beauty, this verse form was much used by many later poets, esp. imitated by the romantic poets of the 19th century.Spensers position in English Literature: the publication of “The Shepherds Calendar” marks the budding of Renaissance flower in the northern island of England. Th

35、e language he used was modern English which has distinguished itself from the Middle English of Chaucers day. Spenserian stanza: a model of poetic art among the Renaissance English poets. “the poets poet”, the first master to make the Modern English the natural music of his poetic effusion and held

36、his position as a model of poetic art. His influence can be traced in the works of Milton, Shelley and Keats.Christopher MarloweLife: short but riotousn Major works: Tamburlaine the Great:帖木耳 A drama in a blank verse About the rise and fall of Tamburlaine the Mongol conqueror on the 14th century cen

37、tral Asia. A tragedy about a man who thinks he can but actually can not control his own fate. By depicting a great hero with high ambition and sheer brutal force, the author voiced the supreme desire of the man of the Renaissance for infinite power and authority. The Jew of Malta:马耳他的犹太人 A study of

38、the lust for wealth, which centers around Barabas the Jew, an old money lender, whose only philosophy is the art of gaining advantage. Suggestive of Shylock in Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice. A tragic result: typically greedy of riches and gold, which is another feature shared by those in Renai

39、ssance England. The History of Doctor Faustus 浮士德博士 Refer to compare with Goethes Faust The Faust myth in 16th century Germany: the myth of men seeking great earthly power from demons at the cost of their immortal soul. The conventional view: Dr. Faustus is a morality play that vindicates humility,

40、faith and obedience to the law of God. The new view: Dr. Faustus celebrates the human passion for knowledge, power and happiness, and also reveals mans frustration in realizing the high aspiration in a hostile moral order.n Social significance and literary achievement 1.showing the spirit of the ris

41、ing bourgeoisie. Its eager curiosity for knowledge, power and gold. The praise of individuality freed from the restraints of medieval dogmas and the conviction of the boundless possibility of human efforts in conquering the universe. The heroes are mainly individualists. Their individualistic ambiti

42、on often brings ruin to the world and to themselves.Shakespeare soul of the Age! The applause! Delight! The wonder of our stage! Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to show To whom all scenes of Europe homage owe. He was not of an age, but for all time! William Shakespeare 1. Brief Introduction 2. Sh

43、akespeares drama Four periods of his literary career Categories of his drama 3. the artistic features of his plays 4. Shakespeares place and contribution 5. Shakespeares sonnetsWhat to be at least known about Shakespeare Life: birthplace, birth date, death date, important time in his life and career

44、l His major works: 37 plays(10histories, 10 comedies, 10 tragedies), 2 long narrative poems, 154 sonnets. Plays to be read: great comedies & 4 great tragediesl Writing features in each of four periodsI. Brief Introduction A dramatist “not of an age, but of all time” by Ben Jonhson, not of England, b

45、ut of the world.l Not only a master of English language but also a genius of character portrayal and plot constructionl A “poet of reality” for his idea that literature should reflect nature and reality.l 37 plays, 154 sonnets and 2 long poems.II. Shakespeares dramak Four Periods of Shakespeares Lit

46、erary careerFour major phrases represent respectively his early, mature, flourishing and late periods.1. Period of early experiment and apprenticeship (1590-1594)Background: A. it was in the middle of the highly thriving Elizabethan Age. B. The thoughts of humanism and the ideas of mans emancipation

47、, freedom of love was rapidly spread. C. Shakespeare was a young man full of astonishing versatility and wonderful talent and the great interest in the political questions of his time.Features: A. the writer made experiments in a number of dramatic forms: the historical plays, comedy, the revenge tr

48、agedy and the romantic tragedy. B. this period is distinctively marked by youthfulness and exuberance of imagination, by extravagance of witty language or speech, and by the final and frequent use of blank verse. In his hand, blank verse developed into a happy vehicle to express all kinds of thought

49、s and emotions (thus shaking off the rigidity of rimed and mechanic lines) . 2. Period of maturity (1595-1600)Features: A. a period of “great comedies” and mature historical plays and sonnets. B. a sweet and joyful time when the writer portrays successfully a magnificent panorama of the manifold pur

50、suit of people in real life. C. a great shift in characterization. A notable gallery of heroines in the comedies and vivid characters in historical plays is presented: Portia, Posalynd, Voila, Beatrice, Sir John Falstaff.3. Period of gloom and depression (1601-1607)Background: A. the aggravation of

51、the social situation: the rising of peasants, the corruption, the tension between bourgeoisie and the feudal lands. B. the change of mood in the playwright: gloomy and indignantFeatures: A. a period of “great tragedies” and “dark comedies” B. the writer gave a scathing exposition of the somber pictu

52、res and scenes of murder, lust, treachery, ingratitude and crime. C. a higher level of crafts is reached: more intricate plotting, intense inner conflict, meticulous depiction of human mind.4. Period of calm and reconciliation (1608-1612)Background: A. the fall and collapse of absolute monarch B. th

53、e retirement of the playwright back into the tranquil countrysideFeatures: A. some serenity and optimism, instead of the beginning lightness and the middle somber violence reigned. B. romantic dramas and comedies were the main form. C. moral teaching and supernatural forces were relied on to restore

54、 the rightful honor and position. These plays all show a falling off from his previous works.k Categories of his dramaAccording to dramatic type, his plays are divided into these classes: comedies histories tragedies romances？ComediesComedy is a light form of drama aiming primarily to amuse and endi

55、ng happily. It often deals with people in their human state, restrained and ridiculous by their limitations, faults, bodily functions.Four Great Comdies The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Nights Dream As you Like it Twelfth NightComedies of the First PeriodThe keynote of his comedies:l to portray pe

56、ople just freed from the feudal fetters, sing of youth, love and ideas of happiness. l The heroes and heroines fight against destiny and mould their fate according to their own free will. Thus become the sons and daughters of Renaissance.l The victory of humanist ideal is inevitable. The general spi

57、rit of these plays is optimistic.The Merchant of Venice The double plot: one is about the Bassanios winning of a bride by undergoing a test; the other is about the demanding of a pound of human flesh by Shylock. The traditional theme is to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio, to idealize Portia as a heroine of great beauty, wit and loyalty and to ex