britishliteraturebeforethe16thcentury

britishliteraturebeforethe16thcentury内容摘要：

) The union of state and church: hierarchy and Godcentered worship • English French Latin • timeage epoch • Risemountascend • Askquestioninterrogate • Goodnessvirtueprobity • Fastfirmsecure • Fireflameconflagration • Fearterrortrepidation • Holysacredconsecrated Oral literature in Norman Time: Romance: King Arthur and his Knight of Round Tableto emphasize the loyalty to king and lords Ballads: Robin Hoods to show the fighting spirit, indomitable courage and revolutionary energy of the English peasantry. Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer’s life (13441400) 1) Born in 1343 in London 2) As a son of a wine merchant and deputy to the kings’ butler 3) Little known about his education, he could read French, Latin and Italian. 4) Was appointed to the household of the Countess of Ulster in 1357 and started his royal service since then. 5) In 13591360, went to France with Edward III39。 s army during the Hundred Years39。 War. 6) Got married in 1366 7) Went abroad several times for diplomatic and mercial missions. 8) especially in Italy, he met Boccaccio and Petrarch in 137273, much influence by the Italian humanists, such as Dante. 9) Died in 1400 and buried in the poet’s corner of Westminster Abby 10) Chaucer’s monument was erected in 1555. Chaucer’s main works • Three periods 1) French period translation work: Romance of the Rose narrative poem: The Book of Duchess (the name Chaucer was from French origin and meant shoemaker) 2) Italian period • The House of Fame • Parliament of the Birds • Troilus and Criseyde 3) English period • Canterbury Tale (unfinished) The Canterbury Tales • A pilgrimage of 30 people on a route to and from Canterbury (England) • To tell stories to amuse themselves on the way • Harry Bailly, the innkeeper, promised a free meal for the beststoryteller • In structure: prologue and 24 stories (intended to have more than 100 sto。