English LiteratureEnglish Literature

OutlineOutline

1. 1. Anglo- Saxon Literature Anglo- Saxon Literature (Beowulf, Caedmon, (Beowulf, Caedmon, Cynewulf, Alfred the Great))Cynewulf, Alfred the Great))

2. 2. Middle Ages Middle Ages (Wycliffe, Chaucer)(Wycliffe, Chaucer) 3. 3. Elizabethan AgeElizabethan Age (Shakespeare, Marlowe) (Shakespeare, Marlowe) 4. 4. 17th, 18th century17th, 18th century (Defoe, Swift, the Age of (Defoe, Swift, the Age of

Reason)Reason) 5. 5. RomanticismRomanticism (Byron, Shelley, Keats, Scott, (Byron, Shelley, Keats, Scott,

Wordsworth, Coleridge)Wordsworth, Coleridge) 6. 6. RealismRealism (Dickens. Bromte sisters. Thackeray) (Dickens. Bromte sisters. Thackeray) 7. 7. Oscar WildeOscar Wilde 8. 8. 20th century20th century

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature 5th century – 10665th century – 1066 3 Germanic tribes invaded Britain3 Germanic tribes invaded Britain Angles (occupied England), Saxons, JutesAngles (occupied England), Saxons, Jutes

Anglo- Saxon language Anglo- Saxon language

A famous king - A famous king - Alfred the Great (849-Alfred the Great (849-901)901)

Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great 850 – invasion of Danes – Alfred the 850 – invasion of Danes – Alfred the

Great stopped the Danish advanceGreat stopped the Danish advance inspired inspired Anglo– Saxon ChronicleAnglo– Saxon Chronicle translatedtranslated a number of Latin a number of Latin books into Englishbooks into English improved educationimproved education of peopleof people

PoetryPoetry CynewulfCynewulf CaedmonCaedmon

Anglo- Saxon poetry:Anglo- Saxon poetry: heroic narrative poemsheroic narrative poems poems on biblical themespoems on biblical themes short riddles, elegiesshort riddles, elegies

BeowulfBeowulf

written in written in Old EnglishOld English written sometime written sometime before the tenth centurybefore the tenth century

(7th/8th century)(7th/8th century) describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian

warrior of the sixth century.warrior of the sixth century. A masterpieceA masterpiece Epic poem Epic poem

http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/

Plot:Plot: HrothgarHrothgar– King of the Danes is in trouble– King of the Danes is in trouble His castle is visited by a terrible creature His castle is visited by a terrible creature

GrendelGrendel (lives in a lake), which kills his (lives in a lake), which kills his menmen

Beowulf attacks the creature and kills itBeowulf attacks the creature and kills it B. B. becomes a kingbecomes a king He also kills its the creature´s motherHe also kills its the creature´s mother He is wounded and diesHe is wounded and dies

The main themesThe main themes YouthYouth vs.vs. Old ageOld age RiseRise DeclineDecline SuccessSuccess ViolenceViolence CourageCourage

Head-rhyme: Head-rhyme: ALLITERATIONALLITERATION(two or more words beginning with the (two or more words beginning with the

same sound)same sound) there is no rhymingthere is no rhyming things are described indirectly and in things are described indirectly and in

combination of wordscombination of wordse.g.: ship= sea goer, sea boate.g.: ship= sea goer, sea boat

Middle English LiteratureMiddle English Literature(1066-15th century)(1066-15th century)

started by the conquest in 1066 when started by the conquest in 1066 when Normans brought French into the countryNormans brought French into the country

everything slowed downeverything slowed down3 languages:3 languages: French – at the court, in commerce, French – at the court, in commerce,

governmentgovernment Latin – clergyLatin – clergy Enlish – common peopleEnlish – common people

GenresGenres Religious writings, Religious writings, Latin writings,Latin writings, Ballads,Ballads, AllegoriesAllegories

John WycliffeJohn Wycliffe – inspired John Huss, – inspired John Huss, criticized Roman Catholic Churchcriticized Roman Catholic Church

Secular LiteratureSecular Literature Geoffrey Chaucer (1345?-1400)Geoffrey Chaucer (1345?-1400) The end of middle agesThe end of middle ages A group of Pilgrims (30) travelling A group of Pilgrims (30) travelling

from London to Canterburyfrom London to Canterbury The prologue gives vivid picture of The prologue gives vivid picture of

14th century society14th century society All social levels are represented hereAll social levels are represented here

A merchant, lawyer, sailer, miller, A merchant, lawyer, sailer, miller, cook,… are cook,… are ordinary peopleordinary people, each , each of them has its own characterof them has its own character

30 pilgrims30 pilgrims assembled in an inn, assembled in an inn, are about to set off for the shrine of are about to set off for the shrine of Thomas BeckettThomas Beckett

each of them is supposed to tell each of them is supposed to tell 4 4 talestales (but it´s unfinished) (but it´s unfinished)

e.g.:e.g.: TheThe GeneralGeneral ProloguePrologue TheThe KnightKnight's 's TaleTale TheThe Miller's Miller's ProloguePrologue andand TaleTale TheThe CookCook's 's ProloguePrologue andand TaleTale TheThe Man Man ofof LawLaw's 's ProloguePrologue andand TaleTale TheThe WifeWife ofof BathBath's 's ProloguePrologue andand TaleTale

Chaucer´s view of life:Chaucer´s view of life:

very tolerantvery tolerant full of humourfull of humour passionpassion against mediaval religious ascetismagainst mediaval religious ascetism

Elizabethan AgeElizabethan Age Elizabeth I (1533-1603)Elizabeth I (1533-1603) the daughter of the daughter of KingKing Henry VIII Henry VIII and his and his

second wife, Anne Boleyn second wife, Anne Boleyn A great flowering of arts and literatureA great flowering of arts and literature Emancipation of secular lifeEmancipation of secular life Scholars returned to philosophy of Plato Scholars returned to philosophy of Plato

and Aristotleand Aristotle one of the best loved monarchs, and one one of the best loved monarchs, and one

of the most admired rulers of all time of the most admired rulers of all time

Elizabethan DramaElizabethan Drama Golden age of dramaGolden age of drama Theatres were for everybodyTheatres were for everybody University Wits – a group of University Wits – a group of

intellectuals who wrote plays (Ox., intellectuals who wrote plays (Ox., Camb. students) Camb. students)

e.g.: Ch. Marlowe, T. Kyde.g.: Ch. Marlowe, T. Kyd

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare (1564-1616)(1564-1616) dramatist and poetdramatist and poet the greatest of all playwrightsthe greatest of all playwrights b. Strattford-upon- Avonb. Strattford-upon- Avon the son of a glovemakerthe son of a glovemaker he married Anne Hathewayhe married Anne Hatheway in 1594 he joined the Lord Chamberlain´s in 1594 he joined the Lord Chamberlain´s

Men, later called the King´s menMen, later called the King´s men 1599 – bought the Globe1599 – bought the Globe

Wrote 37 plays:Wrote 37 plays: historical playshistorical plays comediescomedies tragediestragedies

Retired to Strattford, died and buried Retired to Strattford, died and buried therethere

ComediesComedies Dva šlechtici veronštíDva šlechtici veronští (The Two Gentlemen of (The Two Gentlemen of

Verona) Verona) 15951595 Jak se vám líbíJak se vám líbí (As You Like it) (As You Like it) 16011601 Komedie plná omylůKomedie plná omylů (The Comedy of Errors) (The Comedy of Errors) 15931593 Konec vše napravíKonec vše napraví = = Konec dobrý, všechno dobréKonec dobrý, všechno dobré

(All's Well That Ends Well) (All's Well That Ends Well) 16031603 Kupec benátskýKupec benátský (The Merchant of Venice) (The Merchant of Venice) 15971597 Marná lásky snahaMarná lásky snaha 15951595 (Love's Labor's Lost) (Love's Labor's Lost)

Mnoho povyku pro nicMnoho povyku pro nic (Much Ado (Much Ado About Nothing) About Nothing) 15991599

Sen noci svatojánskéSen noci svatojánské (A Midsummer (A Midsummer Night's Dream) Night's Dream) 15961596

Večer tříkrálovýVečer tříkrálový (Twelth Night) (Twelth Night) 16021602 Veselé paničky Veselé paničky windsorskéwindsorské (The (The

Merry Wives of Windsor) Merry Wives of Windsor) 16011601 Zkrocení zlé ženyZkrocení zlé ženy (The Taming of the (The Taming of the

Shrew) Shrew) 15941594

TragediesTragedies AntoniusAntonius a Kleopatra a Kleopatra (Antonius and (Antonius and

Cleopatra) Cleopatra) 16071607 HamletHamlet 16041604 Julius Julius CaesarCaesar 15991599 Král Král LearLear (King Lear) (King Lear) 16061606 MacbethMacbeth 16061606 OthelloOthello 16051605 Romeo a JulieRomeo a Julie (Romeo and Juliet) (Romeo and Juliet) 15951595 TimonTimon athénský athénský (Timon of Athens) (Timon of Athens) 16081608 TitusTitus AndronicusAndronicus 15941594

Historical PlaysHistorical Plays Jindřich IV.Jindřich IV. (Henry IV), (Henry IV), 15981598 - - 16001600 Jindřich V.Jindřich V. (Henry V) (Henry V) 15991599 Jindřich VI.Jindřich VI. (Henry VI), tři díly (Henry VI), tři díly 15911591 Jindřich VIII. (Henry VIII) Jindřich VIII. (Henry VIII) 16111611 Král Jan (King John) Král Jan (King John) 15971597 Richard II. Richard II. 15961596 Richard III. Richard III. 15931593

17th century17th century The The Age of ReasonAge of Reason The Restoration of Monarchy 1660 and the The Restoration of Monarchy 1660 and the

Glorious Revolution = big changes in Glorious Revolution = big changes in political and social lifepolitical and social life

technical progress, development of technical progress, development of culture, manners, educationculture, manners, education

interest in philosophyinterest in philosophy Silver Age of DramaSilver Age of Drama (elaborate staging, light effects, songs, (elaborate staging, light effects, songs,

women players)women players)

John MiltonJohn Milton Paradise LostParadise Lost

Paradise RegainedParadise Regained

18th century18th century Development of journalismDevelopment of journalism Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift – Gulliver´s Travels – Gulliver´s Travels

Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe – Robinson Crusoe

Henry FieldingHenry Fielding – Tom Jones, History – Tom Jones, History of a Foundlingof a Foundling

RomanticismRomanticism Late 19th centuryLate 19th century Strong use of feeling, exploration of Strong use of feeling, exploration of

nature and supernaturalnature and supernatural Against logic and reasonAgainst logic and reason Nature is the source of the truth and Nature is the source of the truth and

beautybeauty

Lake PoetsLake Poets (Wordworth, Coleridge) - 1st period (Wordworth, Coleridge) - 1st period

of romanticismof romanticism Lyrical Ballads – the official beginning Lyrical Ballads – the official beginning

of romanticismof romanticism Inspiration from the Lake District in Inspiration from the Lake District in

EnglandEngland

Romantic RevoltRomantic Revolt The romantic movement culminated The romantic movement culminated

in the works of:in the works of: G.B. Byron (Childe Harold´s G.B. Byron (Childe Harold´s

Pilgrimage), Pilgrimage), P.B. Shelley (Prometheus Unbound),P.B. Shelley (Prometheus Unbound), John Keats John Keats and Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe)and Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe)

Victorian AgeVictorian Age Queen Victoria (1837-1901)Queen Victoria (1837-1901) Britain – the strongestBritain – the strongest world powerworld power Great industrial, financial,Great industrial, financial,commercial powercommercial power Social inequalities andSocial inequalities andcontrastscontrasts

Novel was the most influential Novel was the most influential literary formliterary form

Bronte sistersBronte sisters CharlotteCharlotte (Jane Eyre) (Jane Eyre) EmilyEmily (Wuthering Heights) (Wuthering Heights) AnneAnne (Agnes Grey) (Agnes Grey)

Protest against everything inhuman Protest against everything inhuman and cruel (moral, psychological and cruel (moral, psychological problems)problems)

Jane AustinJane Austin (Pride and Prejudice, (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility)Sense and Sensibility)

Critical RealismCritical Realism True description of realityTrue description of reality

Charles Dickens – life of poor people Charles Dickens – life of poor people in th e 19th centuryin th e 19th century

He himself suffered in his childhood He himself suffered in his childhood and his experience can be found in and his experience can be found in his workshis works

Combines comic and serious Combines comic and serious situationssituations

His major novels:His major novels: Little DorritLittle Dorrit The Pickwick PapersThe Pickwick Papers Oliver TwistOliver Twist David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations Nicholas NicklebyNicholas Nickleby

William Makepeace ThackeryWilliam Makepeace Thackery Novels againstNovels against snobbery,hypocrisysnobbery,hypocrisy

Vanity FairVanity Fair – compares – compares the lives of two differentthe lives of two differentcharacters: characters: manipulating Rebeccamanipulating Rebeccaand gentle, sentimentaland gentle, sentimentalAmeliaAmelia

Modern literatureModern literature Choose some of the authors you know and Choose some of the authors you know and

talk about them:talk about them:

E.g.:E.g.: Oscar Wilde G.B. ShawOscar Wilde G.B. Shaw James JoyceJames Joyce J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien Virginia WoolfVirginia Woolf George OrwellGeorge Orwell Rudyard Kipling Agatha ChristieRudyard Kipling Agatha Christie Samuel Beckett Samuel Beckett R.L. StevensonR.L. Stevenson