第1章 早期和中世纪的英国文学
1.1 复习笔记
早期英国文学
Early English Literature
Ⅰ.Background Knowledge—The Making of England（背景知识——英国的形成）
1．The Roman Conquest (55B.C.-410A.D.) 罗马征服（公元前55年—公元410年）
A. Brief Introduction（简介）
Before the Roman Conquest, the early inhabitants in the island we call England were Britons, a tribe of Celts.
In 55 B.C., Britain was invaded by Julius Caesar, the Roman conqueror. Britain was not completely subjugated to the Roman Empire until 78 A.D. But at the beginning of the fifth century, the Roman Empire was in the process of declining. In 410 A.D., all the Roman troops went back to the continent and never returned.
罗马征服之前，在英格兰岛上居住的早期居民被称为不列颠人（Britons），不列颠人是凯尔特（Celt）部落的一支。
公元前55年，该岛被罗马的朱利尤斯·凯撒（Julius Caesar）侵略。直到公元78年，不列颠才完全臣服于罗马帝国，但是在5世纪初，罗马帝国开始没落。公元410年，所有的罗马军队撤离该岛。
B. Influence（影响）
①The Roman mode of life was brought into Britain while the native Britons were treated as slaves.
②The Romans brought Christianity to the island and this religion was spread widely. (This is a profound religious effect up to today).
③Roman road was built for military purposes.
④Along the Roman roads, many towns grew up, London was one of them, and it became an important trading center.
①罗马人的生活方式被带到了英国，而当地的不列颠人却沦为奴隶。
②罗马人带来了基督教，基督教得以广泛传播。
③出于军事目的，罗马人修建罗马大路。
④沿着罗马大路，许多城镇得以发展，伦敦就是其中之一，并在那时成为重要的商业城市。
2．The English Conquest（盎格鲁-撒克逊征服）
A. Brief Introduction（简介）
While the Romans retreated, the Britain was invaded by swarms of pirates. They were three tribes from Northern Europe: the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. Before the conquest, they still lived in the tribal society.
By the 7th century, a untied kingdom called England, or, the land of Angles was established.
当罗马人撤离不列颠的同时，大群海盗入侵岛内。他们是来自北欧的三支部落：盎格鲁、撒克逊和朱特。征服之前，他们仍旧过着部落生活。
到7世纪，一个统一的王国—英国成立了，也被称作盎格鲁人之国。
B. Influence（影响）
①The three tribes had developed into a whole people called English. And the three dialects had grown into a single language called Anglo-Saxon, or Old English.
②The Britons experienced a transition from tribal society to feudalism because of the English Conquest.
③The Anglo-Saxons were heathen people, believing in old mythology of Northern Europe. Later, The Anglo-Saxons were Christianized in the 7th century.
①这三支部落发展成一个统一的民族称为英国人。三种方言逐渐成为一种单一的语言，称为盎格鲁-撒克逊语言，即古英语。
②不列颠人经历了从原始部落社会向封建社会过渡的时期。
③盎格鲁-撒克逊人是无神论民族，相信古老的北欧神话，但后来在7世纪被基督教化了。
Ⅱ. Literary Features of Early English Literature（早期英国文学的特征）
The settlement of Anglo-Saxons in England marked the beginning of English literature. The early English literature mainly consisted of the Anglo-Saxon poetry, which was sung by the minstrels to the chiefs and warriors in praising of the old heroes’ deeds in the feasting hall. The Old English regularly used alliterations and rhymes, at the same time, metaphors and understatements were also put into the poetry. Beowulf is the most widely spread early poem.
英国文学始于盎格鲁-撒克逊人在英国定居时期。古英国文学中所保留的作品多为诗歌或者盎格鲁-撒克逊游吟诗人所唱的歌曲，这些游吟诗人在宴会大厅里为那些首领和勇士歌唱古时的英雄事迹。古英语中有规律地运用了头韵和韵律，同时也用到了比喻和轻描淡写手法。流传最广的早期英语诗歌是《贝奥武甫》。
Ⅲ.Literary Terms（文学术语）
1．Anglo-Saxon poetry（盎格鲁-撒克逊诗歌）
Poems or, songs by the Anglo-Saxon minstrels who sang of the heroic deeds of old time to the chiefs and warriors in the feasting hall. The typical work of Anglo-Saxon is Beowulf.
是由盎格鲁-撒克逊游吟诗人吟唱的古代英雄事迹的诗歌或者歌曲。这些诗歌或者歌曲主要是在宴会厅唱给首领或者武士们。代表诗作是《贝奥武甫》。
2．Alliteration（头韵）
It means the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in poetry. There are generally 4 accents in a line, three of which show alliteration. There is an obvious use of alliteration in Beowulf.
就是诗歌里开头辅音字母的重复。一行诗歌里一般有4个音节，三个音节能够显示出头韵的效果。在《贝奥武甫》里对头韵有明显的运用。
Ⅳ. Major Writers and Works（英国早期主要作家及作品）
◆Beowulf《贝奥武甫》
English literature began with the Anglo-Saxon settlement. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poetry and the national epic of the English people.
英国文学始于盎格鲁-撒克逊人的定居。《贝奥武甫》是一首盎格鲁-撒克逊诗歌，同时也是一首英国人民的国家史诗。
1．The Story of Beowulf（《贝奥武甫》主要情节）
Beowulf tells a story of Beowulf fighting against monsters Grendel and his mother, winning the battle and protecting his people.
该书讲述了贝奥武甫这位英勇的武士与怪物格兰戴和他母亲斗争取得胜利并保护了他的人民的故事。
2．Analysis of Its Content（《贝奥武甫》内容评析）
Beowulf is a folk legend brought to England by Anglo-Saxons from their continental homes. Its main stories are folk legends of primitive Northern tribes.
Beowulf is a brave hero whose spirit and deeds reflect the life of tribal society on the continent. The historical significance of Beowulf lies in reflecting the features of the tribal society of ancient times.
《贝奥武甫》是一部民间传说，由盎格鲁-撒克逊人从他们本土带到英格兰。它的主要故事情节来源于原始北欧部落的民间传说。
贝奥武甫是一个英雄，他的精神和行为都反映了当时的部落生活。它的历史意义在于反映了古代部落社会的特征。
3．Artistic Features of Beowulf（《贝奥武甫》的文学特征）
a. The most striking feature is the use of alliteration.
b. Other features of this work are the use of metaphors and of understatements.
a. 多用头韵。
b. 多用暗喻和轻描淡写手法。
中世纪英国文学
Medieval English Literature
Ⅰ.Background Knowledge（背景知识）
1．The Danish Invasion（丹麦人入侵）
About 787, the English began to be troubled by bands of Danish Vikings. Before 1031, King Alfred the Great (849-901) succeeded in driving the Danes off with force. He was the one who also laid emphasis on education and literature. In 1031, the Danes occupied the country and held it for 30 years.
约787年，英国开始为成群的丹麦海盗所困。1031年之前，阿尔弗雷德大帝（King Alfred the Great）成功击退了丹麦人。1031年，丹麦人占领了英国并盘踞30年。
2．The Norman Conquest（诺曼征服）
A. Brief Introduction（简介）
In 1066, the French-speaking Normans came under Duke William and defeated the English at Hastings. The Norman Conquest marks the establishment of feudalism in England. The chief feature of the feudal society was distinct division into class, mainly two classes: landlords and peasants.
在1066年，说法语的诺曼底人在威廉公爵（Duke William）的带领下入侵，并在赫斯汀打败了英国人。诺曼征服标志着封建制度在英国的建立。封建国家的主要特征是明显的等级划分，主要是地主和农民两个阶级。
B. Influence（影响）
a. The establishment of feudalism in England.
b. The Old English was influenced by French words.
a. 在英国建立了封建制度。
b. 古英语受法语单词影响。
3．The Rising of 1381（1381年农民起义）
In 1381, the famous Peasants Rising broke out in England. Its leaders were Wat Tyler and John Ball.
1381年爆发农民起义。领导者为瓦特·泰勒（Wat Tyler）和约翰·鲍尔（John Ball）。
Ⅱ. Literary Features of Middle English Literature（中世纪英国文学特征）
1．Values of Christianity began to influence English literature.
2．The Middle Ages constantly emphasized the spirit of chivalry, which was showed in the prevailing literary genre—romance, of that period. Romances of Middle Ages are written by and for the court.
3．The popular folk literary form—ballad is the oral literature. The typical ballads of Middle Ages are the ballads about Robin Hood.
4．The writer and work that should be especially emphasized is Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales.
1．基督教的世界观渗透到中世纪英语时期的文学中。
2．中世纪文学不断强调骑士精神，这种精神通常反映在封建英国最流行的文学形式——传奇文学中，它们取材于贵族，为贵族而创作。
3．与之对应的是民间的口头文学——歌谣，这一时期歌谣的典型代表是罗宾汉系列歌谣。
4．尤其需要注意的文学者和作品是乔叟和他的《坎特伯雷故事集》。
Ⅲ.Literary Terms（文学术语）
1．The Romance（传奇文学）
(1) The Content of the Romance（传奇定义）
Romance was the most prevailing kind of literature in feudal England. It was a long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero. The central character of romances was the knight, a man of noble birth skilled in the use of weapons. The code of manners and morals of a knight is known as chivalry.
Typical representative work is Le Morte D’Arthur, a collection of stories about King Arthur, translated from French by Sir Thomas Malory.
传奇文学是封建英国最为盛行的文学体裁。它一般是长篇作品，主要描述高尚的英雄的生平和冒险。传奇的中心人物是武士，武士出身高贵并且善使武器。武士以其侠气著称。
传奇典型代表作是由托马斯·马洛里由法语翻译成的《亚瑟王之死》，是关于亚瑟王生平故事的选集。
(2) The Romance Cycles（传奇分类）
The romances are divided into such groups or cycles as the “matters of Britain”, “matters of France” and “matters of Rome”. The “matters of Britain” are about adventures of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. The “matters of France” are of Emperor Charlemagne and his peers. The “matters of Rome” are about Alexander the Great and so forth.
传奇可分为“英国类”，“法国类”和“罗马类”。“英国类”传奇是关于亚瑟王和他的圆桌武士的冒险。“法国类”是关于查理曼大帝和他的贵族们。“罗马类”是关于亚历山大大帝。
(3) The Class Nature of the Romance（传奇的阶级本质）
The theme of loyalty to king and lord was repeatedly emphasized in romances, as loyalty was the corner-stone of feudal morality. The romances had nothing to do with the common people. They were composed for the noble, of the noble.
对国王和主上的忠诚是传奇中反复强调的主题。传奇与平民无关，传奇是由贵族而作也是为贵族而写的。
2．Ballad（歌谣）
(1) Ballads are oral literature of the English people.
(2) A ballad is a story told in song, usually in 4-line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhymed.
(3) The subjects of ballads are various such as the struggle of young lovers against their feudal-minded families, the conflict between love and wealth, the cruelty of jealousy, and the criticism of the civil war.
(4) “Robin Hood” is the most important ballad of that time.
(1) 歌谣是英国人民大众的口头文学。
(2) 歌谣是以歌的形式讲述的故事，通常由4行组成一节，其中第二和第四行押韵。
(3) 歌谣内容多样，有关于年轻爱侣反对封建家长的，有爱情和财富冲突的，有关于嫉妒残忍行动的，有批判国内战乱的。
(4) 其中，罗宾汉歌谣是最重要的。
Ⅳ. Major Writers and Works（中世纪主要作品作家）
1．the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle《盎格鲁-撒克逊编年史》
It was written under the encouragement and supervision of King Alfred the Great and is a monument of Old English prose.
它是在罗阿尔弗雷德大帝（King Alfred the Grea t）的鼓励和监督下写成，是古英语散文史上的丰碑。
2．The “Robin Hood” Ballads（罗宾汉歌谣）
The various ballads of Robin Hood are gathered into a collection called The Geste of Robin Hood. Robin Hood, a partly historical and partly legendary character, is depicted in the ballads as a valiant outlaw, famous in archery, living under the greenwood tree with his merry men, taking from the rich and giving to the poor, fighting against bishops. The dominant key in his character is his hatred for the cruel oppressors and his love for the poor and downtrodden.
关于罗宾汉的歌谣被收集在《绿林英雄罗宾汉民谣》。罗宾汉是一个部分属实部分是传奇的人物。在歌谣中，他是一个勇敢的亡命之徒，以其箭术闻名，同他的伙伴们一起逍遥地生活在绿林中，劫富济贫，与教会作斗争。罗宾汉最明显的性格特征便是对压迫者的仇视和对受难者的热爱。
3．Malory（马洛里）
◆Le Morte D’Arthur《亚瑟王之死》
Translated by Malory from French, the legends of King Arthur are the foundation of Le Morte D’Arthur. Malory selected the most interesting parts, such as the adventures of the Knights of the Round Table, the quest of the Holy Grail, the death of Arthur, and the dissolution of the fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table. Malory treated the legends in the spirit of medieval knighthood and chivalry and used simple, idiomatic English prose and told the stories in a vivid manner.
经马洛里由法语译成，《亚瑟王之死》是基于亚瑟王的一生传奇。但是马洛里选择了其中最有趣的部分，例如圆桌武士的冒险，寻找圣杯，亚瑟之死，圆桌武士的志同道合的关系的消亡。马洛里用中世纪的骑士精神和侠气处理了传奇，并且是用简单，惯用的英语，讲述了栩栩如生的故事。
4．William Langland（威廉姆·朗兰德）
◆Piers the Plowman《农夫皮尔斯》
A. Social Significance of this Work（作品的社会影响）
①The poem sets forth a series of wonderful dreams, through which we can see a picture of feudal England.
②Piers is not the conservative of the most oppressed section of the peasantry and he has no intention of upsetting the feudal order of society, which speaks for the conservatism of his political attitude.
③In spite of this limitation, the poem remains a classic of popular literature. The exaltation of the oppressed kindled the peasants’ sense of human dignity and equality. The poem played a part in arousing the oppressed people’s sentiment on the eve of the Rising of 1381.
①这首诗设置了一系列的梦境。通过梦境我们能够看到一幅描写中世纪英国的画卷。
②皮尔斯不是最底层的农民的代表，这说明了他政治态度上的保守主义。
③虽然作品存在这样的局限性，但是作品中描述的农民受压迫剥削的事件点燃了受苦人民的斗志。1381年的农民起义便受到了此作品的影响。
B. Artistic Features of Piers the Plowman（《农夫皮尔斯》的文学特征）
a. It is written in the old alliterative verse.
b. It is written in the form of a dream vision.
c. The poem is an allegory which uses symbolism to relate truth. But in the main, it is a realistic picture of medieval England.
d. Its artistic merit may be shown by its portraits of the Seven Deadly Sins.
a. 采用旧时的头韵诗体。
b. 以梦境手法来叙述。
c. 本身是个寓言，运用象征与现实联系起来，但主要是中世纪英国的现实主义的描写。
d. 主要艺术特色在于对七宗罪的描写。
5．Chaucer(1340-1400)（乔叟）
(1) Life（生平）
Geoffrey Chaucer, born about in 1340 in London, is the founder of English poetry. He was the son of a wine merchant who had connections with the Court.
Chaucer’s learning was wide in scope. He obtained a good knowledge of Latin, French and Italian. He had broad and intimate acquaintance with persons high and low in all walks of life, and knew well the whole life of his time, which left great impressions upon his works and particularly upon the variegated picture of the English society of his time.
He died in 1400 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, thus founding the “Poets’ Corner”.
杰弗里·乔叟于1340年出生于伦敦，他是英语诗歌的创始者。他是一个与宫廷有联系的酒商的儿子。
乔叟知识渊博。他精通拉丁语，法语和意大利语。他结交广泛且易与人深交，无论是贵族还是贫民,因此他深谙所处世事。这尤其有益于他的作品中的英国社会的刻画。
他逝于1400年，被葬在威斯敏斯特教堂，“诗人角”开始出现。
(2) Chaucer’s Literary Career（文学生平）
Chaucer’s literary career can be divide d into three periods, which is closely related to his life experiences. The first period consists of works translated from French; the second consists of works adapted from the Italian, as Troilus and Criseyde. The third period includes The Canterbury Tales, which is purely English.
乔叟的文学生平可划分为三个阶段，这三个阶段与其个人生活经历有关。第一阶段乔叟的作品主要是从法语翻译过来的，第二阶段则改编于意大利，如《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》。第三阶段包括《坎特伯雷故事集》，这是纯英语创作阶段。
(3) Chaucer’s Major Works（主要作品）
Troilus and Criseyde《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》
The Canterbury Tales (1387-1400)《坎特伯雷故事集》
(4) Analysis of Major Works（主要作品分析）
◆Troilus and Criseyde《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》
①Troilus and Criseyde is Chaucer’s longest complete poem and his greatest artistic achievement.
②It tells the love story between Troilus and Criseyde. Troilus is a son of the King of Troy. Criseyde is a beautiful daughter of Calchas, a priest. For three years the two young people are united in mutual love until the appearance of Diomede, a handsome Greek warrior. Criseyde gives her love to the warrior, while Troilus, left in despair, is at last killed in the war.
③In this poem Chaucer didn’t write a full and finished romance, but has endowed it with what medieval romance lacked-interest of character as well as of incident. With Troilus and Criseyde Chaucer becomes mature in versification.
①该诗是乔叟的最长的诗歌，也是他最伟大的文学成就之一。
②它讲述了特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达的爱情故事。特洛伊罗斯是特洛伊国王的儿子。克瑞西达是一个牧师的女儿。两人相爱了三年直到一个英俊潇洒的希腊勇士狄俄墨得斯的出现。克瑞西达改变了自己的心意，特洛伊罗斯则深陷绝望，在战争中战死。
③乔叟并没有写一个圆满美好的浪漫故事，而是赋予了中世纪传奇故事所缺少的人物和事件的重要性。由于这部作品，乔叟在诗律方面已经很成熟了。
◆Canterbury Tales (1387-1400)《坎特伯雷故事集》
A. Main Plot of The Canterbury Tales（主要情节）
Twenty-nine travelers set off for Canterbury on a pilgrimage. When they met at the inn, they decided to tell stories one by one. This becomes the content of the story. In The Canterbury Tales, there are 24 tales written, covering all the major types of medieval literature. The stories which the pilgrims tell are well suited to their different characters, ranging from the knight, the monk, the pardoner etc.
29名朝圣者前往坎特伯雷去朝圣。当他们在酒馆相遇，他们决定每个人轮流讲故事。这些故事就构成了《坎特伯雷故事集》中的故事。共有24个故事被写进故事集，故事涵盖了中世纪文学的各个方面。每个故事都与讲述者的身份相符，讲述者包罗各种阶层的人，有武士，僧侣，赦罪僧等。
B. Important Parts of The Canterbury Tales（重要部分）
☆“The Prologue”《总序》
The Prologue provides a framework for the tales. All classes of the English feudal society, except the royalty and the poorest peasant, are represented by these pilgrims in the Prologue.
《总序》提供了故事的框架。《总序》的朝圣者中囊括了当时英国封建社会中除了皇族和最底层的农民以外的形形色色的人物。
☆“The Wife of Bath”《巴斯妇人》
Chaucer’s keen observation and his unsurpassed talent for characterization are especially showed in his famous “The Wife of Bath”. She is the owner of a cloth factory, lighthearted, merry, vulgar and talkative. She relates the whole story of her married life. She has married five husbands and she expects one or two more.
Through this Bath woman, we may see a very vivid sketch of a woman of the middle class, and a colourful picture of the domestic life of that class in Chaucer’s own day.
通过《巴斯妇人》，读者可以尽情感受乔叟的细致入微的无人可比的人物塑造天赋。这位妇人是布店的经营者，为人开朗乐观，有时略带粗俗，喜欢讲话。她所讲述的是她与五位丈夫的婚史。
通过这位巴斯妇人，我们能够了解当时中层阶级的妇女及家庭生活。
C. Social Significances of The Canterbury Tales（社会影响）
a. It shows a true-to-life picture of Chaucer’s time.
b. Taking from the stand of rising bourgeoisie, Chaucer affirms men and opposes the dogma of asceticism preached by the Church.
c. He praises man’s energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life.
d. His tales expose and satirize the evils of his time, attack degeneration of the noble, the corruption of the Church.
a. 展示乔叟时代的真实生活画面。
b. 站在发展中的小资产阶级的立场，乔叟肯定了人的力量，反对教会宣扬的禁欲主义。
c. 赞扬了人的力量，智慧和对生活的热爱。
d.展现并批判了时代的罪恶，批判了贵族和教会的堕落。
(5) Chaucer’s Language（乔叟的语言）
a. Chaucer’s language, now called Middle English, is vivid and exact. He is a master of word-pictures. His verse is among the smoothest in English.
b. Chaucer’s contribution to English poetry lies chiefly in the fact that he introduced from France the rhymed stanza of various types, especially the heroic couplet to English poetry.
c. Chaucer did much in making the dialect of London the standard for the modern English speech.
d. Chaucer is good at the terza rima, which makes his language a high style. This is what other poets cannot reach.
a. 乔叟的语言属于中英语，非常形象准确。他是用语言构建图画的大师。他的诗歌位列最顺畅的英语中。
b. 乔叟对英语诗歌的贡献主要在于他将法国的韵脚重复的诗节（尤其是英雄双韵体）介绍到英国。
c. 乔叟在使伦敦方言成为现代英语的标准中发挥了重要作用。
d. 乔叟善于使用三行体，这种诗体使他的语言很高雅。这是其他诗人无法匹敌的。