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English Literature An Introduction

English Literature An Introduction. Seamus Heaney-----Mid-Term Break. I sat all morning in the college sick bay Counting bells knelling classes to a close. At two o’clock our neighbors drove me home. In the porch I met my father crying—

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English Literature An Introduction

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  1. English Literature An Introduction

  2. Seamus Heaney-----Mid-Term Break • I sat all morning in the college sick bay • Counting bells knelling classes to a close. • At two o’clock our neighbors drove me home. • In the porch I met my father crying— • He had always taken funerals in his stride— • And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow. • The baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

  3. When I came in, and I was embarrassed • By old men standing up to shake my hand • And tell me they were “sorry for my trouble,” • Away at school, as my mother held my hand • In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs. • At ten o’clock Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest, • the ambulance arrived • With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses.

  4. Next morning I went up into the room. Snowdrops • And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him • For the first time in six weeks. Paler now • Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple, • He lay in the four foot box as in his cot. • No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear. • A four foot box, a foot for every year.

  5. Questions • What story does this poem tell? • Who died in this poem? How old is he/she? • What’s other people’s reaction towards his/her death? • What impressed you most in this poem?

  6. Why we read literature? • a. read for pleasure • b. reading for relaxation • c. reading to acquire knowledge.

  7. The Literature of Anglo-Saxon Period(449-1066)

  8. The Anglo-Norman period(1066—1350) • Norman Conquest of Anglo-Saxon England, under William, Duke of Normandy after the battle of Hastings in 1066, accelerated the development of feudalism in England. • The middle ages: the dark age (449-16-th century)

  9. William the Conqueror

  10. The Song of Beowulf----England’s national epic • 1) creation time: written in 10-th century • 2) plot and theme: -- fight with Grendel -- fight with Grendel’s mother -- fight with fire dragon -- death and funeral

  11. Alliteration (头韵) • “of men was the mildest and most beloved to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise.” • the Repetition of the same sounds ––usually initial consonants of words or of stressed syllables—in any sequence of neighboring words.

  12. Characteristics of “Beowulf” • the mixture of pagan elements with Christian coloring. • the frequent use of metaphors and understatements • alliteration

  13. Beowulf • Oldest of the long poems in English • Composed sometime between 8th and 12th centuries Grendel

  14. The Adventures of Beowulf • Let us join Beowulf on his adventure from Geatland to Denmark and back home to Southern Sweden once again. Beowulf

  15. The Adventures of Beowulf • Beowulf leaves his home to assist King Hrothgar in Denmark from the monster, Grendel and later Grendel's mother. Grendel

  16. The Adventures of Beowulf • After once again returning home to Geatland, King Beowulf will fight his last battle with the Dragon. Dragon

  17. Literature of the Anglo-Norman Period(1066-1350) • The literature is remarkable for its bright, romantic tales of love and adventure Romance.

  18. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight

  19. The two main motifs in the story: a) the test of faith, courage and purity b) the human weakness for self-preservation.

  20. Three major themes • the matter of France: about Charlemagne and his peers/knights • the matter of Greece and Rome: • the matter of Britain: king Arthur and his Round Table knight

  21. Study Questions: • 1. How is the setting of the tales described? With such a setting, could you predict the general tone of the tales that are to follow? • 2. In your own words, summarize the character of the Knight from the brief introduction in this excerpt. • 3. Without comparison with the translated version, are there words still recognizable to you in the original Middle English version?

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