1、IntroductionIntroduction1.Enlightenment-Western Europe,18tha progressive intellectual movementthe struggle of the bourgeoisie against feudalismEnglish enlighteners differ from those of Francemost English writers are enlightenersa.-support the principles of the existing society(Alexander Pope,Joseph
2、Addison,Richard Steele,Daniel Defoe and Samuel Richardson)b.-struggle for a resolute democratisation(Jonathan Swift,Henry Fielding,Tobias Gorge Smollett,Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan)2.Literary Chariacteristics of the Age3.English Literature in the Three Stages of the Enligthenmenta
3、.the first period(Glorious Revolution-the end of the 1730s)neo-classicism in poetry(Alexander Pope)a new pose literature appeared-essays of Addison,Steele;the first realistic fiction of Defoe and Swift(major author)b.the second period(1740s-1750s,mature)novels of Richardson,Fielding and Smollettc.th
4、e third period(the last few decades of the 18th century)new literary tendencies:sentimentalism-poetry(Edward Young and Thomas Gray)chiefly in novels(Laurence Sterne and Oliver Goldsmith)pre-romanticism-poetry(minor poets,William Blake and Robert Burns)the important dramatist-Richard Brinsley Sherida
5、n(realistic playwright)Conlusion:literature of the 18th century-complex three general heads:the reign of neo-classicism the appearance of pre-romantic poetty the beginning of modern novelsThe three stages of the enlightenment the first period-the early period(from the glorious revolution to the end
6、of the 1730s)Literature:Neo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism The third period-the last period(1760s-1800s)sentimentalism&pre-romanticismThe second period-the mature period(1740s-1750s)novel:Richardson,Fielding,Smollett the first period-the early period(from the glorious revolution to the end of the 1730s)Li
7、terature:Neo-ClassicismNeo-ClassicismNeo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism writers endeavored to imitate the characteristics of the Roman writers who made Roman literature famous in the days of Augustus,such as Horace,Virgil,Cicero.the tried to make English literature conform to rules and principles establis
8、hed by the great Roman and Greek classical writers.(in writing plays,using rhyming couplet instead of blank verse;they observed the unities of time,place and action;and poetry should follow the ancient divisions).Major figures of the Neo-Classical School*Alexander Pope(1688-1744)*Richard Steele and
9、Joseph Addison*Samuel Johnson(1709-1784)*James Boswell(1740-1795)Neo-ClassicismNeo-ClassicismNeo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism Major figuresAlexander Pope(1688-1744)A master of satire and heroic couplet,and satiric and didactic verse.Works:An Essay on Criticism-heroic coupletHe put forward his aesthetic
10、theories in it and it is a comprehensive study of the theories of literary criticism.The Rape of the Lock-mock-heroic poemAn Essay on Man-heroic coupletThe Dunciad-Popes famous satirical poem It shows the poets struggle against ignorance and barbarism as well as dullness and emptiness all around him
11、.Influnce/Cnotribution:He exerted a strong influence upon the other writers of the age.He introduced the spirit of rationalism into English culture.The early 18th century has often been named as the Age of Pope.Neo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism Major figuresRichard Steele and Joseph Addison（The two names
12、 are often linked together in English literature because of their joint literary woke.）Works:The TatlerThe paper became popular because it was just the sort of thing that suited the needs of the reading public among the bourgeoisie.The SpectatorThe most striking features of the paper are the charact
13、er sketches of Mr Spectator and the other members of his club,which become the forerunner of the modern English novel.Neo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism Major figuresContribution:their writings in The Tatler and The Spectator provide a new code of social morality for the rising bourgeoisie.The draw a true
14、 picture of the social life of England in the 18th century.In their hands,the English essay completely established itself as a literary genre.Using it as a form of character sketching and storytelling,they ushered in the dawn of the modern novel Samuel Johnson(1709-1784)Works:The Dictionary of the E
15、nglish LanguageThe dictionary brought him much fame and it became the foundation of all the subsequent English dictionaries.Lives of the Poets It consists of the biographies of 52 poets and provide some of the best-known pictures of the early English poets.Neo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism Major figures
16、James Boswell(1740-1795)He has been known for his biography of Johnson entitled The Life of Samuel Johnson,owing to which,he has been considered one of the best biographers in English literature.Neo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism Major figuresThe second period-the mature period(1740s-1750s)novel:Richardso
17、n,Fielding,Smollett the mature period of the Enlightment(1740-1750 realistic novelists:Fielding and Smollet Fierce attack on the existing social conditions Sentimental novelists：Richardson Henry Fielding(1707-1754)realistic novelists Major figures A）1729-1737 dramatist using dramas as weapon to ridi
18、cule and attack the vice of the 25 plays,including comedies,farces,burlesques,and dramatic satires Representative works:The Historical Register for the Year 1736Plotico-satiric play B）novelist1.firstperson narrative2.Satire abound everywhere3.Teaching woven into his very texture4.Easy,unlaboured,fam
19、iliar,vivid,vigorous realistic novelists Henry Fielding1.Masterpiece the History of Tom Jonens A Founding influence：strong hatred for all the hypocrisy and treachery in the society;sympathy for the courageous young rebels2.satirical novelJonathan Wild the Great A bitter satire on the exploiting and
20、oppressing class;best exposure of the corruption of the bourgeois society3.his first novelJoseph Andrews Intention of ridiculing Richardsons novel Pamelarealistic novelists Henry Fielding Tobias George SmolletEntitles:surgeon,novelistLife experience:1763-1766 travel on European continent 1771 died i
21、n ItalyWorks:dealing with the recollections of his own adventures and experiencesThe Adventure of Roderick RandomThe Adventure of Peregrine PickleThe Expedition of Humphry ClinkerFeatures:1.Humour2.Use the form of the picaresquerealistic novelists Major figures Samuel Richardson(1689-1761)Entitles:p
22、rinter,writerLife experience:a natural gifted letter witerWorks:1.Pamela or Virtue Rewarded In form of letters,penetrate psychological study of the heroine and criticize the bourgeois moral standards and hypocrisy 2.masterpiece;Clarissa Harlowe or the History of a Young Lady A tragedy of a young lad
23、y who is weak and helpless but who also dares to revolt social evils Far-reaching influence in European countries(effect on Jane Austen)3.Sir Charles GrandisonFeatures:1.moral purpose2.Has much sympathy of female characters3.Written in the form of lettersSentimental novelists Major figuresThe second
24、 period-the mature period(1740s-1750s)novel:Richardson,Fielding,SmollettThe meaning of sentimentalismThe sentimental novel Samuel Richardson,the first novelist of sentimentalist tradition,has much sympathy for women in their inferior social status and enters into detailed psychological study of fema
25、le characters the master of epistolary novels Important works Pamela(or Virtue Rewarded)Clarissa Harlowe(or the History of a Young Lady)Sir Charles GrandisonClarissa Harlowe The novel consisting of 8 volumes tells us a tragedy of a young lady an epistolary novel has far-reaching influence in Europea
26、n countries in France,highly praised by Diderot(狄德罗)and Rousseau(卢梭)in Germany,influence upon Goethe(歌德),The Sorrows of Young Werther(少年维特之烦恼）in England,effect upon Jane AustenThe sentimental novelLaurence SterneFeatures sentiment is more important than reason gives detailed descriptions of the char
27、acters inner thoughts and feelings characters are ordinary personsImportant works The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy(项狄传)A sentimental journey through France and ItalyThe sentimental novelOliver Goldsmith(1730-1774)He was a versatile and lovable genius of the 18th century,one of the most impor
28、tant poets in the romantic school of his age an excellent essayist,dramatistBest known as a novelistImportant works The Vicar of Wakefielda(威克菲尔德牧师)The Deserted Village(poem)She Stoops to Conquer(or The Mistakes of a Night)(comedy)The Citizen of the World (collection of familiar essays)The meaning o
29、f romanticism Six prominent characteristics that distinguish it from the so-called classic literature1)marked by strong reaction and protest against the bondage of rules and customs2)returns to nature and plain humanity for its material3)marked by renewed interest in medieval ideals and literature4)
30、marked by intense human sympathy,and by a consequent understanding of the human heart 5)the expression of individual genius rather than of established rules.So the works are endless variety6)Spenser,Shakespeare and Milton are inspiration of the Romantic MovementPoetry of the Pre-Romanticism and Sent
31、imentalismJames Thomson:the forerunner of the Romantic Movement,found inspiration in Miltons blank verse and wrote about the country lifeHis fame rests upon the poem,The SeasonsEdward Young:The Complaint(or Night Thoughts on Life,Death,and Immortality)William Collins:a series of Odes,especially Ode
32、to EveningThomas Gray:Elegy Written in a Country ChurchyardJames Macpherson:a collection called Works of OssianBishop Thomas Percy:Reliques of Ancient English PoetryThomas Chatterton:Rowley PoemsWilliam Cowper:The Task(contain six books)George Crabbe:The Village,The Parish Register and The Borough T
33、he two great romantic poets of the last 20 years of the 18th century William Blake(1757-1827)a forerunner of the Romantic Movement His greatness lies in his master of art and verse,and of an extreme and moving simplicity Main works Songs of Innocence(1789):The Lamb,Holy Thursday,Laughing Song Songs
34、of Experience(1794):The Tyger,The Fly,London,The Chimney-SweeperThe two great romantic poets of the last 20 years of the 18th centuryRobert Burns(1759-1796)the eldest son of a poor Scottish peasant family most of his poems were written in the Scottish dialect Lu Xun praised him as“a poet of the labo
35、uring peopleSuccessful works:Poems Chiefly in the Scottish DialectMain works according to the subject matters Lyrics on love and friendship:John Anderson,My Jo,A Red,Red Rose,Auld Lang Syne Hatred for the oppression of the ruling class and love for freedom:A Mans a Man for A That Patriotic poems:My
36、Hearts in the Highland verse-tales based on old Scottish legends:John BarleycornFeatures of Burns Poetry 1)one of the greatest writers of songs in the world,the national poet of Scotland 2)a plowman-the peoples poet 3)has a deep knowledge and an excellent mastery of the old Scottish song tradition E
37、nglish Drama in the 18th Century 1700-1720s:the Italian opera and the English pantomime John Gay:The Beggars Opera and its sequel,Polly 1730s the comedies:Henry Fielding-Jonathan Wild the introduction of bourgeois tragedy:George Lillo-The London Merchant,or the History of George Barnwell 1750-1800s:Richard Brinsley Sheridan-the greatest english playwright The Rivals The School for Scandal the best English comedy since Shakespeare
