< Předchozí výpisek Zpět na výpis látekNásledující výpisek >USABritish literature of Entlightment and RomanticismAngličtina

British literature in Middle Ages and Renaissance

The earliest years in Britain were the times of nomadic tribes, the Celts (700BC). During 43-400AD, the Romans came into the picture. Later came the Anglo-Saxons when “Beowulf” was written. This was during 700-1000AD. It is an epic poem using alliteration (the tiger touched the tree). Beowulf was a hero, who saved the people from a monster, Grendel. He became a king and fought with a dragon but died. In Scandinavia, the Anglo-Saxons had a love of freedom, a respect for nature and religion, and a respect for women. “Caedmon” is a story of a monk, who can´t sing, read, or write, but then falls asleep and in a dream speaks with God, who teaches him to compose songs. Aelfric was an Old English Prose writer who was religious. The Middle Ages were the times around 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded Britain and brought French culture with him which was combined with the developing English (Anglo-Saxon) one. Latin was infused with English and French. An author from this time was Geoffrey Chaucer. He was an author sometime around the year 1400. He was from London, well educated, and worked as a page, diplomat, and clerk. He was captured but later released. He wrote “The Canterbury Tales.” It is about a group of 29 pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury. They tell stories of these travels. There is a great variety of themes (love, marriage, religion) and people (a monk, lawyer, carpenter...). Chaucer writes a perfect description of the people and of the surroundings. The Renaissance, which began taking place around the year 1500, was the time of the rulers Henry VII., Henry VIII., and Queen Elizabeth. There was a huge growth of literature during this time. Christopher Marlow wrote “Dr. Faustus,” and Edmund Spenser wrote “The Shepherd´s Calendar” and “The Faerie Queene.” This time gave birth to a great author, William Shakespeare, who lived from 1564-1616. He was born in Stratford upon Avon. He wrote sonnets (14 lines) and plays which include tragedies, comedies, and historical plays. His plays were played in the Globe Theater in London. One of his most famous tragedies, “Romeo and Juliet,” is about two feuding families. “Hamlet” is about a Danish prince trying to avenge the death of his father, who was killed by his brother, Claudius. He was then sent to England. Ophelia, his love, commits suicide. He comes back and is cut by a poisoned sword, but is still able to kill Claudius and Ophelia´s brother, who is blamed by him for Ophelia’s death. Other tragedies are “Othello,” “King Lear,” and “Macbeth.” Some of his historical plays are “Henry VIII.,” “Julius Caesar,” and “Antony and Cleopatra.” Some of his comedies are “A Midsummer Night´s Dream” and “The Comedy of Errors.”




Přidal: sheeni 19. 5. 2011
Zobrazit podrobnosti

Podrobnosti

Počet slov: 471
Zhlédnuto: 2287 krát
< Předchozí výpisek Zpět na výpis látekNásledující výpisek >USABritish literature of Entlightment and RomanticismAngličtina