chapter seven the eighteenth century. historical background parliament set up the constitutional...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter Seven
The Eighteenth Century
Historical Background
Parliament set up the constitutional monarchy in 1688 ↓Monarchy became a compromise between the bourgeoisie and the aristocrats.
↓The monarch was deprived of ruling power by Parliament
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England became a powerful naval country.
The war of Spanish Succession (1702—1714)
The war of Austrian Succession
(1740– 1748)
The Seven Years’ War with France (1756 – 1763) Powerful Navy
The remarkable changes in bourgeoisie cultural life
1. Political writings
2. Newspapers and journals
3. Coffeehouses
4. The new morality
5. Science and technology
6. The French influence
Men of all classes met in coffeehouses.
reason ﹥emotion
Newton, John Locke
In the precious ages, authors depend on the patrons.
↓
Writing became an independent job.
→ Patrons depends on writers.
A new mass media appeared:
{ 1.Both parties printed newspapers.2. The middle class rose.
↙
entertainment and education
↘
express their opinions on political and moral problems
Prose -- predominant writing genre
The same profession gather at certain coffeehouse.
Will’s in Covent Garden
Dryden and literary men
Spectator Club
Addison and friends
Pickwick Club
Dickens in 19th Cen.
Newton The great scientist profound significance in the history of thought --- Law of gravitation.
John Locke
The father of a new theory of knowledge
The Age of Reason
The influence of Neo – classicism from France
The classicists believed that those Roman writers had established the perfect art and rules of art for future generations to follow.
Such as: heroic couplet instead of blank verse,
the three unities of time, place and action.
The characteristics of Neo-classicism
• ---emphasized reason rather than emotion, form rather than content.
• ---stress reason, most of the writings of the age were didactic and satirical.
• ---poet prefer closed couplet for elegance, correctness, appropriateness and restraint
• ---cater to the interests of the society in great cities instead of town.
• --- lack in those elements related with the romantic.
The outline of the Literature in the 18th century
Essayists: Addison and Steele---- start the periodical essay
Samuel Johnson---- the man of letter and the
composer of dictionary
Poets: Alexander Pope--- neo-classicism
Thomas Gray---- derived from neo-classicism,
sentimentalism, elegy
Robert Burns---- Scottish folk songs
William Blake---break with neo-classicism but
with more romantic elements
Dramatist: Sheridan--- the most important English playwright
of the 18th century
Novelist: Daniel Defoe--- Robinson Crusoe
Fielding---playwright novelist Joseph Andrews
Richardson---Pamela
Swift--- prose and novel, esp. for satire
Daniel Defoe (1661-1731)
• Born in London in 1661• His father was a poor and hard-working
Presbyterian butcher.• His father wanted Defoe to be a clergyman.
In fact, Defoe is a pioneer novelist of England
a prolific writer of books and pamphlets
A versatile man
merchanteconomist
politicianjournalist
pamphleteer
novelist
shop
kiln
writing
principletrade
spyperiodical
articles
6 novels
Defoe’s two important novels
• Robinson Crusoe (1720)
--- The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures
of Robinson Crusoe
• Moll Flanders (1722)
---The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
a real incident in 1704
read
interview embellish
Alexander Selkirk was thrown onto a desolate island by the mutinous crew of his ship because of the conflict with captain.
Robinson Crusoeadventurous story
Robinson’s experience
Go abroad for business
Caught Moor
Escaped to Brazil
Became a planter
Bought slaves in Africa
accident on the seadesolated island for 28 years
met “Friday” – his slave
helped captain to get the ship back
go back home
the daughter of a woman (theft)
was born in prison
was brought up by a stranger
became a maid
was seduced
married for five times
steal and cheat
was caught to prison
met her cared husband
got a plantation left by her mother
Moll Flanders
Her prospect
the function of her mother
Jonathan Swift (1667—1745)
1. Born in Dublin, English parents
2. Worked as a private secretary
3. Political pamphlets
4. The Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Two satirical essays during the 2nd period
The Battle of Books ----- a satire or the controversy concerning the values of ancients and moderns
Mock ---heroic epic
A Tale of the Tub ----- a satire on the various churches of the time
Allegory:3sons {Roman Catholic
dissenter
England church
Two political pamphlets in the 3rd period
The Drapier’s Letter
----- under the pseudonym of Mr. Drapier
A Modest Proposal ----- bitter satire on the policy of the English government toward Irish
In 1726, his masterpiece was published :
----- Gulliver’s Travels
Four parts: about the four voyages of its hero to strange places
Writing style: travel literature
Defoe Swift
*businessman *churchman
*have little knowledge *university graduate
*a dissenter *a member of the Anglican Church
*aimed to improve the morals of his time
*viewed human society, cynic , misanthropic
The Comparison between Defoe and Swift
Joseph Addison
(1672--- 1719)
Richard Steele
(1672---1729)
Periodical essays: started by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele during the early 18th century and were the most characteristic genre of the 18th century.
Similarities of two essayists
*born in the same year, study in the same school and university
*both are the periodical essayists and educators
*similar topics: light topics--- fashions, head dresses
*writing style: wit humor, satire
*describe lively pictures of men and manners in the ordinary society of the time
The Tatler
Three times a week
The Spectator
daily
The same purposes
To educate the newly risen middle class the morals and modes
To bridge the gap between the small circle of London and the large Puritan middle class
To interest the general reader, to guide and develop their tastes
• Family----- London draper
• Religion ----- Roman Catholics
• Health ----- handicapped, less than 5 feet
• Marriage ----- never
• Education ----- self-educated
Alexander Pope (1688--- 1744)
Pope’s three creative periods
1st period (1709--- 1720):
Pastorals--- a collection of poems
Essay on Criticism --- a number of quotable lines
The Rape of the Lock --- attract public attention
The Windsor Forest --- a patriotic poem
the 2nd period (1720--- 1726) :
Translation --- Homer’s epic Iliad and Odyssey
in free manner
Comedy --- Three Hours After Marriage
Edition of Shakespeare
The 3rd period (1728 --- 1735):
The Dunciad --- three books of long poem
Four Epistles --- moral and philosophical nature
An Essay on Man --- a collection of poems
Imitations of Horace --- a collection of poems
Quotable lines in Pope’s poem
• To err is human, to forgive is divine.
• For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
• The proper study of mankind is man.
• A little learning is a dangerous thing.
对人类的真正研究就在于其本身。
人皆有错,难能宽恕
只有傻瓜才去那些天使不敢涉足的地方。
知识少是很危险的事。