En16 văn học anh mỹ bài 1

Môn học nhằm cung cấp các khái niệm cơ bản về văn học, và các tác phẩm văn học Anh-Mỹ tiêu biểu. Với phương pháp trích giảng, sinh viên vận dụng các kiến thức về lịch sử xã hội Anh-Mỹ đã học vào việc phân tích và cảm nhận tác phẩm. Trong quá trình học sinh viên có cơ hội thể hiện sự hiểu biết của mình về các tác phẩm và tác giả bằng cách tham gia vào các vở kịch, thảo luận, viết bài luận phân tích.

HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY MID -TERM TEST ON ENGLISH AND AMERICAN

LITERATURE

FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH (No 1)

Subject Code: EN16 Full name:

Date of birth:

Group:

I Answer the following questions: (50 points )

1 What new tendencies were noticeable in the cultural life of England of the 5th century and where did they come from?

During the 5th century, there are some new tendencies in the cultural life of England First, the Anglo-Saxons who migrated from various parts of Continental Europe arrived with notable influences: The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons brought Germanic influences on England's cultural life

 Germanic Influence: languages, customs, and art forms Special tendency is Oral Tradition that became prominent, as stories, legends, and genealogies were passed down through generations via storytelling This gave rise to sagas and epics, such

as "Beowulf" which were composed and recited orally

 Pagan Beliefs: The Anglo-Saxons believed in religions, which were demonstrated

by the reemergence of old pagan customs and rituals

 Anglo-Saxon Poetry: The 5th century saw the rise of Anglo-Saxon poetry, which combined elements of Germanic and Celtic traditions

 Burial Customs: The Anglo-Saxons introduced new burial customs in England during this period They practiced cremation and burial in mounds or barrows, which influenced the landscape, architecture, and religious beliefs of the time It is important to note that the cultural life of England during the 5th century was a transition period as the Anglo-Saxons gradually assimilated into the existing Celtic- Roman culture of Britain

The new tendencies brought by the Anglo-Saxons contributed to the formation of a distinct Anglo-Saxon culture that would shape England for centuries to come

2 What can you say about the composition of the Canterbury Tales?

The Canterbury Tales, frame story by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in Middle English in 1387–1400 The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the

shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, Kent The 30 pilgrims who undertake the journey gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, across the Thames from London They agree to engage in a storytelling contest as they travel, and Harry Bailly, host of the Tabard, serves as master of ceremonies for the contest Most of the pilgrims are introduced by vivid brief sketches in the “General Prologue.” Interspersed between the

24 tales are short dramatic scenes (called links) presenting lively exchanges, usually involving the host and one or more of the pilgrims Chaucer did not complete the full plan for his book: the return journey from Canterbury is not included, and some of the pilgrims do not tell stories

3 What are the characters of the Canterbury Tales?

 Chaucer (The Narrator): The narrator makes it quite clear that he is also a character

in his book His name is Chaucer, he writes down his impressions of the pilgrims from memory, whom he does and does not like, and what he chooses and chooses not to remember about the characters, tells us as much about the narrator’s own prejudices as it does about the characters themselves

 The Knight: The Knight represents the ideal of a medieval Christian man-at-arms

He has participated in no less than fifteen of the great crusades of his era He is brave, experienced, and prudent

 The Wife of Bath: A bold and outspoken woman who has been married five times She is known for her experience with love and relationships The Pardoner: A corrupt religious official who sells indulgences and relics for personal gain He is hypocritical and manipulative The Miller: A burly and boisterous man who is a master at telling crude and humorous stories He is known for his strength and dishonesty The Nun/Prioress: A nun who is overly concerned with her appearance and manners She is elegant and strives to be perceived as upper-class

 Pardoners: They granted papal indulgences—reprieves from penance in exchange for charitable donations to the Church Many pardoners, including this one, collected profits for themselves In fact, Chaucer’s Pardoner excels in fraud, carrying a bag full of fake relics—for example, he claims to have the veil of the Virgin Mary The Pardoner has long, greasy, yellow hair and is beardless These characteristics were associated with shiftiness and gender ambiguity in Chaucer’s time The Pardoner also has a gift for singing and preaching whenever he finds himself inside a church

 The Miller: Stout and brawny, the Miller has a wart on his nose and a big mouth, both literally and figuratively He threatens the Host’s notion of propriety when he drunkenly insists on telling the second tale

 The Prioress: Described as modest and quiet, this Prioress (a nun who is head of her convent) aspires to have exquisite taste Her table manners are dainty, she knows French (though not the French of the court), she dresses well, and she is charitable and compassionate

 The Monk: Most monks of the Middle Ages lived in monasteries according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, which demanded that they devote their lives to “work and prayer.” This Monk cares little for the Rule; his devotion is to hunting and eating

He is large, loud, and well clad in hunting boots and furs

 Reeve: A reeve was similar to a steward of a manor, and this reeve performs his job shrewdly—his lord never loses so much as a ram to the other employees, and the vassals under his command are kept in line However, he steals from his master

 The Clerk: A scholarly and studious man who prioritizes knowledge and books above all else He is poor but content

II Comments (50 points )

What are your comments on the contents and significance of the works “The Canterbury Tales”?

In The Canterbury Tales, a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral compete

in a storytelling contest This overarching plot, or frame, provides a reason for the pilgrims to tell their stories, which reflect the concerns sparked by the social upheavals of late medieval England The General Prologue sets the scene for these societal tensions by introducing a wide variety of pilgrims from across different social classes

The Knight, who speaks first in accordance with his rank, roots his tale firmly in rigid courtly sensibilities However, the Miller insists on going next, disrupting the hierarchy His bawdy tale that celebrates adultery contrasts sharply with the courtly love of “The Knight’s Tale.” The Reeve follows in response to a slight in “The Miller’s Tale,” emphasizing that social class no longer plays any role in determining the order of the tales The subsequent tales often respond to each other thematically, creating dialogues about social concerns in the Middle Ages Several tales depict tensions around the changing roles of women, particularly in regard to marriage “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”

ignites this conflict, using courtly romance to subvert courtly norms and arguing for female independence “The Clerk’s Tale” aims to refute the Wife’s story, asserting that marriage is happiest when the wife is obedient The Franklin promotes a middle ground

He describes a devoted young couple who share power in their marriage Other tales in this middle section examine tensions around the role of the church in public life, particularly given the institution’s prevalent corruption

Ultimately, The Canterbury Tales concludes with no real resolution to the multiple conflicts it raises and with no conclusion to the storytelling contest The final tale is told

by the Parson, a generous and honest religious leader who, in lieu of a story, preaches repentance to the pilgrims, wanting them to remain in good standing with God Following

“The Parson’s Tale,” Chaucer includes several paragraphs apologizing if his readers did not like parts of The Canterbury Tales and retracting any sexual or violent content that offended rigid church morality

Một số yêu cầu:

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Chú ý:

+ Chế tài xử lý đối với bài phát hiện có sự sao chép ( VD: nếu phát hiện sao chép thì bài làm của sinh viên sẽ không được công nhận và nhận điểm 0….)

+ Giảng viên có thể trao đổi, nhận xét góp ý cho bài làm của sinh viên trên diễn đàn hoặc buổi Vclass (SV tham gia lớp Vclass đầy đủ để được giải đáp)