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.
Trang 1HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY MID -TERM TEST ON ENGLISH AND AMERICAN
LITERATURE
FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH (No 2)
Subject Code: EN16
Full name:
Date of birth:
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I Answer the following questions: (50 points )
1 What three languages were spoken in England in the 11th - 13th centuries, and whom were they spoken by? Mention some reasons
2 What is a romance, a fabliaux, a bestiaria? In what language were they written?
Answer:
1 Three languages which were spoken in England in the 11th-13th centuries are:
Old English (Anglo-Saxon), French and Latin
Old English (Anglo-Saxon) was spoken by the Anglo-Saxon population That is, most of the ordinary people in the society used this language Because this is the language with the oldest origin in England Old English was heavily influenced by Germanic languages, and was used for a variety of purposes, including literature and law
Latin was used by the church and by the scholarly classes This language was used for religious writings, as well as records kept by the government In my opinion, one of the important reasons is the orgin of Latin language Latin is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the Roman Republic it became the dominant language in the Italian region and subsequently throughout the Roman Empire Throughout European history, an understanding of classical cultures was considered essential for entering scholarly circles, and knowing Latin was an essential part of that understanding Latin was introduced to England through contact with the Normans And scholars and religions
in England had to try to use this language to receive knowledge, to conduct educational and religious activities together and with the whole of Europe
French was spoken by the nobility Like Latin, French was introduced to England through contact with the Normans, who invaded in 1066 The Norman, despite their Viking ancestry, lived at the time in France, had done so for about two Centuries and
Trang 2spoke French (11th Century French of course) When William took over England, he obviously brought his language with him, and during the next four Centuries, the nobility use French as a way to distinguish themselves from the common classes
2 What is a romance, fabliau, a bestiaria? In what languages were they written?
Romance told of love and adventure and expresses the ideals of knighthood in
feudal society The purpose of the romance is to entertain the audience with stories in which the protagonist displays courage and chivalry through an adventure It has broadened to encompass stories in when tales of romantic love in which lovers encounter adventures and obstacles in order to be together which appeal to the emotions and sensitivity of the audience William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an example of a tragic romance Two teenagers, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love but keep the marriage hidden due to their feuding families In the end they both commit suicide in order to live with their love forever Another example of a romance is Sir Garwain and the Green Knight by an unknown author This romance is an early example of the genre and revolves around a knight’s chivalry through a challenged quest
Fabliaux are funny stories about town-people Fabliaux are humorous fables told
in verse, which were quite popular during the 12th and 13th centuries Fabliaux were often told by jongleurs (professional storytellers/public entertainers) The short stories were known for their colorful and humorous observations about life The stories take humorous scenes about things like religion, the sanctity of marriage, and the treatment of women The fabliau style is very simple and straightforward The stories are always set in modern times and the characters are middle class or lower Fabliaux mocks everyday life The plots often focus on women with great sex drive and ignorant men There is usually some kinds of actual trick or joke in the story, and the hoax often succeeds One of the most respected fabliaux writers is Geoffrey Chaucer Fabliaux were written by Anglo-Saxon
Bestiaries: stories in which characters were animals Bestiaries were a popular
literary form in the Middle Ages that included stories and descriptions of animals A medieval bestiary, also known as a 'book of beasts,' is a book that is filled with descriptions, stories, and illustrations of both real and mythical animals While some bestiaries were more factual, most bestiaries included fables about the animals That was, they include a specific moral lesson for the reader
Trang 3II Comments (50 points )
Write what you know about the life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer - The founder of English realism
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 - 1400) was an English writer, philosopher and diplomat
of the fourteenth century He is known as the father of English literature and the greatest author of that language until the works of Shakespeare
Geoffrey Chaucer was born around 1343 in London His father's name is John Chaucer and he comes from a middle class family raised in the wine business His mother, Agnes Copton, also had a well-off position, having inherited several shops in London
During the Hundred Years' War, Chaucer was taken prisoner in Reims and the British government paid £16 for his ransom, which in the fourteenth century was a high sum He then continued under royal service and some historians believe he may have studied law, as is common
In 1366, he was sent on a diplomatic mission as an envoy of Edward III to various places in Europe, including Spain
Chaucer is best known for his major work The Canterbury Tales, a compilation of stories written in Middle English It paints a vivid picture of English life during the Middle Ages and is the first work of literature in its own right to be written in English The work was well received by the people of England and was soon translated into various languages Additionally, Chaucer wrote several other works, such as The Book of the Duchess and The House of Fame
Chaucer was a staunch advocate of humanism, believing in the power of the human intellect He was a pioneer of the English Realism movement, which focused on the everyday lives of people and their problems He was also a proponent of religious tolerance, and many of his works feature characters from all walks of life, including peasants and knights He is known for his wit and satire, which can be seen in some of his works
As a diverse thinker and author, Chaucer was able to influence the literary world for centuries and even into the present day His works were a major influence on the development of English literature and established the very foundation of English realism His language was simple and direct, and his use of everyday language helped to open the doors to modern literature
Trang 4The life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer truly laid the foundations of English realism and paved the way for future generations of authors and philosophers His works have inspired countless readers and has stood the test of time, making him one of the most influential authors of all time
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