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中国人民大学2001年研究生入学考试试题

招生专业：英语语言文学

考试科目：英美文学 英美文化

考试时间：1月15日上午

考题编号：532

英美文学

I. Explain briefly the following terms: mention an author or a literary work that may be associated with each of the terms defined. (12%)

The Middle Ages

Local Colonsm

Metaphysical Poets

New England Renaissance

Romance

Stream of Consciousness School

1. The Middle Ages: Period in Western European history that followed the disintegration of the West Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th century and lasted into the 15th century, i.e., into the period of the Renaissance. In comparison with old English literature, Middle English literature deals with a wider range of subjects, is uttered by more voices and in a greater diversity of styles, tones and genres. Popular folk literature also occupies an important place in this period. Its presentation of life is not only accurate but also lively and colorful. Besides, Middle English literature strongly reflects the principle of the medieval Christian doctrine, which was primarily concerned with the issue of personal salvation. The greatest writer of this period is Geoffrey Chaucer.

2. Local Colonsm

3. Metaphysical Poets: Name given to a group of English lyric poets of the 17th century. The Hallmark of their poetry is the metaphysical conceit ( a figure of speech that employs unusual and paradoxical images), a reliance on intellectual wit, learned imagery and subtle argument. Although this method was by no means new, these men infused new life into English poetry by the freshness and originality of their approach. The most important metaphysical poets are John Donne, George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Thomas Traherne. Their work has considerably influenced the poetry of the 20th century.

4. New England Renaissance: The 16th century in England was a period marked by a flourishing of national culture known as the Renaissance. The term Renaissance originally indicated a revival of classical (Greek and Roman) arts and sciences after the dark ages of medieval obscurantism. Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance, for the Greek and Roman civilization was based on such a conception that man is the measure of all things. Works on human rights, lyrical poetry and various types of novel were developed in the 16th century. The Elizabethan drama is the mainstream of the English Renaissance. With Shakespeare as the master, it left a monument of the Renaissance.

5.Romance

6.Stream of Consciousness School: The first three decades of 20th century were golden years of the stream of consciousness school. Writers in this school believe that multiple levels of