英国文学简史术语解释总结 (英文)

Here's the article content as requested: Understanding the building blocks of British literature can feel like navigating a complicated maze. “British Literature: A Short History” lays out the fundamental periods, but grasping the terms used to define them is crucial. Terms like “Elizabethan,” “Romantic,” and “Victorian” aren't just names; they represent distinct shifts in style, theme, and cultural attitudes. Essentially, they mark significant moments in how the English people expressed themselves through writing. The Elizabethan period (roughly 1558-1603), dominated by figures like William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, is characterized by a return to classical forms and a burgeoning sense of national identity. It’s a time of exploration, both literal and intellectual, often filled with heroic narratives and poetic grandeur – think Hamlet and Macbeth. Then comes the Romantic era (late 18th – early 19th century), a radical reaction against the Enlightenment. Romantic writers – Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Byron – focused on emotion, imagination, and the beauty of the natural world. They valued individualism and a connection to the untamed wilderness. The Victorian period (1837-1901) followed, an age of rapid industrialization and social change. Writers like Dickens and the Brontës grappled with the effects of this transformation, often exploring themes of poverty, morality, and social injustice. It’s a period of immense social upheaval, reflected in the literature. Finally, the 20th century brought us Modernism and Post-Modernism, challenging traditional literary conventions. Authors like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce experimented with stream-of-consciousness, fragmented narratives, and unreliable narrators, pushing the boundaries of what constituted “good” writing. These labels, though, are merely convenient tools to help us chart the incredible, constantly evolving history of British literature. 展开