Questions on English Literature

Chapter 2: Renaissance
1. What is Renaissance and what is progressive ideology of renaissance
2. Briefly state Shakespeare’ life and works
3. What are the features of Shakespeare’s works?
4. What are the factors that make Hamlet a Shakespeare’s masterpiece?
Chapter 3: Enlightenment
5. What are some historical and literary features of the period of the Enlightenment?
6. What are peculiarities of Enlightenment in England?
7. Briefly state Jonathan Swift’s and Daniel Defoe’s life and works
8. What are the differences between J. Swift’s and Defoe’s realism?
9. State in brief the main points about “Life and strange adventures of Robinson
Crusoe”
10. Briefly state the main points about “Gulliver Travels”
Chapter 4: Romanticism
11. What are some historical and literary features of the period?
12. Briefly state the main features of Romanticism in England
13. State in brief Robert Burn’s life and works
14. What are the main features of “My heart in the Highland and The Red, red rose”?
15. State in brief William Wordsworth’s life and works
16. What are the main features of “The Daffodils”?
17. Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
Chapter 5: Critical Realism
18. What are some historical and literary features of the period?
19. Briefly state the new literary trend- Critical Realism and the contribution of
English Critical Realists
20. C. Dicken’s life and works
21. What are the main features of “Oliver Twist”?
22. W. M. Thackeray’s life and works
23. What are the main features of “Vanity Fair”?
24. What is the differences between Dicken’s and Thackeray’s writing styles?
Chapter 6: The 20th Century English Literature
25. What are some historical and literary features of the period?
26. What is the Decadence and what are the two trends in 20 th Century English
literature?
27. Briefly state Oscar Wide’s life and works
28. What is O. Wide’s main writing style?
Chapter 7: American literature
29. Briefly state O” Henry’s life and works
30. Briefly state Earnest Hemingway’s life and works
Chapter 2: Renaissance
1. What is Renaissance and what is progressive ideology of renaissance

- Renaissance was a revival of interest in the ancient culture of Greece and Rome.
Renaissance" is French for "rebirth.
- The progressive ideology of the Renaissance was Humanism.
+ Human life, the happiness of people and the belief in man's abilities became the
main subjects in fine arts and literature.
+ The works of humanists proclaimed equality of people regardless of their social
origin, race and religion.
+ Humanism did away with the dark scholastic teaching of the Middle Ages.
- The development of a new social order with Humanism presented great
possibilities for man’s creative power.
- That is why the humanist outlook was marked with bright optimism, with belief in
man’s great abilities and his high mission.
- British Renaissance literature was divided into two periods: The prominent author
of the first period of British humanist literature was Thomas More with his work
“Utopia”. The most outstanding dramatist of the second period, as well as all time,
was William Shakespeare with “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet, prince of Denmark”,
“Twelfth Night”

2. Briefly state Shakespeare’ life and works

Shakespeare’ life
- William Shakespeare was born on April 23th, 1564 in the small town of Stratford-
upon-Avon.
- Life itself, contact with people and his acquaintance with the rich English folklore
gave him more than the scholastic methods used at school.
- At twenty-one he left his hometown for London where he joined a theatrical
company and worked as an actor and a playwright.
- In 1613, Shakespeare left London and returned to his native town. On April 23th
1616, he died and was buried there.

Shakespeare’ works
- Shakespeare is the author of 2 poems, 37 plays and 154 sonnets.
- Shakespeare’s creative work is usually divided into three periods:
- The first period (1590 to 1600) was marked by the optimism so characteristic of
all humanist literature. The comedies describe the adventures of young men and
women, their friendship and love, their search for happiness. His comedies are filled
 with humanist love for people and the belief in the nobleness and kindness of human
nature. His brilliant comedies are: As You Like It (1599), Twelfth Night; Or, What You
Will (1600).
+ Historical Choronicles are plays written on subjects from natural history. “King
Henry VI” (part123-90&91); “King Henry IV” (part12-97)
(cover a period of more than 300-year of English history, so the main subject is
history of Kings. SP showed not only the kings, feudal, churchmen but also the lower
classes and he believed that centralized monarchy would create conditions for the
progress of country.)

- The second period (1601-1608): The tragedies reflect the deep, unsolvable
contradictions of life, the falsehood, injustice and tyranny existing in society. They
show people who perish in the struggle against Evil.
4 great tragedies: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1601), Othello, the Moor of Venice
(1604), King Lear (1605), Macbeth (1605).

- The plays of the third period (1609 - 1612) he touched upon important social and
moral problems. He introduced romantic and fantastic elements, which had a decisive
role in his plays. The works of this period - The Winter's Tale (1610) and The Tempest
(1612)

3. What are the features of Shakespeare’s works?

- Shakespeare is the author of 2 poems, 37 plays and 154 sonnets.

- Shakespeare’s creative work is usually divided into three periods.
- The first period (1590 to 1600) was marked by the optimism so characteristic of
all humanist literature. The comedies describe the adventures of young men and
women, their friendship and love, their search for happiness. His comedies are
filled with humanist love for people and the belief in the nobleness and kindness
of human nature. His brilliant comedies are: As You Like It (1599), Twelfth
Night; Or, What You Will (1600).
+ Historical Choronicles are plays written on subjects from natural history. “King Henry
VI” (part123-90&91); “King Henry IV” (part12-97)
(cover a period of more than 300-year of English history, so the main subject is history of
Kings. SP showed not only the kings, feudal, churchmen but also the lower classes and he
believed that centralized monarchy would create conditions for the progress of country.)

- The second period (1601-1608): The tragedies reflect the deep, unsolvable
contradictions of life, the falsehood, injustice and tyranny existing in society. They
show people who perish in the struggle against Evil.
4 great tragedies: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1601), Othello, the Moor of Venice
(1604), King Lear (1605), Macbeth (1605).
- The plays of the third period (1609 - 1612) he touched upon important social and
moral problems. He introduced romantic and fantastic elements, which had a
decisive role in his plays. The works of this period - The Winter's Tale (1610) and
The Tempest (1612)

4. What are the factors that make Hamlet a Shakespeare’s masterpiece?

- The tragedy Hamlet is one of the greatest of Shakespeare's masterpieces. It is the

most profound expression of his humanism and his criticism of the epoch. The
tragedy tells of the struggle between Hamlet, the bearer of the ideals of the
Renaissance, on the one hand, and the evil, false world of kings and courtiers, on
the other.

- The tragedy Hamlet is an outstanding play because unlike other "bloody tragedies"
written before and in Shakespeare's time, it is "a tragedy of thought" and Hamlet is
the first thinker that has ever appeared on the stage. The tragedy of Hamlet is
caused not so much by the discord between Hamlet and the evil outer world, as by
the discord within his own soul. Seeing the evil he does not want to put up with it.

- The tragedy of Hamlet has always excited the minds of people. It stirs people's
conscience, makes them fight against Evil for the triumph of justice and Good.

( What are the Shakespeare’s great tragedies and what do they reflect? In what way
does the tragedy of Hamlet differ from other tragedy of that time?)

- The Shakespeare’s great tragedies are “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” (1601);

“Othello, the Moor of Venice” (1604); “King Lear” (1605); “Macbeth” (1605).
They reflect the deep, unsolvable contracdictions of life, the falsehood, injustice
and tyranny existing in society.
- The tragedies reflect the deep, unsolvable contradictions of life, the falsehood,
injustice and tyranny existing in society. They show people who perish in the
struggle against Evil.

- The tragedy Hamlet is an outstanding play because unlike other other "bloody
tragedies" written before and in Shakespeare's time, it is "a tragedy of thought"
and Hamlet is the first thinker that has ever appeared on the stage. The tragedy of
Hamlet is caused not so much by the discord between Hamlet and the evil outer
world, as by the discord within his own soul. ( Seeing the evil he does not want to
put up with it. He meditates upon the cause of evil and the ways of fighting it.
And being unable to find these ways, he suffers, reproaches himself with being
passive, irresolute, weak-willed. He hesitates and delays his actions. )
Chapter 3: Enlightenment
“Enlightenment” is the act of enlightening or state of being enlightened. In
EnglishLiterature, the Enlighteners’ critism was directed again social inequality, religious
hypocrisy as well as the immorality of the aristocracy. They rejected religious idea of the
sinful nature of man, help them see the roots of evil and ways of social reformation.

Two trends among the English Enlighteners are moderates, spoke in defense of the
existing order, considering that a few reforms were enough to improve it (Daniel Defoe,
Joseph Addison, Richard Steele, and Samuel Richardson). Others, the radicals, wanted
more democracy in the ruling of the country. They defended the interests of the exploited
masses. (Jonathan Swift, Henry Fielding, Oliver Goldsmith, Richard B Sheridan).

3 periods of English Enlightenment in literature:

- The first one is Early Enlightenment (1688 – 1740). This period saw the
flourishing of journalism which played an important part in the country’s public
life. The Tatler, The Spectator, The Englishman edited by Joseph Addison and
Richard Steele.

- The second one is Mature Enlightenment (1740 – 1750). The social moralizing
novel was born in this period. It was represented by the works of such writers as
Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Tobias Smollett

- Finally, it is Late Enlightenment (Sentimentalism) (1750 – 1780) whose writers

like the Enlighteners of the first two periods, expressed the democratic bourgeois
tendencies of their time. They also tried to find a way out of the difficulties of the
existing order. However, while their predecessors believed in the force of
intellect, they considered feelings most important. The principal representatives of
sentimentalism in the genre of the novel were Oliver Goldsmith and Lawrence
Sterne and in drama – Richard Sheridan.

5. What are some historical and literary features of the period of the
Enlightenment?

- Historical features: The 18th century saw Great Britain rapidly growing into a
capitalist country and the bourgeois had already become one of the ruling classes.
In spite of the progress of industry and culture, the most important problem that
faced the country still was education.
 - Literary features: In the epoch of Enlightenment the poetic forms of the
Renaissance were replaced by prose. The moralizing novel was born and became
the leading genre of the period Ordinary people, mostly representatives of the
middle class, became the main characters of these novels. These characters, either
viltuous or vicious, were accordingly, either rewarded or punished at the end of the
novel. By these means the Enlighteners idealistically hoped to improve the morals
of the people and of society in general.

6. What are peculiarities of Enlightenment in England?

- In 18th century, while in France the bourgeois was just beginning its struggle
against feudalism, the English bourgeois had already become one of the ruling
classes.
- In England, the period of Enlightenment followed the bourgeois revolution. While
in other countries it came before revolution; therefore, the aims of English
Enlighteners were not so revolutionary as those of French Enlightenment.

7. Briefly state Jonathan Swift’s and Daniel Defoe’s life and works
Johnathan Swift’s life and works:

Johnathan Swift’s life

- The greatest satirist in the history of English literature Johnathan Swift was born
in November 30th, 1667 in Dublin.
- His father died leaving his family poverty so he was brought up by his prosperous
Uncle Godwin Swift.
- In 1692, Swift took his Master of Arts Degree at Oxford University and got the
place of vicar in a small church in Kilroot, Ireland where he stayed for a year and a
half. A few years later, he became one of the leading political figures in England
although he occupied no official post in the Government.
- Because of his honestly and critical attitude to all the party intrigues, he was sent
to be the Dean of St. Partrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Swift became actively
involved in the struggle of the Irish people against English oppression and
poverty.
- At the age of 78, he died and was buried there.
Johnathan Swift’s works:
- Swift’s literary work was always closely connected with his political activity.
- In numerous political pamphlets Swift ridiculed different spheres of life of
bourgeois society: law, wars, politics, etc.
- One of the most outstanding pamphlets and the most biting of all his satires was
“A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People of Ireland from
Being a Burden to their Parents” (1729). It was his novel “Gulliver’s Travels” that
brought him fame and immortality.
Daniel Defoe’s life and works

Daniel Defoe’s life

- Daniel Defoe was born in 1660, London, was an English writer, trader, journalist.
His life was complicated and adventurous. He became a merchant and travelled in
Spain, Germany, France and Italy on business which give him rich imagination,
material for his future novels. He took an active part in the political life of Britain.
- In the early 90s Defoe turned to literature.
- In 1702 Defoe published a satirical pamphlet written in support of the protestants,
or dissenters, persecuted by the government and the Church.
- In order to disgraced Defoe, the Government had him thrice pilloried. Before
being pilloried he wrote his Hymn to the Pillory which at once became known all
over London. He died at the age of 71 having written numerous works.

Daniel Defoe’s works

- Daniel Defoe is rightly considered the father of the English and Europe, novel, for
it was due to him that the genre became once and forever established in European
literature.
- His first literary works were satirical, poems dealing with the urgent problems of
the time. In 1697 he published “An Essay on Projects”, a typical enlightener's
work.
- In 1702 Defoe published a satirical pamphlet written in support of the protestants.
In the pamphlet called “The Shortest Way with the Dissenters “, the author
ironically suggested that the best way to fight against the dissenters was to excuse
them all. He wrote his Hymn to the Pillory which at once became known all over
London.
- His first and most popular novel The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of
Robinson Crusoe was written in 1719 when Defoe was about 60. It was followed
by Captain Singleton, Moll Flanders, Roxana and some other novels of adventure

8. What are the differences between J. Swift’s and Defoe’s realism?

- Defoe presented extremely precise pictures of bourgeois life. Swift used his
favourite weapon - laughter - to mock up bourgeois reality. He criticized it and his
criticism was hidden away in a whole lot of allegorical pictures. At the same time,
he gave very realistic descriptions, mathematical proportions of the tiny Lilliput
and the giants from Brobdingnag.

- Swift’s language was more elaborate and literary than Defoe’s. This does not
mean that he did not make use of the language of the common people. He resorted
to it when his criticism became most severe.
9. State in brief the main points about “Life and strange adventures of
Robinson Crusoe”
- “Robinson Crusoe”, a novel by Daniel Defoe, was first published in London in
1719. It is considered a well-known and enshrined novel in our culture.

- The novel Robinson Crusoe tells the story of a young and impulsive Englishman
that defies his parents' wishes and takes to the seas seeking adventure. The young
Robinson Crusoe is shipwrecked and castaway on a remote tropical island for 28
years.

- When he is left alone on the uninhabited island, he is realistically depicted as a

man struggling against nature and a man who finally creates some civilisation in a
seemingly primitive environment through his incessant efforts and toil. He
resembles the rising bourgeoisie at the earliest stage of its development, has the
courage and will to face hardships and adversities, and also has ingenuity and
determination to preserve himself and improve on his livelihood by fighting
against nature.

- The central message of "Robinson Crusoe" is survival. Not only does Crusoe have
to physically survive on the island by securing food, water and shelter, but he also
has to develop his self-confidence to survive, so he doesn't give up hope of rescue.

- The adventure was not only tremendously exciting for the reading public in
Defoe's time but it laid down a template that's been followed or adapted by an
entire genre of literature, films and cartoons since then, usually more competently
produced and without the morally odious context.

10.Briefly state the main points about “Gulliver Travels”

- Gulliver's Travels, a misanthropic satire of humanity, was written in 1726 by

Jonathan Swift.

- The story tells about an adventure story involving several voyages of Lemuel
Gulliver, a ship's surgeon, who, because of a series of mishaps en route to
recognized ports, ends up, instead, on several unknown islands living with people
and animals of unusual sizes, behaviors, and philosophies, but who, after each
adventure, is somehow able to return to his home in England where he recovers
from these unusual experiences and then sets out again on a new voyage.

- It tells of the entertaining adventures of Gulliver in four strange countries. In his

first voyage in Lilliput, Gulliver lives among tiny people some 6 inches high is a
satirical symbol of the England of Swift’s time. Swift ridicules the English court
with its intrigues, flattery, hypocrisy and struggle for the higher positions. In the
 second part of Gulliver, he come Brobdingnag, a land of freedom and happy, to
some extent, Swift’s ideal of what a state should be. The third part of Gulliver’s
travel on Laputa, which is a symbol of the English ruling circles, that are hostile to
the common people, that oppress Ireland and other countries, is again a very bitter
satire on the English society. In the fourth voyage in Houyhnhnms, Gulliver
admires the simple modest way of life of the Houyhnhnms and is disgusted with
the Yahoos who remind him so much of his native country.

- Gulliver's name probably is an allusion to King Lemuel of Proverbs 31, who was a
weak-minded prophet. At the same time, Gulliver represents the everyman with
his average intelligence and general good humor. The reader is able to identify
with him and join him in his travels.

- Even though Swift constantly alludes to events that were happening while he was
alive, the story rings true today, bringing light to our own societal issues and to
patterns of human nature. Throughout Gulliver's voyages, Swift goes to great
lengths to scrutinize, parody, and satire various aspects of human, and often
English society.
Chapter 4: Romanticism
The characteristic features of the Romanticism in the English Literature
- Romanticism includes subjectivity and an emphasis on individualism, spontaneity,
freedom from rules, soliraty life rather than life in society, the beliefs that imagination is
superior to reason and devotion to beauty, love of and worship of nature and fascination
with the past, especially the myths and mysticism of the middle ages.
- Some of these writers such as George Gordon Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley were
definitely revolutionary, they denied the existing order, called upon the people to struggle
for liberty, and objected to colonial oppression.
- Others, though they had welcomed the French revolution, later abandoned
revolutionary ideas. They turned their attention to nature and to the simple problems of
life so they tried to avoid the contradictions that were becoming so great in all the spheres
of social life with the development of capitalism.
- The romanticists paid a good deal of attention to the spiritual life of man. The so-
called exotic theme came into being and great attention was dedicated to nature and its
elements.
- Romanticism is characterized by the 5 ""s Imagination, Idealism, Intuition, Inspiration,
Individuality.

11.What are some historical and literary features of the period?

- Historical features: Industrial revolution gave birth to a new class, the proletariat.
The reactionary ruling class of England decisively against any progress influenced
by the French revolution, as a result the last decade of the 18th century, they were
 subjected to a rule “white terror”. Writers were faced with the necessity of finding
an answer to the growth of industry, the rising-working class movement and the
final disappearance of the class of peasantry.

- Literary features: Romanticism literature was a reaction of different strata of

society to the French Bourgeois Revolution and to the Enlightenment connected
with it. The new trend reflected the influence of the French revolution that felt all
over the world.

12.Briefly state the main features of Romanticism in England

- Common Man and Childhood over Urban Sophistication Romantics believed in

the natural goodness of humans, which is hindered by the urban life of civilization.
They believed that the savage is noble, childhood is good and the emotions
inspired by both beliefs causes the heart to soar.

- Emotions over Reason Romantics believed that knowledge is gained through

intuition rather than deduction. This is best summed up by Wordsworth who stated
that “all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”

- Nature over Artificial Romantics stressed the awe of nature in art and language
and the experience of sublimity through a connection with nature. Romantics
rejected the ideas of the industrial revolution.

- The Individual over Society Romantics often elevated the achievements of the
misunderstood, heroic individual outcast.

- Imagination over Logic Romantics legitimized the individual imagination as a

critical authority.

13.State in brief Robert Burn’s life and works

Robert Burn’s life

- Robert Burns, is considered one of the greatest poets in English literature, his
songs and poems are known and loved far beyond the limits of his country.

- He was born on January, 25th, 1759, in a clay – built cottage near the river Doon.
His father William Burns was a gardener on a small estate. The life of the family
was full of privations.

- When he was 7, their father decided to give his children the best education he
could afford and engaged a teacher to educate them. His father wanted to try his
 hand at farming and Robert had to help him on the farm. At the age of 13, he had
to take over most of the works as the father was growing old.
- The years of Burns’ creative work belong to the period known in English literature
as Pre-Romanticism

- His love of nature, his singing of liberty, his rebellious spirit has much in common
with such revolutionary romanticists as George Byron and Percy Shelley.

Robert Burn’s works

- Burns’ poetry has features from the Enlightenment to Romanticism.

- In 1786 he published his first book under the title of Poems Chiefly in the Scottish
Dialect which contained his early lyrical, humorous and satirical verses. The book
was a great success and soon another edition appeared.

- Robert Burns’ poetry was inspired by his deep love for his mother-land, for its
history and folklore. His beautiful poem " My heart’s in the highlands " full of
vivid colourful descriptions, is a hymn to the beauty of Scotland’s nature and to its
glorious past.

- “A red, red rose” is one of the best of Burn’s love poems. It is world famous
because it describes the poet’s own emotions with such vividness and simplicity
that it appeals directly to the reader’s heart. The idea in this poem is simple
enough, but it is expressed with very strong emotions and in effective words and
haunting rhythm, which makes it melodious and immortal.

- Burns’ poetry is closely connected with the national struggle of the Scottish people
for their liberation from England oppression, the struggle that had been going on
in Scotland for many centuries. Burns’ lyrical poems are known for their beauty,
truthfulness, freshness, depth of feelings and their lovely melody. Among his best
lyrics is Oh My love is like a red, red rose.

14.What are the main features of “My heart in the Highland and The Red,
red rose”?

- “A red, red rose” is one of the best of Burn’s love poems. It is world famous
because it describes the poet’s own emotions with such vividness and simplicity
that it appeals directly to the reader’s heart. The idea in this poem is simple
enough, but it is expressed with very strong emotions and in effective words and
haunting rhythm, which makes it melodious and immortal.

- “My heart’s in the Highlands” is one of Burn’s most beautiful lyrics. It is patriotic
and fully reveals the poet’s deep patriotic sentiments for his native home of
 Scotland in his powerful expressions of yearning for the Highlands. The
sentiments demonstrated in this and Burn’s other patriotic poems encouraged the
Scots to rebel against the English tyranny and struggle for Scotland’s freedom and
independence.

15.State in brief William Wordsworth’s life and works

William Wordsworth – A worshipper of nature

- William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was born in the Lake District in Northwestern
England.

- The first influence upon William Wordsworth’s life as a poet came not from his
parents but from Nature.

- In his poem, The Prelude, William Wordsworth left a full account of his boyhood
in the Cumberland hills. It is noteworthy that William Wordsworth, more than any
other English poets up to his day, regarded nature not only as a source of spiritual
influence on man, but as a moral teacher who can teach us more than all sages can.
Nature was, in fact, his religion.

- I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud was written in reflection after two years of the time
when Wordsworth saw a land of daffodils by the lake of Ullwater upon his return
from a visit to his friend Clarkson in Eusemere. The poet described his heartfelt
happiness as he saw the beautiful daffodils and sang high praises of nature.

16. What are the main features of “The Daffodils”?

“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” was written in reflection after two years of the time
when Wordsworth saw a land of daffodils by the lake of Ullwater upon his return from a
visit to his friend Clarkson in Eusemere. The poet described his heartfelt happiness as he
saw the beautiful daffodils and sang high praises of nature.

17. Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

- Jane Austen was born at Steventon Rectory in Hampshire, England. She spent her
childhood and early womanhood at her birthplace which provided the materials for
most of her fiction. As a matter of fact, Jane started writing when she was still a
little girl. In 1795, she wrote “Sense and Sensibility”. Next year, she wrote “First
Impression” (P&P) and completed it in 1797. After the death of her father, she
appeared to have given up writing for almost 5 years from 1805 to 1809. “Emma”
(1815) was the beginning of Jane’s reputation. Finally, she died quietly at
Winchester in 1817.
 - “Pride and Prejudice” were published in 1813. It has been a favourite of both
readers and critics alike and is often regarded as Jane Austen's consummate
achievement. In Pride and Prejudice and her other works, Jane Austen focused on
characters of her own social class: the ladies and gentlemen of the landed gentry. It
tells a story which centers around a series of misunderstandings between Elizabeth
and Darcy - the ladies and gentlemen of the landed gentry. She wrote about the
people that she knew best and wove her plots around the intricacies of courtship
and marriage between members of the landed gentry. As she depicted events
concerning the class to which she was a member of herself, she illuminated in their
characters the follies and failings of men and women of all times and classes.

Chapter 5: Critical Realism

18.What are some historical and literary features of the period?

Historical features of the period

- The 19th century was characterized by sharp contradictions. In many ways it was
an age of progress; but at the same time it was an age of profound social unrest,
because there was too much poverty, too much injustice, too much ugliness; and
above all, fierce exploitation of man by man.

- The growth of scientific inventions mechanized industry and increased wealth, but
this progress only enriched the few at the expense of the many.

- By the thirties of the 19th century English capitalism had entered a new stage of
development. England had become a classical capitalist country, a country of
industrial capitalism. The Industrial Revolution on gathered force as the 19th
century progressed, and worked profound changes in both the economic and the
social life of the country.

Literary features of the period

- Chartism attracted the attention of many progressive-minded people of the time.
Many prominent writers became aware of the social injustices around them and
tried to picture them in their works.

- These writers used the novel as a means to protest against the evils in
contemporary social and economic life and to picture the world in a realistic way.

- The critical realists introduced new characters into literature: they described the
new social force in modern history - the working class. They expressed deep
sympathy for the working people; they described the unbearable conditions of
 their life and work; they voiced a passionate protest against exploitation and
described their persistent struggle for their rights.

19.Briefly state the new literary trend- Critical Realism and the contribution
of English Critical Realists

NEW LITERARY TREND

- Chartism attracted the attention of many progressive-minded people of the time.
Many prominent writers became aware of the social injustices around them and
tried to picture them in their works.

- These writers used the novel as a means to protest against the evils in
contemporary social and economic life and to picture the world in a realistic way.

- The critical realists introduced new characters into literature: they described the
new social force in modern history - the working class. They expressed deep
sympathy for the working people; they described the unbearable conditions of
their life and work; they voiced a passionate protest against exploitation and
described their persistent struggle for their rights.

The contribution of English Critical Realists

- The contribution of the writers belonging to what Karl Marx called the 'present
brilliant school of English novelists' to world literature is enormous. They created
a broad panorama of social life, exposed and attacked the vices of aristocratic and
bourgeois society, sided with the common people in their passionate protest
against unbearable exploitation, and expressed their hopes for a better future.

20. C. Dicken’s life and works

C. Dicken’s life
- Dicken was born in 1812 near Portsmouth on the southern coast of England.
- His father was a clerk, and the family lived on his smalll salary. They belonged to
the lower middle class.
- He was fond of reading books, singing, reciting poems and acting.
- He was put to work in a blacking factory, while his father mother sisters and
brothers all lived in debtors’s prision.
- In about a year, the Dickeness received a small sum of money after the death of a
relative, so all the debts were paid.
- Dickens left school when he was 12. He had to continue his education by himself.
His father sent him to a lawyer’s office to study law, but instead of studying law,
he studied shorthand and found job as a newspaper reporter.
 - In 1832, he became a parlimentary reporter.
- At the age of 24, Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, the daughter of his editor at
the Evening Chronicle.

C. Dicken’s works
- Charles Dickens began to write at a time when the labour movement, known as the
Chartist movement, was at its height.

- Dickens wrote about the poorest, the most unprivileged sections of the population.
He looked into the darkest corners of the large cities and there found the victims of
capitalism. Thus Dickens's immortal works became an accusation of the bourgeois
system as a whole.

- Dickens's first efforts at writing were little stories about the ordinary Londoners he
saw. The stories were funny street sketches.

- Dickens devoted himself to literary work. His next novel was Oliver Twist. It
appeared first in series in a new monthly magazine of which Dickens himself was
editor. Readers expected to see a new humorous story, and they were much
surprised to find a nightmare novel instead.

- Dickens visited many schools in various towns of England, and he came across
somewhere life was worse than anything he had been through in his childhood in
Nicholas Nickle, Dickens exposes the boarding-schools for unwanted children.

- The years between 1844 and 1848, Dickens travelled in Italy, France, Switzerland.
There he worked hard at the novel Dombey and Son.

(What is Dickens’s contribution to the world literature?)

- Dickens has given a full picture of 19th century English life. He revealed all that
was irrational and monstrous and through his wit and humour people began to see
their own time and environment in a new light. His method of writing inspired
many others to write realistically, and great works of critical realism appeared
after him.

- Dickens portrays people of all the types seen in the streets of great cities in his
time. It was said of him that he, Dickens, “never talked down to the people, he
talked up to the people”.

- Some social improvements in England were attributed to the influence of

Dickens's works. To many European critics Dickens ranked only among the
moralists and reformers of the 19th century. His works were not considered works
 of art, because in his writing he was not inspired by beauty but by human
suffering.)

21.What are the main features of “Oliver Twist”?

- His novel was Oliver Twist. It appeared first in series in a new monthly magazine
of which Dickens himself was editor.

- Readers expected to see a new humorous story, and they were much surprised to
find a nightmare novel instead. Dickens visited many schools in various towns of
England, and he came across somewhere life was worse than anything he had been
through in his childhood in Nicholas Nickleby Dickens exposes the boarding-
schools for unwanted children.

- It was written as a protest against the Poor Law. The Poor Law did not allow
homeless people to live in the streets; they were put into workhouses where they
were only a little bit better off than in prision. Oliver Twist was not simply a novel
but a social tract as well.

Bình luận chi tiết tác phẩm:

In 1838, Dickens created this story of powerful emotional appeal and social criticism
perhaps at the inspiration of the Poor Law passed in 1834. The novel is significant in its
truthful presentation of the miseries of the poor and the description of the thieves' den and
of the underworld in London. The first two chapters of the book deal with the young hero
Oliver Twist's birth and adventures in the workhouse. Chapter I describes his birth. In
order to appreciate the humour in this chapter, one needs to recognize the ironic tone in
which the scene is presented. Many words are used in an ironic way; for instance, the pun
on "gruel" when the surgeon says: "It's very likely it will be troublesome. Give it a little
gruel if it is." Chapter II is famous for the scene in which Oliver asks for more. Driven by
hunger Oliver ventures one day to ask for a second serving of porridge. The scandalized
authorities beat him, put him in solitary confinement, and give him away along with five
pounds. This scene strips the philanthropy mask of the ruling class and highlights their
extreme brutality and corruption. It is in scenes that we see the great critical realist
voicing the helplessness of the poor and the oppressed.

22.W. M. Thackeray’s life and works

W. M. Thackeray’s life

- William Makepeace Thackeray was the greatest representatives of Critical

Realism in English literature of the 19th century.
 - He was born in a prosperous middle-class family. His father was a well-to-do
English official in Calcutta, India.

- When he was 6, he was taken from Calcutta to England to be educated. From

Charterhouse school he passed on to Cambridge University.

- His ambtion was to become an artist, so he left his university without graduating
and went to Germany, Italy, and France to study art.

- Thackery returned to London and began a law course in 1833, then he dropped his
studies to earn a living.

- In 1836 he married Isabella Shawe and had 3 daughters.

W. M. Thackeray’s works
- In his novels Thackeray gives a vivid description of the upper classes of society,
their mode of life, manners and tastes. He shows their pride and tyranny, their
hypocrisy, and snobbishness, and their selfishness and general wickedness His
knowledge of human nature is broad and his portrayal of it is keenly analytical.

- Thackeray's first notable works was The Book of Snobs 1 (1846-1847) which
deals with the upper classes and their followers in the middle classes, whose vices
the author criticizes with the sharp pen of satire. The book may be regarded as a
prelude to the author's masterpiece Vanity Fair, which can be called the peak of
Critical Realism.

- Vanity Fair brought great fame to the novelist and remains his most-read work up
to the present day. It first appeared in twenty-four monthly parts which Thackeray
illustrated himself. In 1848 it came out as a complete book.

- The Book of Snobs is a satirical description of different circles of English society

in the century. The gallery of snobs in the book, Great City Snobs, The University
Snobs and others, convinces the reader that' snobbishness' was one of the most
characteristic features of the ruling classes of England at that time.

23.What are the main features of “Vanity Fair”?

- Vanity Fair is a social novel which shows not only the bourgeois -aristocratic
society as a whole, but the very laws which govern it. Describing the events which
took place at the beginning of the 19th century, the author presents a broad
satirical picture of contemporary England.
 - The social background of the novel which influences all the charaters in their
thoughts and actions, is high society at large. Thackeray attacks the vanity,
pretensions, prejudices and corruption of the aristocracy (the Crawleys, Lord
Steyne); the narrow-mindedness and greed of the bourgeoisie (the Osbornes, the
Sedleys). He mercilessly exposes the snobbishness, hypocrisy, money-worship
and parasitism of all those who form the bulwark of society.

- The interest of the novel centres on the characters rather than on the plot. The
author shows various people, and their thoughts and actions, in different situations.
There is no definite hero in the book. In Thackeray's opinion there can be no hero
in a society where the cult of money rules the world.

Bình luận tác phẩm:

Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray that
satirizes early 19th century England. Vanity Fair is a multi-line novel about the bourgeois
aristocratic society and the fate of people with many sections of that society. The main
axis of the story is the life of two young girls who are classmates, in the same school, but
not in the same class and not the same fate.
• The subtitle of the book shows the author's intention not to describe separate
individuals, but English bourgeois-aristocratic society as a whole. The title of the book is
borrowed from The Pilgrim's Progress, an allegorical novel written by John Bunyan, one
of the greatest writers of the second half of the 17th century.
• Everybody there thinks only of his own interests. Such qualities as honor and
dignity are of no value. To achieve his aim a man is ready to kill or devour any human
being, no matter whether he be friend or enemy. The same idea is expressed by
Thackeray in his masterpiece, Vanity Fair.
• The social background of the novel which influences all the characters in their
thoughts and actions is high society at large. Thackeray attacks the vanity, pretensions,
prejudices, and corruption of the aristocracy (the Crawleys, Lord Steyne); the narrow-
mindedness and greed of the bourgeoisie (the Osbornes, the Sedleys). He mercilessly
exposes the snobbishness, hypocrisy, money-worship, and parasitism of all those who
form the bulwark of society.

24.What is the differences between Dicken’s and Thackeray’s writing styles?

-Thickeray's realism is different from that of Dickens, it is less combined with fantasy
and lyricism, it is more exact and objective. While Dickens idealizes his possitive
characters (sometimes they are too good to be true and the author's attitude towards them
is somewhat sentimental), Thackeray portrays his characters more realistically. They are
not static; his women characters, in particular, develop at the story progresses. Thackeray
tries to describe things and human beings as existing outside his mind, they are shown as
natural results of their environment and the society which bred them. He depicts his
characters as if viewing them from afar. This was a new feature in literature which was
followed by many other writers, and was later called objective realism in literature.

-Dickens was more optimistic than Thackeray. He tried to reform people and thought that
that was the way to make them happy. In Thackeray's opinion the existing state of things
could not be changed, though he saw that bourgeois morals had fallen into decay, and he
subjected these morals to severe criticism, which is chief merit of his works

-Unlike Dickens, Thackeray is unable to see man reformed in the future. Chernyshevsky
blamed him for this failure in his article on The Newcomers

Chapter 6: The 20th Century English Literature

25.What are some historical and literary features of the period?

Historical features of the period

- The second half of the 19th century in England gave rise to a rapid growth of
social contradictions. To improve the situation for themselves the ruling classes
increased the oppression of the toiling masses at home and widened their policy of
imperialist expansion in the colonies.

- In the seventies of the 19th century most writers on social problems believed that
science and science alone would finally sweep away all human misery and bring
civilization to all.

- But during the last decades of the 19th century doubts began to arise as to the
faultless nature of European civilization. People had awakened to the fact that
scientific progress was increasing the wealth of the upper classes only.

Literary features of the period

- Disillusionment led to pessimism and found its expression in a very pessimistic
literature, the literature of the Decadence. So the phrase “the End of the Century”
meant not only the turn of the century: It also meant that a certain change had
occurred in the more clearly-thinking minds.

- The crisis of bourgeois culture was reflected in literature by the appearance of two
trends, the one progressive, the other regressive. The representatives of the first
trend continued the realistic traditions of their predecessors - 'the brilliant school
of novelists in England'. The writers of the regressive trend by way of protest
against severe reality tried to lead the reader away from life into the world of
 dreams and fantasy, into the realm 1 of beauty. They idealized the patriarchal way
of life and criticized capitalism chiefly for its anti-¬aestheticism.

- Decadent art, beautiful as it is, is reactionary in its very essence, since it rejects
Realism in art and appreciates the outer form of art more than the content. No
matter how sharply the representatives of this trend criticized bourgeois society for
its anti-aestheticism and lack of spiritual culture, their own art came into being
because of the crisis in bourgeois ideology.

26.What is the Decadence and what are the two trends in 20 th Century
English literature?
- Decadence is a cultural movement that emerged in Europe during the late 19th
century characterized by a fascination with irrationality, pessimism, and self-
indulgence. It was a revolt against the rationalism and social order of the previous
era, emphasizing individualism, hedonism, and a rejection of traditional values
- The crisis of bourgeois culture was reflected in literature by the appearance of two
trends, the one progressive, the other regressive.

- The representatives of the first trend continued the realistic traditions of their
predecessors - 'the brilliant school of novelists in England'. These novelists gave a
truthful picture of contemporary society. Though their criticism is not so sharp as
that of their predecessors, and the social panorama of life in their works is
somewhat narrowed, the greatest merit of the novelists of the progressive trend is a
deep psychological analysis of the characters in their works, a detailed description
of their inner world. It was represented by such writers as George Eliot, George
Meredih, Samuel Butler, Thomas Hardy.

- The writers of the regressive trend by way of protest against severe reality tried to
lead the reader away from life into the world of dreams and fantasy, into the realm
1 of beauty. They idealized the patriarchal way of life and criticized capitalism
chiefly for its anti-¬aestheticism. At the end of the century this reactionary theory
found its expression in decadent literature and art.

27.Briefly state Oscar Wide’s life and works

Oscar Wide’s life

- Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on October 16, 1854. His father was a famous
Irish surgeon. His mother was well known in Dublin as a graceful writer of verse
and prose.
 - At school, and later at Oxford, Oscar displayed a considerable gift for art and the
humanities. After graduating from the University, Wilde turned his attention to
writing, travelling and lecturing.
- Wilde was regarded all the leader of the English aesthetic movement, but many of
his works do not follow his decadent theory of 'art for art's sake', they sometimes
even contradict it. In fact, the best of them are closer to Romanticism and Realism
than to decadent literature.
- At the height of his popularity and success tragedy struck. He was accused of
immorality and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. When released from prison
in 1897 he lived mainly on the Continent and later in Paris.

Oscar Wide’s works

- Oscar Wilde’s works reflect the emotional protest of an artist against social
conditions in England at the end of 19th century.
- The most popular of Oscar Wide’s works are The Happy Prince and Other Tales
(1888), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) and his comedies Lady Windermere's
Fan (1892), A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1895), The
Importance of Being Earnest (1895). The wit and brilliance of these plays helped
to keep them on the stage, and they are still occasionally revived.
- Wilde also wrote poems, essays, reviews, political tracts, letters and occasional
pieces on every subject he considered worthy of attention - history, drama,
painting, etc. Some of these pieces were serious, some satirical; the variety of
themes reflected a personality that could never remain inactive.
- In 1898 he published his powerful poem, Ballad of Reading Gaol.

28.What is O. Wide’s main writing style?

- Wilde was regarded all the leader of the English aesthetic movement, but many of
his works do not follow his decadent theory of 'art for art's sake', they sometimes
even contradict it. In fact, the best of them are closer to Romanticism and Realism
than to decadent literature.

- Oscar Wilde’s works reflect the emotional protest of an artist against social
conditions in England at the end of the 19th century. Wilde understood that art
cannot flourish under capitalism, and he came to the false conclusion that art is
isolated from life, that art is the only thing that really exists and is worth living for.
Life only mirrors art, he declared. Beauty is the measure of all things, hence his
desire to escape from all the horrors of reality into the realm of beauty.

Chapter 7: American literature

29.Briefly state O” Henry’s life and works
- O’Henry (1862-1910) was born William Sydney Porter. He had been a bank
office worker, cowboy, reporter, tramp, trying to find means of existence.
He had broad knowledge of the common people’s life. He was the master of
surprise ending with unusual and unexpected plots. O’Henry works contains
273 short stories, most of them are filled with the writer’s warm human
sympathy for common American People like The Gift of the Magi, A
Service of Love, The Cop and the Anthem, An Unfinished Story, The
Romance of a Busy Broker.
- He was most famous for city-life stories and enriched Americal literature
with a series of story-types like anecdote, monologue, dialouge, grotesque,
satirical and paradoxical.

Bonus
1. Comment on Shakepeare’s play “Twelfth Night”
Twelfth Night, written in 1600, was the last comedy created by Shakespeare during
the first period of his literary work. Twelfth Night has all the features characteristic of
Shakespeare's other comedies. The scene of the comedy is laid in the beautiful
imaginary country of Illyria where people are care-free and happy. The action of the
play is based on a misunderstanding caused by the complete likeness of twins - sister
and brother - Viola and Sebastian. During their sea voyage they are shipwrecked and
separated. Viola finds herself in Illyria. Dressed in boy's clothes she goes into the
service of the noble Duke Orsino as a page and soon becomes his favourite. In the
character of Viola Shakespeare embodied the new humanist ideal of a woman, very
different from that of feudal times, equality and independence. Viola defends her right
to happiness and love. Malvolio, Olivia's steward, whose attitude to life is opposed to
the general atmosphere of happiness. Malvolio is a stiff, severe and vain person who
disapproves of other people having fun and mocks at their natural wishes for love and
happiness. The character of Malvolio has some traits of a puritan.

2. Comment on W. Shakepeare’s play “Hamlet”

The tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Demark is one of the greatest of Shakespeare's
masterpieces. It tells of the struggle between Hamlet, the bearer of the ideals of the
Renaissance, on the one hand, and the evil, false world of kings and courtiers, on the
other. Hamlet, a student at the University of Wittenberg, was shocked by the sudden
death of his great father more than the hasty marriage of his mother with his brother
Claudius. Hamlet learns that his father was poisoned by Claudius in his sleep and
thinks only of revenge. But he understands that Claudius is not the only source of evil,
that the whole world is corrupted and evil should be fought everywhere. The tragedy
of Hamlet is caused not so much by the discord between Hamlet and the evil outer
world, as by the discord within his own soul. Seeing the evil he does not want to put
up with it. Hamlet is trying to understand the world, the nature of its good and dark
sides. And he fights with words, cries out bitter truths, exposes evil. The tragedy of
Hamlet stirs people's conscience, makes them fight against Evil for the triumph of
justice and Good.

3. Comment on Daniel Defoe’s novel “The life and strange adventure of Robinson
Crusoe”
“The life and strange adventure of Robinson Crusoe” (1719) is the best novel written
by Daniel De Doe. It is an interesting picaresque novel about an 18th-century English
adventurer, Robinson Crusoe. When he is left alone on the uninhabited island, he is
realistically depicted as a man struggling against nature and a man who finally creates
some civilization in a seemingly primitive environment through his incessant efforts
and toil. Robinson Crusoe was the first character of a bourgeois ever created in world
literature. Through him, Defoe asserted the superiority of the new class over the idle
aristocracy. In this novel, both physical and mental labour is glorified. The detailed
descriptions of the steps taken by the hero to provide for himself shelter, food,
clothing and the other simple comforts of life, are managed with great skill by the
author - not treated with exaggeration or romantic colourings but narrated in a simple,
straight-forward style.

4. Comment on Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s travel”

Gulliver's Travels is the summit of Swift's creative work and one of the best works in
world literature. Tit is one of the books most loved by children, because it tells of the
entertaining adventures of Lemuel Gulliver in four strange countries. However, the
author did not mean to write a book to amuse children. Gulliver's Travels was
conceived as a synthesis of everything that Swift had said and written about before in
his satires, essays and pamphlets. It was an exposure of all the evils and vices of the
bourgeois society, of its corruption and degradation. The book consists of four
independent parts that told about the adventures of Gulliver, a ship surgeon. The first
part is the story of Lemuel’s voyage to the land of Lilliput. The second part is an
account of Gulliver’s adventures in Brobdingnag, a country inhabited by giants. The
third tells of Gulliver’s voyage to Laputa, a flying island. In the fourth voyage
Gulliver finds himself in in the country of Houyhnhnms inhabited by intelligent
horses and ugly-looking human beings called Yahoos.

5. Comment on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, has long been a favorite of both readers and
critics alike and is often regarded as Jane Austen's consummate achievement. Pride
and Prejudice tells a story which centres around a series of misunderstandings
between Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth is a lively young middle-class woman who
has a satirical temperament whereas Darcy, born in a wealthy upper-class family, is an
unconsciously arrogant young man. The main content tells about the confrontation
and later love between Elizabeth and Darcy. In the work, Jane Austen focused on
characters of her own social class: the ladies and gentlemen of the landed gentry. As
she depicted events concerning the class to which she was a member of herself, she
illuminated in their characters the follies and failings of men and women of all times
and classes. Though critics paid little attention to Pride and Prejudice when it first
appeared, it was remarkably well received by readers for its characterization and
portrayal of domestic life, or rather, as Sir Walter Scott noted, for Austen's ability to
render commonplace things and characters interesting.