Literatura Inglesa I

Topics 1-6

Dpto. de Filología Inglesa

 

II. Write on two of the following topics:

1. Prose in the Old English Period.

2. The Historical Background in the Age of Chaucer

3. Features of Shakeaspeare’s plays.

4. John Donne. His poetry.

5. Literary features of the Age of Milton.

 

III. Choose two of the following excerpts, identify them (title of work, name of author and approximate date of composition), translate the section in italics into Spanish and answer the questions below. Use English for your answer.

1. This was heard of at his home by one of Hygelac's followers,

a good man among the Geats, Grendel's raidings;

185 he was for main strength of all men foremost

that trod the earth at that time of day;

build and blood matched.

He bade a seaworthy

wave-cutter be fitted out for him; the warrior king

he would seek, he said, over swan's riding,

190 that lord of great name, needing men.

The wiser sought to dissuade him from voyaging

hardly or not at all, though they held him dear;

they whetted his quest-thirst, watched omens.

The prince had already picked his men

195 from the folk's flower, the fiercest among them

that might be found, with fourteen men

he sought sound-wood; sea-wise Beowulf

led them right down to the land's edge.

QUESTION: Comment briefly on the formal conventions and stylistic resources of Old English poetry as exemplified in the excerpt.

 

2. I syng of a mayden that is makeles

Kyng of alle kynges to here sone che ches.

He cam also stylle ther his moder was

As dew in Aprille that fallyt on the flour.

He cam also stylle ther his moder lay

As dew in Aprille that fallyt on the spray.

Moder and maydyn was never non but che-

Well may swych a lady Godes moder be!

QUESTION: Comment briefly on the lexical repetition and its implications in relation to content.

 

3. This king lay at Camelot at Christmastide;

Many good knights and gay his guests were there,

Arrayed of the Round Table rightful brothers,

With feasting and fellowship and carefree mirth. 40

There true men contended in tournaments many,

Joined there in jousting these gentle knights,

Then came to the court for carol-dancing,

For the feast was in force full fifteen days,

With all the meat and the mirth that men could devise, 45

Such gaiety and glee, glorious to hear,

Brave din by day, dancing by night.

High were their hearts in halls and chambers,

These lords and these ladies, for life was sweet.

In peerles pleasures passed they their days, 50

The most noble knights known under Christ,

And the loveliest ladies that lived on earth ever,

And he the comeliest king, that that court holds,

For all this fair folk in their first age

were still. 55

Happiest of mortal kind,

King noblest famed of will;

You would now go far to find

So hardy a host on hill.

QUESTION: Comment briefly on the metrical form of the excerpt and its function.

 

 

1

4. A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine,

Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,

Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine,

The cruell markes of many a bloudy fielde;

Yet armes till that time he never wield: 5

His angry steede did chide his foming bitt,

As much disdayning to the curbe to yield:

Full jolly knight he seemed, and faire did sitt,

As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt.

2

But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore, 10

The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,

For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore,

And dead as living ever him adored:

Upon his shield the like was also scored,

For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had: 15

Right faithfull true he was in deede and word,

But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad;

Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.

QUESTION: Comment briefly on the allegorical interpretation of the description of the main character in this fragment.