The Period of the Enlightenment

The 18th century was also remarkable for the development of science and culture. It was in this period that English painting began to develop too. English painting of the 18th century is represented by such great names as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and William Blake.

In spite of the progress of industry and culture in England, the majority of the English people were still very ignorant. That is why one of the most important problems that faced the country was the problem of education.

The 18th century is known in the history as the period of Enlightenment. The Enlighteners defended the interests of the com­mon people. They considered it their duty to enlighten people, to help them see the roots of evil and the ways of social reformation. The Enlighteners also believed in the powerful educational value of art. The central problem of the Enlightenment ideology was that of man and his nature.

In English literature the period was famous for the nourishing of journalism, which played an important part in the public life. A lot of journals and newspapers began to publish. They touched on different problems of political, social and family life. They shaped people’s views.

The leading literary genre of the period became a novel (moralizing, realistic and sentimental). It is represented by Henry Fielding, Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Richard Sheridan and other great writers. Ordinary people, mostly representatives of the middle class, were the main characters of these novels.

Ex.5 Look through the text again and translate the following words and word-combinations:

Honour, power unit, introduction, invention, improvement, efficient, steam engine, sentimental, manufacture, to publish, ignorant, agricultural, universal.

Ex.6 Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:

Именно в этот период начала также развиваться английская живопись; английская живопись 18-го века представлена такими великими именами, как ...; не смотря на ...; одной из основных проблем, возникших перед страной, была проблема образования; они считали своим долгом...; помочь им увидеть корни зла; простые люди, в основном представители среднего класса; расцвет журналистики; они затрагивали различные проблемы; они формировали общественное мнение.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

1. One of the least important problems that faced the country was the problem of education. 2. The 19^th century is represented by such great names as William Hogarth, William Blake and Thomas Gainsborough. 3. The Enlighteners believed in the powerful value of medicine. 4. A lot of journals and newspapers shaped people’s views. 5. Representatives of the upper class were the main characters of the novels. 6. One day James Watt found that he could greatly improve the machine.

Ex.8 Give questions to which the following sentences are the answers:

1. Henry Fielding, Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift. 2. They touched on different problems of political, social and family life. 3. Moralizing, realistic and sentimental novel. 4. The central problem of the Enlightenment ideology was that of man and his nature. 5. James Watt introduced the term “horse power”. 6. It wasn’t universal.

Ex.9 Use the text to enlarge the given statements:

1. The leading literary genre of the period was … . 2. The 18^th century is known for … . 3. The Enlighteners believed … . 4. Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds were … . 5. A primitive steam engine … .

Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. How did Britain become a powerful country?

2. Was it a cultural revolution that made Britain a powerful country?

3. Why were the majority of the English people still very ignorant?

4. What did the Enlighteners defend? What was their duty?

5. What for was this period famous in English literature?

6. What problems did journals and newspapers touch?

7. What was the leading literary genre of the period?

8. Who provided important components of early industrial revolution?.

Ex.11 Reorder the items of the plan according to the logic of the text. Describe item 6 of the plan in detail.

1. The 18th century was remarkable for the development of science and culture.

2. It is represented by many great names.

3. The Enlighteners defended the interests of the common people.

4. The central problem of the Enlightenment ideology was that of man and his nature.

5. The leading literary genre of the period became novel.

Ex.12 Give a written summary of the text in 5-7 sentences.

Text 3

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Adventure, adventurous, butcher, to deal with, to imprison, to persecute, priest, success, to be a success in, urgent.

Ex.2 Insert the words from exercise 1 in the gaps:

1. That was an…question to decide. 2. What is his profession? 3. He is a … . 4. The critics stated that his life was rather … as he traveled a lot. 5. I don’t want to … him. He is not reliable at all. 6. Those who are in debts can be … . 7. …of that young genius was incredible. 8. His father wanted the son to become a …

Ex.3 Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. It was due to him that the genre became once and forever established in European literature. 2. He participated in the revolt against James II. 3. His first works were satirical poems dealing with the urgent problems of his time. 4. Later he published a satirical pamphlet, written in support of the Protestants, persecuted by the government and the Church. 5. Robinson Crusoe (1719) - based on the story of William Selkirk, who went to sea in 1704 and was put ashore at his own request.

Ex.4 Read the text and give answers to the following questions:

1. Who is considered to be the father of the English literature? 2. What is the origin of Daniel Defoe’s name? 3. Did he travel in any countries on business? 4. Why was he imprisoned? 5. What were his first works? 6. What is the full title of the book “Robinson Crusoe”? 7. Who is the prototype of Robinson? 8. What was the name of Crusoe’s friend?