Seminar № 1 English Literature: the Transition from the Middle Ages to Renaissance

1. The Renaissance: historical background, main representatives and their works. How is it different from the Middle Ages?

2. William Shakespeare – the Renaissance genius.

   1. W. Shakespeare’s literary activity.

   2. Romeo and Juliet – conflict between human feelings, feudal customs and family prejudices.

   3. Hamlet – social contradictions of Shakespearian time. The character of Hamlet – a humanist a philosopher, a fighter for justice.

Seminar №2 From Enlightenment to Early Romanticism

1. The Period of Enlightenment: main ideas, historical background, representatives.

2. Robert Burns – a forerunner of Romanticism.

   1. Life story and literary activity of the poet. His love for Scotland.

   2. Revolutionary lyrics (Tree of Liberty, Is There for Honest Poverty, John Barleycorn, two dogs, Jolly Beggars).

   3. Love Lyrics. Burns’ contribution to the national and world literature. (My Heart’s in the Highlands, Red Rose).

Seminar № 3 English Romanticism

1. Basic characteristics of Romanticism. British and European Romanticism (historical background, philosophical ideas, inspirations, main features).

2. Periodization of English Romanticism. Peculiar feature of each period, its representatives.

3. George Byron: a man and a writer

3.1. Oriental tales by Byron.

3.2. The image of a romantic hero – a passionate fighter for happiness and justice.

3. Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage – the plot, the message of the poem, the image of Childe Harold. Main hero and Byron – common features and differences.

4. Romantic novels.

5. Life and literary activity of Walter Scott. Walter Scott – the creator of historical novel in the British literature.

1. Classification of W. Scott’s novels according to the setting and the themes.

2. Ivanhoe. The plot, the theme and the characters.

Seminar № 4 Critical Realism in the English Literature

1. Critical Realism in the English Literature of the 19^th century (historical background, main features).

2. The Glorious School of English Novelists (representatives, style, themes).

3. Charles Dickens: life and literary activity.

   1. The problem of upbringing and education in Dickens’ novels (Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, Dombey and Son).

   2. Dombey and Son. General analysis, the plot, the message, the idea of the novel. The theme of moral degradation of the society. The character of Mr. Dombey. The fight between evil and good. The victory of good.

4. William Makepeace Thackeray: the most significant works; major themes and characters.

   1. Vanity Fair. Main characters. General analysis, the plot, and the message of the novel.

   2. Dickens and Thackeray – common features and differences.

Seminar № 5 English Realism of the 20th century

1. An outline of the English Literature of the 20^th century (historical background, new trends and principles).

2. John Golsworthy – the writer and the dramatist.

2.1. John Golsworthy and his trilogies.

2.2. The Forsyte Saga and A Modern Comedy. The collision between the sense of property and love, money-worship and keen sense of beauty. The dominant theme, the characters and the problems.

3. G. Greene – the creator of “serious” and “entertaining” novels.

3.1. The Quiet American. The characters of Fowler and Pyle.