Famous names in British literature

a) Do you know the oldest literary monument of the Anglo-Saxon period?

The oldest literary monument of the Anglo-Saxon period is the old Germanic legend about
Beowulf (from the 8th century). This heroic poem is about the strong and courageous pagan
hero Beowulf.

b) Speak about some names connected with Renaissance and Humanism.

The end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of Renaissance in literature is marked by
Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (1345?-1400). It is a brilliant portrait of 30 pilgrims
who travel to Canterbury and each tells 4 stories. In this way we are given a vivid picture of
the 14th century society.
In 1476 William Caxton introduced printing in England which helped spread literature and
philosophy. The Middle Age scholastic philosophy was under theological influence, while the
renaissance philosophy turned to Plato and Aristotle philosophy and formed new
philosophical learning – humanism. It went hand in hand with interests in education and
social reforms.
Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535) wrote the Utopia, a vision of Imaginary Island with
perfectly organized society.
The greatest personality of English renaissance is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote
37 plays and beautiful sonnets. His mastery lies in his human vision which recognize the
complexity of moral questions and in the richness of his language. He wrote for example:
Comedies-The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer-Night´s Dream. History plays-Julius
Caesar, Henry VI. Tragedies-Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello.

c) Give some names of authors of the 18th century

In the 18th century, with the development of the society and economy, journalism, novels and
drama developed very much. Literature became popular among the middle class and the first
authors emerged from these circles.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was a sharp critic. He wrote satirical pamphlets on all unfair
events in British society. His most popular work is Gulliver´s Travels. He criticizes politics in
England, kingdoms, corruption, armies, bad politician etc.
Daniel Defoe (1660?-1731) was a politician, traveller and journalist. His most famous work is
Robinson Crusoe. Robinson, shipwrecked on lonely island, represents the qualities which the
middle class needed in capitalist competition to be successful.
Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was a journalist and lawyer and playwright. He wrote a realistic
novel Tom Jones, History of a Foundling. There are many characters though who Fielding
describes the life in the 18th century England. Fielding is considered as the founder of the
modern English novel.
d) Do you know any romantic poets?

The romantic period is known especially for its poetry.

Pre-romantic period is represented by William Blake (1757-1827) who wrote very simple but
beautiful poems which were recognized only in this century with the development of modern
poetry. His best poems are Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.
The best English romantic poets are William Wordsworth (1770-1850),
Samuel Coleridge (1772-1834), Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824), Percy Byssche
Shelley (1792-1822) and John Keats (1795-1821).

e) Speak about an English book you have read.

The book I have read is a book called Murder on the Orient Express, written by dame Agatha
Christie. Agatha Christie was an English crime writer of novels, short stories and plays. She
is remembered for her 80 detective novels and her successful West End theatre plays. Her
works, particularly those featuring detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple, have
given her the title the “Queen of Crime”.

Murder on the Orient Express

Returning from an important case in Syria, Hercule Poirot boards the Orient Express in
Istanbul. The train is unusually crowded for the time of year. Poirot secures a berth only with
the help of his friend M. Bouc, a director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.
When a Mr. Harris fails to show up, Poirot takes his place, to the surprise of his roommate,
Mr. MacQueen. However, on the second night, Poirot gets a compartment to himself.
That night, near Belgrade, at about twenty-three minutes before 1:00 am, Poirot wakes to the
sound of a loud noise. It seems to come from the compartment next to his, which is occupied
by Mr. Ratchett. When Poirot peeks out his door, he sees the conductor knock on Mr.
Ratchett's door and ask if he is all right. A man replies in French "Ce n'est rien. Je me suis
trompé", which means "It's nothing. I made a mistake", and the conductor moves on to answer
a bell down the passage. Poirot decides to go back to bed, but he is disturbed by the fact that
the train is unusually still and his mouth is dry. As he lies awake, he hears Mrs. Hubbard
ringing the bell urgently. When Poirot then rings the conductor for a bottle of mineral water,
he learns that Mrs. Hubbard was afraid that someone had been in her compartment. He also
learns that the train has stopped due to a snowstorm. Poirot dismisses the conductor and tries
to go back to sleep, only to be wakened again by a thump on his door. This time when Poirot
gets up and looks out of his compartment, the passage is completely silent, and he sees
nothing except the back of a woman in a scarlet kimono retreating down the passage in the
distance.
The next day he awakens to find that Ratchett is dead, having been stabbed twelve times in
his sleep. However, the clues and circumstances are very mysterious. Some of the stab
wounds are very deep and some are glancing blows. Furthermore, some of them appear to
have been inflicted by a right-handed person and some by a left-handed person.
Poirot finds several more clues in the victim's cabin and on board the train, including a linen
handkerchief embroidered with the initial "H", a pipe cleaner, and a button from a conductor's
uniform. All of these clues suggest that the murderer or murderers were somewhat sloppy.
However, each clue seemingly points to different suspects, which suggests that some of the
clues were planted.
By reconstructing some bits of a burned letter, Poirot discovers that Mr. Ratchett was a
notorious fugitive from the US named Cassetti. Five years earlier, Cassetti kidnapped three-
year-old American heiress Daisy Armstrong. Though the Armstrong family paid a large
ransom, Cassetti murdered the little girl and fled the country with the money. Daisy's mother,
Sonia Armstrong, was pregnant when she heard of Daisy's death. The shock sent her into
premature labour, and both she and the child died. Her husband, Colonel Armstrong, shot
himself out of grief. The nurse-maid, Susanne, was suspected by the police, despite her
protests. She threw herself out of a window and died, after which she was proved innocent.
As the evidence mounts, it continues to point in wildly different directions and it appears that
Poirot is being challenged by a master mind. Critical pieces of missing evidence - the scarlet
kimono worn the night of the murder by an unknown woman — turns up in Poirot's own
luggage.
Poirot discovers that some of the passengers had connections to the victim, while others had
connections to the Armstrong family.
After meditating on the evidence, Poirot assembles the twelve suspects, M. Bouc and Dr.
Constantine in the restaurant car. He lays out two possible explanations of Ratchett's murder.
Poirot's first explanation is that a stranger - some gangster enemy of Ratchett - boarded the
train at Vinkovci, the last stop, murdered Ratchett for reasons unknown, and escaped
unnoticed. The crime occurred an hour earlier than everyone thought, because the victim and
several others failed to note that the train had just crossed into a different time zone. The other
noises heard by Poirot on the coach that evening were unrelated to the murder. However, Dr.
Constantine says that Poirot must surely be aware that this does not fully explain the
circumstances of the case.
Poirot's second explanation is rather more sensational: All of the suspects are guilty. Poirot's
suspicions were first piqued by the fact that these people were acquaintances of many
different European nationalities. Poirot reasons that this usually occurs in the United States of
America, the “melting pot” where a Scotsman may be acquainted with an Italian and a
German, all of different social classes and all at the same time. There was no other way the
murder could have taken place, given the evidence. Poirot reveals that the other passengers
were all relatives, servants, or friends of the Armstrong family, or had connections to the
crime. All had been gravely affected by Daisy's murder and the consequences of the crime.
They took it into their own hands to serve as Cassetti's executioners, to avenge a crime the
law was unable to punish. Each of the suspects stabbed Ratchett once, so that no one could
know who delivered the fatal blow. Twelve of the conspirators participated to allow for a
"twelve-person jury", with Count Andrenyi acting for his wife, as she (Daisy's aunt) would
have been the most likely suspect. One extra berth was booked under a fictitious name -
Harris - so no one but the conspirators and the victim would be on board. (The cabin next to
Ratchett was already reserved for a director of the Wagons-Lits.)
The unexpected stoppage in the snow bank, and Poirot's unexpected presence, caused
complications to the conspirators that resulted in several crucial clues being left behind. As
Poirot reveals the details of the elaborate plot, many of the suspects break down in tears. Mrs.
Hubbard confesses that the second theory is correct.
Poirot thus lays down the two explanations before all assembled and asks the director of the
Company International de Wagons-Lits as to which explanation he thinks is correct. M. Bouc
says that they should give the first explanation to the police. With pity for the Armstrong
family, Poirot and Dr. Constantine agree. His task completed Poirot states he has "the honour
to retire from the case."

I like detective stories there for this book is one of my favourite.

f) Do you know any British authors who were awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1907 as the first
British author. He wrote short stories about India, the sea, the jungle and its animals (The
Jungle Book, The Second Jungle Book).
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1925. His plays were
for example:Windwer´s Houses, Pygmalion.
William Golding (1911), a Nobel Prize winner in 1983, is famous for his Lord of the Flies,
the story of which is set to the future, when an air-crash leaves a group of young boys on an
island.
Samuel Beckett (1906-1990), a Nobel Prize winner in 1969 is important both for drama and
prose. His famous play is Waiting for Godot.
Harold Pinter ´s nominated for Nobel Prize in year 2005.