1. The figure of man in the English literature

2.  The Anglo - Saxon period → Epic PoetryEpic Poetry (paganism)  The Middle Ages → BalladsBallads (Christianity)  Renaissance → SonnetsSonnets (human being → centre) Shakespeare

3. Text: Beowulf Kind of man: the hero CharacterizationValues - Loyalty - Courage - Generosity Qualities - Power - Uniqueness - Strength Qualities to become a hero - to die for your ideas Language used - use of positive connotations (adjectives that underline he is unique ) - use of alitterations - simple language

4. Text: Lord Randal Kind of man  lord (aristocrat)  son (overprotected by his mother) Activity  hunting Quality  moral integrity (tempted by the woman) Language  use of alitteration  use of repetition  simple language

5. Text: sonnets Kind of man - corteous man (aristocrat) Characterization - he loves a woman represents desire - he uses the lady to reach God Language - refined language ↓ sonnets ↓ addressed to intellectuals ↓ written at court (the place of culture)

6. Text Shakespearian sonnet Kind of man  corteous man Characterization  a man with the features of the corteous code (fair hair and eyes, beautiful)  loves an unusual woman ↓ dark hair and eye ordinary Language  refined language

7. The relationship with God influenced literature In the anglo-saxon period the religion didn’t influence letterature because there was the paganism, a pragmatic religion. People prayed God only for necessity. In Beowulf people thanked God for that easy crossing on a calm sea The Middle Ages priviledged the religious code: all people actions were aimed at reaching God. In the ballad the woman was a tempter for man’s integrity and he couldn’t reach God. In the Renaissance developed the study of human being instead God The sonneteer wrote about some physical woman’s characters