Literatura, družba in kultura Velike Britanije

1. Komentirajte pojem »Britanski imperij« (poglavitne britanske kolonije, pojem »Commonwealth«).

The British Empire was the largest empire in history, spanning colonies, dominions, protectorates, and territories across every continent. In the 19th century, it was described as “the empire on which the sun never sets.” The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of former colonies and dominions, today cooperating politically, economically, and culturally.

1. Komentirajte pomembnejše dogodke v zgodovini VB: anglo-saksonsko obdobje, normansko obdobje, angleška renesansa, državljanska vojna, protektorat, obdobje restavracije, viktorijansko obdobje ipd.

• Anglo-Saxon period: establishment of kingdoms, adoption of Christianity (7th c.).

• Norman period (1066): Battle of Hastings, fought between William the Conqueror and Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson, introduction of feudalism.

• English Renaissance (16th c.): Elizabeth I (last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor), Shakespeare, naval and trade expansion.

• Civil War (1642–1651): fought between Royalists and Parlamentarians, execution of Charles I, Cromwell’s ruled over the Protectorate as Lord Protector, effectivelly a military dictator. First English Civil War and Second English Civil War.

• Protectorate: republican rule under Oliver Cromwell, leading to the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.

• Restoration (1660): monarchy restored under Charles II as he agreed to create a Presbyterian church in both England and Scotland.

• Victorian period (1837–1901): industrial revolution, expansion of empire, social reforms.

2. Predstavite vsaj tri predstavnike (in njihova dela) angleške srednjeveške / renesančne (elizabetinske / jakobinske) / klasicistične / romantične / viktorijanske literature.

Medieval Literature

• Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) — The Canterbury Tales: a collection of stories told by pilgrims, vivid portrayal of medieval society and classes.

• William Langland (1332–1386) — Piers Plowman: an allegorical poem on morality, religion, and social criticism.

• Sir Thomas Malory (1415–1471) — Le Morte d’Arthur: compilation of Arthurian legends, central to English medieval romance tradition.

Renaissance (Elizabethan / Jacobean)

• William Shakespeare (1564–1616) — Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth: tragedies and comedies that shaped world drama, rich language and universal themes.

• Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) — Doctor Faustus: explores ambition, knowledge, and damnation.

• Ben Jonson (1572–1637) — Volpone, The Alchemist: satirical plays on greed, hypocrisy, and human folly.

Classicism (17th–18th c.)

• John Milton (1608–1674) — Paradise Lost: epic poem about the Fall of Man, combining classical style with Christian themes.

• Alexander Pope (1688–1744) — The Rape of the Lock: mock-epic satire on aristocratic vanity.

• Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) — Gulliver’s Travels: satirical prose exploring politics, science, and human nature.

Romanticism (late 18th–early 19th c.)

• William Wordsworth (1770–1850) — Lyrical Ballads (with Coleridge): focus on nature, emotion, and common life.

• Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) — The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: supernatural, imagination, and guilt.

• Lord Byron (1788–1824) — Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage: Byronic hero, passion, rebellion.

Victorian Literature (1837–1901)

• Charles Dickens (1812–1870) — Oliver Twist, Great Expectations: social realism, critique of poverty and injustice.

• Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) — Jane Eyre: gothic romance, female independence, moral growth.

• Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) — Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure: rural tragedies, fate vs. free will, critique of social conventions.

3. Poimenujte vsaj enega monarha v anglo-saksonskem obdobju / normanskem obdobju in komentirajte njegov pomen in vpliv.

• Anglo-Saxon: Alfred the Great (871–899), known for defending against Viking invasions and promoting education.

• Norman: William the Conqueror (1066–1087), introduced feudalism and commissioned the Doomsday Book.

4. Poimenujte kraljevi družini, ki sta zaznamovali angleško renesanso, naštejte nekaj najznamenitejših predstavnikov in komentirajte njihov vpliv na zgodovinski razvoj VB.

• Tudors (Henry VIII, Elizabeth I) → creation of the Anglican Church, cultural golden age.

• Stuarts (James I) → beginning of overseas colonization, King James Bible.

• Influence: centralization of power, naval development, colonial expansion.

5. Kaj zaznamuje »Magna carta« in kaj »Doomsday Book«?

• Magna Carta (1215): limited the king’s power, established legal rights of subjects.

• Doomsday Book (1086): a land and population survey ordered by William the Conqueror.

6. Katere kraljice so v času svojega vladanja pomembneje zaznamovale britansko zgodovino? Komentirajte njihov vpliv in pomen.

• Elizabeth I (1558–1603): defeated the Spanish Armada, era of cultural flourishing.

• Victoria (1837–1901): symbol of industrial progress and imperial power.

• Elizabeth II (1952–2022): ensured stability and modernized the monarchy.

7. Kritično komentirajte pojem »viktorijanske vrednote«.

Term associated with the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) promoted as the foundation of Britain’s industrial and imperial success. Morality, hard work, family tradition, patriarchy, progress, and imperial pride. They stressed order, discipline, and religion, though often criticized for hypocrisy (poverty, social inequality).

8. Podajte vzroke za nastanek in okoliščine izoblikovanja anglikanske cerkve.

Caused by Henry VIII’s wish to divorce Catherine of Aragon. When the Pope refused, Henry created the Church of England in 1534 (Act of Supremacy), with the monarch as its head.

9. Kateri stranki obvladujeta britansko politično prizorišče? Kdo je aktualni premier, kateri stranki pripada?

• Conservatives (centre-right, currently led by Rishi Sunak, 2023).

• Labour Party (centre-left, led by Keir Starmer).

• Current Prime Minister is Keir Starmer, his term began on 5 July 2024

10. Vidnejši britanski premieri v 20. in 21. stoletju. Njihova vloga.

• Winston Churchill (WWII).

• Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990) – neoliberal reforms.

• Tony Blair (1997–2007) – “New Labour,” Iraq War.

• Boris Johnson (2019–2022) – Brexit.

11. Poznavanje aktualne politične problematike v VB.

Brexit consequences, immigration, Scottish independence, economic inequalities, relations with the EU, and environmental challenges.

12. Poznavanje osnovne geografije VB (kje se nahajajo osrednja mesta, razdelitev na pokrajine).

Made up of: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Regions: South-East (London), Northern England, Scottish Highlands, Wales, Northern Ireland.

13. Po čem je bila znamenita severna Anglija? Kaj je značilno za to področje sedaj?

Northern England was the heart of Britain’s industrial growth, famous for textile mills, coal mining, steel production, and shipbuilding.

Today the traditional heavy industries declined, thus unemployment and economic restructuring. Focus shifted to service industries, universities, science and creative industries. Economic inequality compared to the South.

14. Katera politična telesa sestavljajo britanski parlament? (slovenski in angleški izrazi za oba doma, poglavitne stranke ipd.)

The UK is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Parliament has two chambers:

• House of Commons / spodnji dom (elected MPs).

• House of Lords / zgornji dom (Lords Temporal consisting of life peers appointed by the sovereign and 92 hereditary peers, Lords Spiritual consist of up to 26 bishops of the Church of England).

• The monarch has a mostly ceremonial role today.