May the lord be my friend He who here on earth once suffered On the hanging tree for human sin He ransomed us and gave us life A heavenly home. The Dream of the Rood
Almira Book Series Companion Guide to NET/SET/SLET Examination in English: Part 1 Old and Middle English Literature Dr. Ibrahim Mullani (M. A., M. Phil., Ph. D., M. B. A., SET) Dr. Shakil Shaikh (M. A., Ph. D., NET, SET) Almira Pustak Prakashan, Kolhapur
Old and Middle English Literature Authors Dr. Ibrahim Mullani Dr. Shakil Shaikh Publisher Almira Pustak Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. 307, Anubal Complex, 4th Lane, Rajarampuri, Kolhapur PIN - 416 008 Mobile No. 9370946484 Dr. Ibrahim Mullani and Dr. Shakil Shaikh First Edition: 10 10 2016 Cover Page: Sagar Bakare Printing Amira Printing House, Kolhapur Price: Rs. 450/-
Preface We are pleased to hand a book of Old and Middle English Literature to the readers and particularly those who are studying for NET, SET and SELT examination in English. This book deals with only British Literature. The writers of literary history most of the times neglect to the social and cultural history on which the literature is based. We have attempted to give the important aspects of social and cultural history along with literary history because literature cannot be produced in isolation or literature always takes contemporary social and cultural history as a background. In this book we tried to depict the old English literature of Britain with presenting social and cultural atmosphere. From Julius Caesar s attack on Britain to Henry VIII s reign, the book covers almost all historical events along with various kings and their ways of reigning and preference to the literature. The rise and development of English and the origin of English literary works have been exposed with proper historical and political references. The book is divided into four units. The first unit depicts the rise of various kingdoms, the paganism, its declination and the rise of Christianity along with political attempts of Alfred, the Great who encouraged the English Language and Literature. The second unit concentrates on Norman Conquest and Middle English prose and poetry. The rise and development of Tudor dynasty is one of the major elements of this unit, even the things which caused for the rise of Protestantism is also focused in brief in the same unit. Third unit concentrates on the literary works of Chaucer and his contemporaries. Fourth unit exposes the rise and development of various forms of drama. Hope, this book will help the students who are studying for various competitive examinations. Dr. Ibrahim Mullani Dr. Shakil Shaikh
Contents Sr. No. Name of the Unit Page No. Unit 1 Old English Literature 9-36 Objective Questions 37-56 Unit 2 The Middle English Literature 57-78 Objective Questions 79-100 Unit 3 The Age of Chaucer 101-120 Objective Questions 121-143 Unit 4 From Chaucer to Spenser 144-166 Objective Questions 167-192
Unit - 1 Old English Literature Introduction The real social and cultural life begins in England after the arrival of Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC. He scored a number of victories and his war against several Gallic tribes lasted from 58BC to 54BC. In the Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, the victory of Roman caused the expansion of the Roman Republic over the whole of Gaul. Though Caesar didn t establish any province, his invasions on Briton marked a turning point in the history of Britain. The two books of Roman historian Tacitus Agricola and Germania encompass the history of Rome, Germany and groupings of Britons. The Caledonians, the indigenous people specify their Germanic origin through their red hair and large limbs, while Silures, powerful and warlike tribes, swarthy with curly hair and the Celtic people in Gaul were living in Britain in Iron Age (1200 BC 1 BC). The Romans came to know the richness of Britain and attempted to conquer in 43 AD. Emperor Claudius defeated the armies of Caratacus and Togodumnus, the kings of Catuvellauni and settled in Kent. While returning to Rome,..