1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A Brief History of Old English British Literature Activity 1.2 Mrs. Fitzgerald The Importance of Language n English experiences the constant growth and decay that characterize all forms of life. n Languages are classified as living or dead n English, as well as other living languages, experience constant change in usage, vocabulary and meaning (Baugh and Cable) The Importance of Language n Languages become important and powerful because of the political, economic, social, artistic, technological, or military events that are related to the language and the people who speak it. English Language n Language Family: INDO-EUROPEAN n Language Branch: GERMANIC Periods of English q The History of English can be broken into 4 time periods OLD ENGLISH MIDDLE ENGLISH EARLY MODERN ENGLISH LATE-MODERN ENGLISH n Celtic groups Britons and Gaels settled in Britain and Ireland n In A.D. 43, the Romans invaded and established Britain as a province of Rome. n Britannia was part of Rome and was ruled and defended by the emperor 1
n Britannia was part of Rome and was ruled and defended by the emperor n 400 years under Roman rule n The last Roman legions left in A.D. 407 n After the collapse of Roman rule, n Britannia was vulnerable to Germanic barbarian tribes 8 9 10 11 12 n Western Germanic invaders called Angles, Saxons, and Jutes gradually took over what is present day Britain n From these Germanic invaders came the ANGLO-SAXONS Anglo-Saxons n 200,000 Anglo-Saxons infiltrated a population of 2 million n The native male population was taken over by the Anglo- Saxons n Britannia eventually became Englaland n Englaland = England n Language heavily influenced Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy n Northumbria n Mercia n East Anglia n Kent n Essex n Sussex n Wessex (cont d) n Germanic invaders brought their language to British Isles n Tribal intermingling eventually produced Old English n Old English had four major dialects-northumbrian, Mercian, West Saxon, Kentish Introduction to Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons n In the 1930s, Beowulf, the most famous Anglo-Saxon epic poem, began to be recognized as a work of art due in large 2
n In the 1930s, Beowulf, the most famous Anglo-Saxon epic poem, began to be recognized as a work of art due in large part to J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Elements of Anglo-Saxon Culture Expert seafarers who sailed the ocean to raid or settle lands Traveled in longships Close-knit society Elements of Anglo-Saxon Culture Warlike and aggressive Bravery in combat greatly honored Used chain mail, spears, shields, seax Armor, weapons, precious metals, and jewels most important Men dominated; women had few rights Chain Mail Chain mail was extremely valuable, and usually passed down from father to son Anglo-Saxon Village Life n One room homes were made of wood with thatched roofs n Women held domestic responsibilities n Villages were several family homes centered around the hall n Mead hall had great significance n Mead fermented honey Village Life West Stow Wergild n Anglo-Saxons placed value on individuals in their society n Human worth was related to social status n If a perpetrator killed or injured an individual, he would have to give recompense to the victim s family - wergild Anglo-Saxon Religion n Anglo-Saxons brought pagan beliefs to Britain n They believed that every human life was in the hands of fate 3
n They believed that every human life was in the hands of fate n Many Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity by about 650 20 21 22 23 24 25 Conversion to Christianity n St. Augustine of Canterbury led the conversion of the Anglo- Saxons n He built his church in Canterbury and converted King Ethelbert and many of his people. n Conversion came out of paganism the result was often violent Anglo-Saxon Communities n Earls ruling warlords n Freemen allowed to own land and have businesses n Churls serfs; servants who worked the land for protection n Thralls slaves or prisoners of war Anglo-Saxons and Death n Honoring the dead: n Funeral Pyres n Burial under earthen mounds n Funeral ships Tolkien used the Anglo-Saxon practices of funeral ships and funeral pyres in his Lord of the Rings trilogy with the funeral of Boromir and the near funeral of Faramir. Anglo-Saxon Poetry n Heroic Poetry recounting the achievements of warriors n Elegiac Poetry lamenting the death of loved ones and the loss of the past n Most poets are unknown n Poems were recited in 6th century, not written down until 11 th Anglo-Saxon Poetry n Tales were most likely told in the winter when raiding and warfare were not possible n Warriors feasted and drank while listening 4
n Warriors feasted and drank while listening 26 27 28 Anglo-Saxon Epic Beowulf n Beowulf the principle character n From Geatland (Sweden) n Name translates Beo (bear) Wulf (wolf) n Hunter of Bear n Son of Edgetho Anglo-Saxon Epic Beowulf n Was put into written form between 997-1016 A.D. n The work of 2 different scribes n Was written in Anglo-Saxon Old English but takes place in N. Europe Anglo-Saxon Epic Beowulf n Not a pagan poem; many references to Christianity n Contains elements of Scandinavian and Celtic folk tales 29 30 Literary Elements Epic n a long-narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero in pursuit of a goal of national importance n Epic is a self-portrait of a culture 31 32 n Epic Hero Ø Central character of the epic Ø Larger-than-life figure Ø Typically of noble or semidivine birth Ø Courage, skill, and virtue oppose evil forces 5
n Quest Ø Long, dangerous journey or mission undertaken by the hero Ø Wins honor Ø Achieves undying renown 33 34 n Valorous Deeds Ø Actions which demonstrate hero s courage, strength, or virtue n Deus ex machina Ø God from the machine Ø Divine intervention Ø Help received from a god or other supernatural force who takes an interest in the hero s quest 35 36 37 Scops n Pronounced shops means shaper n Professional minstrels, performers n Assistants called gleemen n Possibly accompanied by a harp Alliteration n the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together. n And with old woes new wail my dear time s waste. Kenning n a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. n A kenning enhances the literal meaning of the words. A kenning gives the listener an idea of how the words connect to an idea or concept that is richer and more emotionally complex. n gold-shining hall= Herot n guardian of crime = Grendel n strong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulf 6
n strong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulf n cave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Allusion n A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art Unit 1 Vocabulary Reparation (n) n Making up for a wrong or injury Solace (n) n Comfort; relief Purge (v) n To purify; cleanse Writhing (adj) n Making twisting or turning motions Massive (adj) n Big and solid Loathsome (adj) n Disgusting LAMENT (v) n To express sorrow or regret; to mourn HARROWING (adj) n Extremely distressed; disturbing or frightening COWER (v) n To cringe from fear; to shrink away THWART (v) n To prevent or hinder 7