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Helpful Language Assistant - Old English, Middle English, Modern English

Get assistance with understanding and learning Old English, Middle English, and Modern English. Explore the history of the English language and its different stages of development. Find resources and information to enhance your knowledge of these languages.

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Helpful Language Assistant - Old English, Middle English, Modern English

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  1. Oft him an-haga are gebideþ Metodes mildse þeah-þe he mod-cearig Geond lagu-lade lange scolde Hreran mid handum hrim-cealde sæ Wadan wræc-lastas. Wyrd biþ ful aræd. Swa cwæþ eard-stapa earfoþa gemyndig Wraþra wael-sleahta wine-maga hryre. Oft ic scolde ana uhtna gehwelce Mine ceare cwiþan nis nu cwicra nan ðe ic him mod-sefan minne durre Sweotule asecgan. Ic to soþe wat ðæt biþ on eorle indryhten þeaw ðæt he his ferhþ-locan fæste binde Healde his hord-cofan hycge swa he wille.

  2. Old English: mid-Ve - 1066 Middle English: 1066 - late XVe Modern English: XVIe - present

  3. Old English: mid-Ve – 1066 (aka Anglo-Saxon) • the language of Beowulf and the Wanderer • Germanic, hence heavily inflected and synthetic • special symbols invented by Latin-writing scribes: • thorn(þ), eth(ð), asc(æ) • many survivals (80+% of 1000 most common words) • Middle English: 1066 - late Xve • Modern English: XVIe – present

  4. Roman invasion & occupation (43-c.410)

  5. Germanic invasions (c.450): Angles, Saxons, Jutes Roman invasion & occupation (43-c.410)

  6. Viking raids (9th c.) Germanic invasions (c.450): Angles, Saxons, Jutes Roman invasion & occupation (43-c.410)

  7. Viking raids (9th c.) Germanic invasions (c.450): Angles, Saxons, Jutes Norman conquest (1066) Roman invasion & occupation (43-c.410)

  8. Old English: mid-Ve – 1066 • the language of Beowulf and the Wanderer • Germanic, hence heavily inflected and synthetic • special symbols invented by Latin-writing scribes: • Thorn(þ), eth(ð), asc(æ) • Many survivals (80+% of 1000 most common words) • Middle English: 1066 - late Xve • Radical decline in inflections and declensions; hence more analytic • Extensive borrowings from French and Latin • Chaucer / Sir Gawain and the Green Knight • Modern English: XVIe – present

  9. Old English: mid-Ve – 1066 • the language of Beowulf and the Wanderer • Germanic, hence heavily inflected and synthetic • special symbols invented by Latin-writing scribes: • Thorn(þ), eth(ð), asc(æ) • Many survivals (80+% of 1000 most common words) • Middle English: 1066 - late Xve • Radical decline in inflections and declensions; hence more analytic • Extensive borrowings from French and Latin • Chaucer / Sir Gawain and the Green Knight • Modern English: XVIe – present • Great Vowel Shift • Shakespeare / Milton • OE/ME/ModE compared

  10. Old English Poetry • roughly 30,000 lines survive, mostly in 4 MSS, all c. 1000 • Exeter Book (Wanderer, Seafarer, Deor, riddles), • Junius MS (Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, Christ and Satan) • Vercelli MS (Dream of the Rood) • MS Cotton Vitellius A.xv. (Beowulf, Battle of Maldon) • originally oral poetry—hence formulaic, as we’ll see • three main modes: heroic, elegiac, religious • aa/ax pattern • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style • synonyms • periphrasis • variation • kennings

  11. The opening of The Wanderer in the 10th-century Exeter Book (Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501)

  12. The opening lines of Beowulf in MS Cotton Vitellius A.x

  13. ENGLISH 2310 GRADY FALL 2009 QUIZ #1 Match the names with the correct descriptions. (5 pts) ____ 1. Wealtheow A. Wife of Hrothgar ____ 2. Hygelac B. Father of Beowulf ____ 3. Heorot C. Thane of Hrothgar who insults Beowulf ____ 4. Unferth D. King of Geats; uncle of Beowulf ____ 5. Ecgtheow F. Mead-hall where Grendel attacks

  14. Old English Poetry • roughly 30,000 lines survive, mostly in 4 MSS, all c. 1000 • Exeter Book (Wanderer, Seafarer, Deor, riddles), • Junius MS (Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, Christ and Satan) • Vercelli MS (Dream of the Rood) • MS Cotton Vitellius A.xv. (Beowulf, Battle of Maldon) • originally oral poetry, written down only later • performed by a scop (Beowulf, 866-73) • formulaic, as we’ll see • three main modes: heroic, elegiac, religious • aa/ax pattern • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style • synonyms • God = God, dryhten, frea, hlaford, þeoden, wealdend, metode, weard, scyppend • Man = man, wer, gesið, ceorl, eorl, beorn, guma, hæleð, rinc, secg • periphrasis • variation • kennings

  15. Old English Poetry • roughly 30,000 lines survive, mostly in 4 MSS, all c. 1000 • Exeter Book (Wanderer, Seafarer, Deor, riddles), • Junius MS (Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, Christ and Satan) • Vercelli MS (Dream of the Rood) • MS Cotton Vitellius A.xv. (Beowulf, Battle of Maldon) • originally oral poetry, written down only later • performed by a scop (Beowulf, 866-73) • formulaic, as we’ll see • three main modes: heroic, elegiac, religious • aa/ax pattern • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style • synonyms • God = God, dryhten, frea, hlaford, þeoden, wealdend, metode, weard, scyppend • Man = man, wer, gesið, ceorl, eorl, beorn, guma, hæleð, rinc, secg • periphrasis • variation • kennings

  16. Specialized poetic vocabulary and style in Anglo-Saxon verse • Synonyms • Periphrasis • Variation • Kennings

  17. Synonyms • God = God, dryhten, frea, hlaford, þeoden, wealdend, metode, weard, scyppend • Man = man, wer, gesið, ceorl, eorl, beorn, guma, hæleð, rinc, secg • Periphrasis • Variation • Kennings • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style

  18. Synonyms • Periphrasis • Variation • Kennings, i.e., metaphors, sometimes recondite • Whale-road (10) • Swan’s road (200) • Unlocked his word-hoard (258) • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style

  19. Synonyms • Periphrasis, i.e., paraphrase of names/titles • A fiend out of hell (101) • This grim demon (102) • The God-cursed brute (121) • The hall-watcher (142) • That dark death-shadow (160) • These reavers from hell (163) • The Lord’s outcast (169) • Variation • Kennings • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style

  20. Synonyms • Periphrasis • Variation, i.e. repetition of sentence elements in apposition • Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark, • nursed a hard grievance. It harrowed him • to hear the din of the loud banquet • every day in the hall, the harp being struck • and the clear song of the skilled poet…. •   (Beowulf 86-90) • Kennings • Specialized poetic vocabulary and style

  21. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin The Wanderer: “So this middle-earth wind-blown walls stand covered with frost-fall, storm-beaten dwellings. Wine-halls totter, the lord lies bereft of joy, all the company has fallen, bold men beside the wall.” Ubi sunt(“where are they?”) The Wanderer: “Where has the horse gone? Where the young warrior? Where is the giver of treasure? What has become of the feasting seats? Where are the joys of the hall? Alas, the bright cup! Alas, the mailed warrior! Alas, the prince's glory!” Beot(formal boast) Beowulf 631-41 Beowulf 2510-15

  22. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin The Wanderer: “So this middle-earth wind-blown walls stand covered with frost-fall, storm-beaten dwellings. Wine-halls totter, the lord lies bereft of joy, all the company has fallen, bold men beside the wall.” Ubi sunt(“where are they?”) The Wanderer: “Where has the horse gone? Where the young warrior? Where is the giver of treasure? What has become of the feasting seats? Where are the joys of the hall? Alas, the bright cup! Alas, the mailed warrior! Alas, the prince's glory!” Beot(formal boast) Beowulf 631-41 Beowulf 2510-15 Flyting (charge/defense/countercharge) Beowulf499-601

  23. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin Ubi sunt(“where are they?”) Beot(formal boast) Flyting (charge/defense/countercharge) “beasts of battle” The Wanderer: War took away some, bore them forth on their way; a bird carried one away over the deep sea; a wolf shared one with Death; another a man sad of face hid in an earth-pit. Battle of Maldon: Now was combat near, glory in battle. The time had come when doomed men should fall. Shouts were raised; ravens circled, the eagle eager for food. On earth there was uproar. Beowulf, 3021-27

  24. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin Ubi sunt(“where are they?”) Beot(formal boast) Flyting (charge/defense/countercharge) “beasts of battle” “shaking the spear” Battle of Maldon: Birhtnoth spoke, raised his shield, his slender ash-spear, uttered words, angry and resolute gave him answer: “Do you hear, seafarer, what this folk says? They will give you spears for tribute, poisoned point and old sword…” Offa spoke, shook his ash-spear: “Lo, you, Ælfwine, have encouraged us all, thanes in need…” Then Dunnere spoke, shook his spear; humble churl, he cried over all, bade each warrior avenge Birhtnoth. Beowulf, 234-6

  25. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin Ubisunt(“where are they?”) Beot(formal boast) Flyting (charge/defense/countercharge) “beasts of battle” “shaking the spear” “hero on the beach”? Beowulf, 569-81 Beowulf,-1963-1970

  26. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin Ubisunt(“where are they?”) Beot(formal boast) Flyting (charge/defense/countercharge) “beasts of battle” “shaking the spear” “hero on the beach”? arming of the warrior? Beowulf 1441-64

  27. Formulae and other motifs in Anglo-Saxon poetry Ruin Ubisunt(“where are they?”) Beot(formal boast) Flyting (charge/defense/countercharge) “beasts of battle” “shaking the spear” “hero on the beach”? arming of the warrior?

  28. The opening lines of Beowulf in MS Cotton Vitellius A.x

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