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The Beginning of English: Old English

The Beginning of English: Old English. AD 400-1150. Setting the scene. The first literature goes back to Anglo-Saxon times, AD 410-1066. Times of battles , invasions, and wars. Predominant cultures: Christian culture and heroic actions .

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The Beginning of English: Old English

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  1. The Beginning of English: Old English AD 400-1150

  2. Setting the scene • The first literature goes back to Anglo-Saxon times, AD 410-1066. • Times of battles, invasions, and wars. • Predominant cultures: Christian culture and heroic actions. • The last successful invasion of Britain was in 1066, when the Duke of Normandy William took over power and became the King of Britain. • What is English about English literature? • It is a big question as English had been influenced by many languages, cultures, and peoples.

  3. Literature in Anglo-Saxon times • The predominant form of literature was poetry that was mainly (1) narrative, (2) anonymous, (3) transmitted orally, and (4) sung. • Predominant themes: wars, invasions, heroism, and religious subjects. • As Christianmonks were the only people who could read and write, they were the only to record literature, reflecting the culture of Christianity and heroic actions. • Can you trust all written records of the old English times?

  4. Poems written in old English • Caedmon’s Hymn It is thefirsthymn in English literature. It tells a story about a shepherd named Caedmon who heard the voice of God and started praising Him. Nu sculonheriġeanheofonriċesWeard Meotodesmeahte                        and his modġeþanc Now we must praise                     heaven-kingdom's the Keeper, Of the Lord the power and his wisdom • What are the poetic feature available in theses lines? • What makes these poetic lines an example of old English poetry? Original text Modernized text

  5. Poems written in old English • Deor’s Lament It is a poem that expresses personal suffering about a man who is searching for work. Þæsofereode, þissesswamæg Of that there was an end: so there may be of this • What is the main theme in Deor’s Lament? • The Wanderer & The Seafarer They are two elegiac poems about someone recalling memories of legends, old battles, and old heroes.

  6. Poems written in old English • The Dream of the Rook It uses a dream-vision technique and describes the cross of Christ. • Beowulf It is a long poem, about 3000 lines, telling a myth about a young brave Swedish man who defeats a terrible monster called Grendel and fights against a dragon after 50 years. He kills the dragon and dies a hero at the end of the poem. • The Battle of Maldon It is a factual poem describing real battles.

  7. Prose during the Anglo-Saxon times Early English books were histories, rather than imaginative. • The History of English Church and People by Venerable Bede • The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (some of it in poetry) • Catholic Homilies & The Lives of Saints by Aelfric

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