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Intro to British Literature

Intro to British Literature . Four Major Influences of British Literature:. Christian Values The Renaissance Romanticism Modernism. The Beginning: A.D. 449-1485. Conquest of Britain Invaded during 800-600 B.C. Celts (2 groups) : 1) Brythons (Britons) → Britain 2) Gaels → Ireland

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Intro to British Literature

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  1. Intro to British Literature

  2. Four Major Influences of British Literature: • Christian Values • The Renaissance • Romanticism • Modernism

  3. The Beginning: A.D. 449-1485 • Conquest of Britain • Invaded during 800-600 B.C. • Celts (2 groups) : 1) Brythons(Britons) → Britain 2) Gaels → Ireland • 55 B.C. – Romans • Julius Caesar • 155 A.D. dominant Roman rule established • 300 year occupation – Romans vacate at approximately A.D. 407

  4. The Beginning: A.D. 449-1485 B. Christianity • 4thCentury • Roman acceptance of Christianity • Introduce Christianity to Britain • A.D 597 – Roman Cleric St. Augustine • Converts King Ethelbert of Kent • Preaches new religion • converts other nobles • solves disputes through Christian beliefs A.D. 450 sees the invasion of the Anglo –Saxons!

  5. Anglo- Saxons • Germanic and French tribes who invaded forced Romans to vacate British rule in the mid-fourth century. • Anglo-Saxon rule was build upon tribal relations which were dictated by a warrior culture and a strong sense of tradition. • As time passed, Anglo-Saxon tribes grew and began to thwart invaders based on the size of their large tribes, which later became kingdoms.

  6. The Beginning: A.D. 449-1485 • Danish Invasion and Norse Invasions (Vikings) • Ninth Century • Destruction of artifacts/manuscripts, etc. • Executions • A.D. 886 – Alfred the Great • Strikes deal with Viking invaders • Danish/Norse = East and North • Saxons = South • King Edward “the Confessor”(ruled 1042-1066) • descendant of Alfred the Great • death ends the Anglo-Saxon period of history

  7. The Beginning: A.D. 449-1485 • The Norman Conquest • William (Duke of Normandy – a province of northern France) • Upset/enraged by election of Harold II to English throne • Claims throne was promised to him by Edward (distant cousin) • 1066 – Invasion as retaliation • King Harold II is killed in Battle of Hastings • William becomes king

  8. The Beginning: A.D. 449-1485 Effects of William’s Rule: • reverts England to land controlled society (Feudalism) →Feudalism is a system of government where all land is owned by the King and is portioned out to followers for public service. • A servant’s level of relationship with the king is denoted by his title (Vassal, Baron, Lord, etc.) • The official language of Britain reverts to French/Latin • English remains as a language of the lower class of England until much later.

  9. Old English and the Medieval Period / Christianity (449-1485) Important works of Christian Era: • Beowulf – Epic/first story written in English language • Chaucer – Canterbury Tales/framework narrative/satire • Arthurian Legends – King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

  10. Literature of the Period: • Anglo-Saxon Literature: • Spoken verse/ Incantations • Ceremonial occasions/ military victories • Type I: Heroic poetry • recounts achievements of warriors • (ex.) Beowulf (1st work written in the English language) • Type II: Elegiac Poetry • laments the deaths of loved ones and the loss of the past • (ex.) “The Wanderer” • All prose previously written in Latin – translated by Christian monks (influences?)

  11. Literature of the Period: • The Middle Ages • Lyric Poetry • Secular • Love/Nature • ballad – folk song that tells a story (ex.) Robin Hood • Religious • miracle/mystery plays • Church • Reflection on people’s lives • Morality play • Life of an ordinary person • Reflected influence of the church

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