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BBL 3102. INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LITERATURE. OLD ENGLISH OR ANGLO SAXON PERIOD (450-1066) WEEK 3. OLD ENGLISH OR ANGLO SAXON PERIOD (450-1066).
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BBL 3102 INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LITERATURE
OLD ENGLISH OR ANGLO SAXON PERIOD (450-1066) • The time period of about 500-1 100 AD in British history was characterizedby foreign invasions and internal struggles. This resulted in the mixing of severalraces, tongues and cultures. • After the Romans departed from the British Isles in 407 AD fightingcontinued between the Picts and the Scots who had lost their common enemy.The fifth century also saw conquests and the gradual occupation by Germanictribes - Angles, Jutes and Saxons - who had moved north to Scandinavia andfrom there to Britain. • Apart from making conquests, these tribes preferredagricultural life, had strong family and tribal ties, and were very loyal to theirking or chief. The legendary King Arthur defeated the Saxons in 490 AD and forabout a decade halted their advance.
At the end of the sixth century, the Anglo-Saxons accepted Christianityafter Pope Gregory sent Saint Augustine to Britain in 597 AD. (The Romans hadintroduced Christianity to the Celts centuries earlier.) This gave rise to somereligious writings. • At the end of the eighth century the Vikings (also known as Norsemen orDanes) invaded the country, easily overcame the local inhabitants, and plunderedtheir estates. It was not until the reign of King Alfred the Great (871 -900) thattheir advance was stopped. With their acceptance of Christianity, the Danespartially blended in with the local people
OLD ENGLISH LANGUAGE/LITERATURE • The language of this whole period (500-1100) is known as Old English. Noexact date exists for its beginning. The first written records of the language datefrom around 690 AD (however, people had spoken it long before then). Most OldEnglish words were Germanic, having come from the languages of the Angles,Jutes and Saxons. Latin, however, also had a strong influence on early English. • Later, the Scandinavians (Vikings) contributed many words to Old English. Bythe end of the Old English period (marked by the Norman conquest), Old Englishhad been established as a literary language with a remarkable polish andversatility. • Old English literature consists of poetry, prose, charms, riddles, maxims,proverbs, and various other wisdom sayings. It is a mixture of pagan traditions,thoughts about life, the universe and nature, as well as Christian thought andmoral values. There is often no clear-cut delineation between religious andnon-religious poetry or sometimes even between poetry and prose.
OLD ENGLISH POETRY • Old English poetry included long epic heroic poems, which drew on theBible as well as on pagan sources for their content. Some poetry was also basedon historical events. • With a history of invasions and occupations, many writingsof this era are chronicles, annals, and historical records. Some are in the forms of poetry and describe various battles, for example, "The Battle of Maldon" and"The Battle of Brunanburh". The themes are war, conquest and bravery. Manyeighth-century works depict Anglo-Saxon resistance against the Vikings.
Lament and melancholy are frequently present in describing man's strugglesagainst his environment, life's difficulties, and the passage of time. Life isfleeting. Often a prologue and epilogue express hope in God's compassion andmercy. • Examples of such poems include "The Wanderer", "The Seafarer" and"The Ruin". Other poems depict the separation of a man and a woman and theaccompanying sadness, such as in "The Wife's Lament" and "The Husband'sMessage". • In these types of poem the man may have been exiled and sometimesthere is hope, sometimes not. Collectively, Old English poems that lament theloss of worldly goods, glory, or human companionship are called elegies
Beowulf is the best-known and best-preserved Old English verse. Caedmon • and Cynewulf were well-known Old English religious poets in the 7th and 9th • century respectively. Much Old English poetry is difficult to date and even • harder to assign to specific authors.
Beowulf is an epic poem of over 3,000 verses, whose manuscript dates fromabout the 10th-century. The poem is the only epic from the time that has beenpreserved as a whole. Its author is unknown, but he seems to have had a goodgrasp of the Bible and other great epics, such as Homer's Odyssey. • The work glorifies a hero and the values of bravery and generosity. Thestory is set in Scandinavia around 500-600 AD - a time of battles and conquestsby Germanic Anglo-Saxon tribes in Denmark and southern Sweden. Its sourcesare old legends of these tribes who had moved north from Germany overScandinavia and into Britain. It also reflects the acceptance of Christianity bythese new British settlers at the end of the sixth century.
The first part of the story takes place in Denmark. King Hrothgar is beingpestered by a water monster, Grendel, who is killing his men. Beowulf comes tohis aid and kills Grendel and later, at the bottom of the lake, also Grendel'smother, who comes to avenge her son. The second part happens in southernSweden about fifty years later. Beowulf himself is a king and has to fight afirebreathing dragon. • As with other Old English literature, this epic incorporates both pagan andChristian ideas. The monster-slaying hero has his origin in two ancient fairytales. From the pagan traditions also come a love of war and the virtue ofcourage. • The biblical Old Testament supplies the idea about giants and monsters having descended from Cain's line. The poem is sometimes seen as a conflictbetween good and evil. From the Christian tradition, it incorporates morality,obedience to God, and avoidance of pride.
There are many contrasts, for example, water and fire, youth and old age,life and death, rise and fall of nations and individuals, friendship and desertion,faithfulness and betrayal, heroism and cowardice, hope and resignation, good andevil, as well as the past, present and future. • Elegy is apparent throughout - life is passing and is full of struggles andsuffering, (This theme has an application also for modern life and the struggles of mankind.) This is contrasted by the courage of the main hero, said to be the"kindest and noblest of earthly kings and the most desirous of praise and glory". • The poem begins and ends with the funeral of a king.
The work, written in characteristic Old English verse style, has artisticmaturity and unity. It uses alliteration (words beginning with the same sound),kennings (metaphorical descriptive phrases or compound words), and internalrhyme (a word within a line rhyming with a word at the end of the line). Eachline has two beats or stressed syllables. The style of poetical descriptions and word pictures with much repetition makes the action move slowly. • The poem is an important source of historical information which was laterconfirmed by archaeology. The tone and descriptions capture the rough, cold andgloomy North Sea atmosphere, as well as life's struggles of the people of thattime who had to deal with many trials and obstacles. The poem was originallyrecited by a court singer and poet called "scop", who accompanied it with musicand made occasional changes according to the inspiration of the moment.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS • Aeschere: He is the dear friend and chief advisor of King Hrothgar. He is the man who is killed brutally by Grendel's mother. It is his bloody head that Grendel's mother leaves sitting on the edge of a cliff as a sign of her revenge. • Beowulf: "The hero of all heroes," Beowulf, strong and courageous, is the prince of Geats. Once he makes a vow, he stands by his word, no matter what the cost, even if it takes his life. He is reluctant to back down from battle, just so he can be there for the people who are in great need to be saved from evil. He signifies the true heroic character because he is willing to risk his life for his ideals. Beowulf defeats three gruesome monsters, two of whom are descendants of Cain. • Freawaru: She is King Hrothgar's daughter. She was married to Ingeld as a proposed peace-settlement between the Danes and the Heatho-Bards.
Grendel: He is a monster that is half-man and half-fiend. He is the first monster that Beowulf kills. Also he is enormous and possesses superhuman strength, which makes him undefeatable by the warriors of Denmark. He lives in the bottom of the lake not far from Heorot. Grendel is the descendant of Cain who represents evil and corruption. He has been attacking Heorot, where Denmark's warriors live, for twelve years, causing suffering and misery. • Grendel's Mother: She is another monster that Beowulf kills. She is virtually undefeatable by any human. She is a descendant of Cain. She kills Aeschere as revenge for her son's death. She finally dies in an underwater battle with the hero, Beowulf. • Hygelac: He is Beowulf's uncle, King of the Geats.It is to him that Beowulf wishes his treasures to be sent if anything should happen to him. • Hrothgar: He is the King of Danes. He has a great deal of compassion for his warriors and his people. This man isn't afraid to hide his emotions. This is important because at the time, according to the warrior code, a man was not to show his feelings publicly. He builds a mead-hall and names it Heorot for his warriors to celebrate success. Hrothgar is a wise and admirable king to his people, but lacks strength to physically combat his and his people's enemies, as he is an aging King.
Ingeld: He is King of the Heatho-Bards. He is offered the hand of Freawaru as a proposed peace-settlement from King Hrothgar of the Danes. Unferth: He is a courtier, jealous of Beowulf, who feels inferior to Beowulf. He doubts Beowulf's power to defeat Grendel, claiming that it is luck that has been helping Beowulf in his previous encounters. Upon learning of Grendel's defeat, Unferth is impressed by Beowulf and presents him his sword as a sign of reconciliation. • Wiglaf: He is a warrior who aids Beowulf against the battle with the dragon. At this point, Beowulf is an old aging king. He no longer possesses the power he once had to fight Grendel and his mother. Wiglaf's relationshipo with Beowulf is parallel to Beowulf's relationship with King Hrothgar.
Themes and Important Aspects Good vs. Evil Religion: Christian and Pagan influences The importance of wealth and treasure The importance of the sea and sailing The sanctity of the home Fate Loyalty and allegiance Heroism and heroic deeds
Some terms you’ll want to know elegy An elegy is a poem that is sad or mournful. The adjective is elegiac. homily A homily is a written sermon or section of the poem that gives direct advice.
Some terms you’ll want to know epic Beowulf is an epic poem. This means it has a larger-than life hero and the conflict is of universal importance. There’s a certain serious that accompanies most epics.
Some terms you’ll want to know wyrd Fate. This idea crops up a lot in the poem, while at the same time there are Christian references to God’s will.
Some terms you’ll want to know thane A warrior mead-hall The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc.
Some terms you’ll want to know comitatus Literally, this means “escort” or “comrade” This term identifies the concept of warriors and lords mutually pledging their loyalty to one another
Some terms you’ll want to know scop A bard or story-teller. The scop was responsible for praising deeds of past heroes, for recording history, and for providing entertainment
The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for 2. Kennings a. Compound metaphor (usually two words) b. Most were probably used over and over For instance: hronade literally means “whale-road,” but can be translated as “sea”
The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for Other kennings from Beowulf: banhus = “bone-house” = body goldwine gumena = “gold-friend of men” = generous prince beaga brytta = “ring-giver” = lord beadoleoma = “flashing light” = sword
