Click here to load reader
Upload
marc-weaver
View
9.520
Download
5
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Note: My mistake, Chaucer did not write Beowulf. It is anonymous.
Citation preview
Old English Period In British Literature
Old English Period
428-1100
Historical Context● Starting with the invasion of England by
Teutonic tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes around 428.
● Ending with the establishment of the Norman rule around 1100.
● Monarchies were formed, Christianity was introduced, tribes were in conflict, Alfred the Great was a notable ruler of the period, who unified the Teutonic tribes.
● Norman Conquest (1066) ended serious literature in the period. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ8A5gRe_Dw
Major authors and works
● Geoffery Chaucer: Beowolf (c. 700)● Epic poems: "The Seafarer", "Widsith", "Deor's Lament", ● Christian works: Caedmon's "Song", Genesis, Exodus,
Daniel, Judith, Christ, Elene, Andreas, Phoenix ● Heroic poems: "Battle of Maldon", "Battle of
Brunanburgh" ● Latin-> English prose: Pope Gregory: Pastoral Care,
Boethius's Consolation of Philosphy, Bede's Ecclesiastical History
● Homiles of Aelfric and Wulfstan
Major Schools
● School of Caedmon--Hymns, Genesis, Exodus, biblical paraphrases; Judith, aprocryphal
● School of Cynewulf--Christ, Elene, Juliana, Fates of the Apostles, Andreas, saint lengends, Christian allegory Phoenix
Description of Old English Period
● It was a period of pagan poetry, with a burgeoning on Christian elements.
● Latin -> English prose translations ● Homilies emerged in the tenth and eleventh
centuries ● Epic and heroic poetry took center stage.
Terms● Paraphrase: a restatement of an idea in
such a way as to retain the meaning while changing the diction and form
● Homiliy: A form of oral religious instruction given by a minister to a church congregation. It gives practical moral counsel rather than discussion of doctrine.
● Apocrypha: originally meant as "hidden or secret things", it now denotes books of the Bible or of any author not regarded as inspired and excluded from the sacred Canon or that author's canon.
Overview● Period: Old English ● Time Period: 428-1100● Major People: Chaucer, Caedmon,
Cynewulf, Alfred the Great● Major Works: Beowolf, epic poems, heroic
poems, Christian allegory, homilies● Major Schools: School of Caedmon, School
of Cynewulf● Terms to Know: biblical paraphrase,
homily, apocryphal literaure