6V Literature - Beginnings

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

HWAET

A Survey of English Literature

1

BEGINNINGS

Old English Literature

Before England

• From c. 700 BC: modern Britain inhabited by great number of Celtic tribes
• 55 BC: Julius Caesar tries to invade Britain but fails
• 43: the Romans successfully invade Britain (emperor Claudius) and start their conquest
• Britannia (Roman Britain)
• 410: last Roman legions leave Britain
• c. 450: Anglo-Saxon invasions begin

Roman Britain: characteristics

• urban civilization (first towns, Londinium)
• construction of roads > army, trade

Roman Britain

From Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England

• 410: last Roman legions leave

Britain

• 445-540: first Germanic 

settlers invited to Britain to help

defend the country

• c. 450-500: Germanic tribes 

invade in large numbers

• c. 500: Anglo-Saxon 

settlement completed

The Old English Period

• c. 500-1066: Anglo-Saxon England
• until c. 900: present-day England divided into 7 seperate kingdoms
• c. 800:  attacks and invasions by Danes (Vikings)
• Danes control much of modern England: Danelaw
• Anglo-Saxons unite: Alfred the Great (c. 875)
• an abrupt end: 1066, the Norman Conquest

Anglo-Saxon England: characteristics

• c. 500-800: period of the seven kingdoms, often at war with each other
  
• from c. 800: a slow process of unification (under pressure from Danish invaders)
  
• period of relative prosperity
  
• gradual conversion to Christianity
  
• monasteries important centres of learning (Jarrow, Lindisfarne, Whitby)
  
• highly developed craftsmanship
  

Old English Literature

• Old English: the language of the Anglo Saxons
  
• the oral tradition in poetry and song
  
• the role of scops
  
• absence of end-rhyme and fixed rythm; use of alliteration
  
• subject matter: Germanic (pagan) as well as Christian
  

Beowulf

• example of an epic poem
  
• charcteristically Germanic in content and outlook:
•       courage in battle
•       obedience to the king and other (war) leaders
  
•       belief in magic and in dangerous demons
  
• probably composed in 8th century (in England)
  
• original story much older (Scandinavia)
  
• earliest manuscript: c. 1000 (by anonymous monk)
  

The Beowulf Manuscript - first page

(now at the British Library in London)

Beowulf opening lines

Go to Survey p. 6

How should this be pronounced???

Which words remind you of Dutch?

When did the Romans successfully invade Britain?

1. 700 BC
2. 410
3. 43
4. 450

Which king united the Anglo-Saxons to defeat the Danes?

1. Julius Caesar
2. William the Conqueror
3. Aelfric the Great
4. Alfred the Great

What year did the Norman Conquest take place?

1. 450
2. 1066
3. 800
4. 55 BC

According to you, what are the main points of this lesson ?

Next lesson

Closer look at Beowulf

Assignments

Bring:

• Reader&Workbook
• Survey
• Notebook