literature: Old English period

the Old English Period
about 500-1066
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 5

This lesson contains 26 slides, with text slides and 11 videos.

Items in this lesson

the Old English Period
about 500-1066

Slide 1 - Slide

history
  • (500 AD) foundation of the English nation and language as we know it.
  • (410 AD) Roman troops withdrew to the Continent
  • (793) Vikings destroyed the monastery at Lindisfarne
  • (871) Alfred the Great defeated the Danish


Slide 2 - Slide

Slide 3 - Video

Slide 4 - Video

Slide 5 - Video

poetry
  • people were illiterate. Only monks could read and write
  • alliterations and regular rythm used for mnemonic reasons
  • kenning
  • variation

Slide 6 - Slide

alliteration

two or more words within the same line begin with the same letter.


Meotodes meahte and his modgepanc

the Measurer's might and his mind-plans

Slide 7 - Slide

kenning

a figurative name for a thing, usually expressed in a compound noun.

swan-road = sea


Slide 8 - Slide

variation

the repeating of a single idea in different words, with each repetition adding a new level of meaning.


heaven-kingdom's Guardian    holy Creator

the measurer                                   mankind's Guardian

Glory-father                                     Master almighty

eternal Lord

Slide 9 - Slide

          genres
  • epic poems: narrative poems on great subjects like kings and heroes, fighting, glory and honour
  • didactic poems: meant to teach the reader about religious matters or about the way to behave
  • historical chronicles: about wars and battles, and kings

Slide 10 - Slide

Caedmon- Hymn of Creation

late 7th century (Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum)

illiterate Northumbrian cowherd

a dream


Slide 11 - Slide

Slide 12 - Video

4 surviving manuscripts
  • The Beowulf Manuscript
  • the Exeter Book
  • the Junius Manuscript
  • Vercelli Book

There are also a few historical poems in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle


Slide 13 - Slide

Exeter Book: riddles

In the Exeter Book there are some riddles or enigmata. They use double-entendre, whereby one answer is suggested but another is meant.


A curiosity hangs by the thigh of a man, under its master's cloak.

It is pierced through in the front; it is stiff and hard and it has a good standing-place.

When the man pulls up his own robe above the knee, he means to poke the head of his hanging thing that familiar hole of matching length which he has often filled before.

Slide 14 - Slide

religious verse
  • the Dream of the Rood &  The Wanderer
  • the cross (personification)

Slide 15 - Slide

the Dream of the Rood
As this is quite a long poem (too long to copy to LessonUp) we read this poem from the reader. Answer the questions.

Then listen to the explanation of the poem (next slide)

Slide 16 - Slide

Slide 17 - Video

Slide 18 - Video

Slide 19 - Video

the Wanderer
  • comitatus tradition (relationship lord and followers )
  • honour
  • christianity
  • elegy: poem that laments the loss of worldly goods, glory, or human companionship
now read the poem in the reader and answer the questions

Slide 20 - Slide

Slide 21 - Video

Beowulf
  • Swedish prince
  • Grendel
  • Hrotgar's court (Denmark)
  • ancient treasure guarded by dragon
  • epic of Germanic hero
  • religious

Slide 22 - Slide

Beowulf
Read the fragment in the reader and answer the questions

Slide 23 - Slide

Slide 24 - Video

Slide 25 - Video

Slide 26 - Video