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History of English Literature Paulina Surniak WSJO 2011

Middle English

Old English

Postmodernism

The Middle Ages 20th century

Renaissance

Modernism

19th century The Victorian Age The Romantic Age

17th century The Metaphysical Age

18th century The Augustan Age

Dates 43 – ca. 420

Roman invasion and occupation of Britain

ca. 450

Anglo-Saxon Conquest

597

St. Augustine arrives in Kent

871-899

Reign of King Alfred

1066

Norman Conquest

ca. 1200

Beginnings of Middle English literature

1360 – 1400

The summit of Middle English literature

1485

William Caxton’s printing of Sir Thomas Malory Morte D’Arthur

Medium = middle The Middle Ages Aevum = age

The Middle Ages • Time span between the collapse of the Roman empire and the Renaissance • For English literature – from Cædmon /ˈkædmən/ Hymn (end of 7th century) to Everyman (beginning of 16th century)

• 1485 – Henry VIII’s accession = the end of the Middle Ages

When the Roman legions arrived, they found the land inhabited by ―Britons.‖ Today, the Britons are known as the Celts Stonehenge no written language

The Britons were absorbed into Roman society Latin is spoken Romans withdraw as the Empire crumbles, leaving the Britons behind

• group of pagan people from Northern Europe begin a series of invasions – Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) – bring Germanic languages – still have their language • Wednesday…day of Woden, father of the gods • Thursday…day of Thor, god of war

• By 600, Anglo-Saxons conquer the Britons – language becomes more Germanic • still retains some Latin

• The Anglo-Saxons’ two urgings--war and wandering become part of the oral tradition – Beowulf is an example of an Anglo-Saxon hero tale

• By 700, Christian missionaries arrive to convert the pagans – Latin (the language of the Church) returns

• King Alfred – the Britons become organized – first true king of the Britons – period of prosperity

The 3 Estates in the Middle Ages The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age, but this ordering was breaking down. Clergy Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul

Nobles French chiefly spoken, those who fight, purpose was to protect— allow for all to work in peace— and provide justice

Commoners English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them

Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church, which dominated Europe

The Church was the only source of education. Thus, Latin was a common language for Medieval writings. A notable amount of medieval literature is anonymous. Medieval authors often tended to re-tell and embellish stories they heard or read rather than invent new stories.

Caedmon's Hymn

Caedmon – the earliest English poet whose name is known

-An Anglo-Saxon -Monastery of Whitby -A monk and a religious poet

Memorial to Cædmon, St Mary's Churchyard, Whitby. The inscription reads, "To the glory of God and in memory of Cædmon the father of English Sacred Song. Fell asleep hard [near] by, 680‖ http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=DAZyc8M5Q4I&noredire ct=1

Anglo-Saxon way of life • Heroic society • Nation = a group of people related by kinship • Kinship – the basis of the heroic code

King (kin)

tribe

The king / the lord • Leads his men into battle • Rewards them with spoils

The tribesmen • Are obliged to fight for their lord to death • Or to avenge him or die in the attempt • Blood vengeance – a sacred duty

Poetic language • Formulaic language • Alliteration: • „Beowulf, brave, the brothers between" • "a woful wood: the waves below" • "heart-sorrow heavy. Heaven be thanked"

Poetic language Kenning "Ring-giver" "whale's home„

Caesura Tha com of more || under mist-hleothum Grendel gongan, || Godes yrre baer...

• • • • • • • • • •

Storm now batters these ramparts of stone; Blowing snow and the blast of winter Enfold the earth; night-shadows fall Darkly lowering, from the north driving Raging hail in wrath upon men. Wretchedness fills the realm of earth, And Fate’s decrees transform the world. Here wealth is fleeting, friends are fleeting, Man is fleeting, maid is fleeting; All the foundation of earth shall fail!1

Poetic language Synecdoche Keel – ship Iron – sword

Overall effect – to formalize language and elevate speech.

Heroic epic • an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language and in a grand style • celebrates the deeds of the hero • It opens in medias res. The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world or the universe. • Features long and formal speeches. • Shows divine intervention on human affairs.

Beowulf • (/ˈbeɪ.ɵwʊlf/; in Old English [ˈbeːo̯wʊlf] or [ˈbeːəwʊlf] • Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, the oldest of the great long poems in English

• It survives in a single manuscript known as the Nowell Codex

Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. 1st battle - Grendel

2nd battle – Grendel’s mother

3rd battle – the dragon

The Middle Ages

Old English Beowulf

The Wanderer

Middle English

The Dream of the Rood

elegy

Heroic poem

Ubi sunt

Formulaic language

kenning alliteration

Dream vision