OLD ENGLISH PERIOD

Old English Period

The Anglo-Saxon Literature

·       Later 5th Century - 1066

·       Poetry made its appearance much before the Prose.

·       Conversion of England into Christianity-597 AD

·       Norman conquest- 1066 AD

·       Latin was the official language of  this era

The surviving portion of old English poetry is preserved in the following Manuscripts:

Manuscripts:-

·       Beowulf MS- British Museum

Contains Beowulf and Judith.

·       Junius MS- Bodleian Library,Oxford

contains Caedmonian Poems.

·       Exeter Book- Chapter Library of Exeter Cathedral

contains two signed poems of Cynewulf, Elegies.

·       Vercelli Book- Cathedral Library at Vercelli near Milan

contains Two signed poems of Cynewulf (including Elene) and Andreas and The Dream of the Rood.

Old English Language:-

Narrative and Alliterative,mostly borrowed from Latin

Elaborate verbal system and declinable grammer.

Four Dialects:-

Northumbrian,Mercian,Kentish,West Saxon

Poetry:-

·       Pagan,Elegies,National,Epic,Lyric and Heroic.

·       Pagan-Widsith,Beowulf,Waldere

·       Elegies-The Wanderer,The Seafarer,Wife's Lament,Husband's Message

·       Lyric-The Wanderer,The Seafarer

·       Epic-Beowulf

·       Heroic-Waldere,Beowulf,The Fight at Finnsburh,The Battle of Maldon

Beowulf:-

Theme: Continental Germanic

Characters:

Beowulf-King of the Geatas

Hrothgar-King of the Danes

Grendel-Monster

Grendel's mother

Dialect:West Saxon

Kenning:-

Picturesque Compound words

e.g Bone-house i.e body

Sea-wood i.e ship

Peace-weaver i.e women

Poets:-

·       Caedmon-

Divinely inspired Monk of 7th Century

wrote Biblical stories

Works-The Genesis,Exodus,Daniel,Christ and Satan.

·       Cynewulf-

More educated than Caedmon.He lived during the 9th Century.

His works bears his signature in runnic characters

Works-Juliana,Elene,Christ,The Fates of the Apostles,The Dream of the Rood.

Prose:-

Language and Style-simple,straight forward but unpolished.

Prose writers:-

·       King Alfred-

He belonged to the 9th century

"Father of English Prose"

He was the King of Wessex (871)

Works- Translations of Latin books,and The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was inspired and sponsored by him

·       Pastoral care of Pope Gregory

·       History of the world of Orosius

·       Bede's Ecclesiastical History

·       Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy

·       Soliloquies of St.Augustine

Asser was the biographer of King Alfred.

·       Aelfric-

Church-man

Abbot of Eynsham in 1005

He was well known for his Grammar.

Works-Catholic Homilies,Lives of the Saints,Colloquy.

·       Wulfstan-

Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of York

Works-Sermo Lupi ad Anglos