The Old English period

 

The Old English period 

( Anglo Saxon Period)   (450 to 1066)

Celts (Britons) lived in Britain. Then Romans came in Britain (43 to410 AD). Picts attacked in Britain. So Romans left Britain. So Celts called Angles, Saxons and Jutes to help. The Angles and Saxons came from Northern Germany and Jutes came from Derek. 

Old English period is also known as Anglo - Saxon, which is derived from the names of two Germanic tribes that invaded England during the Fifth century. 

Old English period 

Literary Features of the Period :

1.Pagan Origins: 

Many of the poems of the period appear to have in them features. Like Widsith and Beowulf. 

The manuscripts were written down in the monasteries. 

2.Anonymous Origins:

Of all the old English poets we have direct mention of only one Caedmon,though not one of the extant poems can definitely be ascribed to him. 

Cynewwulf is known because the fact that he signed his poems in runic letters at the end of four poems. 

3.The Imitative Quality :

Some of the poetry is translated or adapted 

 from the Latin. 

The favorite works for translation were the books of the Bible, the lives of the Saints, and various works of a practical nature. 

4.The Manuscripts :

The manuscripts in which the poetry is preserved are late in date, are unique and are four in number. They are 

1.The Beowulf MS. 

2.The Junius MS. 

3.The Exeter Book. 

4.The Vercelli Book. 

The Language:

There were four main dailects:

1.Northumbrian:Which was the first to produce a literature. 

2.Mercian:The language of the Midlands. 

3.Kentish:The language of the South - east spoken in an area larger than that of the morden country of Kent. 

4.West Saxon:The language of Alfred. 

Old English poetry:

Beowulf :

The theme of poem is Continental Germanic and heroic, and it is likely that it was  the subject of lays long before its present version was composed. 

It tells the story of Beowulf and his battles againt Grendel, Grendle's mother and an unnamed dragon. 

Other Poetry :

1.The Pagan Poems :

1.Widsith

2.Waldere

3.The Fight at Finnsburh 

4.The Battle of Brunanburh 

5.The Battle of Maldonado. 

2.The Elegies :

These poems among which are The Wanderer, The Seafarer, Wife's Lament, and Husband's Message, appear in the Exeter Book. 

3.The so - called Caedmon Group :

Ecclesiastical History, Bede tells the story of the lay brother Caedmon. 

Bede quotes in his Ecclesiastical History and Hymn which is said to have been composed by Caedmon. 

The  Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, and three shorter poems often considered as one under the title Christ and Satan are of unequal merit. 

4.The Cynewwulf  Group :

1.Juliana

2.Elene

3.Christ

4.The Fates of the Apostles 

5.The Dream of the Rood.

Prose:

1.Alfred:

Alfred is "the father of prose".

The five important translations are the -

1.Pastoral Care  - Pope Gregory

2.The History of the World - Orosius 

3.Ecclesiastical History  - Bede 

4.Consolation of Philosophy  - Boethius 

5.The Soliloquies - St. Augustine 

 

The Pastoral Care was the first and the Soliloquies the last of the series .

2.Aelfric:

Aelfric probably best known for his Grammar, was a churchman who became abbot of Eynsham in 1005.

His works  are extant : the Catholic Homilies, two series of sermons suitable for delivery by priests, a third series - the Lives of the Saints, and translations from the Scriptures. 

3.Wulfstan :

Wulfstan was Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of York. 

His most famous piece is the sermo Lupi ad Anglos. 

4.The Anglo - Saxon  Chronicle:

The Anglo - Saxon Chronicle was in all probability inspired by Alfred.

The style varies greatly from simple notices to long passages of narrative and description. 

The Development of  Literary Forms:

1.Poetry:

a. The Epic

b. The Lyric

2.prose.

The Development of Literary Style:

1.Poetry

2.Prose.