Literary History Old English Period

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Your favourite book

Why would you read literature?

Literature

1. Entertain. Literature is something to be enjoyed, so approach it with an open mind!

2. Educate. We learn about historical periods, looking through the eyes of the people who actually experienced that part of history rather than through the eyes of scholars writing about that same part of history a couple of centuries later.

What modern language is closest to Old English (450-1066 CE)

1. Modern English
2. Danish
3. Frisian
4. Dutch

Frisian is one of Europe’s least changed languages. English is one of Europe’s most changed languages. 

   Hoi, Aelfred is myn namme. Myn marse is fol fan Eels, buten Langh festjen is nin brae sperjen.

 

   Hwaet! Aelfred is min nama. Min bearwe is æla ful, ac an longe fæsten biergeþ nan hlaf.

   Hello, Alfred is my name. My basket is full of eels, but a long fast saves no bread.

Beowulf

- Written around 850 CE

- Original in Old English

- First piece of literature (that we know of) written in Great Britain

Why can't we call Beowulf the first English text ever written?

What are your first thoughts on this 'story'

Epic poem

- Viking influences  because story takes place in Sweden

- Epic hero, great heroism and bravery

- The setting of the poem is vast and could include land, seas, oceans, the world, or even the whole universe.

- Supernatural or other worldly forces or beings such as Gods, angels, or demons

- written in a formal manner and they often use exaggeration.

7 characteristics of an epic hero

- Noble birth

-  Super human capabilities

- Vast traveler

- Unmatched warrior

- Cultural legend

- Humility

- Battles superhuman foes

Epic Hero

Why is Beowulf an example of a classic epic poem?

Read the following passages carefully. Explain in your own words what the piece of text is about.

Thro’ wan night striding,

came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept

whose hest was to guard the gabled hall, —

all save one. ‘Twas widely known

that against God’s will the ghostly ravager

him could not hurl to haunts of darkness;

wakeful, ready, with warrior’s wrath,

bold he bided the battle’s issue.

Thro’ wan night striding,

came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept

whose hest was to guard the gabled hall, —

all save one. ‘Twas widely known

that against God’s will the ghostly ravager

him could not hurl to haunts of darkness;

wakeful, ready, with warrior’s wrath,

bold he bided the battle’s issue.

What event was described?

THEN from the moorland, by misty crags,

with God’s wrath laden, Grendel came.

The monster was minded of mankind now

sundry to seize in the stately house.

Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,

gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,

flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,

that he the home of Hrothgar sought, —

yet ne’er in his life-day, late or early,

such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!

What happened in the passage?

Answer the following questions about the old-English period.

What is the English term for the historic period of 500-1000 ?

Who tried to invade the British isles during the Anglo-Saxon period

Which two important things did King Alfred the Great manage to do?