Literature - Beginnings

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

A Survey of English Literature

1

BEGINNINGS

Before England

• From c. 700 BC: modern Britain inhabited by great number of Celtic tribes
• 55 BC: Julius Caesar tries to invade Britain but fails
• 43: the Romans successfully invade Britain (emperor Claudius) and start their conquest
• Britannia (Roman Britain)
• 410: last Roman legions leave Britain
• c. 450: Anglo-Saxon invasions begin

Roman Britain: characteristics

• urban civilization (first towns, Londinium)
• construction of roads > army, trade

Roman Britain

Romain Britain >> 

Anglo-Saxon England

• AD 410: last Roman legions leave Britain
• 445-450: first Germanic settlers invited to Britain to help defend the country
• c. 450-500:  Germanic tribes invade in large numbers
• c. 500: Anglo-Saxon settlement completed

Anglo-Saxon England: characteristics

• c. 500-800: period of seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, often at war with each other. Sussex (South Saxons) Wessex (West Saxons): counties
  
• from c. 800: a slow process of unification (under pressure from Danish invaders)
  
• period of relative prosperity
  
• gradual conversion to Christianity
  
• monasteries important centres of learning (Jarrow, Lindisfarne, Whitby)
  
• highly developed craftsmanship
  

The Old English Period

• c. 500-1066: Anglo-Saxon England. Celts driven to West (Wales) and North. King Arthur!
• c. 800:  attacks and invasions by Danes (Vikings)
• Danes control much of modern England: Danelaw/Danegeld
• Anglo-Saxons unite: Alfred the Great (c. 875)
• an abrupt end: 1066, the Norman Conquest

The Old English Period

• Alternating Anglo-Saxon and Danish kings
  
•  The Anglo Saxon king Edward the Confessor had lived in exile in Normandy, where he met king William II of Normandy, later William the Conqueror . I
•  Upon Edward’s death in 1066 Harold Godwinson claimed the throne, but was defeated and killed by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings

Anglo-Saxon England

Which king united the Anglo-Saxons to defeat the Danes?

1. Julius Caesar
2. William the Conqueror
3. Aelfric the Great
4. Alfred the Great

What year did the Norman Conquest take place?

1. 450
2. 1066
3. 800
4. 55 BC

According to you, what are the main points of this lesson ?

Next literature lesson

Introduction to Old English literature

Beowulf