literature: Old English period

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Old English Period

Today's Programme

- Study Questions Shakespeare

- Recap Old English Period

- Possible test questions

Lesson Objective:

- You know the most important literary features of the Old English Period and can recognise them in a (new) text.

history

• (410 AD) Roman troops withdrew to the Continent
• (500 AD) foundation of the English nation and language as we know it.
• (793) Vikings destroyed the monastery at Lindisfarne
• (871) Alfred the Great defeated the Danish

00:26

00:52

What does 'usurp' mean?

Hint: Game of Throne watchers could/should know ;)

01:56

the Old English Period

about 450-1066

poetry

• people were illiterate. Only monks could read and write
• alliterations and regular rythm used for mnemonic reasons
• kenning
• variation

alliteration

two or more words within the same line begin with the same letter.

Meotodes meahte and his modgepanc

the Measurer's might and his mind-plans

kenning

a figurative name for a thing, usually expressed in a compound noun.

swan-road = sea

variation - (epithet) 

The repeating of a single idea (or name) in different words, with each repetition adding a new level of meaning.

heaven-kingdom's Guardian    holy Creator

the measurer                                   mankind's Guardian

Glory-father                                     Master almighty

eternal Lord

          genres

• epic poems: narrative poems on great subjects like kings and heroes, fighting, glory and honour
• didactic poems: meant to teach the reader about religious matters or about the way to behave
• historical chronicles: about wars and battles, and kings

Caedmon- Hymn of Creation

• Late 7th century 

• Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People        + 731

• Illiterate Northumbrian cowherd

• A dream
  

Caedmon's Hymn

• heavenly ward/protector
• mighty

• 'hij eerst schiep' - he first created
• heaven as a roof

Caedmon's Hymn

4 surviving manuscripts

• The Beowulf Manuscript
• the Exeter Book
• the Junius Manuscript
• Vercelli Book

There are also a few historical poems in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle

Exeter Book: riddles

In the Exeter Book there are some riddles or enigmata. They use double-entendre, whereby one answer is suggested but another is meant.

A curiosity hangs by the thigh of a man, under its master's cloak.

It is pierced through in the front; it is stiff and hard and it has a good standing-place.

When the man pulls up his own robe above the knee, he means to poke the head of his hanging thing that familiar hole of matching length which he has often filled before.

Exeter Book: riddles

Riddle 45 

Ic on wincle gefrægn weaxan nathwæt,

þindan ond þunian, þecene hebban.

On þæt banlease bryd grapode,

hygewlonc hondum. Hrægle þeahte

þrindende þing þeodnes dohtor.

I have heard of a something-or-other, growing in its nook, swelling and rising, pushing up its covering. Upon that boneless thing a cocky-minded young woman took a grip with her hands; with her apron a lord's daughter covered the tumescent thing.

Religious verse

• The Dream of the Rood
• The cross (anthropomorphism)

The Dream of the Rood

“The young warrior stripped himself then—that was God Almighty—

strong and firm of purpose—he climbed up onto the high gallows,

magnificent in the sight of many. Then he wished to redeem mankind.

I quaked when the warrior embraced me—

yet I dared not bow to the ground, collapse 

to earthly regions, but I had to stand there firm. 

The rood was reared. I heaved the mighty king,

the Lord of Heaven—I dared not topple or reel. (39-45)

“They skewered me with dark nails, wounds easily seen upon me,

treacherous strokes yawning open. I dared injure none of them.

They shamed us both together. I was besplattered with blood,

sluicing out from the man’s side, after launching forth his soul. (46-49)

Note the use of epithets

Do you see 

the connection?

• J.R.R. Tolkien
• LOTR
• English scholar

The Wanderer

• comitatus tradition (relationship lord and followers )
• honour
• christianity
• elegy: poem that laments the loss of worldly goods, glory, or human companionship --> ubi sunt motif

Ubi sunt...

Then he wisely contemplates this wall-stead

and deeply thinks through this darkened existence,

aged in spirit, often remembering from afar

many war-slaughterings, and he speaks these words: (88-91)

“Where has the horse gone? Where is the man? Where is the giver of treasure?

Where are the seats at the feast? Where are the joys of the hall?

Alas the bright goblet! Alas the mailed warrior!

Alas the pride of princes! How the space of years has passed —

it grows dark beneath the night-helm, as if it never was! (92-6)

Beowulf

• Swedish prince
• Grendel
• Hrotgar's court (Denmark)
• ancient treasure guarded by dragon
• epic of Germanic hero
• (of course) religious

Why important?

• First 'story' to enjoy in English
  
• Epic poem about a hero
• Contains all of the OE elements 

1. religious
   
2. alliteration 
   
3. kenning ("ring-giver" for king)
   
4. variation
5. elegaic thoughts

Test Questions

- In pairs, go through the reader and LessonUp

- Come up with as many possible test questions as you can

- Send them via email to me ([e-mail]) including your answer(s)

I will compile them into one LessonUp for tomorrow's class

Submit your possible test
question below: