Old English period literature 5th/7th – 11th century

Characteristics - HISTORY 5th century – invasions of Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons and Jutes) kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Wessex, Kent,… 9th century – invasions of the Vikings (the Danes) -> Danish conquest Alfred the Great – „King of the Anglo-Saxons“ conquered the Danes established reforms, supported army and navy, formed education Christianity supported translations

Characteristics - LITERATURE kennings – a compound expression with metaphorical meaning ex. a sea-horse = a boat, a bone-house = body, …) alliteration – a repetition of initial consonant sound of stressed syllables ex. The wild winds whisk to the west. genres: heroic epics, lyrical poems, riddles, charms, proverbs, Christian poems, chronicles themes: good vs. evil, religion, bravery, mortality

Heroic epic = poetry celebrating the deeds of a hero, his battles and bravery dignified, dramatic and formal style, full of action Beowulf – the longest English poem; anonymous a hero fighting against the monster “Grendel“ warrior – good appearance, strength, courage, humility, intelligence, loyalty to his king and kingdom

scenes from Beowulf

Works The Anglo-Saxons Chronicle – 9th century – collection of annals Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglonum – 8th century – a chronicle by Beda Venerabilis – a history of the Christian Churches in England; composed in Latin – „Ecclesiastical history of English people“ The Seafarer; The Wanderer– a lyrical poem, anonymous authors: Caedmon (a monk, poet); Aelfric (an abbot, writer); Wulfstan (homilies)

Mæg ic be me sylfum I can make a true song soðgied wrecan, about me myself, siþas secgan, tell my travels, hu ic geswincdagum how I often endured earfoðhwile days of struggle, oft þrowade, troublesome times, bitre breostceare [how I] have suffered gebiden hæbbe, grim sorrow at heart, gecunnad in ceole have known in the ship cearselda fela, many worries [abodes of care], atol yþa gewealc, the terrible tossing of the waves, þær mec oft bigeat where the anxious night watch nearo nihtwaco often took me æt nacan stefnan, at the ship's prow, þonne he be clifum cnossað. when it tossed near the cliffs. an extract from The Seafarer

The Anglo-Saxons Chronicle Historia Ecclesiastica Gentic Anglorum