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

2. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. scenes from Beowulf

7. 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)

8. 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

9. The Anglo-Saxons Chronicle
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentic Anglorum