The Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period c. 700-1066
History
Celtic tribes called Britons were the earliest inhabitants of England. Julius Caesar invaded England in 55 B.C. and turned it into a Roman Province where Romans could govern and trade. But then Roman legions were called back to defend the Roman Empire from the Goths. Roman elements that were left were big road, military settlements etc. Britons now had no defence and leader. So the Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons, the Jutes) invaded Britain (410-600) First they raided the coasts and destroyed places of worship, then they settled and converted Christianity. Britons were drove back to mountainous districts.
Poetry
Anglo-saxon poetry is mostly in alliterative (2 or more words within the same line begin with the same letter) lines without rhyme. 3 kinds of poetry:
- Pagan (heathen) poetry. Beowulf is one of the oldest pieces of English literature and show us the way of life of the Germanic tribes. Story’s origin: Scandinavian but brought to England by the Angles and here it was made into a poem with Christian elements. The story is about a Swedish warrior who kills 2 monsters in Denmark. After he becomes king, a dragon comes to his country but he succeeds killing it (wounded himself to)
- Christian (religious poetry). First came from the north of England of the poet Caedmon who wrote about the bible and sang to the glory of God. Monk Cynewulf devoted his poems to the lives of saints.
- Lyric poetry. Poetry in which the poet expresses his personal feeling. The wanderer and The Seafarer.
Prose
“Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” was written by monk in order of king Alfred the Great. It is a record of historical events covering the years between 891-1154. King Alfred also promoted the translations of Latin works like that of Adam Bede (a Benedictine monk devoted his life to conversion of his people)
Drama
At the end of the Old-English period, religion plays and important part. Four characteristics of liturgical plays:
- Performed in church
- Latin
- Priests are actors
- Biblical subjects
The Middle English Period (1066-1400)
History
After William the Conqueror had defeated King Harold at hastings (1066), they both claimed the English throne. Predecessor Edward the Confessor already named Duke William of Normandy as his successor. William took actions and restored peace to the country by organize the government of England on basis of the feudal system.
Kings divided land in estates among Normand lords, who had to swear loyalty to the king and provide him with knights. These estates were divided in manors among knights, where farmers could work on. The king fixed an amount of tax for each country, that was divided among the manors, knights collected the money. If you would hunt or cut a tree on Kings own land you would be punished by the loss of an eye or hand.
In Domesday book all land and property is recorded + rights and duties of every landowner and court. In the eye of the people their property was taken away and given to foreigners.
Other historical record; King John was forced by his barons to sign the Magna Charta. This covererd feudal rights and law, such as ‘no tax should be made without approval of the council 1349: the Black Death ; 1/3 of England’s population died.
Poetry
- Romances. Affected by French spirit. More humour and increasing interest in love. Romance describes adventures of kings and knights, or heroes who conquer enemies to win the love of a beautiful princess etc. Romance was a rhymed poem and divide into four cycles: 1.of Charlemagne 2.of Troy 3.of King Alexander 4.of King Arthur!!! (Sir Gawain and the Green Knights)
- Allegories. A story in which people, animals, things/happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning. They often take the form of a vision in a dream. “Vision of Piers the Ploughman”. Greatest poet Geoffrey Chaucer (Father of English poetry) most important work is the ‘Canterbury tales’ this is a link and frame story, written in heroic couplets (ten syllable lines, rhyming in pairs, borrowed from the fence. It describes a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas a Becket, an archbishop who was killed in the Canterbury Cathedral. In this pilgrimage 30 people are travelling to Canterbury where the host proposes that each pilgrim shall tell two stories on the way to amuse each other and two on the way back . The story is so interesting to us because of the pilgrims representing 3 classes of medieval society: nobility (knights), clergy (priest, monk etc.) common people (carpenter, cook etc.)
Prose
Only the translation of the Bible by Wycliffe.
Drama
- Miracle plays, dealing with lives of saints
- Mystery plays, dealing with scenes from the bible -> both cycle plays. 4 characteristics:
1. Performed in open air or on wagon
2. Latin was replaced by Middle English
3. Priests actors were replaced by members of the town guild (every guild, 1 play)
4. Subject covered human elements of the bible
The Transition Period (Barren Age) 1400-1500
History
To the end of the Middle ages; a lot of war but England also faced troubles internally. No successful time for literature. Gradual change from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Two wars going on in England:
- Hundred Year’s War. French tried to defeat the English. Joan of Arc is well know, she tried to drive out the English with an army but was captured and burned to death. Eventually the French won back their land, and the port of Calais remained the last English stronghold.
- The War of the Roses. Two parties in England, each supporting another royal house (York -> people wore a red rose/ Lancaster -> white rose), claimed the throne of England. Henry Tudor of Lancaster became king of England and Edward V from York had been murdered, the houses were united when Henry married Edwards sister.
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