CHAPTER
1
OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE (600 -
1100)
|
Old English Literature (600 -
1100) |
|
|
Poetry |
Prose |
|
1. Unknown Author Beowulf Genesis A Genesis B Exodus Daniel The Dream of the Rood 2. Cynewulf Juliana The Fates of the Apostles Christ Elene 3. Caedmon |
1. King Alfred The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 2. Aelfric Homilies Lives of Saints |
The Old
English language, also called Anglo-Saxon, was the earliest form of English. It
is difficult to give exact dates for the rise and development of a language,
because it does not change suddenly. The language used in England about 600 to
1100 A.D. It has vast difference with the English used today. Old English is gradually
developed in course of time.
Poetry
Old English literature was the earliest form of
English, which was spoken from about 600 to 1100 A.D. It is very different from
modern English so it cannot be read now without special study. The earlier
literature of Anglo-Saxon people was oral. Later in the seventh century, they
began to develop written literature. In old English Poetry descriptions of sad
events and cruel situation are commoner than those of happiness.
Beowulf is the greatest old English
epic. It is the story of Beowulf about 3, 000 lines. It is the first English
epic written around seventh century. The name of its author is unknown. The
poem presents a story of fierce fight and brave deeds of the hero Beowulf.
The poem has two parts, in the first part Beowulf a
brave man from Southern Danes, helps the king Hrothgar of England for saving
his men from Grendel, a terrible creature. It lives in the lake and comes to
kill and eat Hrothgar's men. One night Beowulf waits secretly for this thing,
attacks it and in a fierce fight pulls its arm off. It manages to reach the
lake again, but dies there. Then its mother comes to the hall in search of
revenge, and they fights and Beowulf follows her to the bottom of the lake and
kills her there.
In the second part, Beowulf, now king of his people,
has to defend his country against a fire-breathing creature. He kills the
animal but is badly wounded in the fight, and dies. The poem ends with a
sorrowful description of Beowulf's funeral fire.
Though Beowulf is an old English poem, it has its own value.
It gives us an interesting picture of life and attitude of people in those old
days. It tells us of fierce fights and heroic deeds. It has alliterative and
stressed poetic lines without rhyme.
Some Old English Poems
Genesis A - a poem taken from Bible
Genesis B - a poem about the origin of the world
and the fall of angels.
Exodus - poem taken straight from Bible
Daniel - poem taken straight from
Bible
Christ and Satan - a publication poem that
deals with events in Christ's life
Andreas and Guthlac - Guthlac was tempted in the
desert
The Dream of the Rood - one of the best English poems
The Battle of Maldon - it describes the war against
Danes in 991
Two Old English Poets
Caedmon - a poet inspired by the
God.
Cynewulf - wrote four poems namely Juliana,
The Fates of the Apostles, Christ and Elene.
Old English Lyrics
Deor's Complaint, The Husband's
Message, The Wanderer and The Wife's Complaint.
Prose
In general it is fairly safe to say that Old English
prose came later than Old English verse. The development of prose took place
wholly in England as a result of Christianization. The most interesting piece
of prose is The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It is an early history of the
country, which was probably, began in King Alfred's time. King Alfred
gave a great contribution to the development of old English prose. He himself
translated a number of Latin books into English. Being a learned man, he
improved the education of his people. Another important writer of prose was Aelfric.
His works such as Homilies and Lives of Saints were mostly
religious. His prose style is the best in old English and he uses alliteration
to join his sentences together.
.jpg)
