英国文学之中世纪英国文学 Old_and_Medieval_English_Literature

Setting

Time: The story may take place as early as 400 or 500 A.D.
Place: it is set in what is now Sweden, where a tribe called the Geats lived.

Setting: Beowulf’s time and place
Social pattern: the later stages of tribal society. some small kingdoms a united kingdom called England (the land of Angles) by the 7th century Language: the three dialects a single language called Anglo-Saxon or Old English.
Ð æ m eafera wæ s æ fter cenned geong in geardum, þ one God sende folce to frofre; fyrenð earfe ongeat, þ e hie æ r drugon aldorlease lange hwile; him þ æ s Liffrea, wuldres Wealdend woroldare forgeaf, Beowulf wæ s breme –blæ d wide sprangScyldes eafera Scedelandum in. Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftumon fæ der bearme,
Old and Medieval English Literature
The Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066) The Anglo-Norman Period (1066-1485)

Old and Medieval English Literature (History)
What was the major genre of literature?
a. It is the earliest form of literature in the history of English literature. b. The earliest poems or songs were narrated orally by minstrels , or scops or gleemen.
Who were Vikings?

The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse (Scandinavian) explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.
Old and Medieval English Literature
Outline of British Literature




Old and Medieval English Liteature(449-1485) The Renaissance Period (1485-1660) The 17th Century (1660-1700) The 18th Century (1700-1798) The Romantic Movement (1798-1832) The Victorian Age (1832-1901) Contemporary Period (1901)
Europe today
Time of Beowulf
Characters:
Beowulf: the hero Grendel’s mother Hrothgar: the king Grendel: a monster
Beowulf
Plot
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Beowulf’s fight with the monster Grendel in Hrothgar’s hall Beowulf’s slaying of Grendel’s mother in her lair Beowulf’s return to his hometown, and his succession to the throne. Beowulf’s victory in death, fifty years later, over the fire dragon
Roman Invasion
2) Final occupation of the islands by Rome in 43 A.D. (Claudius the Emperor) Become one of province of Roman Empire.

3). End of Roman occupation: In 410 A.D., all the Roman troops went back to the continent and never returned, thus ended the Roman occupation in Britain.
Theme


Good & Evil Heroism & Heroic Deeds Loyalty
Beowulf (Old English)

HWÆ T, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum, þ eodcyninga þ rym gefrunon, hu ð a æ þ elingas ellen fremedon! oft Scyld Scefing sceaþ ena þ reatum, monegum mæ gþ um meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas, syð ð anæ rest wearð feasceaft funden; he þ æ s frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum weorð myndum þ ah, oð þ æ t him æ ghwylc ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan; þ æ t wæ s god cyning!
What was the major genre of literature?
c. There are two groups of English poetry in Anglo-Saxon period— pagan（无宗教信仰的；异教徒的） and religious poetry. Pagan poetry was represented by Beowulf while religious poetry was represented by the works of Caedmon and Cynewulf

Roman Invasion Invasions by Germanic/Teutonic tribes Danish Invasion

Roman Invasion

1). Process of invasion: Early invasion: (in 55 B.C.） Julius Caesar ，the Roman Conqueror, who had then just occupied Gaul (the present day France)
Danish Invasion
From 787,the English began to be troubled by bands of Danish Vikings. At first they just invaded parts of the country from time to time. Gradually they came to make permanent settlement and ruthlessly destroyed many of the monasteries.
Masterpiece: “The Song of Beowulf ”
Significance Setting Characters Plot Theme Literary Features

Significance



The national epic of the English people; Passed from mouth to mouth for hundreds of years before written down in the 10th century; The most important and representative work of the Old English (the Anglo-Saxon )literature.
Old and Medieval English Literature (Literature)
Historical BackgroundBiblioteka Baidu

The Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066)
Early Settlers: Celts around 700 B.C. Three Invasions
General View of Literature
Q: What do you think will exert influences on literature at this time? A: 1.Northern mythology trace 2. Christian feature
The Historical Background

3). Influence: 1. With the Roman Conquest the Roman mode of life came across to Britain. 2. Also, it was during the Roman rule that Christianity was introduced to Britain.
þ æ t hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesiþ as, þ onne wig cume, leode gelæ sten; lofdæ dum sceal in mæ gþ a gehwæ re man geþ eon. Him ð a Scyld gewat to gescæ phwile felahror feran on Frean wæ re; hi hyne þ a æ tbæ ron to brimes faroð e, swæ se gesiþ as, swa he selfa bæ d, þ endenwordum weold wine Scyldinga--leof landfruma lange ahte.
Invasions by Germanic/Teutonic Tribes
Time: from the middle of the 5th century to the 11th century Origin: three Germanic tribes from the Northeast of Europe: the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes

What was the original form of literature at that time?
Anglo-Saxon literature is almost a verse literature in oral form. It could be passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation. Its creators for the most part are unknown. It was only given a written form long after its composition.