English literatutre - Authors, history
THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD English literature came when the Angles, the Saxons,
the Jutes and the Frisians invaded Britain. During this time English was called Anglo-
Saxon or Old English. In the chronicles of Roman history (composed in Latin) is said that
Britain makes its first appearance in written language when Romans invade the England.
BEOWULF most important poem, surviving in a 10th-cent manuscript. The historical
period of the poem's events can be dated in the 6th to 8th century. Much of the material of
the poem is legendary and paralleled in other Germanic historical-mythological literature in
Norse, Old English, and German.
GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1340-1400) Politician and writer, fought in France during the
100 years war. He visited Genoa and Florence where he became acquainted with Italian
literature and in particular with the works of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio. The French
period (up to 1370). early works were ba...