Revision questions for the test on Old English and Medieval Literature. 1.) How is literature analysed and studied? What is the difference between the diachronic and synchronic view? Literature is studied and analysed by reading the piece of work profoundly and work on all the aspects of the piece. Diachronic is development in history Synchronic is particular state at any given moment 2.) Give a general overview of Celtic Britain, Roman invasion in 55-54 BC, Anglo-Saxon invasion and the second Roman "invasion" of Great Britain, who were the leaders, what influence did they leave on the culture of Great Britain? Celtic Britain was during the Bronze Age, there were many small tribal kingdoms fighting one another. Many megalithic monuments were built around that time, e.g. Stonehenge, the Avebury ring.
Literature of the 14th century The highpoint of medieval literature, the best writer of late medieval lived then. William Langland 1332-1376 the last important poet of alliterative verse. His masterpiece "The Vision of Piers Ploughman" how important working hard is, the labour of peasants is the base of the welfare of the people. A passionate protest against social injustice. A time when peasants were slowly rising against their feudal lords. Descriptions of different social classes. Religious mysticism
He shows a very rich and leisurely portrayal of this Baltic world, providing many customs like the close relationship between lord and man in the war-band and others. All this encouraged the supposition that the unknown author of the poem was himself a bard of the ancient type portrayed within the poem (a lord's scoop). However, many people propose that the author could be Christian poet, perhaps a monk, versed not only in old native traditions, but also in the culture and literature of the Latin Church, and whose purpose of writing was highly moral. For example, the fate is a `providentia' and the monster Grendel is an embodiment of evil fighting against Christian militant. This contrast corresponds to the poem itself. The poet is looking back from his own Christian times to an old society with different customs and beliefs. The poem is set, as it is announced in the very first line: `in days gone by'
English literature is one of the oldest literatures in Europe; dates back to the 6th century AD. Oral literature, i.e. not written down, spread from person to person. In 449 AD Anglo-‐Saxon tribes invaded England – beginning of the Anglo-‐Saxon period in English literature. The first form of literature was folklore, carried by scops and gleemen, who
ENGLISH LITERATURE Ancient Britain Lived on the British Isles in the 1st millenium. They most probably came from Eastern Europe and belonged to the Celtic race and also spoke Celtic. They were primitive hunters- gatherers, farmers. Some Celtic words are still used in modern English, however they are used mostly in place names. For example: · avon river · cumb valley · ford shallow place in the river Ancient Britons had their own religion and priests or druids and temples. In the year 55 BC Britain became a Roman province. Romans were highly developed and had their own language latin, which has also greatly influenced English. The military occupation of the Isles ended in 410 AD
contrary. Beowulf is described as a wise, hardy, noble hero who is fighting universal evil, whereas Grendel is a hideous, horrific, grim, fierce and merciless fiend who possesses no good qualities. With the description of Grendel the author actually describes Beowulf as well as he is always the absolute contrary to Grendel. We know that this is an Anglo-Saxon text because it has all the characteristic features of Anglo-Saxon literature. For example the metrical system is alliteration and it is used in abundance e.g. "Many at morning, as men have told me", "Folk-leaders faring from far and near", "By that bloody battle the boon had come" etc. Another characteristic is that there is no rhyme, but rhythm. This was very important in the Anglo-Saxon period as in the contemporary time the epic was performed by court singers. "Beowulf" was written with four beats to each line. The
Land. 11.How would you describe Medieval or Chivalric Romances? Chivalric romance is a type of prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight-errant portrayed as having heroic qualities, who goes on a quest. 12.What is courtly love? It was a medieval European literary conception of love that emphasized nobility and chivalry. Medieval literature is filled with examples of knights setting out on adventures and performing various services for ladies because of their "courtly love". 13.What is a fableaux? A medieval verse tale characterized by comic, ribald treatment of themes drawn from life. 14.William Langland ,,The Visions of Piers Ploughman" 15.Find some information about Geoffrey Chaucer - his life and times. Chaucer was the first great poet writer in English, whose best-known work is 'The Canterbury Tales'
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.
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