"gleeman" - 1 õppematerjal

History of English literature

History of English literature Periods: 1. Anglo-saxon or early literature (499 - 1066) 2. Second or Norman or late Medieval period (1066 - 13/14 century) 3. Renaissance or Modern period (13-14 century ­ present) Anglo-Saxon period · All of the literature had its roots in folklore · Texts were orally transmitted, the anglosaxons had no written language · Two types of singers: 1) scop (attached to the royal court, wrote poetry and songs, performed them); 2) gleeman (travelled, mostly sang other peoples' songs, not their own songs; performers of scop songs) · The oldest known song ­ Widsith (The Far Traveller/Wonderer); tells of a gleeman who travels in Europe, of his love of noble deeds, speaks of the shortness of life http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widsith · The other known song ­ Deor's Lament. Can be called the first English lyrics, about 40 lines. Talks about a scop who is not happy with his life.