Old English Period (450-1066)
The Old English Period (450-1066) is also known as the Anglo-Saxon Period. It is named after the Germanic tribes, specifically the Angles and Saxons, who settled in England during this time. This period marks the early development of English language and literature, characterized by the unique contributions of these tribes.
Genres: Epic poetry, Religious poetry, Religious prose, Riddles, Chronicles, Elegies.
Examples:
1. Epic Poetry: Beowulf
2. Religious poem : The Dream of the Rood
3. Religious Prose: Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People) by Bede and Catholic Homilies by Ælfric of Eynsham.
4. Riddles: Exeter Book
5. Chronicles: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
6. Elegies: The Wanderer and The Seafarer
1. Epic Poetry:
Example: "Beowulf"
Author: Anonymous (The Beowulf poet is unknown)
Description: An epic focusing on the hero Beowulf's battles against monsters like Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon.
2. Religious Poetry:
Example: "The Dream of the Rood"
Author: Anonymous (The poet is unknown)
Description: An allegorical account of Christ’s crucifixion, told from the perspective of the Cross (the "Rood").
3. Religious Prose:
Example 1: "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum" (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People)
Author: Bede (673–735)
Description: Written in Latin, it was influential on the development of Christian prose in England.
Example 2: "Catholic Homilies"
Author: Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 955–c. 1010)
Description: A collection of sermons written in Old English, aimed at educating the Anglo-Saxon population in Christian doctrine and morality.
4. Riddles:
Example: Riddles found in the "Exeter Book"
Author: Anonymous (Various authors or compilers)
Description: The Exeter Book contains a collection of Old English riddles, many of which play with words and descriptions of everyday objects or animals.
5. Chronicles:
Example: "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"
Author: Various anonymous scribes
Description: A collection of annals that record the history of the Anglo-Saxons, started by King Alfred the Great and continued by different scribes.
6. Elegies:
Example 1: "The Wanderer"
Author: Anonymous
Description: Reflects on themes of exile, loss of a lord, and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker laments his isolation and contemplates fate and wisdom.
Example 2: "The Seafarer"
Author: Anonymous
Description: Presents the reflections of a man who endures the hardships of life at sea, focusing on isolation and the harshness of life, yet also contemplating the speaker's spiritual journey.
Example 3: "The Wife's Lament"
Author: Anonymous
Description: A woman laments her separation from her husband and her life in exile, blending personal grief with the pain of isolation.
Example 4: "The Ruin"
Author: Anonymous
Description: Describes the crumbling ruins of a once-great city (thought to be Bath), meditating on the decay of human achievements and the inevitability of time's passage.
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