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OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE

The Old English Period or the Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066)

 

7.2. The Old English Literature (450-1066)

This age started in the fifth century when the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons came to England from Germany, defeated the English tribe (Celts), and started their reign. It ended in 1066 with the Norman Conquest.

7.2.1. Influencing Factors of the Literature of this Period

(1) Christianization of the pagan tribes began in England.

(2) The 7th century is marked by the establishment of monasteries by Christian authorities where written literature began since whatever had existed literature before that time was oral.

(3) Alfred the Great who ruled England from 871 to 901 encouraged education and supervised the compilation of The Anglo Saxon Chronicle.

(4) The presence of the Anglo- Saxon culture and folklore

7.2.3. Major Literary Works of the Period

Beowulf is the earliest English written epic of this period. “The Wanderer”, “The Seafarer”, “The Husband’s Message” and “The Wife’s Lament” are old English poems recorded in Exeter's book[1] considered as the most remarkable literary works of the age. Moreover, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle written in this age is the earliest prose of English literature.

7.2.4. Prevailing Literary Features of the Age

The following thematic and structural (content and form) features prevail in the literary works of this period and mainly in the epic poem Beowulf

1) Most of the literary works are anonymous.

2) Paganism dominates the literary spirit of the time though Christianity is also traceable.

3) Strong belief in Fate is reflected.

4) Evil is symbolized by monsters and good is promoted through heroes

5) Romantic love is absent. No presence of love stories as the core interest of poems

6) Attitude towards women is respectful.

7) Sea adventures, savagery, and heroic activities are honored.

8) Use of more metaphors and fewer similes is the practice of the time.

9) Alliteration is used as the main ornamental poetic device and all alliterative syllables are stressed. (Poems are called alliterative verses)

10) Kennings (compound words instead of single words) are widely used. Here are some examples: “whale-road” for the sea, “loaf-giver” for the king, “life-house” for the body, “soul-destroyer” for the monster, etc.

 11) Verse lines do not have an equal number of syllables. Syllables in one line vary from six to fourteen.

12) End-rhyme is ignored.

 


[1] Exeter book: is one of the four English famous anthologies. It records the old English poetry.