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  • English History 3

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    Livia Moreanu
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    The document provides context about the early history and culture of English literature. It describes the shore tribes that inhabited England as having a seafaring lifestyle focused on war and wandering. Their boats would sail in spring to raid neighboring tribes or monasteries along the coasts of Roman Gaul and England. Their poetry frequently drew inspiration from their dangerous lives at sea, using vivid metaphors to describe the ocean. While no actual poetry from this earliest pagan period survives, later Christian poetry references their ancient voyages and battles. It briefly outlines some of the main gods of their primitive religion, including Tiu, Woden, Thor and Frea, whose names are preserved in the days of the week.

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    The document provides context about the early history and culture of English literature. It describes the shore tribes that inhabited England as having a seafaring lifestyle focused on war and wandering. Their boats would sail in spring to raid neighboring tribes or monasteries along the coasts of Roman Gaul and England. Their poetry frequently drew inspiration from their dangerous lives at sea, using vivid metaphors to describe the ocean. While no actual poetry from this earliest pagan period survives, later Christian poetry references their ancient voyages and battles. It briefly outlines some of the main gods of their primitive religion, including Tiu, Woden, Thor and Frea, whose names are preserved in the days of the week.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    1 views1 page

    English History 3

    Uploaded by

    Livia Moreanu
    The document provides context about the early history and culture of English literature. It describes the shore tribes that inhabited England as having a seafaring lifestyle focused on war and wandering. Their boats would sail in spring to raid neighboring tribes or monasteries along the coasts of Roman Gaul and England. Their poetry frequently drew inspiration from their dangerous lives at sea, using vivid metaphors to describe the ocean. While no actual poetry from this earliest pagan period survives, later Christian poetry references their ancient voyages and battles. It briefly outlines some of the main gods of their primitive religion, including Tiu, Woden, Thor and Frea, whose names are preserved in the days of the week.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    2AHISTORYOFENGLISHLITERATURE

    giganticmonstershalfseenamidmistanddarkness;
    glimpsesofthestormynorthernoceanfilledlikewisewith
    shapesofshadowyfear.Whetherfromsuperstitionor
    fromthephysicaldifficultyofthecountry,theseshore
    tribesseemnottohavepenetratedfarinland.Their
    twopassions,warandwandering,urgedthemforthupon
    thesea.Assoonasspringhadunlockedtheharbors
    theirboatssailedoutinsearchofbootyandadventure;
    sometimestoravageortowreakbloodfeudonaneighboring
    tribe,sometimestoharryamonasteryonthecoastsof
    RomanGaulortoplunderalongthewhitecliffsofEngland,
    theirfuturehome.Thisseafaringlife,fullof
    dangerandadventure,wasafrequentinspirationofthe
    poet.Thesea,intherichvocabularyofpoetry,isthe
    "sealbath,"the
    "
    swanroad,"the"whalepath."The
    shipisthe"swimmingwood,"the"seasteed,"the
    "wavehouseofwarriors";itscurvedprowis"wreathed
    withfoamliketheneckofaswan."Thedarkeraspects
    oftheoceanarealsosungwithfervor.'Thefatalistic
    AngloSaxonwasfearlessbeforetheterrorandgloomof
    theelementwhichhemostlovedtoinhabit.
    Noactualpoetryhascomedowntousfromthat
    earliestperiod,butthepoetryofasubsequentageis
    filledwithphrasesandreminiscencesofan
    Reiigion
    cientpaganvoyagesandbattles.Thislater
    poetryisnearlyallChristianintoneorin
    substance.Butfromothersourcesweknowwhatwere
    theprimitivegodsoftherace:Tiu,amysteriousand
    dreadfuldeityofwar;Woden,fatherofthelaterdynasty
    ofgodsandthepatronofseersandtravellers;Thor,the
    godofthunder;Frea,motherofthegodsandgiverof
    fruitfulness.Thesearecommemoratedinournamesof
    thedaysoftheweekTuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,
    andFriday.TheritesofEostre,amysteriousgoddess
    ofthedawn,survive,thoughstrangelyaltered,inthe
    ChristianfestivalofEaster.Instudyingtheearlier

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