British-literature

Initially it was an oral tradition, influenced by peoples from the north.

The stories told were epic poems (such as Beowulf) and adaptations of war poems
(Vikings),written in Germanic; alliterations and repetitions were recurring to allow us to
remember history.
In 670 we can find the first preserved written text; Caedmon's Hymn.
Before the 1066 we have the Old-English Literature which ends this period with the Battle of
Hasting and the end of England's Anglo Saxon.
After 1066 we have the Middle-English Literature.

Middle-English:
- basis for current-day English
- 4 cases (old-English had 5, English nowadays has 2)
- Influence from France (Chanson de geste)
-Great diversity in literature
- English Jewish Literature - Berechiah ben Natronai ha-Nakdan
(Edict of Expulsion 1290-1656)
- most important writer: Geoffrey Chaucer "father of English literature"
- William Caxton - printing press in England - 1476
-Arthurian Romance