PERIODS OF THE BRITISH

LITERARURE:
LITERARY PECULIARITIES OF
OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE

Dr. hab., professor

Oksana Babelyuk
 BRITISH LITERATURE

British literature is
literature in the English
language from the United
Kingdom, Isle of Man, and
Channel Islands
 ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE
Old English literature, or Anglo-
Saxon literature, encompasses
literature written in Old English, in
Anglo-Saxon England from the 7th
century to the Norman Conquest
of 1066
 ANGLO-SAXONS MIGRATION
The Anglo-Saxons were cultural groups
who inhabited England from the 5th
century. They comprised people from
Germanic tribes who migrated to the
island from continental Europe, and
numerous British groups who adopted
many aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture and
language
The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain

The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain is

the process which changed the language
and culture of England from Romano-
British to Germanic.
The Germanic-speakers in Britain
themselves were of diverse origins (celts,
jutes, saxons ). They developed a common
cultural identity called as Anglo-Saxons.
THE EARLY ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD
The early Anglo-Saxon period includes the
creation of an English nation, with many
aspects that survive up today, including regional
government of shires and hundreds.
During this period, Christianity was established
and there was a flowering of literature and
language.
Charters and law were also established.
The Anglo-Saxons established the Kingdom
of England

The modern English language

owes almost half of its words (the
most common words of everyday
speech)
 Old English vs Anglo-Saxon
The term Anglo-Saxon is also used for
the language that was spoken and
written by the Anglo-Saxons in England
and eastern Scotland between the
mid-5th century and the middle of the
12th century
It is more commonly called Old English
 PACULIARITIES OF THE OLD ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
Old English developed from a set of Anglo-Frisian or Ingvaeonic
dialects originally spoken by Germanic tribes traditionally known as
the Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
As the Anglo-Saxons became dominant in England, their language
replaced the languages of Roman Britain: Common Brittonic, a
Celtic language, and Latin, brought to Britain by Roman invasion.
Old English had four main dialects, associated with particular
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms: Mercian, Northumbrian, Kentish and West
Saxon.
It was West Saxon that formed the basis for the literary standard of
the later Old English period, although the dominant forms of
Middle and Modern English would develop mainly from Mercian.
 PACULIARITIES OF THE OLD ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
Old English is one of the West Germanic languages,
and its closest relatives are Old Frisian and Old Saxon.
Old English was a synthetic language -- nouns,
adjectives, pronouns and verbs have many inflectional
endings and forms, and word order is free.
The oldest Old English inscriptions were written using
a runic system, but from about the 8th century this
was replaced by a version of the Latin alphabet.
ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE
the Beowulf manuscript → Beowulf, Judith, and three prose tracts

→ gathering of lyrics, riddles, didactic poems,

the Exeter Book
and religious narratives

→ the Caedmon Manuscript,

the Junius Manuscript
contains biblical paraphrases

the Vercelli Book → contains saints’ lives, several short

religious poems
 ANGLO-SAXON LITERARY GENRES

• epic poetry (is a lengthy narrative poem, involving a time

beyond living memory in which occurred the extraordinary
doings of the extraordinary men and women who, in dealings
with the gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the
mortal universe for their descendants
• hagiography is an idealized biography of a founder, saint,
monk
• sermons
• Bible translations
• legal works
• chronicles
• riddles
In all there are about 400 surviving manuscripts from that period
 BASIC THEMES AND MOTIVES
The poetry is drawing on a common set of
stock phrases and phrase patterns,
applying standard epithets to various
classes of characters, and depicting
scenery with such recurring images as the
eagle and the wolf, which wait during
battles to feast on carrion, and ice and
snow, which appear in the landscape to
signal sorrow
 STANDARD DEVICES OF THE OLD ENLISH
POETRY

Old English poetry is written in a single

metre, a four-stress line with a
syntactical break, or caesura, between
the second and third stresses, and
with alliteration linking the two halves
of the line; this pattern is occasionally
varied by six-stress lines
 STANDARD DEVICES OF THIS POETRY

Another standard devices of this poetry

are the kenning, a figurative name for a
thing, usually expressed in a compound
noun (e.g., swan-road used to name the
sea); and variation, the repeating of a
single idea in different words, with each
repetition adding a new level of meaning
THE KEY LITERARY GENRES
THE KEY LITERARY GENRES
THE KEY LITERARY GENRES
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 Epic ‘Beowulf’
“Beowulf” is a heroic epic poem of an unknown
author, written in Old English, approximately
between the 8th and the 10th Century CE.
It is one of the most important works of Anglo-
Saxon literature and can be considered as the
highest achievement of Old English literature and
the earliest European vernacular epic
(literature written in the vernacular — the speech
of the "common people“).
It tells the story of the hero Beowulf, and his battles
against the monster Grendel and against an
unnamed dragon.
 Epic ‘Beowulf’

The epic firstly was untitled, but later it was

named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf,
whose exploits and character provide its
connecting theme. Though there is no evidence
of a historical Beowulf, some characters, sites,
and events in the poem still can be historically
verified.
The poem was firstly printed in 1815 in a single
manuscript, known as the Beowulf manuscript.
 The author of the poem is
Epic ‘Beowulf’
unknown.
It is generally thought that
the poem was performed by
memory by the poet or by a
travelling entertainer (scop),
and was passed down to
readers and listeners, and
was finally written down at
the request of a king who
wanted to hear it again.
 Historical period

Epic ’Beowulf’ had probably appeared during the

period of Anglo-Saxon literature (also known as an Old
English literature) in England.
The Anglo-Saxon period in Britain covers the six
centuries from 410 till 1066 AD.
This period is known as the Dark Ages, mainly because
there is a few written sources for the early years of
Saxon invasion. However, most historians now prefer
the terms 'early middle ages' or 'early medieval
period'. 
Historical period
It was a time of the breaking up
of Roman Britannia into several
separate kingdoms, of religious
conversion and of continual
battles against the Vikings.
Anglo-Saxon mercenaries had
for many years fought in the
Roman army in Britain. Their
invasions began before the
Roman legions departed. 
The various Anglo-Saxon groups
settled in different areas of the
country. They formed several
kingdoms, which were
constantly at war with one
another. By 650 AD there were
seven separate kingdoms.
 MAIN FEATURES OF THE EPIC

• The poem has unified structure with a

corporation of historical and mythological
traditions.
• The poem has two distinct parts, that is why
sometimes scholars believe that the sections
which take place in Denmark and the sections
which take place back in Beowulf’s homeland
were written by different authors.
 Main features and peculiarities of the epic

• Each line of ’Beowulf’ is divided into two distinct

half-lines (each containing at least four syllables),
separated by a pause and related by the
repetition of sounds.
• Almost no lines end in rhymes.
• The alliteration gives the poetry its music and
rhythm.
• The litotes with a negative tone are used to
create a sense of irony.
 Structural features of the epic

• No real conversation between the characters, just

delivering their speech to one another.
• Dynamic plot, fast change of the actions.
• There is some use of historical digressions, similar
to the use of flashbacks in modern movies and
novels, and this interweaving of events of the
present and the past is a major structural device.
• Shifting of the point of view is used to offer
multiple perspectives
 Stylistic devices in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• The poet also uses a stylistic device called

“kenning”.
Kenning Meaning
Whale-road Sea
Light-of-battle A sword
Battle-sweat Blood
Raven-harvest A corpse
Ring-giver A king
Sky-candle The sun
Historical features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• The events it relates are set in a historical time

and places. The poem takes place largely in
sixth century Denmark and southern Sweden.
• Some characters have their own real
prototypes, or could be found in legends or
myths. Scyld Scefing - a folktale or myth.
Hrothgar, Danish king and his nephew Hrothulf
are based in historic fact. Offa was the fourth
century king of the Angles when they were on
the continent.
Historical features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• Using and promoting

Germanic historical
legend was highly
important to the Anglo-
Saxons.
• Legendary figures and
their relationships are also
used to represent tribal
and inter-tribal relations.
• In  ’Beowulf’, the legend is
used to create a historical
past to the deeds of
Beowulf.
Christian features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• Elements of Christian philosophy: man

survives only through the protection of God,
all earthly gifts flow from God, the proper
bearing of man is to be humble and unselfish).
• The struggle pride vs. humility and sacrifice vs.
selfishness was depicted.
• A strong understanding that a warrior must be
true to his values, courage, honesty, and
humility and only then he will be able to earn
a protection from God.
Christian features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

•  Beowulf achieved the difficult

balance between pride and
humility, which is somehow
connected to the Christian
tradition.
•  Beowulf is a mix of two
ideals: the heroic warrior of
the pagans and the humble
selfless servant of the
Christians.
Christian features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• It is believed that here are several Biblical

references in Beowulf (Grendel is referred to
as a descendant of Cain. In addition, there is a
reference to the Great Flood that took place in
Genesis).
• Beowulf, who is struggling with Grendel is a
metaphor of a person struggling with the evil.
 Pagan features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• Beowulf represents pagan’s concept of fatalism.

Throughout the poem, the pagan construct of fate is
constantly blended with the idea of God’s will.
• The paganism in Beowulf is depicted through the lens
of a medieval Christian idea of Norse paganism.
• Beowulf's motivations and successes are influenced
with the medieval Christian idea of God and
righteousness, while Grendel is depicted as being
demonic (a pagan figure who opposes Christian
ideals).
• The heroic pride within Beowulf is in direct conflict
with Christian values.
 Pagan features in the epic ‘Beowulf’

• Mentioning of a wyrd is the pagan feature too. In

Norse pagan and other ancient belief systems, wyrd is
akin to fate and symbolized by three women who
control the paths of both gods and humans. Critics
suggest that Wyrd or fate has been used in the poem
to describe the blind destiny.
• The use of special swords named Hrunting, covered
with symbols. Many special swords were carved with
runes for protection, blessings, and victory, as well as
with prayers or invocations to the Norse gods.
• A warrior's sword was sacred and treated almost as a
living thing, which is also a feature of paganism.
 Pagan features in the epic ‘Beowulf’
• There are no references of Christ, Virgin Mary, The
Cross and the Saints.
• Myth-making and believing in it is a practice in
paganism.
• Paganism conceives a note of melancholy and
despair, and the grief and sadness could be found
throughout the poem.
• A lot of attention in the epic was showed for
nature, and the state of nature in the epic is
influenced by the outgoing events. It could be
considered as the pagan feature, as long as
paganism was concentrating on nature’s
processes, f. e. harvest or thunder.
 Themes of Beowulf
Bravery and Valor
Loyalty
Beowulf is the perfect
 the conflict between
embodiment of bravery
Beowulf and Unferth
and valor

Generosity and
Hospitality
Vengeance
 King Hrothgar and
 Grendel’s mother
his wife
 Summary
Historical features Christian features Pagan features

Real places are Some elements of Myth-making

depicted. Christian philosophy.
Some characters have Strong belief in God and Norse paganism
historical prototype. his protection. philosophy.
Description of tribal and Hidden struggle Worship to abstract
inter-tribal between righteousness terms (wyrd).
relationships. and evil.
Historical background is Biblical references. Lack of references of
used to make the Christ, Virgin Mary, The
fantastical adventures Cross and the Saints.
of Beowulf more real.
Depiction of nature as a
part of plot events.
 Literature
• Baker, Peter S. "Beowulf." Medieval England: An
Encyclopedia.
• Chambers, R.W. Beowulf: An Introduction to the Study of
the Poem With a Discussion of the Stories of Offa and Finn. 
• Frank, Roberta. "Germanic Legend in Old English Literature”.
• Goldsmith, Margareth. “The Christian Theme of Beowulf”.
• https://www.history.org.uk/primary/resource/3865/anglo-s
axons-a-brief-history
• https://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs1d/CHRIST.html
• https://www.literaturemini.com/2018/08/discuss-pagan-ele
ment-in-beowulf.html