HISTORY OF ENGLISH

LITERATURE
ASST. PROF. DR ZANYAR KAREEM ABDUL
MA CLASS
UNIVERSITY OF HALABJA
PRE-HISTORIC

• The island (United Kingdom) occupied by the Celts between 800 – 600 BC
• A group named (Brythons or Britons) invaded the whole island and settled in.
• Gaels settled on the second largest island knows as (Ireland).
INVASION AND ITS INFLUENCE

• Rome: 41 AD
• Anglo Saxon 5th century
• Vikings 9th century

• Resulted in the mixing of several races, cultures and tongues.

OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE

• The Anglo-Saxon period in Britain spans approximately the six centuries from 410-1066 AD. The period
used to be known as the Dark Ages, mainly because written sources for the early years of Saxon invasion
are scarce.
• Old English is patriotic. Anglo-Saxon is replaced.
• Henry Sweet is an Anglicist confirms “Old English” “to denote the unmixed inflectional state of the
English language commonly known by the barbarous and unmeaning title of Anglo-Saxon.”
• the same language used by king Alfred and his inhabitants of Wessex.
CHARACTERISTICS

• Strong faith in FATE

• CHURCH VS PAGAN
• Heroic warriors
• Moral instructions in literature
CONT…

• Norman Conquest 1066, ends the position of Sweet despite protesters.

• Germans = Angles + Saxons + Jutes = control the former Roman colony of Britain in 5 th century
• Celtic original cannot remove name themselves “WEALH” means Welsh.
• continues till the power of King Arthur.
CONT….

• process of re-Christianization began in late 6th century

• By 7th century it was ordered and accepted under the control of Roman Christianity.
• 8th century, the arrival of Augustine and spread his message.
• Latin language (some religious texts remain some are lost)
• in 793, chaos happens by Viking, war for power.
LITERATURE OF OLD ENGLISH

• In 600 A.D., Cadmon as the first English poet appears , who writes hymn to God. Afraid of secular feasts.
• Beowulf is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182
alliterative lines.
• Old English poetry has complex patterns, different syllables short or long and interweaving words.
• Some scholars say it is about paganism., while other confirm Christianity.
OLD ENGLISH POETRY

• About 750, poetry flourished in north Umbria, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in north.

• Mostly about hardships of saints.
• The leading one was Cynewulf who wrote Juliana.
• Saint Aldhelm also wrote in both Latin and English.
OLD ENGLISH PROSE

• Most writers wrote in LATIN until 800 until the Great Alfred became the king of Wessex.
• He ordered to translate some works into English.
• Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation (731) written by a monk known as Bede.
• Aelfric, another monk, wrote some essays on morality in 990’s.
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings

of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,

we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!

Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,

from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,

awing the earls. Since erst he lay

friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:

for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,

till before him the folk, both far and near,

who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,

gave him gifts: a good king he!

To him an heir was afterward born,

a son in his halls, whom heaven sent

to favor the folk, feeling their woe

that erst they had lacked an earl for leader

so long a while; the Lord endowed him,

the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown.

Famed was this Beowulf: far flew the boast of him,

son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.

So becomes it a youth to quit him well

with his father’s friends, by fee and gift,

that to aid him, aged, in after days,

BEOWULF

• The story begins from Scandinavia

• 8th century
• Pagan vs Christianity
• Moral values
• virtue vs vice
• Revenge
BEOWULF

• Seven deadly sins

• good vs evil
• Loyalty
THE BATTLE OF MALDON

Then Byrhtnoth ordered each of his warriors

to release their horses, to hurry them far away,
and to go forwards, mindful of their hands and their stout courage. (2-4)
When Offa’s kinsman first understood
that the earl would not suffer cowardice,
he let his beloved hawk fly from his hands
away into the woods and then he advanced to the battle—
that was a gesture one could recognize:
the young warrior did not wish to waver at war,
when he took up his weapons. (5-10)
Also Eadric wanted to support his lord,
his master in battle so he bore his spear
forth to the fight. He had good intentions
so long as he could hold with his hands
a shield and broad sword—he would validate his vow
when the time came to fight before his lord. (11-6)
ITS CONTENT

• written in 1000
• Conflict between the Byrthnoth and Vikings
• bravery
• Christian culture
• obedience to God
• loyalty
• fist person narrator