Time of Anglo-Saxons:
Old English literature is Anglo Saxon literature related to the time the Anglo-Saxons
invaded Britain as early as the 5th century. They were Germanic tribes that migrated to Britain from
different parts of Eastern Europe bringing with them their customs and traditions as well as language
or dialect.
That's why any Anglo-Saxon work is definitely to be read in "translation"(works that belongs to this
era are translation of the works composed then)
Therefore, before we can deal with those texts, we have to get an idea about that culture that had its
own characteristics which obviously enough are reflected in the work.
the Britons (original inhabitants) were living in « Britain" from 550 BC until 410 ADS
in 410 AD a Germanic group invaded Britain. This Germanic group consists of: Angles, Saxons, and
Jutes (jutes were less in population)
Anglo Saxon period or Old English literature predominates from 410 AD to 1066 AD
This period is a combination between original language spoken by Britons were Christians and the
language spoken by the Germanic tribes were pagans angles and Saxons.
the kingdom of Denmark was a mixture of these, since Beowulf is in old English language and it had
allusion to the bible so people were believing in Christianity.
We have like works in this era: Beowulf and the wanderer
The main common feature
is the anonymity of the works (they are identified by their titles but in terms of the authors they are
anonymous. Therefore, the name of the author adopts the following structure
the name of the work poet
example= the work of Beowulf's author is "The Beowulf poet").
The components of the Anglo Saxons:
Germanic tribes consist of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
They had their own dialect, customs, and traditions. But what they shared was some tribal system
with a specific heroic code or heroic ideal (is a code based on an ancient Germanic in a war
society, it is implied a set of values which stressed on the valor on an individual, society
concentrated on a strong, leader or hero and his followers). Involving a sense of honor, allegiance,
and faithfulness to the lord, and great respect for courtship and family relationships.
another feature was some progressive conversion to Christianity while still keeping some of their
pagan beliefs and habits.
This kind of environment gave rise to the production of some great works which though anonymous,
they convey much about the conventions ( )أعراف ومعتقداتthat existed then.
in terms of genres, the most predominated one is the "Epic".
The Epic of Beowulf:
the definition of the Epic:
o It is a long, contain more than 3000 lines it is a narrative poem relating heroic acts and deeds
of great figures in an elevated and dignified style
Definition of Beowulf
Beowulf is a heroic epic (An epic hero is the main character of an epic poem that tells
the story of a grand quest in which they use their extraordinary or superhuman
abilities to achieve great things.) poem work, written by an unknown author in old English,
it is on of the most important works art Anglo Saxon literature, contain more than 3000
lines, belonging to Old English Literature, by the time of the Anglo-Saxons. It is an Anglo-
Saxon epic par excellence. When we speak about the Anglo-Saxon period, the one
characteristic is the existence of the outstanding poem Beowulf
o The focus in this course is on the "British literature of the middle ages" which last for ages.
o From the end of the 7th century to the end of the 15th century, divided to 2 parts:
o 1-Old English literature that has an Anglo-Saxon origin.
o 2- the following is the middle English literature, the early works of which they back to 12th C
after the Norman conquest that took place in 1066.
o it was available in translation (translation in verse and in prose). One of the translators is the
Oxford scholar J.R.R. Tolkien who published a paper on the poem in 1936.
Because of the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity that took place over sometime,
Beowulf poet (the author) must have been Christian because of the many religious allusions in the
work. The epic of Beowulf was changed by some paganism since it transmitted orally.
Allusion is a refence to a person, a place, an event, or a literary work that a writer expects the
reader to recognize and respond to, may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion.
Historically speaking, the reign of king Alfred (an Anglo-Saxon king, born in 849 and died in 899) was
beneficial as the king himself was an author and translator, and preserved the Anglo-Saxon culture
through some educational systems that encourage the use of the vernacular (the old English
language). Because what had been predominated as a language due to the power and influence of
the church was the Latin language.
king Alfred contribute to have many old English texts copied and preserved as a literary heritage of
the British history.
Beowulf is a work that partakes both Christianity and paganism. But Beowulf and the king of
Hrothgar are Christians.
Poetic Devices used in Beowulf: In ancient times, poetry had to entertain people. Poem was meant
for an oral performance.
What is the style/ form/ technique/ language of written in verse or prose?
the poem is written in alliterative verse. Because we have different rhyme, along with some figural,
the alliterative verse is shared by most of the oldest Germanic language.
The alliterative verse is in 2 half-lines in one line separated by some caesura.
Caesura has come to represent a pronounced paused in order to emphasis lines in Old English poetry
(it is a pause for breath).
the use of a particular compound metaphor called "Kenning»: it is a 2 words poetic
renaming of a person, place or thing.
Example of Kennings:
Sea-rider = for the ship/boat
Earth-dweller =for the dragon
Ring-giver= for the king
Beowulf: the story
Story: it was named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, it opens in Denmark, where the king
Hrothgar’s splendid mead hall name’s Heorot, had been ravaged for twelve 12years by a nighty visit
from an evil monster called Grendel, who carries off Hrothgar’s warriors and eat them.
Beowulf is a young prince of the geats of southern Sweden arrives with a small band of retainers and
offers to cleanse Heorot of its monster
the king retires, leaving Beowulf in charge. Beowulf fights with Grendel, tearing off his arm, and
leaves him mortally wounded. Grendel's mother comes to avenge her son, and she kills one of
Hrothgar's men. in the morning Beowulf kills her. Beowulf cuts the head from Grendel's corpse and
returns to Heorot. The king Hrothgar makes a farewell speech about the character of true hero, as
Beowulf. Beowulf, enriched with honors and princely gifts, returns home to king Hygelac of the
Geats. Beowulf returns to his people, and takes the kingship after the death of the king. the kingship
of Beowulf characterizes by his peaceful ruling which lasts 50 years. a fire-breathing dragon ravages
his land.
Beowulf has a battle with the dragon (the battle was terrible and painful). Beowulf kills the dragon
with the help of his retainer "Wiglaf", but Beowulf is mortally wounded. Beowulf dies and the poem
ends with his funeral rites and a lament.
Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic
religion and mythology.
Heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular
epic. It deals with events of the early 6th Century and is believed to have been composed between
700 and 750. the poem did not appear in print until 1815= "the Beowulf manuscript".
The Anglo-Saxons had a very organized society and social strata in which the ruler had his own
importance (even the ruler could be a hero).
Germanic tribes sometimes settling and sometimes shifting from one place to another.
this kind of migratory life requires some changes, even from the ruler: he used to be someone who
can do everything better than everyone else (from sailing a ship to fighting to ploughing the land....)
= the ruler was not "aloof" that having everything done for him.
the notion of aristocracy for the Anglo Saxons was different from what we know today.
the religious allusions in the work "Beowulf": The Beowulf poet is Christian. the poet reflects
established Christian traditions.
Allusions to the Old testament.
Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin. (Christian ideals) = the judgment
day. the price of salvation is life itself. Correspondence between Beowulf's death and the death of
Christ.
The human ideals in the epic Beowulf:
the notion of loyalty is very important in the epic (example of Wiglaf), the ruler and the retainers all
had respect and loyalty to each other.
the spoils of war were always divided among the retainers and the ruler. This was an organized
society, where the male had their share of responsibility and females barely having any role.
the epic hero is part of a culture, the heroic ideal, about the Anglo-Saxon, and the relationship
between the king and his tribe.
a poem reflects the fascination of Indo-European civilization with the figure of the warrior who has
the strength and the courage in pursuit of glory (he would rather die than yield).
He chooses to behave as he is immortal, deliberately exposing himself to danger.
in this epic the glory is depicted as the triumph of the will over the knowledge of mortality and
survival.
the hero has something of the divine in his actions.
Wiglaf: is a relative of Beowulf and his most loyal warrior. he is one of Beowulf's kinsmen, he
represents the heroic code through his strong will to defeat the opponent and to save his lord.
Wiglaf appears as a reflection of the young Beowulf in the first part, he is fearless, valiant, and loyal.
He embodies Beowulf's statement from the early scenes of the poem: " it is always better to act than
to grieve" he represents the next generation of heroism and the future of the kingdom.
Beowulf is a work in translation:
in the translations there is an emphasis on the celebration of the culture, customs, traditions, and
relationships of the Anglo-Saxon era. Critics approaching the poem from the sociological and
psychological point of view. the poem has 3 phases:
1- the battle with Grendel.
2- the battle with Grendel's mother.
2- the battle with the dragon.
The setting of the poem: the story takes place in Scandinavia.
the mead Hall in Heorot: a place that hosts warriors for celebrations, reciting and composition of
poetry. This is a custom of the Anglo Saxons in which the poetry is very important.
the mead: is an alcoholic drink fermented by honey and water. The mead is associated with the
Norse mythology that considers mead as a source of inspiration for the poets.
The themes: heroism, loyalty, bravely, valor, vengeance, generosity and hospitality
Beowulf epic hero in Anglo Saxon because he showed friend ship, loyalty, bravery, and by coming to
aid his kin and long-time friend of his father’s.
The death of Beowulf was caused by a poisonous wound from dragon, but in reality, he was blinded
by his past and buried by his pride
Further important details about the great epic "Beowulf":
Allusions to Christianity: the epic poem Beowulf contain allusion to several biblical stories, including
Cain and Abel, the death of Christ, the ten commandments, and the story of the great flood.
"Cain" and "Abel"
Cain: The "brother-slayer": A story comes from the Old Testament in the bible.
in the story of Beowulf, all evil things, such as the monsters, Grendel and his mother, and later on the
dragon, are referred to as descendants of Cain. in the Anglo-Saxon period of Beowulf, all "evil" was
believed to exist because of "Cain". Beowulf is the savior who represents good, who fights all the
people. He is the hero of all heroes. Once he takes a vow, he stands by it. For the Anglo-Saxon, this
crime is an ultimate taboo, or sin. If anyone hated his siblings or relatives, he was not at all
respected. The notion of the original crime, especially killing the brother, is something unbearable for
the Germanic tribes. Therefore, the monsters in Beowulf epic, represent the "original crime".
some characteristics of Beowulf:
he fights barehanded, without any weapons. He was indulged with some super-human powers.
when he goes back home, he is going to be offered by the king the throne, but as a real hero, with
the real dimensions of heroism, he doesn't accept because the king has an heir.
this shows the notion of pride, loyalty, and respect that were adopted by the Germanic tribes.
the dragon, that Beowulf fights with, steals a treasure.
in the epic, there are allusions to Christianity (God, good and evil, and the judgment day) but also
allusions to paganism:
the pagan aspects of Germanic tribes: such as the "cremation" that takes place at the end of the epic.
when Beowulf is going to be buried, he is going to be cremated first. As a notion of a reward since his
ashes are going to be move upward heaven.
in Beowulf, " cremation" is the most common way of burying a warrior. the treasures were burned
with Beowulf, then his kinsmen made a mound over the place and many jewels put inside.
literary characteristics of the age of Anglo-Saxons:
Even it endures 600 years, few remarkable pieces were written because this period is known as the
"Dark ages". A time when England was in constant war with many invaders (including the Vikings) so,
there were little scientific and cultural advancement. Also, the lack of printing press (major works lost
due to oral transmission)
the literature from the Anglo-Saxon period belongs to 2 categories; 2 kinds of poetry: heroic poetry
and religious poetry (based on Christian ideals)
the Christian ideals had an impact on literature. During the 5th century, a man called saint Augustine
brought Christianity to medieval England and led a mission to convert the Pegan Anglo Saxon to
Christian faith. That's why some literary works have both Pegan and Christian characteristics.
Example of the main works:
the epic of Beowulf and a very important manuscript "The Extern Book" that contains the wanderer
and other works.
Symbols of Beowulf
In Beowulf, the most important symbols are Hrothgar's mead-hall, Grendel's cave, Grendel's arm
and head, and the dragon's treasure-trove. Hrothgar's great mead-hall, Heorot is a Hall of the Hart,
functions as both setting and symbol in the epic.
Feature of Beowulf
The main characteristics of an epic hero that Beowulf shows is brave deeds, he is a strong and
responsible leader, risks his life for the greater good of his people and his kingdom, has a great
amount of courage, his inhuman strength, and his faith and gratitude.
What are the 5 characteristics of an epic hero?
Termes are: Noble Birth. Capable of deeds of great strength and courage. Great Warrior. Travels
Over a Vast Setting. National Heroism. Humility. ...
What is an allusion in Beowulf?
An allusion is just a reference to well-known people, events, literature, and things.
The history of English literature consists of:
1- Anglo Saxon period or old English literature(5th-7th)
2- Anglo Norman period or before Chaucer (1066-1300)
3- age of Chaucer (1300-1400)
3- age of revival (the renaissance) (1400-1550)
The middle English period:
1-Before Chaucer (Anglo Norman period) 1066 to 1300
2- age of Chaucer: 1300 to 1400
Age of revival: 1400 to 1550
Before Chaucer (Anglo Norman):
William the conqueror the Duke of Normandy (located in France) defeated the king of England (king
Harold) in the "battle of Hastings"
in 1066 AD, William the conqueror got the throne and started what we know today the Anglo-
Norman period.
the language of Angles, Saxons, and jutes + language of Normans = Anglo Norman language
France became the ruler of England and the official language became Anglo French
aristocratic people were speaking French and the middle class were speaking middle English (old
English+ French)
That's why most of English words have roots from Latin (because Romans spread Christianity all
across England during Anglo Saxon period) or French (because of the French invasion)
in the Anglo-Norman period school and colleges were set up all across England because:
- there was a war went between Eastern part of the world and the European countries. War known
as crusades (religious war)
- the authority of Christianity is in the hands of Popes
The Pope decided that all the Christians have to go to and convert Eastern countries. When they
went, they started reading Greeks and Roman texts and they brought those texts to England.
The education was no longer confined to clergy men in church, and schools started building up. Two
major institutions set up during this period: Cambridge (1209) and Oxford (1096).
London became the main center of education.
The age of Chaucer:
definition
It is a Medieval English, born by Geoffrey Chaucer is a 14th century English poet and author, Widely
considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages, he is best known for The Canterbury Tales
The middle English period consists of: before Chaucer, age of Chaucer, age of revival(renaissance)
Geoffrey Chaucer set up a big impact on the field of English literature that the entire age was named
after him, he was born around 1433. He participated in the 100 years war, plus he traveled
extensively around Europe, met new people and new perspectives and write a book called " the
Canterbury tales" (a poetry/ has different pilgrims) He died before completing the work. he inspired a
lot of writers. A bunch of authors who were inspired were known as "Scottish Chaucerian’s" and
imitated his form of writing.
The important of Chaucer
He made the decision to write in English and not French, French was the language spoken by those in
power. The canterbury tales was one of the first major works in literature written in English
Style of Chaucer is marked by lucidity of expression, easiness free of ambiguities and direct
philosophical maxims describing his characters, use an easy language to understand by readers.
Language in middle English.
historic background and main events.
100-year of War (1337- 1453), a war that lasted 100 years between France and England.
- the "Black Death": an epidemic that killed one third of Europeans.
Because of these 2 events peasants were suffering a lot and the noble men were continuously
pushing them to give higher taxes so that they can fund the war. And the peasants started a rebellion
known as the "Peasants revolt" led by Wat Tyler in 1381.
Like works: The Canterbury tales, sir Orfeo a lay and lord Randall
THE CANTERBURY TALES
Story of the canterbury tales
This work contains 24 stories, talk about a group of people making a pilgrimage; who represents
people’s journey through life. It is a frame story because it talks about a different character come
together to take a pilgrimage to canterbury and each one of them tells a story, 31 people.
Why it is important?
Because it is among the most important works of medieval literature for many reasons beside its
poetic power and value, talk about different social classes. in The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer tells us
not only about social change and religious diversity in his society, but also about everyday life.
Reading the tales helps us learn a lot about eating, drinking, and traveling in late medieval England.
The reasons which make all the canterbury tale fantastic
-C. T. perfectly captures the emergence of the middle age class
-Many great works of literature
-Celebrate the arts of storytelling
-Written by a satire style
The best parts in canterbury tales are
The knight’s tale: talks about 2 friend duels with 1 another the love of a woman.
The wife of bath: talk about a woman who has been married 5 times, believes that experience is the
greatest authority
Moral of C.T: love, morality is virtuous and religion, honor and honesty is valued…
Symbols: spring time, clothing and physiognomy.
The main themes of the story
We have 3 foundations: the mobility, the church, and the peasantry, but the major theme is social
satire, targets all segments of the medieval social issues, human immorality…
What is the main of purpose of Chaucer’s prologue?
Is to gives the readers a general overview of the characters that are present, and what they will be
doing, describes the season of sprig in which people are getting ready to make a pilgrimage to
Canterbury.
who won in the C.T.?
We don’t know because the work was never finished because the writer was died before to make the
end his story
Lad of fire means motivated of driven.
The age of revival: (renaissance period)
a period between 1400 to 1550, it is of rebirth (renaissance) of Greek and Roman architecture, music,
literature. Because the Roman civilization collapsed somewhere around 400 AD.
Like works: the fairy queen
main events:
- The war of Roses, a civil war in England between the house of York and the house of Lancaster,
fighting about the throne -Printing press came to Europe: wooden block printing (London)- New
ruler: Henry VIII who was extremely cruel -Elizabethan period (1558- 1603): a renaissance also.
The golden age of English literature.
A lot of socio- economic changes happened in England. Queen Elizabeth (the virgin queen) was ruling
and she brought political stability= no wars. -People started working towards various forms of art,
and literature. -the age of the great writer: William Shakespeare. -works written during Elizabethan
period were Dramas and poetry. -no novels, there were some pamphlets and essays.
These are some historical backgrounds that characterize the eras of the works or epics we choose to
work on Beowulf, the wanderer, or other works
Old English: Beowulf- the Wanderer
Modern English: the knight tale- the wife of bath
