Old English Literature Lecturer Betl ALTA The old
Old English Literature Lecturer Betül ALTAŞ
• The old English language or Anglo-Saxon was the earliest form of English. • Old English was spoken from about A. D 600 to about 1100. • Beowulf is the oldest of the great long poems. • It dates back to the seventh century.
• Beowulf is English in language and origin, but the story deals not with native English men but with their Germanic ancestors (Abrams, 1996, p. 18). • Beowulf which is composed of about 3000 lines is the first English epic.
Epic, a literary term • Epic is defined as a long narrative poem. • Epic poem includes history , the history of people or a race (Barton & Hudson, 1997). • According to many critics, there are two kinds of epic: a) traditional epic (or folk epic) b) literary (or art) epic * epic
Epic, a literary term • The traditional epic is an oral or anonymous poem. • It focuses on the adventures of a hero who is important to a nation. • The literary or art epic is a conscious imitation of a folk epic.
• In this regard, the name of Beowulf’s author is unknown. • The story of the poem is not about English men, but about: * Hrothgar, king of the Danes * a brave young man, Beowulf from Sweden.
What the story of the poem is about: • Grendel, a creature visits King’s hall and kills his men. • Beowulf helps king of the Danes and attacks Grendel. • Grendel dies. • However, the attacks restart when Grendel’s mother comes to the hall to take her revenge. • Beowulf wins the battle by killing her.
• Afterwards, Beowulf, king of his people fights against a fire-breathing creature and he kills it. • However, he dies because he is wounded in the fight. • The story ends with a painful portrait of Beowulf’s funeral fire.
Beowulf offers insights into: • • • fierce fights brave deeds speeches of the leader suffering of the leader’s men description of their lives in the hall their travels
• There is no rhyme in Beowulf. • Rhyme is used to identify the repetition of similar sounds in the poem (ending with two or more verse lines with the same sounds), such as: So gardens die, their meek breath scenting The cowl of winter, done repenting * rhyme
• Organizing device of line is alliteration. • Each half-line is joined to the other by alliteration. • Alliteration two or more words beginning with the same sound such as: middes maerne beorge bael *alliteration
Other Old English Poems • Genesis A • Genesis B is about: * the beginning of the world and the fall of angels * God’s punishment of Satan * place of punishment for evil in the hell *angel *hell
Other poems taken straight from Bible • Exodus (about how Israelites left Egypt and Daniel). • Christ and Satan • • Juliana The Fates of the Apostles Christ Elene * Apostle four of them were written by Cynewulf.
Other Old English Poems • Andreas and Guthlac • Dream of the Rood (rood refers to the Christ’s cross) Old English Lyrics *Lyric: a short poem, originally one meant to be sung. Deor’s Complaint The Husband’s Message The Wanderer The Wife’s Complaint *lyric
Other Old English Poem • The Battle of Maldon (about the fight, against the Danes) • There are words of courage in the poem. • Old English prose comes later than Old English verse. *prose : ordinary written language, not controlled like verse.
Most Interesting Piece of Prose • Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (an early history of the country) • King Alfred (848 -901), translated Latin books into Old English, had a great influence on this work. • Homilies (990 -4) • Lives of Saints (993 -6) *homily: religious talk * saint: holy man written by Aelfric.
• Aelfric wrote out in Old English (first seven books of the Bible). • His prose sytle is the best in Old English and uses alliteration. *style: writer’s special way of using language.
- Slides: 17