Module 1 lecture #1. Anglo-Saxon (Old) Literature (450-1066)

1. General Characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon Literature.

2. Christianity and the Spread of Written Culture.

3. The main genres of the Anglo-Saxon Literature.

4. The Writers of the Anglo-Saxon Literature (Bede “History of the English People”, Cynewulf, Caedman, King Alfred’s “Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”).

5. Old English Poetry and its main subjects (“The Seafarer”, “The Dream of the Rood”, “The Battle of Maldon”, Caedman’s Hymn).

6. Old English Riddles.

“BEOWULF” – an epic poem. Characteristics of an Epic. Primary and secondary epics.

7. The structure of “BEOWULF”. (bipartite or tripartite structure or interlace structure, rambling and dilatory narration with flash-forwards, flashbacks and digressions, juxtaposing past, present and future)

8. The figurative language of “BEOWULF” (compounding, kennings, formulas, variation, litotes, alliteration)

9. Customs and Traditions of Pre-Christian times as described in “BEOWULF”.

10. Blending of folklore motives and elements of Christianity in BEOWULF.

Caedman’s Hymn

1)

Now we must praise Heaven-Kingdom’s guardian, the Creator’s might and his mind’s plans, the work of the Glory-Father, when he of every wonder, Eternal Lord, the beginning ordained. He first created for men’s sons heaven as a roof, Holy creator; then middle-earth mankind’s Guardian, Eternal Lord, afterwards made – for men the earth, the Master Almighty.

2)

Now we must praise of heaven’s kingdom the Keeper

Of the Lord the power and his Wisdom

The work of the Glory-Father, as he of marvels each,

The Eternal Lord, the beginning established.

He first created of earth for the sons

Heaven as a roof, holy Creator.

Then middle-enclosure of mankind the Protector

The eternal Lord, thereafter made

For men, earth, the Lord almighty.

Alliteration

(A typical line in alliterative verse consisted of two half-lines separated by a strong pause; four stressed syllables and undetermined number of unstressed; The third stress always alliterates with the first or the second, the fourth never alliterates). A caesura (pause) within each line establishes the rhythm

1. /f/ The folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of;

2. /h/ Heard in his home of heroes then living;

3. /g/ Grendel came gliding - God’s wrath he bore.

An example of interlace structure (see lines 836-990 in Liuzza’s translation)

Moving through the passage we find:

Grendel’s claw (836)

The hall (836)

Grendel’s mere/Grendel’s death (837-852)

Happy retainers (853-871)

Tale of Beowulf (871-874)

Tale of Sigemund (874-897)

Tale of Beowulf (898-915)

Riders (916-920)

The hall (919-927)

Grendel’s claw (927)

Grendel’s death (930-979)

The hall (983)

Grendel’s claw (983-990)

Compoundings:

LECTURE #2

The peculiarities and genres of the Medieval English Literature

(1066-1350 – Anglo-Norman period,

1350-1400 – the Age of Chaucer)

1. The peculiarities of the development of English literature in the 9-13th centuries (new genres and subjects brought by Normans, trilinguism).

2. Knighthood (The Code of Chivalry, The Art of Courtly Love).

3. Forms of Literature:

   1. Middle English romances (“King Horn”, “Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight”), their structural and language peculiarities (twin themes, parallels, symbols, metaphor, allegory).

   2. Medieval lyrics (secular and religious).

E.G. The occupations of the months give a confident impression of an ordered year:

Januar- By thys fyre I warme my handys;

Februar- And with my spade I delfe my landys.

Marche- Here I sette my thynge to springe;

Aprile- And here I here the fowles singe.

Maij-1 am as lyght as byrde in bowe;

Junij- And I wede my corne well I-now.

Julij- With my sythe my mede I mawe;

Auguste- And here I shere my corne full lowe.

September- With my flayll I erne my brede;

3. The medieval drama (folk plays, drama in the church service, and morality plays).

Example of Morality Play: The Castle of Perseverance (ca. 1425) (Required 22 actors)

I. Bad Angel secures the soul of Man in a struggle with Good Angel. The World gives as guides to Man: Pleasure, Folly, Backbiter, and the Seven Deadly Sins. The Good Angel appeals to Confession, Shrift, and Penitence, who lodge Man in the Castle of Perseverance.

II. The forces of Hell can't overwhelm the Castle, which is guarded by the forces of Heaven, but aging Man is enticed outside by Avarice; Death strikes Man down, but he dies repentant.

III. The Four Daughters of God (Mercy, Peace, Truth, and Righteousness) debate the disposal of Man's soul, with Mercy triumphant.

4) Ballads, exemplum, fabliaux, songs.