The language of the poem

Anglo-Saxon verse had no rhyme and no regular number of syllables in its lines, but it was necessary that each line should have three stressed syllables usually beginning with the same consonant. Such a sound effect is called "alliteration". Note the alliteration in the following lines:

Many nouns and names of people are accompanied by one or even two descriptive words. Based on a certain likeness between two subjects or two ideas, the descriptive words show the subject in a new light Such descriptive words are called metaphors.

Here are some metaphors:

for the sea: salt-streams, wave-deeps, 'sail-road;

for the ship: wave-goer, fresh-tarred craft, broad-bosomed bark;

for the warriors: the cased-in-helmets, folk-troop defenders, the fa-mous-for-prowess,

foot-going-champions (not on horseback), heroes-in-battle;

for the armour: ring-made burnie. link-woven burnies, light-flashing helmets;

for the weapons: bill-sword, brand-sword, battle-board (shield);

for a quarrel: sword-hate, hot-burning hatred;

for fighting: the hand-rush of heroes;

for the cowards: tardy-at-battle (The cowards are called "tardy-at-battte" for their late arrival, probably intentional, at the place of battle.);

for the king: ring-prince, folk-chief, folk-leader, friend-lord of folks;

for the musical instrument: joy-wood, glee-wood;

for music: harp-joy.

Lecture 2

The Theme: ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE

(7-th – 11-th century)

The Plan

1. The spread of Christianity.

2. The centres of learning.

3. Venerable Bede (673 – 735).

Literature

1. Аракин В.Д. Практический курс английского языка. – М.: Владос, 1998. – 536 с.

2. Abbs B. Starting Strategies. - Longman, 1977. Aston H. Streets Ahead. - Book 1. - OUP,1990.

3. Bell J. Pre-Intermediate. - Longman, 1995.

4. Black V. Fast Forward 1 .- OUP, 1986. - P. 7.

5. Hartley B. Streamline English Departures. – OUP, 1978. - P. 2 - 6.

6. Richards J. Interchange 1/-CUP, 1990. - P. 2 - 8.

7. Sinclair B. Active Your English. Pre-Intermediate. - CUP, 1995/

8. Soars L. Headway. Elementary.- OUP, 1993/

9. Swan M. The New Cambridge English Course. - CUP, 1991/

10. Vimey P. Grapevine 1 .- OUP, 1989.

11. Volosova T.D., Rogoff V.V. English Literature. – M.: Prosvescheniye, 1994. – 240 p.

Anglo-saxon literature

(7-th – 11-th century)

The Spread of Christianity. The culture of the early Britons changed greatly under the influence of Christianity, which penetrated into the British Isles in the 3rd century. This was the time when many Christians escaped from Roman persecution to Britain and Gaul (France), which were colonies of Rome at that period.

In the year 306, the Roman emperor, Constantine the Great, made Christianity the official religion of Rome. It was brought to all countries belonging to the Roman Empire. The Celtic Druids in Gaul and Britain disappeared. All Christian Churches were centralized in the city of Constantinople.

Roman Empire. This religion was called the Catholic Church ("catholic" means "universal"). The Latin language became the language of the Church all over Europe.

The Centres of Learning. Now that Roman civilization poured into the country again, Latin words once more entered the language of the Anglo-Saxons, because the religious books that the Roman monks had brought to England were all written in Latin. The monasteries, where reading and writing were practised, became the centres of learning and education in the country. No wonder poets and writers imitated those Latin books about the early Christians, and also made up stories of their own about saints.

The Venerable Bede (673–735). The greatest writer of the time was the Venerable Bede Ibi:d]. He was brought up in the monasteries of Northumbria where he received the best education of the time. He wrote mostly in Latin. His books on natural history and astronomy are a collection of all the learning known in the Middle Ages. His famous book. "The History of the English Church", was well known in France and Italy. His works are still valued today: they show what the country was like thirteen hundred years ago and how men acted and thought at that time.

Alfred the Great (849– 901). The beginning of the 9th century was a troubled time for England. Danish pirates, called Norsemen, kept coming from overseas for plunder. Each year their number increased. When Alfred, the grandson of Egbert, was made king in the year 871, England's danger was the greatest. Nevertheless, in a great battle fought by Alfred at Maldon in 891, the Norsemen were defeated, and Alfred decided to make peace with them. The greater portion of England was given up to the newcomers. The only part of the kingdom left in possession of Alfred was Wessex..

Alfred was a Latin scholar; he had travelled on the continent and visited France. He is famous not only for having built the first navy, but for trying to enlighten his people. He drew up a code of laws. He translated the Church history of Bede from Latin into Anglo-Saxon, the native language of his people, and a portion of the Bible as well. To him the English owe the famous "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" which may be called the first history of England, the first prose in English literature. It was continued for 250 years after the death of Alfred.

The literature of the early Middle Ages and the Church taught that man was an evil being and his life on earth was a sinful life. As man was subordinated to God. he had to prepare himself for the after-lik by subduing his passions and disregarding all earthly cares.

Lecture 3

The Theme: THE LITERATURE OF THE NORMAN PERIOD

(12-th–13-th centuries)

The Plan

1. The Norman Conguest.

2. How the Language Changed.

3. The First Universities, Oxford and Cambridge.

Literature

1. Аракин В.Д. Практический курс английского языка. – М.: Владос, 1998. – 536 с.

2. Abbs B. Starting Strategies. - Longman, 1977. Aston H. Streets Ahead. - Book 1. - OUP,1990.

3. Bell J. Pre-Intermediate. - Longman, 1995.

4. Black V. Fast Forward 1 .- OUP, 1986. - P. 7.

5. Hartley B. Streamline English Departures. – OUP, 1978. - P. 2 - 6.

6. Richards J. Interchange 1/-CUP, 1990. - P. 2 - 8.

7. Sinclair B. Active Your English. Pre-Intermediate. - CUP, 1995/

8. Soars L. Headway. Elementary.- OUP, 1993/

9. Swan M. The New Cambridge English Course. - CUP, 1991/

10. Vimey P. Grapevine 1 .- OUP, 1989.

11. Volosova T.D., Rogoff V.V. English Literature. – M.: Prosvescheniye, 1994. – 240 p.