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Lecture 1: Anglo-Saxon verse form & Beowulf. Middle English Literature

6th centur!

spreading of Christianity

Canterbury = the centre of the Catholic Church in England

pagan mythology supplanted by Christian myths"th centur!

#aedmon - Christian poet; retelling/paraphrasing biblical stories

his only known surviving work is Cdmon's Hymn ( lines!=praise poem in honour

of "od

$th - %th centur!

#newulf - introducing new literary form = legend

stories inspired by the lives of saints

ing Alfred- th century; many reforms

translated #atin books into English

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle- an early history of the country

$ritain%s population: Celts & $ritons ' omans ' "ermanic invaders ' )nglo-

*a+ons (warriors , pre-eminent position in society!

BE'()L*

first epic in the ld English

warrior%s story; . lines; not composed in England but on the continent of Europe

events related to the story , 0th , 1th c2; story influenced by 3orthern Europeanlegends

written probably in the 4th century5 author = unknown (oral narratives!

struggle between "ood and Evil

only one manuscript

6he 7ing of 8anes builds a great hall-building (9eorot! to memorialise his triumphant career2

6he 8anes warriors meet there and celebrate2 ne night5 a terrible creature living in lake

("rendel! comes and eats . men and drinks their blood2 "rendel terrories the warriors for

4 winters2

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Eostra - goddess of spring / = Easter

BE'()L*

first epic in the ld English

warrior%s story; . lines; not composed in England but on the continent of Europe

events related to the story , 0th , 1th c2; story influenced by 3orthern Europeanlegends

written probably in the 4th century5 author = unknown (oral narratives!

struggle between "ood and Evil

only one manuscript

parts: 4st part = set in 8enmark; nd part = set in southern *weden ( years later!

$eowulf = real historical figure (legend!

no rhyme

alliteration

metaphorical compound words: ship = sea wood; fog = air helmet; sea = the ocean-

way or the swan?s way

A#6

6he 7ing of 8anes builds a great hall-building (9eorot! to memorialise his triumphant career2

6he 8anes warriors meet there and celebrate2 ne night5 a terrible creature living in lake

("rendel! comes and eats . men and drinks their blood2 "rendel terrories the warriors for

4 winters2

8/11/2019 Lecture 1 and 2 Full Version

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the Blac: ;eath 7 one of the deadliest

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8/11/2019 Lecture 1 and 2 Full Version

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epic poemaradise Los#, machinations of *atan leading to the fall of )dam and Eve

from the state of innocence

central Christian truths of freedom5 sin5 and redemption

8he develoyatt and 9enry 9oward5 known as Earl

of *urrey

4I-line poem with a formal rhyme scheme5 usually in iambic pentameter in English

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