Literature of the Anglo-Saxon period from 450 to 1066: Trends and Writers
Anglo-Saxon Period: an Introduction:
Early English literature traced its roots to the Anglo-Saxon literature of the Angles and Saxons (the ancestors of the English race). These tribes spoke English as their common language. According to Bade, they came from three mighty nations of the Germans. Before the occupation, they lived along the coasts of Sweden and Denmark. The land they occupied was called Engle-land.
- Angles
- Saxons
- Jute
In the middle of the fifth century, the Angles and Saxons landed in England; by 670 AD, they had occupied almost the entire country. Instead of coming as conquerors, these tribes settled in England and made it their permanent home.
A Brief Overview of The History of English Literature
The Political History of the Anglo-Saxons:
As a result of the war, Roman Britain was broken up into several separate kingdoms, religious conversion, and, after the 790s, there was a constant battle against Viking invaders. Since Anglo-Saxon mercenaries had served in the Roman Army in Britain for many years, they were not total strangers to the island. Following the Romans' departure from Britain, these tribes began settling there. A prominent Anglo-Saxon king who ruled was Alfred the Great. The Anglo-Saxons ruled England from the 7th century until 1066, when they were overthrown by William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings.
The Introduction of Christianity among the Anglo-Saxons:
Augustine's arrival in Kent in 597 A.D. marked the beginning of the Christianization of the English. Gregory the Great had dispatched him. Augustine was appointed Canterbury's archbishop. Ethelbert, king of Kent, converted to Christianity, which led to a rapid spread of Christianity.
The Anglo-Saxon Language:
Old English, often known as Anglo-Saxon, is the progenitor of Middle English and Modern English. The large Aryan or Indo-European family of languages includes the Anglo-Saxon language merely as a branch.
Old English has four recognized dialects:
- The Northumbrian dialect was spoken in northern England and Scotland.
- The Mercian dialect was spoken in central England.
- The Kentish dialect was spoken in southeast England.
- The West Saxon dialect was spoken in southern and southwestern England. The vast majority of the remaining works of Old English literature are written in the West Saxon dialect, and the first genuinely prolific literary age took place in the ninth century, under the rule of King Alfred the Great.
See Also: The Most Important Literary Genres
The essential features of Anglo-Saxon literature:
Their way of life was full of hardships. They used to be pagans who revered nature and paganism. They were superb warriors who lived life with vigour and excitement while hunting, sailing and enjoying life. There was a unique blending of brutality and sentiment, action and feeling in their living standards. They had a deep passion for freedom, the family, the home, and acts of physical bravery. They loved to demonstrate their courage in war. Their literature reflects the following characteristics:
Anglo-Saxon Literature's prominent characteristics
- love for individual liberty.
- Adaptability to Nature
- Religion
- Respect for Women's Rights
- "Fight for Glory"
Four important manuscripts of Anglo-Saxon literature:
Old English poetry of Anglo-Saxon poetry survived in four manuscripts. These are:
- The Junius Manuscript (Caedmon Manuscript), a collection of illustrated poetry, is one of four manuscripts.
- The Exeter Book: It is a collection of poetry.
- Verse and prose combine in the Vercelli Book.
- Another collection of poetry and prose is the Nowell Codex.
Important Literary Genres of the Anglo-Saxon Age:
The Anglo-Saxon poets chronicled the exploits of their soldiers in their writings and combined military exploits with spiritual ideas. Their poetry was paganic and religious and included works of praise and criticism of the achievements of those who fought for their country.
Old English poetry
The Anglo-Saxon nation's tribes were fearless, brave, and adventurous. They sang at their feasts about battles, gods, and the heroes of their forefathers, just like other societies. These developments are also reflected in their poems. Their songs about religion, war, and disputes mark the beginning of English poetry in prehistoric England.
- Heroic Germanic or Pre-Christain poetry:
The Anglo-Saxons wrote heroic and adventurous poetry. Some of the essential heroic poems are given below.
- Widsith: In this poem, a wandering poet visits continental courts in his imagination.
- Beowulf is a story about Beowulf, a champion and monster-slayer, and his exploits. The happenings are common to hundreds of other stories, but what makes it unique and exciting compared to later romances is the abundance of allusions to significant occasions that affected the fortunes of kings and entire nations.
- The Flight at Finnsburh also addresses the subject of overcoming terrifying obstacles.
- Complaint of Deor: It speaks of a lover's disappointment.
- The Battle of Brunanburh: As the Anglo-Saxon era closed, the old heroic poetry re-emerged. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Battle of Brunanburh is mentioned. It demonstrates strong nationalistic feelings.
- Battle of Maldon: The plot revolves around an embarrassing English loss.
- Christain Poetry:
The majority of Anglo-Saxon poetry is spiritual. After the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, poets began writing about religious subjects. Caedmon and Cynewulf were two of the most significant religious poets of the Anglo-Saxon period.
Characteristics of Old English Poetry:
The essential characteristics of Anglo-Saxon poetry are given below:
- Epic Stories of Battle.
- Heroic poetry
- Christian poetry
- Use of alliteration in poetry
- Use of Kennings
Old English Prose
English prose also began to develop throughout the Anglo-Saxon era. The prose was established through the chronicles, which most likely date to King Alfred's reign and are based on his translations. Anglo-Saxon prose has a propensity to adhere to the conventions of everyday speech. Their writing is straightforward to understand. Religious education is a significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon literature. The two most influential exponents of Anglo-Saxon writing were Aelfric, a priest who produced sermons in a kind of poetic prose, and Alfred the Great, the illustrious king of Wessex, who translated the Latin Chronicles into English.
The Prominent Writers of the Age
Prose Writers:
- King Alfred:
King Alfred is a well-known figure in the history of the Anglo-Saxon people. He is known for the development and origin of English prose. The old English prose developed during his period. No other person or name from that long-ago era significantly impacted the growth of ancient English literature. He established the lost, detached prose into concrete and comprehensive literature.
King Alfred translated several works, greatly influencing ancient English writing growth. His translation of Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English" is his most well-known work. He is rightfully recognized as the originator of English prose. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was developed by Alfred, who also filled it with crucial historical information.
- Aelfric:
Aelfric was an Anglo-Saxon priest who lived from 955 until around 1012. The most stylistically proficient Old English writings are those of his, particularly his collections of sermons. They were made to give their fellow citizens organized explanations of Christianity. Through his speeches, he served two purposes. First, he preached Christianity, and second, he contributed to the prose of the time.
- Bade The Vulnerable:
Bde authored the book "The Ecclesiastical History of the English People." It remains the primary source for historians today to research early English history. Bede's book is divided into five parts. It focuses on a different period of history. Opening with Roman Britain, the first book moves on to the last invasion of the Angles and Saxons into England. The last book concludes in the year 730 AD. Bede devotes significant attention in his work to the topic of the Anglo-Saxons' conversion to Christianity.
Anglo-Saxon Poets
- Caedmon & Cynewulf:
Caedmon and Cynewulf were the two most significant religious poets of the Anglo-Saxon era. Caedmon sang the entire account of man's destiny in a series, from creation and fall to redemption and last judgment.
The Crist is Cynewulf's most potent poem; it is a chronicle of crucial moments in Christ's earthly mission, including his return for judgment. He treated the subject matter with grandeur.
Conclusion:
To sum up, Anglo-Saxon literature is the first period of English literature. The two courageous tribes, the Angles and Saxons, were the ones to launch the invasion. They relocated to England, where they created their literary works. The most significant writings of the time include Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Cynewulf and Caedmon's Hymns, King Alfred's and Priest Aelfric's prose and translations.
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