Lecture 9: British Literature up to the 18 th Century Jason Downs British and American Culture

Old English Literature  Beowulf An epic poem, where the hero Beowulf battles against Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon Although it was written in England (sometime between CE), the story takes place in Scandinavia Beowulf.Readings/Prologue.html Beowulf.Readings/Prologue.html  Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Tells stories about the history of the Anglo-Saxons

Middle English Literature  Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales A collection of stories written in Middle English, mostly in verse A group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury participate in a story-telling contest This work was important in establishing a vernacular Middle English language, and was an important contribution to English when many written documents were still in Latin or French. hslf/wbt-par.htm hslf/wbt-par.htm

Middle English Literature  Sir Thomas Malory – Le Morte d’Arthur Story of King Arthur – incorporated existing English and French legends Ideals of chivalry and knighthood

William Shakespeare (c )  English playwright – wrote comedies, histories, and tragedies  Very little formal education  Most of his plays were performed at the Globe Theater in London  Profound influence on the modern English language – generally considered the most influential writer in the history of the English language  His works are still frequently performed today, and have inspired countless other works of literature, films, etc.

William Shakespeare – Hamlet – “to be or not to be” To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep No more; and by a sleep, to say we end The Heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks That Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep, To sleep, perchance to Dream; aye, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause…. atch/ html?page=vide oMultiNeed

Shakespeare in Modern English  "In a pickle”  "The world is your oyster.”  "Catch a cold”  "It's all Greek to me.”  "Love is blind”  "A heart of gold”  "Break the ice”  "Laughing stock”  "Method to his madness”

The King James Bible ( )  A huge translation project of the Bible into English – this version had a large influence in the development of the English language, because it was read by so many people at the time, and is still often used today when quoting passages from the Bible Example (“The Lord’s Prayer”): 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

John Milton ( )  Paradise Lost (1667) is an epic poem in twelve “books”  Tells the story of the “Fall of Man” – a retelling of the stories of Adam and Eve, and the devil Satan

Other 18 th -Century Works  Daniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe Novel about a man who is stranded on an island in the middle of the ocean for 28 years Huge best-seller, one of the first “popular novels”  Alexander Pope 18 th -Century English poet – considered one of the great figures of English poetry Wrote original poetry and also translated the ancient Greek classics The Iliad and The Odyssey  Robert Burns A pioneer of the “Romantic movement” in English literature Wrote directly and sincerely, with strong emotional highs and lows

Homework  Unit 4, Sections 6-7 (pages 79-94)