OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE (650-1066)

Early literary forms: * religious poetry * hagiography / martyrology * epic poetry * hagiography / martyrology * sermons * Bible translation * legal works * chronicles * riddles

Notable authors: Caedmon Cynewulf The Venerable Bede Alfred the Great

Caedmon (7th century) Religious poetry: Hymn of Creation Paraphrase *Alliteration – the repetition of the vowel sounds at the beginning of words

Cynewulf (8th century) Works authored: *The Fates of Apostles, a short martyrology *The Ascension, homily * Juliana * Elene

Martyrolody- a creative work treating the life and sufferings of martyrs Homily- a written religious speech or section of the poem that gives direct advice

The Venerable Bede (673-735) Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People)

Alfred the Great (849-901) The Church History by Bede Translations from Latin into Anglo-Saxon: The Church History by Bede The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius The Soliloquies by Saint Augustine 50 psalms of the Bible Soliloquy – expression of one’s thoughts in the form of a monologue

Beowulf - Old English Epic Epic - long narrative poem that records, in grave and stately language, the exploits of a hero who usually embodies national ideals

Unknown facts: who wrote it when exactly it was written how much it is based on historical truth

Known facts: It is written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon). Beowulf is 3,182 lines long, approximately 80 or 90 pages in book length, which makes it the longest Old English poem. It is the oldest surviving English epic. Some of the characters in the epic actually existed. The only copy of the manuscript was written sometime around the 11th century A.D.

The poem probably dates from the 8th century. The original story may be dated even earlier, about 500 A.D. There are a lot of Christian references in the poem but the characters and setting are Pagan (non-Christian).

Themes and important aspects: good versus evil sanctity of home loyalty courage honour self-sacrifice wealth and treasure religion: Christian and Pagan influence fate heroism and heroic deeds