Introduction to English 12 Survey of British Literature

Literature There are three types of literature: Prose, Poetry, and Drama

Prose (Ordinary Written Language) Prose forms include novels, short stories, and non-fiction works.

Poetry (Heightened Language) Poems often have a meter/rhythm and/or rhyme, but they do not have to have these elements. However, all poetry is a heightened form of language.

Drama ( Performed by Actors) Drama is literature meant to be performed aloud by actors, who portray characters. Types of dramatic literature include plays, speeches, and movie and television scripts.

The British Islands The “British” in “British Literature” refers to written works from the British Islands, Great Britain and Ireland The “British” in “British Literature” refers to written works from the British Islands, Great Britain and Ireland

The British Islands These two islands are made up of the countries of Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales.

The United Kingdom All of these countries, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland, are unified under the name “The United Kingdom”

Western Civilization To understand the history of British Literature, you must first understand the history of Western Civilization. The term “Western” in this case refers to cultures of Western Europe and the Americas, as opposed to Eastern Europe, the middle East, and the Far East.

Western Europe

The Three Ages of Western Civilization The history of Western Civilization can be broken down into three distinct ages:  ANTIQUITY c B.C. to 449 A.D  THE MIDDLE AGES 449 to 1485 A.D.  MODERNITY 1485 A.D. to Present 1485 A.D. to Present Note: B.C. stands for “Before Christ,” and A.D. stands for “Anno Domini,” or “in the year of our Lord.”

Antiquity c B.C. to 449 A.D. The age of Antiquity is the period that marks the birth and development of Western culture, from the first recorded history about 5500 years ago, to the Middle Ages, which began about 1500 years ago.

Antiquity c B.C. to 449 A.D. When scholars refer to “Classical Antiquity,” they are most often making reference to two distinct, but extremely influential cultures: ANCIENT & THE ANCIENT & THE GREECE ROMAN EMPIRE GREECE ROMAN EMPIRE

The Middle Ages 449 to 1485 A.D. The Middle Ages is the period in which the spoken and written English Language developed, Christianity became the dominant religion in Britain, and British cultural identities began to be formed.

Modernity 1485 A.D. to Present The Modern Age begins with the Renaissance (or “Rebirth”), and continues into today.

Antiquity There is no English Literature from the Age of Antiquity, because the English language did not yet exist. However, you are probably already familiar with some Greek and Roman literature and history, much of which you may have read in English language translations.

Antiquity For example: The Odyssey by Homer...

Antiquity Antigone by Sophocles...

Antiquity. the story of Julius Caesar... or the gladiators of the colosseum.

Middle Ages We will therefore begin our study of British Literature in the Middle Ages ( A.D.)

Middle Ages The Middle Ages are split into two shorter time periods: The Anglo Saxon Period & The Medieval Period

Middle Ages These are also sometimes called the “low” and “high” Middle Ages.

Anglo-Saxon Period For the first few weeks of class, we will be studying literature from the Anglo-Saxon Period. ANGLO SAXON MIDDLE AGES < MEDIEVAL

The Anglo-Saxons Prior to the 400’s, people in England primarily spoke Latin, the language of The Roman Empire. Around 449, the Anglo-Saxons, who came from what is now Germany, invaded the British Isles. By 476, the Roman Empire had fallen in the West, and Britain was under control of the Anglo-Saxons.

The Anglo-Saxons DiscoveryEducation.com

The Beginning of English The blending of Latin and the Germanic language of the Anglo-Saxons led to the formation of the English Language.

The Beginning of English We refer to the version of English spoken during the Anglo-Saxon Period as “Old English” because, though it is the earliest version of the language we speak today, it is quite different from either “Middle” or “Modern” English.

The Beginning of English (Roman) Latin + (Anglo-Saxon) German = OLD ENGLISH

The Beginning of English Here is a sample of Old English (from Beowulf): Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. /Beowulf.Readings/Prologue.html

Middle English The Anglo-Saxon Period (during which Old English developed) lasted from 449 to In 1066, William the Conqueror led a group of invaders called the Normans (from what is now France) into Britain.

Middle English The French speaking Normans influenced the English language: Old English + French = MIDDLE ENGLISH

Middle English Sample of Middle English (from The Canterbury Tales): Sample of Middle English (from The Canterbury Tales): Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne, And smale foweles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye (So priketh hem Nature in hir corages), Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; And specially from every shires ende Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende, The hooly blisful martir for to seke, That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

Middle English Middle English developed during the Medieval Period, from 1066 to 1485.

Middle English Over the centuries, Middle English eventually developed into our Modern English language.

Middle English Our language continues to change and grow, however. Consider, for example, our everyday use of words like “ipod,” which would have been meaningless to English speakers even a few years ago.

Anglo-Saxon Literature  During this unit, we will read works of Anglo-Saxon literature, including excerpts from  The Exeter Book  Beowulf &  Bede’s A History of the English Church and People

Anglo-Saxon Literature  Some reoccurring themes you will notice in Anglo-Saxon literature are:  The brutality of life in a damp, cold country  The fear of the threat of foreign invaders  The glory of war, and the triumph of good over evil  Death and loss  The transition between Pagan (polytheistic) religious beliefs and the emerging Christian (monotheistic) church