1. The origins of English literature
The earliest forms of English literature date back to the period between the Anglo-Saxon invasions in the 5th century and the Norman Conquest in 1066
The Old English was the language used in the first English literary production. It was a mixture of the languages spoken by the Germanic tribes (Jutes, Saxons and Angles)

3. Features of the Anglo-Saxon literature
The oral tradition
Anglo-Saxon culture was mostly oral: stories were told by travelling storytellers called scops who entertained audiences with tales of adventures and heroic deeds. Most Old English literature was anonymous.
Importance of Christian Monks
Monasteries were the places where the early works of English literature were preserved

4. Old English Literature: a mixture of pagan and Christian values
A Christian sentiment and a martial view of society and its emphasis on heroic legend are both part of this literature

5. Early Anglo-Saxon poetry
Source of inspiration:
Poets found inspiration in both biblical and pagan stories, as well as historical events (many poems depict the various invasions of the time)

6. Old English poetry includes:
Heroic poems (or epic poetry), for example Beowulf, described the heroic deeds of warriors;
Lyric poetry described men’s struggles against life’s difficulties, such as the passing of the time, the loss of a loved one…

7. The poetic devices of the early Anglo-Saxon poetry
Kennings: a compound of two words used to describe a person or object (hronrad –whale road= sea)
Caesura: a pause in the middle of a line, usually indicated by a punctuation mark in the middle of a poetic line. (It allowed the scop to breath while reciting)
Alliteration: the repetition of a consonant sound within a line of poetry. (farewell happy fields)