1. Old English Literature

2. Anglo-Saxon Conquest Angles, Saxons, Jutes
The formation of a united kingdom—England
The formation of the Old English
The coming of Christinity

3. Anglo-Saxon poetry Pagan poetry (secular poetry)
Emphasize the harshness of the circumstances and the helplessness of humans before the power of fate
The Seafarer, the Wanderer
Beowulf
the first great English literary work,
the national epic of the Anglo-Saxons
the heroic ideal of kings and kinship: courage, strength and wisdom

4. 3) The story: Beowulf
Hrothgar, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, fire-dragon

5. Beowulf vs. Grendel

6. 4) Features:
---an all-round picture of the tribal society and pagan civilization
---the use of alliteration
---the use of metaphors and understatement
5) Beowulf:
a grand hero, a wise ruler, a savior of the people

7. 2. Religious poetry (Christian poetry)
mainly on biblical stories and the stories of the saints
Caedmon ( )
the father of English song
a poetic paraphrase of the Bible
Cynewulf (early 9th century)
greatest next to the author of Beowulf
A deep love for Christ and reverence for Virgin Mary in his works

8. Anglo-Saxon prose appeared in the 8th century Venerable Bede (673-735)
the first scholar in English literature
The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (in Latin)
2. Alfred the great ( )
King of Wessex kingdom
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles---the monument of Old English prose