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English Literature of the Anglo-Saxon Period(449-1066) I. Historical background Celtic tribes Roman Invasion by Julius Caesar tribes of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes Heptarchy invasions by Danes and Vikings King Alfred the Great Norman Conquest in 1066 St. Augustine, the first archbishop of Canterbury II. Beowulf, the National Epic of the Anglo-Saxons Epic: long narrative poem, majestic both in theme and style. Epics deal with legendary or historical events of national or universal significance, involving action of broad sweep and grandeur. Iliad《伊利亚特》 Odyssey 《奥德赛》 La Chanson de Roland 《罗兰之歌》 Nibelungenlied《尼伯龙根》 Alliteration Alliteration is a characteristic of Anglo-Saxon poetry, much used in Beowulf. It’s the repetition of the initial letter (generally a consonant) or first sound of several words, marking the stressed syllables in a line of poetry or prose. E.g. “through thick and thin.” The device is used to emphasize meaning and thus can be effectively employed in oratory. it is still used, with modifications, by modern poets. The Typical characteristics of Beowulf long narrative poem, developed from oral tradition to written form based on part-historical, part-legendary material Christian coloring Written in Old English or Anglo-Saxon Written in Old English or Anglo-Saxon Far different from modern English Frequent use of compound-words E.g. “swan-road”, “whale-path”, “seal-bath”=sea “shield-bearer”, “battle-hero”, “spear- fighter” =soldier Alliterative Stressed, four stressed syllables each line A definite pause between the two halves of each line, with two stresses in each half Sample: We geascodon Eormenrices Wylfenne gepoht; ahte wode wide folc Gotena rices; pQt wQs grim cyning. SQt secg monig sorgum gebunden, Wean on wean, wyscte geneahhe pQt pQs cycnerices ofercumen wQre III. Religious poems Caedmon (650?-680?), considered the earliest of the Anglo-Saxon Christia