English literature summary
Germania: describes the old Germanic warrior code, an extract from the Agricola and the Germania
by tacitus (98 ad)
Fellowship: a group of trained warriors that follows the warrior’s code
Warrior code: a code that warriors followed, it stated that the companions fight for their chief and
that they should not leave a battle alive after their chief has fallen.
The battle of Maldon: takes place in 991, where two groups of warriors, the anglo-saxons and Vikings
were facing eachother in the village of Maldon. The anglo-saxon group was led by Byrthnoth. The
Vikings couldn’t reach the anglo-saxons because the passageway was really small, this led to
byrthnoth to give the Vikings free passage. The anglo-saxons lost.
Ofermode: too much pride and overbearing self-confidence
Anglo-saxon poetry was not made to be read, but they were recited by travelling scops (poets). It was
an oral tradition. There were strict rules
-each line consists of two verses (half-lines) divided by a caesura (a cut)
-a strict rhythmic scheme: each line consists of 4 stressed syllables
-alliteration: some of the stressed syllables start with the same sound
Christian monks noticed that stories from the bible appealed more to heathens when they were
written in Anglo-Saxon style of poetry. They were granted permission to write down collections of
oral poetry in the 11th century.
The story goes that Caedmon was the first to use this style of poetry for a religious poem, and in this
way made the church accept this style. A monk called the venerable Bede wrote this story down in an
ecclesiastical history of the English people.
Caedmon’s miracle: a simple man named Caedmon would sit with his fellow workers in a circle every
night and they would sing, a harp would be passed from man to man. Caedmon didn’t know how to
sing. One night a man came to him in a dream and told Caedmon to sing. Caedmon became a monk
and spent his days writing poetry.
The Anglo-Saxons loved riddles
A kenning: a metaphor, in which an object is described by comparing it to another object
For example: peace-weaver is a women, sea-steed is a ship, battle-sweat is blood or word-smith
which is a poet
Beowulf: written by anonymous. Probably composed between the 8 th and the 10th century. In the 11th
century it was written down.
Beowulf is from the epic genre: it is narrative, long and has an exciting story about a hero.
Beowulf is a Swedish Geat who has to prove himself. He helps the Danes to defeat Grendel. After he
defeats Grendel he becomes the leader of the geats and many years later faces a dragon which is also
when he dies.
, Each line in Beowulf consists of two halves and four stressed syllables
Verse: in poetry
Prose: in a story way that doesn’t rhyme, more like a summary
Words used to describe Grendel: god cursed, demonic, baleful
1066: Battle of Hastings: William, the duke of Normandy defeated King Harold. Norman French
became the language of court and castle
In the Peterborough chronicle is written about the Norman conquest
Bayeux tapestry: a medieval embroidery depicting the battle of Hastings
Motte and bailey castle: a castle on a higher bit of ground called the motte, the bailey was the part
where the people lived.
Feudal system: kings, nobles and peasants. The peasants got a piece of land in return for serving a
king or nobleman.
Doomsday book: recorded the population and ownership of land.
The Normans: came from the north of France.
Crusades: a holy war to secure holy sites
450-1150: old English
1150-1500: middle English
1500-1700: early modern English
1700-1900: modern English
1900-present: late modern English
The canterbury tales: written by Geoffrey Chaucer (14th century)
Tells the story of a pilgrimage to the grave of saint Thomas becket in canterbury. He was murdered in
canterbury cathedral in 1170 because king henry jokingly said ‘will no one rid me of this troublesome
priest?’. Becket was canonized (made a saint)
The prologue describes how a group of pilgrims meet in London and travel to Canterbury. They tell
tales to each other but Chaucer unfortunately died before he could complete the canterbury tales.
And it now only has 22 tales instead of the intented 120
It is a frame story: raamvertelling because the pilgrimage provides a frame for the stories to be told.
This literary device stems from Italy, where Bocaccio wrote Decamerone, which is a frame story
about a group of people telling stories while escaping the black death.
The canterbury tales begins with a general prologue. The pilgrims come from all layers of medieval
society
The clergy: the monk, pardoner, prioress
The nobility: the knight and the squire
The commoners: the doctor, the miller and the wife of bath.
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