1. ByYusuf Kurniawan,SS,MA The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006

2. The Ancient English Period ( 50-1100) The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006 3.

Celts inhabited England

Celtic as the language

In 50 AC Rome invaded to Englandmade it a provincecivilization

In 410 Roman soldiers withdrawn for good

Celts turned weak towards Germanics invasion (Jutes, Angles & Saxon) from Northern Germany

Language turned to ancient English (Anglo Saxon)Middle English ( 1100 -1500)Modern English ( 1500 present).

The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006 4.

• The spreading of Christianity

• Monasteries builtcentres of knowledge

• Big change, from spoken to written culture brought great impact to the society

The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006 5.

• • Divided into two:

• • • Those carried by Germanic tribes (Europe)

• • • The old ones

• • The two were recorded for the sake of Christian

• • Monks roles

• • Beowulf (3000 lines epicheroic storyunknown author)

• • Beowulf as the reflection of the social condition at the time

• • Other Anglo Saxons poems: sea war, towns ruins, living as an expatriate, living as a minstrel. E.g.:The Battle of Brunanburgh, The Battle of Maldon, The Seafarer(monologue),The Ruin, Deor(minstrel).

• • Generally, poems reflect serious & gloomy feelings.

• • Other characteristics:

• • • Sensitive to nature

• • • The belief to destiny

• • • Prominence of manhood and loyalty

• • Most poems are religious

The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006 6.

Cadmon from Whitby monastery:ParaphrasecontainingGenesis, Exodusstories.

Cynewulf from Anglia:The Christ, Juliana, The Fates of the ApostlesandElene.The only English poet mentioned his name.

English is no longer Germanic. Part of the Northern Europe

The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006 7.

Northumbria destroyed

All cultural heritages & literary works destroyed

Only small fragments remained (written in West Saxon)

The end of Anglo-Saxons literature period

The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006 8.

• • In the 9th century, England was one step ahead

• • Its because of King Alfred from Wessex (871-901)

• • Alfred managed to return England as it had ever been

• • Education was needed

• • Many books were translated

• • Pastoral Careby Paus Gregorius first translated

• • Ecclesiastical History the English Peopleby Bede

• • Historical events were recordedfor two centuriesAnglo-Saxon Chronicle

• • Universal History and Geographyby Orosius

• • Consolations of Philosophyby Boethius

• • King Alfred became the first pioneer for English Prose

The History of English Literature, YK, 2005/2006