login Contact Us : 9911319510

History of English Literature: Anglo-Saxon Period OR Old English Period (Part 1)

Wed Aug 21, 2024

(History of English Literature for various competitive examinations like the UGC NET English, SET for all states, C.U.E.T. PG, G.A.T.E. etc.)

  • Old English literature, also known as Anglo-Saxon literature, includes works written in Old English in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, from the 7th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066.
  • These works include different types of writing like epic poetry, stories about saints, sermons, Bible translations, legal texts, historical chronicles, riddles, and more.
  • In total, about 400 manuscripts from this time period have survived, offering a valuable collection for both general readers and scholars.
  • One of the most important works from this era is the poem Beowulf, which has become recognized as England's national epic.
  • The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is another significant work, providing a detailed timeline of early English history.
  • The poem Cædmon’s Hymn, from the 7th century, is the oldest surviving piece of literature written in English.
  • Research on Anglo-Saxon literature has changed over time: in the 19th and early 20th centuries, scholars focused on the Germanic origins of English, then later they emphasized its literary qualities, and now the focus is more on studying the manuscripts themselves.
  • Modern scholars discuss topics like when these works were written, where they came from, who wrote them, and how Anglo-Saxon culture was connected to the rest of Europe during the Middle Ages.
  • Many manuscripts from the Anglo-Saxon period have survived, most of which were written in the last 300 years of the era, in both Latin and Old English.
  • Written Old English literature began out of necessity after the Danish invasions, as church leaders were worried that because Latin literacy had declined, people couldn't read their religious texts.
  • King Alfred the Great (849–899) wanted to revive English culture and was concerned about the poor state of Latin education. He noted that very few people in England could translate a letter from Latin to English.
  • Most of the prose literature from this period is either historical or religious.
  • Unfortunately, many manuscripts were lost during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.
  • The serious study of Old English language began during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I when scholars like Matthew Parker collected as many manuscripts as they could find.

    • EXTANT MANUSCRIPTS

  • There are about 400 manuscripts with Old English text still in existence, and 189 of these are considered especially important. Collectors have highly valued these manuscripts since the 16th century, both for their historical significance and their beautiful, evenly spaced writing and decorative details.
  • Four major manuscripts stand out:
    1. The Junius manuscript, also called the Cædmon manuscript, is an illustrated collection of poems.
    2. The Exeter Book is another collection of poems and has been kept in Exeter Cathedral since it was donated there in the 11th century.
    3. The Vercelli Book contains a mix of poetry and prose, though it's unclear how it ended up in the town of Vercelli.
    4. The Nowell Codex is also a mix of poetry and prose and is best known for containing the Beowulf poem.
  • In the 20th century, researchers focused on determining the actual dates of these manuscripts (19th-century scholars often thought they were older). They also worked on figuring out where the manuscripts were created—there were seven major writing centers, including Winchester, Exeter, Worcester, Abingdon, Durham, and two in Canterbury (Christ Church and St. Augustine’s Abbey). Additionally, they studied the different regional dialects used in the manuscripts, such as Northumbrian, Mercian, Kentish, and West Saxon (which was the most commonly used dialect).

  • Not all of the texts can really be called literature; some are just lists of names. But the ones that can be considered literature represent a significant collection of works, including sermons and saints’ lives, biblical translations, translations of early Church Fathers’ Latin writings, Anglo-Saxon chronicles, historical narratives, laws, wills, other legal documents, practical guides on grammar, medicine, and geography, and, of course, poetry.

    • To explore this topic in detail, Enroll in our UGC NET English Online Course

    Explore all our courses HERE (CUET, TGT/PGT, GATE, Individual Modules, Free Material)

    Follow us:

    YouTube: @TheAnkitaJain

    Instagram: @theankita.jain

    Telegram: The Ankita Jain (for UGC NET English Coaching)

    WhatsApp Channel: Ankita Jain

    WhatsApp Group: Ankita Jain