GROUP 1

Old English Literature

1. Old English is the language and literature of the Anglo Saxon
2. Anglo Saxon ruled England from 450 ad to 1066
3. Old English is directly related to modern English (many of our words come from Old English). Old
English was first oral (with runic inscriptions) then used alphabet (with some special characters)
writing on manuscripts).
4. Old english is term used to refer to the language and literature spoken and written in "England"
during the rule of Anglo-Saxons
5. Venerable Bede writes the Ecclesiastical History of the English People (673-735).
6. Venerable Bede is the Father of English History and is regarded as the greatest Anglo-Saxon
Scholar

GROUP 2
1. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle traces the chronological events in Anglo Saxon history, life and culture
after Roman Invasion. It was first culled during the time of Alfred the Great who is the King of the
southern Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex from 871-899.
2. Old English poetry falls broadly into two styles or fields of reference, the heroic Germanic and the
Christian. With a few exceptions, almost all Old English poets are anonymous.
3. Even though all extant Old English poetry is written and literate, it is assumed that Old English
poetry was an oral craft that was preformed by a scop and accompanied by a harp.
4. Several Old English poems are adaptations of late classical philosophical texts. The longest is a
10th-century translation of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy contained in the Cotton
manuscript Otho A.vi. Another is The Phoenix in the Exeter Book, an allegorisation of the De ave
phoenice by Lactantius.
5. Other short poems derive from the Latin bestiary tradition. Some examples include The Panther,
The Whale and The Partridge.

GROUP 3
1. The poems Fates of the Apostles, Juliana, Elene and The Ascension were written and popularized
by Cynewulf in the 8th Century.
2. The National Epic of England which appears a manuscript from the 8th to 11th century. It is the
most notable example of the Earliest English Poetry, which blends Christianity and Paganism. This
work is Beowulf, an epic.
3. The poem Dream of the Rood is one of the earliest poems preserved in the 10 th century Vercelli
Book, which makes use of dream vision to narrate death and resurrection of Christ from the
perspective of the Cross or the Rood itself.
4. The heroic poem Battle of Brunanburg is an old English poem that records the triumph of the
English against the combined forces of the Scots, Vikings and Britons in AD 937.
5. Elegiac Poetry- Related to the heroic tales are a number of short poems from the Exeter Book
which have come to be described as "elegies" or "wisdom poetry". Example: The Wanderer in
which an older man talks about an attack that happened in his youth, where his close friends and
kin were all killed; memories of the slaughter have remained with him all his life.
GROUP 4
1. The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age, but this ordering was breaking
down.
Clergy-Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyones soul
Nobles-French chiefly spoken, those who fight, purpose was to protectallow for all to work in
peaceand provide justice
Commoners-English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them
2. A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals. The Medieval
knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to God, his lord, his lady
3. Chivalric ideals include...benevolence, brotherly love, politeness
4. Sir Gawain is an example written by the Pearl Poet. It is a Medieval Romance, a poem narrating
and idealizing knight errantry.

GROUP 5
1. Everyman is regarded as the best of the morality plays. It talks about Everyman facing Death. He
summons the help of all of his friends but only Good Deeds is able to help him.
2. Ballads preserved the local events, beliefs, and characters in an easily remembered form. One
famous ballad is Sir Patrick Spens which concerns Sir Patricks death by drowning.
3. The Canterburry Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer uses frame narrative which showcased the stories told
by 29 pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury.
4. Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church, which dominated Europe
5. The Church was the only source of education
6. Thus, Latin was a common language for Medieval writings.
7. Le Morte dArthur. Originally written in Eight Books, Mallorys collection of stories revolves
around the life and adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

GROUP 6
Themes in Literary Works in Middle English
Heroism -from both Germanic and Christian traditions, sometimes mingled
Beowulf
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Presentations of idealized behavior -literature as moral lesson
loyalty to king
chivalry
The Idea of Courtly Love
This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord. The
knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord.
She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission Courtly love" was not between
husband and wife because it was an idealized sort of relationship that could not exist within the
context of "real life" medieval marriages. In the middle ages, marriages amongst the nobility were
typically based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than on love.