British Literature Chapter 1 Notes

Both Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans lived in a time prone to

instability and violence

refers to the bond of loyalty created by the generosity of a leader to his men

Comitatus

The four heroic virtues of Anglo-Saxon culture

fortitude, prudence, generosity, and loyalty

Scholars believe that who was responsible for the recording of the epic Beowulf?

King Alfred

Beowulf is what kind of epic?

folk epic

what are common characteristics of most epics?

expansive setting, larger-than-life heroes, supernatural, involves a journey or batttle

a long, stylized narrative poem celebrating the deeds of a great national or ethnic hero of legend

Epic

a device peculiar to Germanic oral poetry which communicates a metaphor by a compound expression

Kenning

a Germanic concept translated as “fate”; exists in this story alongside the Christian idea of providence as a determiner in man’s affairs

Wyrd

formulaic expressions which describe or rename a noun they precede or follow (i.e. “Beowulf, Higlac’s follower”)

Stock Epithet

a conventional Old English verse form; does not employ meter or rhyme but instead uses a complex combination of stresses and alliteration

Alliterative Verse

pause in a line of poetry

Caesura

• Considered a Didactic (writing meant to instruct) 

• Around the year 890, King Alfred ordered scholars to combine any available earlier historical accounts of national events into one history of the English. 

• After his death, accounts were maintained in various locations (usually monasteries) by generations of anonymous scribes. The seven surviving manuscripts of these accounts are known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the most important surviving historical records from the Middle Ages. 

• The original purpose of the work was to inform the reader. 

• Alderman Eadric betrayed Ethelred the King which allowed King Canute to win and defeat Ethelred. 

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

writing meant to instruct

Didactic

one of the most important surviving historical records from the Middle Ages

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

who betrayed Ethelred the King which allowed King Canute to win and defeat Ethelred?

Alderman Eadric

records a place’s or group’s history chronologically by year, listing significant facts and events and often weaving all into an overall narrative

Chronicle

the mental view or outlook influencing the account of a story

Perspective

thinking that precludes fairness in judgement

Bias

words such as first, second, third, additionally, in contrast, and most importantly that relate main ideas and supporting points within a work

Transitional Phrases

• An Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 

• William the Conqueror was not the most loved leader. 

• “Truly in his time men suffered great hardships and very many wrongs.”

• This chronicle was biased to the idea that William the Conqueror was not a good leader

The Character and Reign of William the Conqueror

• An anonymous poet 

• Wrote two of the most important fourteenth-century poems: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl 

• He wrote poems in the Northwest Midlands dialect of Middle English 

• Only surviving manuscript donated to the British Museum

The Pearl Poet

• Written by the Pearl Poet 

• Written in alliterative verse, unrhymed poetry that uses alliteration to structure its lines 

• Attempts to copy the earlier orally-based version of this genre (i.e. Beowulf) 

• Has a longer line length and no fixed number of stresses per line 

• Stanzas vary in length and end with five short lines rhyming ababa

• Example of medieval romance, a poetic narrative focused on courtly life and chivalry that usually involves a knightly quest and fantastical elements

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

 a poetic narrative focused on courtly life and chivalry that usually involves a knightly quest and fantastical elements

medieval romance

something in a story that carries meaning or significance in addition to itself

Symbols

• Spent years in prison, yet produced works that show great concern for proper behavior and moral responsibility in society. 

• Charged with a variety of offenses including cattle raiding, land theft, house and church breaking, exhortation, attempted ambush, and malicious assault 

• Switched allegiances from the House of York to the House of Lancaster. 

• Wrote prose romances for which he was known while at Newgate Prison in London 

• Works describe the world of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table 

• Produced Le Morte d’Arthur, a massive work including eight separate romances divided into 21 books 

Thomas Malory

an ostensibly historical story that is popularly believed but that lacks factual evidence

Legend

written without the lines and other conventions of poetry but with the usual romance contents (chivalrous behavior and courtly love)

Prose Romance

a character who resembles Jesus Christ in Characterization of function

Christ Figure

• Author is Thomas Mallory 

• Inciting Incident- Lancelot having an affair with Queen Gwynevere, King Arthur’s wife. 

• Gawain wanted King Arthur to fight Lancelot, but regrets it because it was a decision made hastily, and he died because of it. 

• “ My lords, I care nothing for my life now! And while Sir Modred is at large I must kill him: there may not be another chance” - King Arthur 

• Sir Bedievere regrets not obeying King Arthur the first time when King Arthur told him to throw his sword into the lake for the lady of the lake. 

d’Arthur: The Day of Destiny