Old English Period

What marks the earliest stage of the English language?

The Old English period, spoken in what is now England from roughly 450 AD to 1150 AD.

What is another name for Old English?

Anglo-Saxon.

Which tribes brought Old English to Britain?

The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.

What significant religious influence did Old English undergo in the late 6th - 7th century?

Christian missionaries brought Latin, introducing many Latin words into Old English.

Give an example of a Latin-derived word added to Old English due to Christianization.

Words like 'disc' (dish), 'plant' (plant), or 'school' (school).

What significant event in the 9th - 11th century affected Old English?

The Viking invasions brought Old Norse language and influenced the development of Old English.

Name a few everyday words in modern English that come from Old Norse.

Words like 'sky', 'leg', 'they', 'take', and 'give'.

How is Old English different from modern English in terms of grammatical structure?

Old English is highly inflected, changing word endings to show grammatical roles, unlike modern English, which relies more on word order.

What does the Old English word 'stān' represent?

It represents the subject form of the word 'stone'.

What is a characteristic feature of the vocabulary of Old English?

It had a rich vocabulary with many words that have since been lost or replaced and was good at forming compound words.

What were the four main dialects of Old English?

Northumbrian, Mercian, Kentish, and West Saxon.

How was the pronunciation in Old English different from modern English?

Every letter was generally pronounced, and it had sounds that don't exist in modern English.

What is the most famous Old English epic poem?

Beowulf.

What themes are explored in Beowulf?

Heroism, fate (wyrd), and loyalty.

What is Caedmon's Hymn?

Considered the earliest recorded English poem, it is a religious poem praising God.

What is the Exeter Book?

A collection of Old English poetry, including elegies and riddles.

What significant documentation was kept by monks during the Old English period?

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

What event marked the transition from Old English to Middle English?

The Norman Conquest in 1066.

What change occurred to Old English after the Norman Conquest?

Old English began to absorb thousands of French words and shed many of its complex inflections.

Why is studying Old English important?

It helps us understand the roots of modern English and how languages change over time.

What does studying Old English provide insight into?

It reveals the thoughts, beliefs, and stories of the Anglo-Saxon people.

What kind of linguistic journey does Old English represent?

It shows the historical, social, and cultural evolution of language.