Intro to British Literature

Exam 1

Anglo-saxon

German inhabitants in England arrival in 5th century up to the norman conquest

English Epic

a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation

pagan heroic code

emphasized bravery, loyalty and willingness to avenge ones tribals lord and comrades at any cost

• lord rewarded successful followers with treasure which symbolised mutal obligations and loyalty

sutton hoo ship burial

early in the peom, there is a kings burial at sea (vikings practice) which relates to the archeological findings related to anglo saxon culture (gold buckle found, maybe from anglo saxon king)

meadhall

A large hall where warriors gathered for feasting and celebrating, often central to Anglo-Saxon culture and literature.

Beowulf Author

unknown, it is considered an anonymous poem

In What Year did Roman Occupation End

410

Latin & Literacy

most writing is in Latin , focusing on Christian subjects

In what year was the Norman Invasion

1066

three estates

composed of three levels

• first estate/clergy (religious leaders/priest)- those who prayed

• second estate/secular aristocrats - those who fought

• third estate/peasants (the free and servile peasantry)- those who worked the land

mystical social body

• peasants and laborers are the feet of society

• knights (right hand) merchants( left hand) are the hands

• the town people are the heart

• kings/prelates & princes are the head

14th Century Famine

• was a troubled time because of poor harvest which led to famine

Black Death

aka the bubonic plauge

• 35-50% of the population was killed off, emptying whole villages

When was the Hundred Years’ War

1337-1453

Hundred Years’ War

between French and English Kings

• descendants of French-held land in France and made claims to French King which sparked the war

What was happening in 410

The Roman Conquest of Britain (AD 43) fell apart after several hundred years because of the fall of the Roman Empire.

When was the start of the Middle Ages?

the 5th century

outcomes of romes withdrawal from britain

became a multi-language, multi-cultural country

what were the cultures after roman withdrawal from Britain and what religion did they adopt?

Celts, Irish, welsh and adopted roman christianity

What religion were the German Anglo Saxons originally?

Pagan

• slower to convert to christianity

Additional Things Occuring in the 4th Century

Very unstable period of time, Viking attacks, and religious conflict

who were most likely the people who could read and write?

people in the church

how was the bible copied back then?

by hand

Norman Invasion of England

William of Normandy invaded England in 1066 and killed King Herold with an arrow through the eye

who was the successor of King Edward

King Herold

Who was King Edward

Anglo Saxon King of England

where is normandy

from France

what was the battle of Hastings

the battle between the Norman army and the English army in 1066

what is the bayeux tapestry

wooven cloths depicting the battle of hasting

New Era in which the Norman Rule England

Introduced French as a new language which became the language of the courts of law, Literature and nobility (upper class)

Who introduced the feudal system?

The Normans

Feudal System

A Nobel man( upper class) who held land for the King, provided the king knights who held land from noblemen in exchange for their services, that land was divided among serves and free peasantry who paid rent through labor or agriculture

• very hierachal system

Serves

laborers who are bound to work on the estate

why were knights seen as the right hands of the mystical social body

because they had the armor and weapons

why were merchants considered the left hands of the mystical social body

they held the purses/coins

what is a prelate

a leader of the church

What helped English come back as a vital part of the world?

anglo saxon gentry marrying Normans

what is Gentry?

the upper class without a title

what was the language of parliament in the 14th century

English

During what years was the bubonic plague?

1348-1375

whos the maid of orleans

Joan of Arc

Why was Joan of Arc considered the Maid of Orleans

Led the French military into triumphs in Orleans

What happened to Joan of Arc

she was burned

why was the 100 years war paused?

because of the black plague

who won the 100 years’ war

France defeated England who lost all claim to Royal of France

what led to the rising of 1381?

urban merchants had increased economic power and peasants who wanted lower labor and higher pay were retaliating the aristocrats

What was the rising of 1381

The Peasants Revolt was led by illiterate peasants and renegade priests (ex-priest)

• rebels attacked aristocrats, foreigns, and priest

In what year was the Caedmons Hymn

731

who was the author for Caedmon Hymn

Caedmon

Facts about Caedmon (author)

earliest English poet whos name is known in medival sources

monastery at the age of 7

anglo saxon descendant

germna immigrants embraced christianity by the 8th century

in what language was caedmons hymn originally

english

what was the original language of the church

Latin

• has ability to cross national borders because a lot of countries new latin

was it caedmons hymn evidence of?

one of the earliest attested (clear evidence) examples of old english and old english poetry

summary of caedmons hymn

caedmon was illiterate , knew no songs to sing, then he fell asleep and had a divine dream and woke up and could sing and create poems. This was divinely inspired and his poems were only about biblical scriptures.

what does caedmons hymn say about poetry

it needs to have the inspiration to create a poem, it is a given gift, not everyone has it, cant be learned or thought.

Why is it important that Caedmons Hymn was in English?

made it seem more believable if it was English rather than Latin

has ability to reach peasants

can identify english with christianity

why was caedmons “beautiful death” meaningful

his peaceful death (dying in sleep at peace with God)and foreknowledge of his death was a reward God gave him for praising him all his life

What language was Beowulf in and why is it significant

the earliest recorded form of the English language.

• spoken in England in the early middle ages

who brought the English language to Great Britain?

the Anglo Saxon

Significance of Beowulf

Illustrates the pagan heroic code, highlights tensions between conversions from paganism to Christianity in early medieval England, and explores the conflict between pagan values and Christian ideals of love and forgiveness. It also tries to reconcile both views of pagan and Christianity.

Beowful summary

the king’s body was placed in a boat with valuable belongings. Hrothgar was the king of Denmark who was obeyed by everyone. He was the one who ordered the construction of a mead hall whose name was the Heorot. Although it seemed that everyone was happy with this mead hall since it was a place to socialize and gather there was one person who wasn’t, Grendel. Grendel is the descendant of Cain ( son of Adam and murderer of his brother Abel out of envy). Grendel kills 30 warriors then comes back to the mead-hall and kills more people for the next 12 years. Beowulf takes action and sets sail from Gateland to Denmark. Beowulf fights against Grendel without any weapons. Once Grendel finds out Beowulf's strength, we see a different side to Grendel. Grendel begins to panic and tries to get away from Beowulf. This humanizes Grendel a bit. Then we find out that Grendel can’t be defeated by a sword. Beowulf defeats Grendel by ripping off his arm and hanging it in the mead hall. Grendels mother is not happy with this and comes to the mead hall and kills everyone who was celebrating. Beowful comes to the rescue again and goes to a lake filled with snakes to find Grendels mother. Beowful couldn't defeat Grendels mother with his sword or unarmed. He then finds an older giant sword (emphasized that it was God’s creation)and kills the mother.

What is the significance of Beowfulf fighting with no weapons against Grendel?

it demonstrates that it is not so much about the show of strength but more of the power that is gained from following God. Depicts God’s power has no match.

Why is Grendels mom being a more difficult opponent significant?

she is enacting the pagan heroic code

Dream of the Rood author

unsure of author

From what dates are the versions of the Dream of the Rood that survived

8th to 10th century

what language was the dream of the Rood originally in?

in old english but was translated

Summary of the Dream of the Rood

narrator refers his dream to the cross on which christ was sacrificed. The cross is surrounded by jewels symbolizing the value of the sacrifice that occured on that cross. The jewels could be a little incosistent with the humble life of christ but it is metaphorical. It provides that juxtaposition that chrsit lived that humbled life and what his life means to his followers. It also provides juxtaposition between literal ife and spiritual ife.

What do the 5 jewels refer to in the Dream of the Rood

Christ 5 wounds, the hands, the feet, and the stab on the side (very imporant in the middle ages)

who produced illuminated or highly decorated bibles?

the clerics/monks in monasteries

What is the role of the narrator in the Dream of Rood

serves to show the humanity that Jesus died for (that unworthy christian - all of us)

Dreamf of Rood and Paganism

christ is portrayed as this brave warrior going into battle knowing he is going to face death

• mixing the pagan heroic code with christianity

Dream of the Rood and personification of Cross

cross begins to bleed interchanging places with God. The cross also beings to take some of that pagan heroic code (ex: not flinching or falling down on its enemies)

similarity between Christ resurrection and the cross

cross undergoes a similar resurrection as Christ and becomes a similar symbol symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice for humanity.

Significance of Narrator entering his own country at end of poem

narrator envisions heaven as a mead all as a way to show a warrior coming home from battle. This can be seen as blending paganism with Christianity

When was the Wanderer likely written

between the 8th and 10th century

from what year is the copy that we have of the wander

975

Old English Elegies

focus on loss, separation, and the transience (short time) with earthly things

• elements that contrast past happiness with present sorrow

what type of bonds do old english elegies focus most on??

male bonds and companionship particularly the joys of the mead hall

what does old English poetry avoid and instead focus?

the love between men and women but instead focuses on the bond between the warrior and the lord

why was it significant that old English poetry focused more on the bond between man and God?

it is grounded in archaic (old fashioned) structures and heroic ideals of honor warfare and loyalty to ones lords and friends

• also pushes on the meaning of purpose and life

The Wanderer and Pagan Tradition

In 'The Wanderer', the titular character reveals he was once a warrior for his lord, who is now dead. According to pagan tradition, outliving one's lord is considered dishonorable as warriors were expected to avenge their lord, which contributes to the wanderer's sense of exile and loss.

what made the old English elegy The Wanderer feel so haunting and unsettling?

the descriptive words showing the feelings of the narrator.

references to physical feelings of being cold (reference to unsettling feelings)

largely unsettling because narrator himself is largely unsettled

what makes the Wanderer sadder?

the fact that he has memories of past happiness but as outlived all of his friends

• becomes this figure to represent the last of his kind, the last of his race

ubi sunt

where are/where have they gone

where is there references of Ubi sunt

in the old English elegy, the wanderer

The Wanderer and Paganism and Christianity

this poem blends the two to show the English that Christianity is not that different from paganism so it’s okay to shift to it

Arthurian Romance

poetry or prose (ordinary language used in writing or speaking) concerned with adventure, courtly love and chivalry, especially relating to King Arthur and his knights at the round table

Courtly Love

idealized conduct, between lovers in which love was more in gesture and devotion than in consummation and sex

Chilvarly

qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice and a readiness to help the weak

Marie de France Lais significance

moving from male centered world from old English epics and elegies to a work written from a well educated multilingual of the court

what lanugage was Lais written in

french

what was the significance of Marie de France writting Lais in English

shows an example of German gentry but also demonstrates knowledge of Latin and early old English

what does Marie de France put a good deal of focus on?

on women and romantic themes

Lais

refers to musical or poetic form, short verse narrative meant for oral performance with music

Marie da france and Arthurian tales

Marie suggests that arthurian tales are well known but that she is filling in the gaps

• (you ight think that you know these tells but you don’t)

Marie Da France’s Goal

trying to be set apart from everybody else, showing that her work is more informative, not trying to overcome men success

Why was Marie Da France unique in writing a lais

because at that point of time a women writer was unique (uncommon)

why did Marie de France write in modest nature

it makes her writing as a women more acceptable in society

Explanation for Marie De France writing the Lais

she explains she’s writing these tales largely as they are passed down by oral tradition and she doesn’t want them to be forgotten (wants to preserve them)

Marie Da France and King Henry II

she dedicates her work to King Henry II (which she might have been related to) which would explain her education, her place in court and her ability to write