ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE
Britons-original inhabitants of Britain lived there from 55 BC, in 410 AD Germanic group came into
Britain and invited it. Germanic group consisted of Angels(the dominant ones, that’s why we know a
part of GB as England), Saxons, and Jutes. They started living with Britons.
Angle Land -> England
Anglo Saxon Period/Old English Literature 410 to 1066 AD
Old English is a combination of the original language spoken by Britons and language spoken by
Germanic tribes.
Literary characteristics
Dark age – England was in war with invaders(Vikings). People were so activated in war, they didn’t have
time to write any scientific documents/texts
-little scientific and cultural advancement
-no printing press
-major works have been lost due to oral transmission
Major literary works
Kinds of poetry
Heroic poetry Religious poetry
HP-poetry written by Anglo Saxons, they didn’t believe in god and wrote about heroism(Beowulf)
RP-poetry written by Britons, because they were converted to Christianity, they write about their idols
which was very good seen in their poetry
Prose
King Alfred
Old English prose: Bade historia ecclestica, The Consolation of Philosophy, The Anglo-Saxon chronicle
MEDIEVAL LITERATURE/BEFORE CHANCER AND AGE OF CHANCER
Middle English Period
Before Chancer Age of Chancer Age of Revival
1066-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500
William the Conqueror – duke of Normandy(place in France). Defatted the kind of England (Herold) in
the Battle of Hastings(1066 AD). Started Anglo-Norman period.
Language of Germanic tribes + Language of Norman = Anglo Norman Language
The Battle of Hastings divided literature in 2 periods: Anglo Saxon(before the battle) and Anglo-
Norman(after the battle)
Language development
Anglo-French become the official language. All the aristocratic people were speaking Franch, Middle
class(and lower classes) were speaking Old English
Old English + French = Middle English
Schools were widespread all over Europe, after the Crusades(religious war between Eastern part of the
world and European countries). When they returned they brought a lot of Greek and Roman books.
Colleges and schools started to separate from Charge, Cambridge and Oxford were created
Literary works
Chanson de Geste – The Bous King Arthur – the knights used to sit in a round table and they all went into
different quests to find Holy Grail
Le Morte D’Arthur by Thomas Malroy
Historical background
-100 Years War(1337-1453)
* England lost the battle of Hastings, they fought against France to regain their territories back. The
most significant battle - England won by using longbows to defeat the French army.
-Black Death- peasants were dying and didn’t have money
-Peasant’s Revolt- 1381
Geoffrey Chaucer – participated in 100 Years War, knew so many people so was able to look at their
perspective of the world and write about their experience in one of his books. His followers who are
inspired by him and write books based on his books are called Chaucerians.
16TH CENTURY LITERATURE/AGE OF REVIVAL
-revival of all literature was happening-people started looking back and started reading ancient Greek
and Roman texts, because of Crusades. People started to appreciate poetry and the new writers stared
imitate them(Period of the Renaissance - meaning: rebirth, ‘revival of art and learning’. Strived to revive
the culture of classical Greece and Rome, but instead creating a new culture)
-Protestant’s revolution
Historical context
-War of Roses – 2 political groups were fighting against one another(House of Lancaster (red rose) and
House of York(white rose))
-Arrival of Printing Press- came to Europe during the age of revival; William Caxton – brought it to
London. Wooden block printing
-Henry the 8 & his 6 Wives- remarried(killed his wives) because he didn't have a male child; started the
Anglican Charge
-Voyages- Columbus discovered America in 1492
Writers
-Thomas Malory- Le Morte d’Arthur
-Christine De Pizan- first female writer who took writing as a career
-Margery Kempe- The Book of Margery Kempe- started writing down what she is going through, what it
is to be a woman in that time, what it feels like to take care of so many responsibilities
-Julian of Norwich- 16 Revelations of Divine Love- dedicated her life to God
All shall be well, and all shall be well,
And all manner of thing shall be well
