c. Pentangle

?signifying Gawain’s perfection and power over evil

a symbol of faithfulness a sign by Solomon:

the third king of Israel 2). Two Main Motifs

?a. The testing of faith, courage and purity ?b. The human weakness for self-preservation 3). Features

?a. In form, it is an interesting combination of French and Saxon elements. (simple and straightforward language)

? b. It is written in an elaborate stanza combining meter and alliteration. ? c. At the end of each stanza there is a rimed refrain. Define the Following Terms

?1. Arthurian legend: it is a group of tales that developed in the Middle Ages concerning Arthur, semi-historical king of the Britons and his knights. The legend is a complex weaving of ancient Celtic mythology with later traditions around a core of possible historical authenticity. 2. Refrain

?Refrain: a line, group of lines or part of a line repeated at regular or irregular intervals in a poem, usually at the end of each stanza. It may recur in exactly the same form or may be subject to slight variations. Homework

?1. what are the major subjects that the English Romance mainly deals with?

?2. what is the influence of the Norman Conquest upon English language and literature? ?3. Make comments on the romance ― Sir Gawain and the Green Knight‖. English Literature

Compiled by Wu Weiren What is Literature?

?Literature refers to the practice and profession of writing. ?It comes from human interest ?in telling a story,

?in arranging words in artistic forms,

?in describing in words some aspects of human experiences. What is Literature?

?Literature is characterized

?by beauty of expression and form and

?by universality of intellectual and emotional appeal.

What is Literature?

?Literature shows us not only what a society is like in a certain age,

?but also what individual feels about it, what they hope from it, and how they can change it or escape from it.

Part I The Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066)

?A. Historical Background

?1.The early inhabitants in England were Britons, a tribe of Celts.

( in the tribal society, living in huts for safety and mutual dependence ) A. Historical Background

became slaves or indentured cultivators.

Julius Caesar (102-44B.C.) A. Historical Background invaders.

A. Historical Background

?2.In 43 AD, Roman conquered Britain, making the latter a Roman province. The native Britons

?3. In 410 A. D. the Romans withdrew their legions from Britain to protect Rome against Teutonic ?4. In 449 AD, three Teutonic tribes called Angles, Saxons and Jutes in the northern Europe conquered

Britain and settled down there. A. Historical Background

?1. the Celtic population: the Britons ?2 the Romans ?3. the Teutons

Teutonic Tribes Teutonic Tribes

?1. The old Saxon word ―angul‖

?hook (by the sea; lives related to fishing) ?2. The name Saxon is from ―seax‖ ?short sword ?hardy fighters

Seven Days in a Week

?Monday _ the day of the moon; ?Tuesday _Tiu (蒂乌是战神) ;

?Wednesday _ the day of Woden( 沃登是主神 ); ?Thursday _ Thor (托尔是雷神 ); ?Friday _ Frigg ;

?Saturday _ Saturn (萨杜恩) ; ?Sunday _ the day of the sun.

Woden

The Anglo-Saxon Period Anglo-Saxon

?Anglo-Saxon is a collective term usually used to describe the culturally and linguistically similar people living in the south and east of the island Great Britain (modern England) from around the mid-5th century AD to the Norman conquest of 1066.

?They are believed to have spoken Germanic languages and are identified by Bede as the descendants of three powerful tribes, Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. B. Literature

?1. Anglo-Saxon literature is a verse literature in oral form. (Christianity,7th ) Old English

B. Literature

2.Two groups of English poetry Pagan: (oral sagas) The Song of Beowulf

Christian: Caedmon and Cynewulf Caedmon’s Paraphrase of the Bible Cynewulf’s The Christ B. Literature

★3. In the 8th century, Anglo-Saxon prose appeared. ? Venerable Bede and Alfred the Great

?Venerable Bede

The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (Father of English History)

Alfred the Great

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

C. The Song of Beowulf — England’s national epic

?1. creation time

?2. background of creation

C. The Song of Beowulf — England’s national epic ?3. characters

?Hrothgar- Danish king

?Beowulf- nephew to King Hygelac of the Geats ?Some monsters The Song of Beowulf

?1. Hrothgar builds a splendid hall called Heorot.

?2. A monster named Grendel is enraged at the sound of merrymaking and disturbs the peace. ?3. Beowulf hears of Grendel and sails to lend help to Hrothgar. ?4. Beowulf wins and the monster flees mortally wounded. The Song of Beowulf

?5. Grendel’s mother avenges her son and Beowulf succeeds in killing her with a magic sword. ?6. Beowulf is chosen king of the Geats and rules wisely and well for fifty years.

?7. The dragon is enraged and ravages the land with fire. Beowulf kills the dragon with a knife but is

himself mortally wounded.

Beowulf's burial mound

C. The Song of Beowulf— England’s national epic ?4. plot structured by battles ?a. to fight against Grendel

C. The Song of Beowulf— England’s national epic ?4. plot:

?b. to fight against Grendel’s mother

C. The Song of Beowulf— England’s national epic ?c. to fight against the firedrake

5. Characteristics

?a. It is a pagan poem despite the

Christian coloring by the monastery scribe.

★b. A lot of metaphors and understatements are used in the poem.

?★c. It is written in alliterative verse. 6. Significance

a. This glorious epic presents a vivid picture of the life of Anglo-Saxon people and highly praises the brave and courageous spirit of the fighting against the elemental forces. 6. Significance

?b. The epic reflects the situations of pagan tribalism and of the era of the Christianized feudal society.

★ 6. Significance

?c. The epic gives the vivid portrayal of a great national hero, strong and courageous people and his kinfolk.

Questions

?1. _____is a fork legend brought to England by Anglo-Saxons from their continental homes, it is a

long poem of over 3000 lines and the national epic of the English people.

?( The Song of Beowulf)

Questions

?2. __ is regarded as the ―Father of English Song‖, the first known religious poet of England. ?(Caedmon)

?3. The history of English literature begins in the ___ century. ?（5th） Questions

?4. The ancestors of the English are____ ， the Scots， Welsh and Irish are____. ?(Anglo-Saxons, Celts)

Questions

?5. The period of Old English literature refers to ____ ?A. 449-1066

?B. 14th century - mid 17th century ?C. 14th century- mid 18th century ?D. 16th century- mid 18th century

Homework

?1. what are the three parts told in the story of Beowulf? ?★How is heroic ideal reflected in Beowulf?

?2. what are the main characteristics of Anglo-Saxon literature?