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Questions and Answers
What significant political change occurred in 1707?
What significant political change occurred in 1707?
Which manuscripts are known to have preserved Old English literature?
Which manuscripts are known to have preserved Old English literature?
What is Beowulf recognized as in Old English literature?
What is Beowulf recognized as in Old English literature?
What role did scops play in Anglo-Saxon literature?
What role did scops play in Anglo-Saxon literature?
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What geographical area does the United Kingdom comprise?
What geographical area does the United Kingdom comprise?
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Which genre is NOT included in Anglo-Saxon literature?
Which genre is NOT included in Anglo-Saxon literature?
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What literary technique is commonly used in Anglo-Saxon riddles to enhance imagery?
What literary technique is commonly used in Anglo-Saxon riddles to enhance imagery?
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What purpose did riddles serve for the Anglo-Saxons?
What purpose did riddles serve for the Anglo-Saxons?
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What is the term for the compound poetic phrases used in Anglo-Saxon literature?
What is the term for the compound poetic phrases used in Anglo-Saxon literature?
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Which of the following best describes the nature of the verses in Anglo-Saxon riddles?
Which of the following best describes the nature of the verses in Anglo-Saxon riddles?
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Study Notes
Anglo-Saxon Period and Old English Literature
- Old English Literature dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period (450-1066 AD)
- Old English is the precursor to modern English, and the language was spoken in England during the Anglo-Saxon period
- This time period began with the arrival of Germanic tribes in England and ended with the Norman Conquest in 1066 AD
- The Anglo-Saxons loved riddles and poems, often reciting and sharing these works orally
Old English Literature Manuscripts
- Old English Literature is preserved in four manuscript collections:
- Caedmon's Hymn
- Vercelli Book
- Exeter Book
- Nowell's Codex
Notable Anglo-Saxon Writers and Works
-
The Venerable Bede (673-735)
- Wrote Ecclesiastical History of the English People
- Considered the "Father of English History"
-
Alfred the Great (848-899)
- King of Wessex (871-899)
- Defended England against Danish Vikings
- Encouraged Anglo-Saxon culture
- Wrote in Old English and promoted translations from Latin to Old English
- Believed to have been behind the start of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
-
Cædmon (7th Century)
- An unlearned cowherd who acquired the gift of poetry through divine inspiration
- Cædmon's Hymn is the only surviving work attributed to him
- Cædmon's Hymn is the oldest surviving text written in English
- Considered the "Father of Old English Poetry"
-
Beowulf
- "The greatest of Germanic epics"
- Beowulf was a notable figure from Anglo-Saxon folklore and stories
Key Features of Old English Poetry
- Alliteration - Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
- Caesura - Pauses within lines of poetry
- Kennings - Elaborate metaphors that use compound poetic phrases to replace the name of a person or thing
Examples of Kennings
- Battle: the storm of swords
- Blood: fighting gear/battle gear-armor, battle-sweat
- Dragon: the twilight-spoiler
- Lord/King: the protector of warriors; ring-giver, dispenser of treasure
- Queen: peace-bringer among nations
- Sea: swan-road, the whale-road, the sea-bird's baths
- Ship: bent-necked wood, the ringed prow, the foamy-necked, the sea-wood, the sea-farer
- Sword: light of battle, the leaving of the file, battle-lightning
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Description
Explore the rich history of Old English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period, spanning 450-1066 AD. This quiz covers significant manuscripts, notable writers like Bede and Alfred the Great, and the cultural context of the era. Test your knowledge about the foundational texts that shaped the English language.
