10 Questions
What is English literature?
English literature is literature written in the English language from the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire.
What are the earliest forms of English called?
The earliest forms of English are called Old English, which is a set of Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon invaders in the fifth century.
What is the most famous work in Old English?
Beowulf is the most famous work in Old English and has achieved national epic status in England, despite being set in Scandinavia.
What influenced the change in the written form of the Anglo-Saxon language?
Under the influence of the new aristocracy, French became the standard language of courts, parliament, and polite society, leading to the written form of the Anglo-Saxon language becoming less common.
How long has the English language developed?
The English language has developed over the course of more than 1,400 years.
Who is Anne, and what does her name mean in Hebrew?
Anne is a form of the Latin female given name Anna, which represents the Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'favour' or 'grace'.
In which country is Anne sometimes used as a male name, and what does it mean in that context?
Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the Netherlands, particularly in the Frisian speaking part, where it is related to Germanic arn-names and means 'eagle'.
Name a male author with the name Anne in the Netherlands.
Author Anne de Vries is an example of a male with the name Anne in the Netherlands.
Who was Anne of Great Britain, and during which period did she reign?
Anne of Great Britain was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1702 to 1714.
Besides Saint Anne and Anne of Great Britain, name another historical figure with the name Anne.
Another historical figure with the name Anne is Anne Neville, the wife of King Richard.
Study Notes
English Literature
- English literature refers to literary works written in the English language from the UK, its Crown Dependencies, Overseas Territories, the Republic of Ireland, the US, and countries of the former British Empire.
- The English language has developed over 1,400 years, with the earliest forms being Old English, brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon invaders in the 5th century.
- Beowulf is the most famous work in Old English, achieving national epic status in England despite being set in Scandinavia.
Historical Influence on English Language
- Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the written form of the Anglo-Saxon language became less common.
- French became the standard language of courts, parliament, and polite society under the influence of the new aristocracy.
Name "Anne"
As a Feminine Name
- Anne is a form of the Latin female given name Anna, which represents the Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'favour' or 'grace'.
- Anne is a common name, with notable examples including:
- Saint Anne, Mother of the Virgin Mary
- Anne, Queen of Great Britain (1665–1714)
- Anne of Austria, Landgravine of Thuringia (1432–1462)
- Anne Neville (1456–1485), wife of King Richard
As a Masculine Name
- Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the Netherlands, particularly in the Frisian-speaking part, where it is related to Germanic arn-names and means 'eagle'.
- Examples of male names include:
- Author Anne de Vries (Netherlands)
- Anne de Montmorency (France)
- Lord Anne Hamilton (Scotland)
Test your knowledge of English literature with this quiz! Explore literary works from the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, United States, and former British Empire.
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