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Questions and Answers
How many islands does Britain have?
How many islands does Britain have?
Britain was attached to the continent before being separated.
Britain was attached to the continent before being separated.
True
What catastrophe had a huge impact on the British mentality?
What catastrophe had a huge impact on the British mentality?
Tsunami
Stonehenge is an implication that Britain was always an old settlement for humans since _____ BCE.
Stonehenge is an implication that Britain was always an old settlement for humans since _____ BCE.
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What was the oldest settlement found in England?
What was the oldest settlement found in England?
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When did the Beaker people settle in Cornwall?
When did the Beaker people settle in Cornwall?
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The Bronze Age settlers from Turkey were peaceful.
The Bronze Age settlers from Turkey were peaceful.
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Which area did the Beaker people settle in ______, which was rich in minerals?
Which area did the Beaker people settle in ______, which was rich in minerals?
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Who were the two brothers that led Germanic tribes to invade Celtic Britain?
Who were the two brothers that led Germanic tribes to invade Celtic Britain?
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What was the name given to the Germanic tribes who settled in Britain and became part of the country?
What was the name given to the Germanic tribes who settled in Britain and became part of the country?
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Alfred the Great successfully unified the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Alfred the Great successfully unified the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
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The Viking Age began in ________.
The Viking Age began in ________.
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What is the name 'Beowulf' commonly interpreted as?
What is the name 'Beowulf' commonly interpreted as?
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Beowulf is believed to be the name of the hero in the Old English epic poem.
Beowulf is believed to be the name of the hero in the Old English epic poem.
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Who is the first monster Beowulf encounters and slays in the Old English poem 'Beowulf'?
Who is the first monster Beowulf encounters and slays in the Old English poem 'Beowulf'?
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The poet of 'Beowulf' likely had both Christian and _________ worldview.
The poet of 'Beowulf' likely had both Christian and _________ worldview.
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Match the character with the corresponding action in 'Beowulf':
Match the character with the corresponding action in 'Beowulf':
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Who was the first poet to be buried in Westminster Abbey?
Who was the first poet to be buried in Westminster Abbey?
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What two houses were involved in the War of the Roses?
What two houses were involved in the War of the Roses?
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Henry VII married a woman from the House of York, uniting the red and white roses.
Henry VII married a woman from the House of York, uniting the red and white roses.
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Who wrote 'Le Morte d'Arthur'?
Who wrote 'Le Morte d'Arthur'?
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Match the following rulers with their respective actions:
Match the following rulers with their respective actions:
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Who was known as the opposite of Shakespeare and introduced blank verse (iambus)?
Who was known as the opposite of Shakespeare and introduced blank verse (iambus)?
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Which play by Christopher Marlowe tells the story of a ruler of the Mongolian empire?
Which play by Christopher Marlowe tells the story of a ruler of the Mongolian empire?
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John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost' in _____, rewriting the bible.
John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost' in _____, rewriting the bible.
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John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost' as a Puritan and had a highly religious family.
John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost' as a Puritan and had a highly religious family.
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What was the name of John Bunyan's famous work that was English plain, simple, and aimed to save souls?
What was the name of John Bunyan's famous work that was English plain, simple, and aimed to save souls?
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Who was the king of England before the English Civil War, who increased taxation and ruled without Parliament, leading to his execution?
Who was the king of England before the English Civil War, who increased taxation and ruled without Parliament, leading to his execution?
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What was the name of the period in England between 1649-1660, where the country was ruled by more sovereignty and without a king?
What was the name of the period in England between 1649-1660, where the country was ruled by more sovereignty and without a king?
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Thomas More served as the chancellor for King Henry VIII and later left when Henry decided to create his own church.
Thomas More served as the chancellor for King Henry VIII and later left when Henry decided to create his own church.
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___ was a superstar in the late 16th century, known for writing tragic love stories such as Astrophil and Stella.
___ was a superstar in the late 16th century, known for writing tragic love stories such as Astrophil and Stella.
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Match the following historical figures to their roles during the English Renaissance: 1. Thomas More, 2. Christopher Marlowe, 3. Edmund Spenser
Match the following historical figures to their roles during the English Renaissance: 1. Thomas More, 2. Christopher Marlowe, 3. Edmund Spenser
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Study Notes
Survey of Anglophone Literature: Focus Britain
Introduction
- Britain as a space concept: 6000 islands, 300 000km², 70 Million people, with only 136 permanently inhabited islands
- Great Britain is the largest island, with approximately 60 Million people living on its 210 000 km²
Britain's History
- Hunter-gatherers were the first population to inhabit Britain
- The island was attached to the continent before being separated by the rising sea level after the ice age
- The final shift occurred in one single day, causing a tsunami that had a huge impact on the British mentality
- Neil Oliver's "A History of Ancient Britain" (2012) states that the Island of Britain started with a catastrophe
- William Shakespeare mentioned the idea of insularity in "Richard I" (1595), which makes up the British mind
Stone Age (500,000 – 3000 BCE)
- 500,000 BCE: Boxgrove man was found in West Sussex, indicating that Britain was an old settlement for humans
- Stonehenge (3000 BCE) is an implication of Britain's ancient settlement
- People became farmers, studying the stars to know the seasons, weather, sun, and moon for a bountiful crop
The Bronze Age (2,750 – 750 BCE)
- Britain was rich in minerals, with the Beaker people settling in Cornwall, bringing new technology and lifestyle
- The wheel was invented in Zummar, Iraq, and pottery was introduced
- The history of Britain is a history of immigrants, with a peaceful migration and no implication of violence
The Iron Age (750 BCE – 43 AD)
- The Britons (Celtic Britons) arrived in 750 BCE, developing art, Celtic crafts, and culture
- Hillforts were built, and Greeks like Herodotus and Strabo mentioned Britain's tin richness
- Pytheas travelled around the island, circling and navigating it
The Roman Empire (43 AD – 410 CE)
- The Roman Empire ended the Iron Age, with Tacitus calling the Britons savages to justify their invasion
- Caesar used propaganda texts to promote his beliefs, writing about the Britons' use of woad to get a blue color on their faces
- The Britons had contracts regulating their set of marriage, and men had sexual contact with other men, which was considered insane by the Romans
Celtic Heritage
- The Celts came to Britain in two waves from Eastern and Central Europe
- The Celts' mother tongue is considered older than Sanskrit
- Different dialects and languages gave places names, such as Ankara
- The Celtic heritage included cultural and political concepts, with different tribes like nations
Roman Invasion and Celtic Displacement
- The Romans genetically displaced the Celts by mass-raping and killing the majority of British men
- The actual name Britannia was a misspelling of Caesar, who didn't know how to write Pretani
- Germania helped the Britons but stayed, and this was the second invasion
Celtic Culture and Language
- Celtic languages (Indo-European languages) travelled across Europe, with counting systems like enne, meeine, miny, moe...
- British place names like Avon, Dover, Kent, and Thames have Celtic origins
- Inhabitants of Britain called themselves "Pretani" (painted people)
Anglo-Saxon Britain
- The Anglo-Saxon Conquest: Germanians came to Britain, but decided to stay and became the real invaders
- They forced their culture into Britons, killing men, and raping women, to genetically replace the Celts and Romans with the Germanians
- England means "Land of the Angles", while Scotland comes from "scoti" meaning "pirates" in Latin
Britishness and Literature
- Due to the mixed cultures and societies, no one knows what Britishness is actually about
- Raymond Williams explains the keywords of literature### Literature and National Identity
- The term "literature" originated from "littera" meaning "letter of the alphabet" in Latin.
- In the 18th century, the concept of national literature emerged as a political matter.
- The idea of national literature was first introduced by the Germans.
History of English Literature
- Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages (409-10 BCE): The Romans left Britain, and the country was divided into little kingdoms with Roman and Celtic cultures.
- Germanic tribes, led by Hengest and Horsa, settled in Britain and became the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes.
- The Anglo-Saxons replaced the Bretonic inhabitation in one movement, and later, the Vikings invaded and settled in England.
- King Alfred the Great unified the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and introduced education to the people.
Old English Literature
- Related languages of Anglo-Saxon peoples formed dialects of Old English (OE).
- The first written record of Old English poetry was found in Northumbria.
- Caedmon, a simple man, composed written poetry in Old English, including "Caedmon's Hymn".
- Poetic compositions of "scops" (oral poets) produced spontaneous texts and performed them in a group.
- The structure of Old English poetry used alliteration, and the kennings theory was used to describe a person with more than just one word.
Famous Old English Poetry
- "Song of Deor" or "Lament of Deor" is a gnomic poem that helps memorize information.
- "Dream of the Rood" is a poem that traditions come together, with a picture of the superhero Christ.
- "Battle(-field) of Maldon" celebrates a defeat in the real Battle of Maldon in 991.
- "Beowulf" is an epic poem, celebrating the achievement of the hero Bearwolf, with a mixed culture and society.
Characteristics of Old English Literature
- Very masculine literature, celebrating masculinity, physical and military power, and loyalty to the king.
- Identity of the people is told through stories.
- Comitatus is a Germanic friendship structure, where young warriors lived together in the great hall of the king.
Middle English Literature
- Middle English (ME) is a gradual change from Old English, influenced by the French after the Battle of Hastings.
- ME got rid of its case system and lost its inflexions, but the tense system got more complex.
- Latin was the language of prestige, and Middle English readers could not understand Old English texts.
- Medieval romance is very important for literature, with a focus on the individual and adventure.
- There is an increase in feminine presence, with women becoming the center of tension in the texts.
Key Terms
- Vassal: a warrior who received protection and power from the lord.
- Romance: a story that is told and written in French, not in Latin.
- Lord: a person who gives protection and power to the vassal.
- Kenning: a poetic device used to describe a person with more than just one word.### Medieval Literature
- Eleanor of Aquitaine introduced the Occitan language and the idea of "Minnesang" to the French court, making Occitan the dominant language in France.
- The Lady was an image of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing Christian values and norms.
- Jean Bodel classified romances into three kinds: Matter of Britain (Arthur), Matter of Rome (classic antiquity, Greek and Roman mythology), and Matter of France (chanson de Roland).
Middle English Literature
- "King Horn" (1225) tells the story of a king who gets kicked out of the country by Muslims.
- "Layamon's Brut" (12th century) is the earliest English romance that celebrates King Arthur and romance motives, with a mix of French and English literature.
- The tradition of hospitality was important, with a focus on oath-breaking and oath-taking.
"Gawain and the Green Knight"
- The author lived in the second half of the 14th century and was fluent in French and English.
- The story revolves around the beheading game, with Celtic and Pagan origins.
- Gawain's journey begins on Halloween, a pagan festival where the dead walk amongst the living.
- The story explores themes of humanity, failure, and the pursuit of perfection.
The Canterbury Tales
- Geoffrey Chaucer was the first poet to be buried in Westminster Abbey.
- His poetry reflects a firm belief in order and features translated works such as "De Consolatione Philosphiae".
- The Canterbury Tales survives in 98 manuscripts, showcasing a closer, more understandable English.
- Chaucer's work features a diverse range of characters, including the nobility, yeoman, church, merchant, and widow.
The Rise of the Bourgeoisie
- The rise of education among the middle class led to a shift in social and economic power.
- The War of the Roses (1455-1485) saw the emergence of the Tudors, who took over the throne after the war.
- Henry Tudor (Henry VII) married a woman from York, combining the red and white rose to create the Tudor Rose.
Le Morte d'Arthur and the Tudors
- Thomas Malory wrote Le Morte d'Arthur while imprisoned, collecting all the Arthurian legends into one text.
- William Caxton helped publish the book, dividing it into 21 books.
- Malory's England reflects a society in decline, with everything falling apart in the end.
The Renaissance in England
- The Renaissance in England was marked by two turning points: the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 and the Restoration of the Stuart kings in 1660.
- The Renaissance saw the rediscovery of classical texts and knowledge, originating in Italy and spreading to England in the late 15th century.
- The Tudors, particularly Henry VIII, played a significant role in shaping English history during this period.
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