The Wanderer in Old English Poetry

Historical Background

• Old English period: before King Alfred's writings in the 10th century
• 5th century: Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain
• Germanic peoples: inhabited and ruled parts of England and Wales from the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 1066
  • Saxons: ancient Germanic people living in modern Schleswig and along the Baltic coast
  • Angles and Saxons: invaded Britain in the 5th century
  • Jutes: settled in Kent, Isle of Wight, and parts of Hampshire

Bede and His Work

• Bede: a monk and scholar in Northumbria, wrote multiple works on history, exegesis, hagiography, theology, and other topics
• Ecclesiastical History of the English People: a comprehensive history of the early English Christian church and English secular life
• Book I: discusses Britain's early history from the Roman invasion to 600 CE
• Book II: describes Gregory the Great and events from Gregory's death to about 633 CE
• Book III: discusses the return of Northumbria to paganism and King Oswald's victory at Heavenfield in 634 CE
• Book IV: covers the growth of the English church and the acceptance of Roman rules regarding Easter and the tonsure of monks
• Book V: covers the personal history of Holy Ethelwald and the development of the episcopate in the English church

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

• A historical record that covers the history of England from the early 5th century to the mid-12th century
• Initially created in the late 9th century during the reign of Alfred the Great
• Updated by various scribes and writers over the centuries
• Covers events from the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain to the Norman Conquest of 1066

Cynewulf and His Poems

• Cynewulf: an Old English poet, flourished between the 8th and 10th centuries in Northumbria or Mercia
• Four signed poems: Christ II (or The Ascension), Juliana, The Fates of the Apostles, and Elene
• Poems belong to the genre of hagiography, "the writing of the sacred" or the legends of the saints
• Utilizes runes in acrostic passages to sign his poems

Battle of Brunanburh

• A decisive conflict that played a crucial role in the creation of the nation of England
• Occurred in 937 CE
• Celebrated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle written about 60 years later
• Battle's location is still debated among historians, speculated to be in Yorkshire, Dumfriesshire in southern Scotland, or Bromborough on the Wirral Peninsula near Liverpool in northwest England

Battle of Maldon

• Occurred in August 991 CE in Maldon, East Saxons (modern-day Essex)

• Portrays patriot Byrhtnoth facing villainous Vikings, symbolizing the fight for honor and loyalty

• Highlights the heroic deaths of Byrhtnoth and his men, praising their loyalty and virtue### The Anglo-Saxon Period

• Lasted from the 5th to the 11th century

• Characterized by continuous warfare and the transition from Paganism to Christianity

• Significant events: the Battle of Brunanburh, the Battle of Maldon, and the Norman Conquest in 1066

The Battle of Maldon

• Took place in 991 A.D.
• English forces led by Byrhtnoth faced Viking demands for money on the Pante river shore
• Initial success for the English, but Byrhtnoth's pride led to allowing Vikings onto land, resulting in intense fighting and the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons

The Wanderer

• An Anglo-Saxon poem written in Old English
• Composed of 116 lines, with each line divided symmetrically into two halves
• Focuses on the Wanderer's loss of his lord, grief, and search for wisdom
• Explores themes of suffering, loneliness, and the transience of earthly life
• Uses literary devices such as alliteration, metaphor, and personification

The Seafarer

• Another Anglo-Saxon poem written in Old English
• Composed of 125 lines, divided into two sections (part 1: lines 1-64, part 2: lines 65-125)
• Recounts the narrator's difficult life as a seafarer and his intense wanderlust despite suffering
• Evolves into a didactic, theological metaphor for the Christian journey
• Uses literary devices such as alliteration, metaphor, and personification

Generalization of Anglo-Saxon Poetry

• Characterized by the use of alliteration, rhythm, and metaphor
• Often written in Old English, with kennings and caesural stops
• Explores themes of suffering, loneliness, and spirituality

Le Morte d'Arthur

• Written by Sir Thomas Malory in the 15th century
• Derived inspiration from the works of Gildas, Nennius, and Geoffrey of Monmouth, and French romances
• Originally titled "The Whole Book of King Arthur and of His Noble Knights of the Round Table"
• Published in 1485 CE by William Caxton
• Divided into two volumes, 21 books, and 507 chapters### Sir Thomas Malory and Le Morte D'Arthur
• Sir Thomas Malory (c. 1415-1471 CE) was an English writer, famous for his work Le Morte D'Arthur.
• Le Morte D'Arthur is considered the most influential medieval prose fiction and the first written in English, providing a comprehensive treatment of the Arthurian Legend.
• The book reflects the tumultuous political and social climate of the time, particularly the events of The Wars of Roses.
• Primary characters in the book include:
  • Arthur: son of King Uther Pendragon and Igraine, who became the mightiest king of his time after pulling the sword Excalibur.
  • Guenevere: Arthur's wife and the lover of Lancelot, often portrayed as a damsel-in-distress.
  • Sir Lancelot du Lac: King Arthur's closest companion and one of his greatest knights, who betrayed King Arthur by becoming Guenevere's lover.
  • Merlin: a sorcerer who helped King Uther seduce Igraine and later became King Arthur's counselor.
  • Morgan le Fay: King Arthur's sister and the mother of Sir Mordred, who plotted against King Arthur.

Structure of Le Morte D'Arthur

• The book consists of 21 chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of the Arthurian Legend.
• Key chapters include:
  • Book 1: The Rise of Arthur
  • Book 2: The Tale of Balin and Balan
  • Book 5: The War with Rome and Sir Launcelot
  • Book 11-12: The Quest for the Holy Grail
  • Book 18: The Forbidden Love of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guenevere
  • Book 20: The Fall of the Round Table

Main Themes of Le Morte D'Arthur

• 1. Honor and Chivalry: The code of chivalry as proclaimed by King Arthur, encompassing virtues such as showing mercy, fighting for good, and protecting ladies from harm.
• 2. Jealousy, Competition, and Revenge: The petty jealousy and rivalries that sometimes undermine the noble ideals of chivalry.
• 3. Trickery and Mistaken Identity: The use of trickery, both magical and otherwise, to disrupt social norms and confuse more than it reveals.
• 4. Journeys and Quests: The quest for the Holy Grail, which represents eternal food, youth, and happiness, and exemplifies the theme of mistaken identity and unexpected twists.

Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales

• Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400 CE) was a medieval English poet, writer, and philosopher, known as the Father of English Literature.
• Chaucer was multilingual, fluent in Italian, French, and Latin, and translated works from French and Latin to English.
• He invented the poetic form of the Rime Royal, which consists of seven lines, usually in iambic pentameter, with a specific rhyming scheme.

The Canterbury Tales

• The Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories, narrated by pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
• The work is written in Middle English, which was popularized by Chaucer, and provides a glimpse into medieval English society.
• The pilgrimage, set in the springtime, symbolizes renewal and spiritual cleansing, aligning with the characters' quest for spiritual renewal.

Structure of The Canterbury Tales

• The General Prologue is the first section of the story, providing a summary of the poem and describing the journey undertaken by the pilgrims.
• Each of the 24 tales is told by one of the characters, representing diverse social classes and occupations.

Historical Background of The Canterbury Tales

• The Canterbury Tales was written in 14th-century England, a time of political instability and social change.
• The Black Death (bubonic plague) swept through the country in the 1340s, and increasing tax prices, combined with a growing wealth gap, culminated in the Peasants' Revolt in 1381.