British Literature

27 – BRITISH LITERATURE

Anglo-Saxon literature (600-1066 AD)
The old germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons and Jutes) were of Danish ancestry and spoke Old English. The main representants of that age were poets and bards who created songs and lullybys. An important example would be the Song of Beowulf, which is a heroic epic poem. It is alliterated and unrhymed, 3182 lines long. The story is about a hero called Beowulf, who travels to a Danish kingdom and slays the monster Grendel and his mother. Victorious, Beowulf returns to his country and later becomes a king. After 50 years he fights and defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the process. The main themes are: heroism, valor in battle, honor and fame among descendants. There is also a clash between pagan mythology and Christian culture. Another great personality of that period was the king Alfred the Great who wrote the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Geoffrey of Monmouth who created the first version of the Legend of King Arthur.

An important historical figure is Geoffrey Chaucer (15th century), also called the Father of English Literature. His father was a wine merchant, which brought them wealth and prestige. Chaucer was a page and later a knight, diplomat and customs officer. He fought in the 100 years war between France and England. He was mostly influenced by Boccaccio and Dante. His poetry popularized the use of Middle English at a time when people mostly used French or Latin. Chaucer’s work includes The book of Duchess, Troilus and Criseyde and The Canterbury Tales. Canterbury tales is a collection of stories, which uses a frame narrative. A group of people are on a pilgrimage to the Canterbury cathedral. They spent time at a Pub called Tabard Inn. To entertain each other, the pilgrims share stories. The characters are from all social levels.

Thomas More was a councillor to Henry VIII. His most important work is Utopia, written in Latin, which describes a perfect society (no private ownership, x there is slavery…).

Elizabethan Theatre (16ct - ½ of 17ct)
It was named after Queen Elizabeth I., but it includes James I. and Charles I.. The plays were performed in inn yards, amphitheatres or in front of churches. At this time, the first permanent theaters were established, for example The Theatre, The Rose or The Globe. Most plays were inspired by humanism and the renaissance. Costumes and props hat an important symbolic value. Certain colours and materials represented certain groups. The plays were performed only by males. The most famous playwrights were Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare. Marlowe inspired Shakespeare and wrote in blank verse. (Unrhymed iambic pentameter) His plays include the Jew of Malta (Merchant of Venice) and Doctor Faustus.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
He is regarded the greatest writer of English literature. Shakespeare is called England’s national poet. He was born in Stratford upon Avon. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway and had 3 children with her, only one daughter survived. His plays are divided into historic plays (King John, Henry VI), tragedies (Titus Andronicus, Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet), comedies (Merchant of Venice, Taming of a Shrew) and romances (late comedies; the Winter’s tale, the Tempest).