DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE

Historical development of English language and culture

Index

Chronological axias

The problem of colonialism

ABSTRACT/ summary

References

Chronological axis

Anglo-Saxon period

Modern English

Early modern English

Middle English

Anglo-Saxonperiod (450-1150)

Main characteristics

Very little is known about Britons. They were Celtic people who were early inhabitants of Britain. The Romans attacked them in the first century and they became a part of the Roman Empire.In 410, the Romans had turned back to their country, so Britain was left unprotected. As a consequence, Britain’s neighbours attacked them.

According to a tradition, in 449 the first people came from the great North German plain.And they settled Kent. They were Jutes, perhaps from peninsula of Jutland in Denmark.After Jutes, Anglo-Saxons came to the Britain.They (Germanic tribes) built a new and common language which we called as Old English or Anglo-Saxon.

During Anglo-Saxon period, England was divided into separate kingdoms.The most important areas were Kent, Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex. During last two centuries (It is about 800) Anglo-Saxons tried to protect themselves from Vikings or Norsemen.

Besides a common language, they shared a heroic ideal and set of traditional heroes.They admired men of outstanding courage, whatever tribe they came from.

Anglo-saxon civilization

Anglo-Saxon society was well-developed, branching.Unit from Family, to Clan, to Tribe and then to the Kingdom.

They had democratic habit of mind. [Like real republic] Although it is widely known that Anglo-Saxons were hardly and brave, also they had developed feelings for beauty. They had a passion for fine ornament and the produced many beautiful pieces, such as Brooches and Bracelets of exquisite design.

The Christian establishment

Christianity came early to Britain. The spread of Christianity was strengthened by missionaries from the continent. (In 314, a bishop of London attended the church council at Arles in France.)The most of these, Saint Augustine came in 597 and established a monastery at Canterbury. He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 664, there was a synod at Whitby Abbey. It was a famous monastery for men and women under the leadership of the Abbes Hilda. She was also spiritual director of the pious Caedmon, the first English religious poet. This synod united the English church with Roman Christianity.The church began to draw the island kingdoms together and encouraged ties with the rest of Europe.

Anglo-saxon Literature

• The two most important traditions of Anglo-Saxon poetry were the heroic tradition and elegiac tradition, which mourns the passing of earlier, better times. Of the 30.000 lines of Anglo-Saxon poetry that remain to us, the most important single poem is the epic Beowulf.

• Anglo-Saxon poetry was an oral art. Poems were not written down until a much later period.The professional poet or scop had a very important function in this society. He was the memory and historian of the tribe. The two most important traditions of Anglo-Saxon poetry were the heroic tradition and elegiac tradition.

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The vicking invasion

The Vikings spoked Old Norse which influence the Old-English that Anglo-Saxon spoke.They invided the British territory around the year 793.They invided and colonised the British Islands.They were warriors who mixed pagan customs with the Roman Catholic faith They used runes until the British islands were converted into the Roman Catholic faith ( they used latin insted) The most strinking cultural feture from vikings is their mitology. They belived that they should die in the battle to enter to Valhöll, when they will meet Odin( their main god).

Middle-English period (1150-1500)

Early modern Englishperiod (1500-1700)

• Renaissence
• Neoclassical

ModernEnglish (1700-1900)

• Romantisicm
• Victorian period

Late modern English(1900-present)

• The modern period
• The post-modern period

The problem of colonialism

• It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries.
• A Glimpse of Four of the Former British Dominions
• The effects of colonialism

The new English invasion

AbstrAct/summary:

History of English

English in the world

The importance of literature

References

www.britannica.comtimemaps.com www.nottingham.ac.uk www.history.org.uk www.bbc.co.uk english.rutgers.edu Alacant university