The document provides an overview of the rise and fall of Old English, including its development as a language, literature, and poetry over time. It discusses the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and excerpts from Beowulf to illustrate how Old English was used in early prose and poetry. Images are included of artifacts like the Lindisfarne Gospels and Nowell Codex manuscript to represent the literature of the period.
The document provides an overview of the rise and fall of Old English, including its development as a language, literature, and poetry over time. It discusses the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and excerpts from Beowulf to illustrate how Old English was used in early prose and poetry. Images are included of artifacts like the Lindisfarne Gospels and Nowell Codex manuscript to represent the literature of the period.
The document provides an overview of the rise and fall of Old English, including its development as a language, literature, and poetry over time. It discusses the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and excerpts from Beowulf to illustrate how Old English was used in early prose and poetry. Images are included of artifacts like the Lindisfarne Gospels and Nowell Codex manuscript to represent the literature of the period.
Image: New Scientist, 18 March 2015 Old English - the rise and fall of a language
Image – The Lindisfarne Gospels, British Library
The Vespasian Psalter, 8th century: British Library From John Fortescue, The Difference between an Absolute and Limited Monarchy Old English - the rise and fall of a literature (prose)
Image: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, The British Library
“Year 793. Here were dreadful forewarnings come over the land of Northumbria, and woefully terrified the people: these were amazing sheets of lightning and whirlwinds, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the sky. A great famine soon followed these signs, and shortly after in the same year, on the sixth day before the ides of January, the woeful inroads of heathen men destroyed god’s church in Lindisfarne island by fierce robbery and slaughter. And Sicga died on the eighth day before the calends of March.” Old English - the rise and fall of a literature (poetry)
Image: The Beowulf Manuscript (The Nowell Codex)
Beowulf(s) Beowulf Beowulf in Anglo-Saxon
Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns.
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,
A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall-troops had come far. A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on As his powers waxed and his worth was proved. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts Beyond the whale-road had to yield to him And begin to pay tribute. That was one good king. Hwæt, ic swefna cyst secgan wylle, hwæt mē gemætte to midre nihte, syðþan reordberend reste wunedon. þūhte mē þæt ic gesāwe syllicre trēow on lyft lædan lēohte bewunden bēama beorhtost. Eall þæt bēacen wæs begoten mid golde. Gimmas stōdon fægere æt foldan scēatum, swylce þær fife wæron
I will disclose the deepest vision
that came in a dream at night's center when all human voices rested in sleep. It seemed I beheld the tree of the Mystery rise in the heavens, spinning out rays of perfect light. That beacon glowed spattered with gold, shining with jewels, clear to earth's corners: five gems defined the crossbeam. All God's angels were witness, splendid throughout eternity. This was no common gallows.