REVIEWER IN SURVEY OF ENGLISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE

ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD (6TH-9TH CENTURY)

- Old English Literature

- Also known as “Dark Ages” because written sources are scarce.
- Common literary pieces during this period were Epic and Elegy

Anglo- comes from the Saxon word “angul” or “ongul” which means “hook”

Saxon- comes from the word “seax” or “sax” which means a kind of “sword”

Old English Literature was influenced by two (2) opposing forces: Christianity and Paganism

1. Christianity- introduced by Irish missionaries

- focused on softening the heroic outlook of the pagan works

2. Paganism- introduced by Anglo-Saxons

- stressed love of battle, fidelity to one’s master and implacability of fate

Beowulf- first English epic

Widsith- written in 7th century

- Recounts travel of a scop (professional singers who recited heroic verses to a lord)
- Also known as “The Traveller’s Song”

TIMELINE

640-709 – Aldhelm wrote Latin Riddles which were translated into English. This can be found on the
book “Exeter”

731- Bede (greatest Anglo-Saxon scholar) wrote 40 books. Most famous is Ecclesiastical History of the
English People

802-858- Alfred the Great became the king of Wessex. He employed court scholars, encouraged learning
and translated several books into English

1023- Aelfric wrote “The Grammarian”

Old English epics and elegies were characterized by regular stress, free rhythm, end-stopped and
unrhymed lines, abundant alliteration and the use of kennings.

Kennings- often formulaic phrase that describes one thing in terms of another.

- E.g in Beowulf, sea is called whole road

Caedmon- considered to be the father of English song

Cynewulf- poet from Mercia

- Became very famous during the 9th century

 - Christian Beowulf and The Dream of the Rood are some of his works
- Poem “Elene” is considered to be his masterpiece

Elene- recount about the discovery of the cross

ANGLO-NORMAN PERIOD (1066-1400)

- Middle English Literature

- Medieval period
- Popular literary pieces were ballad, mystery plays and miracle plays
- This period started when the Norman declared victory in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings. This
brought about the continuous expansion of the English influence that had already begun
during the time of Edward the Confessor. At these times three languages were being used;
the court used French, the clerks used Latin and the common men used English.
- One important figure in these times was Geoffrey of Monmouth. He wrote stories about the
kings of Britain thus making the Arthurian Stories and Legends very famous.
- Literature in this era were characterized by stern asceticism as well as the mysticism of the
age. Didactic writings and miracle plays flourished in this era, at the same time, nonreligious
works were also popular.

Asceticism- specific to an individual

Mysticism- practice of religious ecstasies, together with whatever ideologies, ethics, rites, myths,
legends and magic may be related to them.

Ballad- narrative song

- Told of common folks and of characters and events from legend and folklore

Mystery Plays- based on stories from the Bible

Miracle Plays- portrayed lives of saints

The Age of Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400)

Geoffrey Chaucer- father of English literature

- Most famous writer of the Medieval Period

The Canterbury Tales- Chaucer’s preeminent work, attests to his innate ability as a storyteller, to his
keen sense of humour, and to his sharp eye for detail.

- This novel talks about a wide range of humanity and presents a clear and detailed picture of
the Britain that he knew.

Around 1362, “The Vision of William Concerning Piers the Plowman” (Piers Plowman), a long allegorical
poem first appeared. William Langland is credited with the authorship of this poem which describes
major historical events like the Hundred Years’ War, the Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt.

Medieval drama with mystery cycles such as Towneley or Wakefield, and morality plays such as
Everyman became very famous during the early part of 1500.
While in prison, Sir Thomas Malory wrote the last medieval chronicle of the Arthurian legend- Morte
D’Arthur.

Morte D’Arthur tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights at the Round Table.

Towneley or Wakefield

 A cycle of 32 scriptural plays or mystery plays of the early 15 th century, which were performed
during the European Middle Ages at Wakefield, a town in the north of England.

 These 15th century biblical dramas were performed by the craft guilds in conjunction with the
church and other religious guilds.

 It tells the story of the cycle of creation to the crucifixion.

1. THE CREATION

 This play is the first in the Wakefield cycle. As in many of the cycle’s plays, God is a
character in the play.

2. THE KILLING OF ABELL

 This play contains interesting mistakes. Abel’s death has been confused by the writer so
that Abell appears in the text after he has been killed by Cain.

3. NOAH

 This play, written by the so called ‘Wakefield master’, explores the famous story of the
flood.

4. ABRAHAM/ISAAC

 It is about a father, a son, and a sacrifice.

 The Binding of Isaac is a story from the Hebrew Bible found in Genesis 22. In the biblical
narrative, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on Moriah. Abraham begins to
comply, when a messenger from God interrupts him. Abraham then sees a ram and
sacrifices it instead.

5. FIRST SHEPHERD’S PAGEANT

 This play, written by the “Wakefield Master,” and begins the first of two ‘Shepherd’s
plays.

6. SECOND SHEPHERD’S PAGEANT

 The Second Shepherds’ Play (also known as The Second Shepherds’ Pageant) is a famous
medieval mystery play. The Play opens with soliloquies from three different shepherds:
first Coll, then Gyb, then Daw. All of them detailing the struggles and misery of their
lives.

7. HEROD THE GREAT

 This play, written by the “Wakefield Master,” presents the biblical tale of the murder of
all male infants in Bethlehem at Herod’s command.

8. THE BUFFETING OF CHRIST

  This play, written by the so-called “Wakefield Master,” explores the persecution of Jesus
Christ by both commoners (tortores) and chief priests (Cayaphas and Annas).

Famous Personalities

1. Sir Thomas Wyatt

- He was a 16th Century English politician, ambassador, and lyric poet.
- Introduced Sonnet to England.
2. John Skelton
- A vigorous satirist and sometimes a delightful lyricist
3. Thomas More
- Wrote a Dialogue Concerning Heresias (1529).
- Wrote religious works such as “Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation
- Wrote “Utopia” which is a revolutionary work that transcends time.