British Literature through Time

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• British Literature through Time
• Anglo-Saxon
• Neoclassical/Restoration
• Modern/Post-Modern
• Medieval
• Romantic
• Contemporary
• Renaissance
• Victorian

Old English/Anglo-Saxon Period

Years: 449-1066

Content: 

Ø       strong belief in fate

Ø       juxtaposition of church and pagan worlds

Ø       admiration of heroic warriors who prevail in battle

Ø       express religious faith and give moral instruction through literature    

Style/Genres:

Ø       oral tradition of  literature

Ø       poetry dominant genre

Ø       unique verse form

·  caesura

·  alliteration

·  repetition

·  4 beat rhythm

Effect:

Ø       Christianity helps literacy to spread

Ø       introduces Roman alphabet to Britain

Ø       oral tradition helps unite diverse peoples and their myths

Historical Context:

Ø       life centered around ancestral tribes or clans that ruled themselves

Ø       at first the people were warriors from invading outlying areas: Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and  Danes

Ø       later they were agricultural

Key Literature/Authors:

Ø       Beowulf

Ø       Bede

Ø       Exeter Book

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Q&A: Question: (8/29/2010) WHY DO AMERICANS STUDY BRITISH LITERATURE ???? (9/1/2010)     Answer has been submitted and is awaiting approval. Question: (11/29/2009) what do you consider cardinal in the Anglo-saxon and restoration period Answer: (8/24/2010) a cardinal is a red bird that is well respected Answer: (2/7/2010) anglo saxon literary works Question: (9/22/2009) Characteristics of the period. Question: (9/17/2009) what british authors birthdays are on october 5? Answer: (6/19/2010) wordsworth Question: (9/2/2009) why is the poetry dominant genre Answer: (10/20/2009) poetry was the dominant genre in anglo-saxon literature because stories were told through oral tradition.often the poems contained caesuras,breaks in the sentences,to help the story-tellers remember and take short breaks.the poetry also contained kennings or word substitutions using two words,ex:whale's home=ocean,which were also used to assist the story-tellers Question: (8/29/2009) WHAT IS REPETITION Answer: (1/25/2010) anaphora Answer: (10/20/2009) that is incorrect...that is alliteration.repetition is when words or phrases are repeated,not vowels or specific sounds Answer: (9/17/2009) a repeated vowel or sound of some sort in a writing Question: (8/29/2009) WHAT IS ALLITERATION Answer: (4/20/2010) The repetition of similar sounds (not always the same letter). For example: "And the Silken, Sad, unCertain ruStling (The Raven)." The S sound repeats, even though it's through a C at one point. Answer: (10/12/2009) When several words in a sentence has the same consonant letters. Answer: (9/16/2009) when consecutive words start with the same letter Answer: (9/12/2009) when consecutive words start with the same letter. eg. the big brown bunny. Question: (8/29/2009) WHAT IS A caesura Answer: (10/12/2009) A pause half way through the line Answer: (8/31/2009) a pause Question: (8/26/2009) wat is exeter book? Answer: (10/20/2009) eerie indiana Answer: (9/15/2009) an ancient book believed to be written by Bede and includes the known literature from the anglo-saxon period, including beowulf, the seafarer, the wanderer, and a wife's lament. Question: (8/17/2009) what two groups invaded after the jutes? Answer: (1/9/2010) angles and saxons ...More Questions/Answers...		Comments:   No comments Yet!