Concetti Chiave
- Old English was a fusion of Saxon, Angle, and Jute languages, with four main dialects and a unique runic alphabet.
- Middle English emerged with distinct differences from Old English, including changes in verb forms and word stress.
- Modern English evolved with silent final vowels and an influx of Greek and Latin vocabulary, leading to the creation of dictionaries.
- The Anglo Saxon invasion led to the division of Britain into six kingdoms, retaining some Roman influences like roads and commerce.
- Beowulf, a key epic of Anglo Saxon literature, showcases social and historical aspects of the 6th century with its Wessex dialect and alliteration.
1.
Old english and its dialects
Old English: it is the fusion of the languages spoken by the Saxons, Angles and Jutes. It had four different dialects: Northumbrian, Mercian, Kentish and West Saxon. There were cases for nouns and adjectives and a particular alphabet made up of runes.
2. Middle English: at the beginning it was confused. When it emerged it was different from Old English. The words were accented and stressed in a different way; there was one article; the infinitive of the verbs developed from "an" into the form "to"; many words changed after the
3.
Modern english development
Modern English: Early English: the final vowels became silent and it was the introduction of new words from Greek and Latin; Modern English: Dictionaries began to appear and the language was enriched with new words.
The Anglo Saxon Period (650 - 1066)
Historical background
The
Celtic and roman influences
The Celts: Between the 7th and the 4th century B.C., Britain was invaded by the waves of Celtic tribes: the Gaels, who settled in the north; the Britons, who settled in the south: est and west.
Julio Caesar: In 55 B.C., the Romans tried to invaded the land but the Britons defeated them. 
They tried for a second time with Julio Caesar. He didn’t want to subdue the land but only slaves and tributes. Romans’ invasion influenced British culture.
Anglo saxon invasion
The Anglo Saxon invasion: at the beginning of the fifth century the Germanic tribes invaded Britain and killed the inhabitants and wiped out the Roman civilisation except for the three elements: roads, the commercial centre of London and Welsh Christianity. Welsh civilisation remained prevalently Celtic, which had many legends like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Christianity returned with St. Augustine from Scotland and St. Patrick from Ireland. Now the country was divided into six Kingdoms: Northumbria, Essex, Wessex, Sussex, East Anglia and Mercia.
The
Saxon kings and literature
The Saxons, Alfred the Great: he was the greatest king before Edward the Conqueror. He introduced latin and translated the Bible into Anglo Saxon.
Edward the Confessor: after his death the Danes regained the country until 1042; when Edward the Confessor restored the throne he was weak and he left no sons, so Harold, from the Wessex family, took the throne.
Anglo Saxon literature is divided into two groups: Pagan and Christian. The Pagan was influenced by Germanic history and legends; the Christian was based on the Bible and on the life of Saints. It continued after the Norman Conquest, while the Pagan disappeared.
It was originally oral, then the monks wrote down these stories adding Christian elements. We can divide pagan poetry into two groups: epic and lyric. The oldest epic story is Beowulf. The poem is about 3.200 lines long.
Beowulf's story and language
Beowulf: it was written in the 8th century by an unknown author and it was oral. Then it was written down by a scholar. It was an episode of the Scandinavian saga. The story is divided into two parts:
the First part presents young Beowulf. He helps the king of the Danes, Rhotgar, to defeat a monster that attacked his kingdom. The name of the monster was Grendal. Beowulf finally killed him. But Grendal had a mother the tried to avenge her son, but she was killed by Beowulf.
the Second part presents Beowulf in his old age, when he was the king of the Geats. He fights another monster who tried to destroy the country. During this battle Beowulf dies...
Language: Beowulf is written in Wessex dialect which presents these characteristics: each line is divided by a marked pause and the two parties are held by allitterations; there are no rhymes.
The presence of the nature: the story has the typical background of the Scandinavian countries. The north is stormy and there are black forests, pools and caves.
Social and historical accuracy: the story also describes the way of living during the 6th century: drinking, sleeping, fighting etc. These legends were often narrated by the scops.
Domande da interrogazione
- What are the origins and characteristics of Old English?
- How did Middle English differ from Old English?
- What were the key influences on the development of Modern English?
- How did the Anglo-Saxon invasion impact Britain?
- What is the significance of Beowulf in Anglo-Saxon literature?
Old English emerged from the fusion of languages spoken by the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes, featuring four dialects: Northumbrian, Mercian, Kentish, and West Saxon. It included cases for nouns and adjectives and utilized a unique alphabet of runes.
Middle English evolved with distinct accents and stress patterns, a single article, and a shift in verb infinitives from "an" to "to." It marked a departure from Old English's structure and vocabulary.
Modern English developed through the silencing of final vowels and the introduction of Greek and Latin words. The emergence of dictionaries further enriched the language with new vocabulary.
The Anglo-Saxon invasion in the fifth century led to the destruction of Roman civilization in Britain, except for roads, London's commercial center, and Welsh Christianity. It resulted in the formation of six kingdoms and the preservation of Celtic legends like King Arthur.
Beowulf, an epic poem written in the Wessex dialect, is a key work of Anglo-Saxon literature. It reflects the oral tradition, Scandinavian saga influences, and provides insights into 6th-century life, with its narrative divided into two parts featuring Beowulf's battles against monsters.
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