British Literature before the 16th Century.ppt

British Literature before the 16th Century Outline of the lecture Making of England Roman conquest and its significance to English society Anglo-Saxon period and its significance Beowulf Norman conquest and its significance Tudor Dynasty Geoffrey Chaucer 5. Assignment for next lecture I The making of England Who were the early inhabitants in the island of Britain? Britons, a tribe of Celts Where did the Celts come from? Powerful Celts in central and north Europe from 750 BC to 12 BC mainland Celts (Gauls) and island Celts (Britons and Gaels) Gaels in Scotland and Ireland speaking Gaelic II Roman Conquest In 55 BC, Julius Caesar, the Roman Conqueror, occupied Britain. In 410, Roman Empire fell into decline. Significance of Roman conquest left no deep impression on its national life Roman mode of life: theatres and baths in the towns (the city of Bath) Appearance of Roman streets and city ancient London city Bath, England’s world heritage city Founded in Roman Conquest Famous for its hot springs Jane Austins’ second home: Bath museum Wife of Bath III Anglo-Saxon Period (5th century-11th century) Tribes from Northern Europe: Anglos, Saxons and Jutes Small kingdoms were united in the 7th century. People used old English. In the 7th century, Anglo-Saxons were Christianized. Many monasteries were built all over the country. A transitional period from tribal society to feudalism Why English today called themselves as the descendents of Anglo-Saxons? In the 8th century, the Continent began to use the word Anglo-Saxon to distinguish Saxons in Britain from Saxons in the Mainland. In the 11th century, Normans invaded and began to adopt Anglo-Saxon to refer to the local English Beowulf Representative work in Anglo-Saxon Period: containing more than 3000 lines, is a national epic of the Anglo-Saxon and English people What’s the main story of Beowulf? Social significance: characterization: simple by deeds, faithful to his people, bravery in actions---call