英国文学上册Unit One The Abglo-Saxon Period.ppt

Literature v.s. Marketplace In the 21st century, English and the humanities are in the position of justifying their existence in universities and proving their worth in an environment that equates the university with the “marketplace”. Looking at the history of English studies, English has always been a complex and intellectually demanding discipline with a place beyond the “marketplace”. Participation Oral presentation Paper writing Final examination Assessment  Part II   The Anglo-Saxon Period(449-1066) The period of Old English England, where the early inhabitants were Celts, has been conquered three times in history: 1. By the Romans: England was not affected by the Roman conquest 2. By the Anglo-Saxons: The Anglo-Saxons brought to England the Germanic language , the basis of modern English, and culture. 3. By the Normans: The Normans brought a fresh wave of Mediterranean civilization, including Greek culture, Roman law, and the Christian religion. The cultural influences of the two conquests provided the source of English literature. I. The literary characteristics 1. The Anglo-Saxon language is the basis of Modern English 2. The Old English poetry that has survived can be divided into two groups: (1) The religious group: mainly on biblical themes (2) The secular group: The national epic poem, Beowulf Beowulf Beowulf , written in Old English sometime before the tenth century A.D., describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian warrior of the sixth century Beowulf 1. An anonymous Old English epic poem believed to have been composed in the early eighth century, principally concerning the exploits of the warrior Beowulf and containing historical and legendary tales about the Geats, Danes, and other older Germanic peoples. 2. The legendary hero of this epic, who slays the monster Grendel and its mother, becomes king of the Geats, and dies fighting a dragon.  Beowulf exists in only one manuscript