University of Ghardaia

Faculty of Letters and Languages

English Department

Lectures of the First Semester

Module: Literature
Level: 2nd Year Licence
Lecturer: Dr. Fatima Yahia

Academic year: 2023/2024

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 History of English Literature

Lecture 1

I. 1 Introduction

Since literature is the mirror of an author’s society and his/her personal experiences, its
evolution is always affected by the external environment circumstances and the emergence of
various theories. In the case of English literature, it traces its origins from the beginning of
the history of English people. The English are a composite race since various racial factors
and groups have participated in their making –Celts, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans. The Celts
were the earliest inhabitants of England. The Romans conquered Britain in 43AD. Later, the
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes settled in England in the 5th century AD where they gave the
country its name and language (the Angles, being the most numerous, gave their name to the
whole country).

The first step that put the Anglo-Saxons on the path of civilisation was their conversion to
Christianity. Oral literature was popular and religious in nature. Written English literature
appeared between 450-1050, known as Old English Period in the history of English literature.

Later, English literature has developed due to the emergence of some theories. In English
criticism, the aesthetic sense of ‘literature’ was firmly established only in the 19th century. In
the 20th century, there have been innumerable aesthetic and critical theories devoted to
explaining and developing this sense of the term, applying it to the description of texts,
authors, periods, and movements. There are also theories which dispute the

concept of ‘literature’ or which treat it as a socio-cultural or political construct, to be

described and analysed via these views.

I.1.2. The Anglo-Saxon Period/Old English Literature (450-1066):

1.1.2.1 Historical Background:

The historical background of the Old English Literature can be summarized in the
following points:

 The making of England.

 The invasion of the Roman Empire in 4th AD.

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  The attacks of the Danish Vikings.
 Written after the settlement of the Saxons and other Germanic tribes in England (e.g.
Jutes and Angles).
 After the withdrawal of the Romans.
 End: after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

I.1.2.2 Literature:

Old English literature, or Anglo-Saxon literature, is the surviving literature that is written in
Old English in Anglo-Saxon England. So, it was written in the period after the settlement of
the Saxons and other Germanic tribes in England. This period saw the emergence of different
writing forms as the epic poem, Bible studies, poetry, riddles, translations, hagiography,
sermons, chronicles, and legal works.

I.1.2.2.1 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

It is a collection of annals (historical records of events ranged chronologically) in old

English. It chronicles the history of the Anglo-Saxons (E.g. The Battle of Maldon (991)/The
Anglo-Saxons failed to prevent the Viking invasion1).

 NB:
The Oral tradition was famous in early English culture. Most literary works were
written to be performed (Theatre with poems presentation).

I.1.2.2.2 The Epic Poem:

It is a long narrative poem in elevated style. It presents characters of high position in series
of events. It is characterized by the use of alliteration: accented words in a line begin with the
same consonant sound (E.g. Beowulf , the most famous work/ a national epic). The only
surviving manuscript are The Nowel Codex (1000) and Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

I.1.2.2.3 Authors:

 Caedmon, Bede, Alfred the Great, and Cynewulf.

 Caedmon is the earliest English poet.
 His famous work is Caedmon’s Hymn (7th C).

1
Alexander, M. (2013). A History of English Literature. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, (pp.13-20)

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I.1.2.2.4 Examples of Poems:

 Poems from the late 10th C: e.g. The Wanderer / The Seafarer (religious themes).
 Poems used for classical philosophical texts: e.g. King Alfred, 849-99, (the longest
poem) /9th c translation of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy2.

I.1.3 Middle English Literature/The Medieval Period (1066/1500)/15th Century:

I.1.3.1 Historical Background:

The historical background of Middle English Literature contributed in the emergence of its
specific forms. The main events of the period are summarized in the following points:

 The Norman conquest under William Duke of Normandy.

 The battle of Hastings in 1066.
 The establishment of Feudalism.
 Under the influence of the new aristocracy, French became the standard language of
courts, parliament, and noble society.
 The written form of the Anglo-Saxon language became less common.
 The Norman dialects of the ruling classes became Anglo-Norman3.

I.1.3.2 Literature:

Middle English literature was written in many dialects which corresponded the region,
history, culture and background of individual writers. Religious literature continued to
spread. Prior to the second half of the fourteenth century, vernacular literature consisted
primarily of religious writings. In addition, hagiographies were written and translated (E.g1.
The Life of Saint Audrey (1060-1126), by Eadmer / e.g2. Brut by Laymon; he used the
Norman-French language. It deals with the legends of King Arthur). Knights of the Round
Table: it was the historiography in English since the Anglo-Saxon chronicle4.

I.1.3.2.1 Genre:

This period was famous of the following literary genres:

 Bible translations by John Wycliffe in 1382/1395.

2
Alexander, M. (2013). A History of English Literature. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, (pp.24-34)
3
Peck, J. and Coyle, M. (2013). A Brief History of English Literature. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, (pp.22-24)
4
Pomerantz, S. (2010). Literary Periods of British Literature.)
http://englitweatherhead.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/1/5/44151973/british_literature_breakdown__1_.pdf, (p.02)

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  Romance: a long verse or prose that describes the life and adventures of a noble hero.
It was not written for the common people but for those patronized by the noble class:
e.g. The Romance of the King Arthur and Romance of Horn.
 The Allegorical narrative poem: by Langland; e.g. Piers Plowman, written in
unrhymed alliterative style. It contains an extended metaphor where ideas of patience,
purity, and truth are symbolized by the characters of the story.
 Ballad: it is an English folk literature. It is a story told in a song of four line stanzas
with the second and fourth line rhymed. E.g. Ballads of Robin Hood.
 Fablian: it refers to funny short stories about unfaithful wives (for ordinary people).

I.1.3.2.2 Authors:

 William Langland, Geofry Chaucer, and Pearl Poet.

 Famous works of Pearl Poet are Sir Gawain and The Green Knight.
 Chaucer is the founder of English poetry; he is the father of English poetry.
 Chaucer introduced the rhymed stanza instead of the old alliterative verse.
 He was the first great poet wrote in English language. He made the London dialect as
the standard of modern English speech.
 Chaucer’s famous work: The Canterbury Tales5.

I.1.3.2.3 Theatre:

Middle English Literature was famous of the following types of drama:

 The Mystery play: it deals with the presentation of the bible stories in churches.
 The Miracle play: it refers to an event that is not explicable by the natural or scientific
laws (it is related to supernatural events6).

5
Alexander, M. (2013). A History of English Literature. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, (pp.36-38)
6
Peck, J. and Coyle, M. (2013). A Brief History of English Literature. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, (p.27)