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1、An Introduction to Old & Medieval English Period(1),Lecture 2,Part I: The Period of Old English (about 449-1066 Anglo-Saxon Period),The Making of England The Britons The Celts(One of an Indo-European people originally of central Europe), the earliest inhabitants of the British Isles The Britons(One
2、of a Celtic people ), came over in the 5th century BC, stayed for some five hundred years Britain: the land of the Britons,The Roman Conquest ( 55/54 B.C.- 410 A.D.) About 55 B.C., the Roman soldiers of Julius Caesar came to stay for five centuries and transplanted their civilization to the land. Br
3、itain was conquered by the Romans as a province of the West Roman Empire in 410 A.D., Roman Empire declined and its troops left Britain(p1),Julius Caesar (102 BC-44BC), The Anglo-Saxon Conquest ( 449-1066) Three Germanic tribes: the Angles, Saxons and Jutes from Northern Europe , who dwelt in Denmar
4、k and the lands extending southward along the North sea, invaded the island around the 5th century Language: a Germanic dialect is called Old English today Angle-land: the land of the Angles, that is England(P2),Huts of Anglo-Saxon Tribe, Something more about the Anglo-Saxon Heathen (pagan or non-Ch
5、ristian, see P2,textbook ): worship Heaven and Earth; believe in old mythology of Northern Europe In 597, St. Augustine意大利裔传教士及高级教士was sent as emissary by Pope罗马教皇Gregory the Great; converted to Christianity From pagan to Christian(P2), General Knowledge About Beowulf The story takes place in Scandi
6、navia (A region of northern Europe consisting of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Finland, Iceland); the hero is from Sweden, and performs his deeds in Denmark Origin: been brought over to England at the time of the Anglo-Saxon Conquest; handed down in oral form Style: a heroic epic Language: Old Englis
7、h (the Anglo-Saxon tongue), General Knowledge About Beowulf Theme: the heroic deeds of old time; a hero killing monsters (Grendel, a monster half-human, Grendels mother and a fire-breathing dragon )to make the world safe for people Main Characters: Beowulf (a glorious hero, a savior of the people)an
8、d monsters Rhyme: Alliteration Comments: - The very beginning of English poetry; - World classics as Odyssey,Manuscript of Beowulf, A Close Look at Beowulf,The first 3 lines of the original poem as specimen of the Old English Hwagt! We Gar-Dena in gear-dagum poed-cyninga prym gefranon hupa aex ellen
9、 fremedon (Lo! We Spear-Danes in days long past Of warriors kings! Glory have heard, How the princes done wrought deeds of prowess), A Close Look at Beowulf,The most striking feature - the use of alliteration (head rhyme) In verse of this kind, certain accented words in a line begin with the same co
10、nsonant sound. There are generally 4 accents in a line, three of which show alliteration, as can be seen from the following quotation: 3178 Swa begnornodon Geata leode Thus made their mourning the men of Geatland,3179 hlafordes/ hryre/, heorgeneatas, for their heros passing his hearth-companions: 31
11、80 cwdon t he wre wyruldcyninga quoth that of all the kings of earth, 3181 manna/ mildust ond monwrust/, of men he was mildest and most beloved, 3182 leodum liost ond lofgeornost. to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise., Literary terms : Alliteration - A repeated initial consonant to successive
12、words. e.g. Steap Stanlitho-Stige neawe ( steep stone-slopes-paths narrow) 陡峭的石坡，狭长的小道 Safe and sound, Literary terms : Epic (or Heroic Poetry) - It is, originally , an oral narrative poem, majestic both in theme and style. - With legendary or historical events of national or universal significance.
13、 - Examples include the ancient Greek epics by the poet Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. (伊利亚特 和 奥德赛),Artistic Features of old English,Very different from modern English; The earliest stage of English language; Appears like another language, even cannot be understood by English-speaking people; Clo
14、se to Old Low German;低地德语(德意志北部和西部使用的德语),Artistic Features of old English,Alliteration is widely used; Frequent use of compound words to serve as indirect metaphors隐喻 eg. Whale-path(sea), wave-traveler(ship) bone-house(body), heavens jewel(sun),Old English Quiz,Q: Who were the earliest inhabitants o
15、f Britain? Romans Saxons Gaels Britons Q: What is another term for Old English? Teutonic Celtic Anglo Saxon Middle English,Old English Quiz,Q: What great warrior defeated Grendal? Hrothgar Caedmon Beowulf Bede,After-class Assignment,PREVIEW Job for Next Week: - The chief effects of Norman Conquest;
16、- Phases of Chaucers literary life; - Read the Excerpts from the General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales on P45-51, textbook.,Lecture 3 An Introduction to Old & Medieval English Period（2）,Part 2: The Anglo-Norman Period or Transitional Period (1066-1350),The Norman Conquest: In 1066, the battle of Hastings, Duke William (P17) The Establishment of the Feudal system:,The social hierarchy: King William Hi
