Old and Middle English Literature

Nice cross-references to Ulysses, Chapter 14, Oxen of the Sun.

Old English

Anglo-Saxons

No literature survives from England at the time of the Roman occupation

End of Roman occupation of Britain: 410

Anglo-Saxon (Germanic invaders) conquest of Britain - fifth century onward

King Alfred the Great of Wessex (849-901)

King Edward the Confessor - 1042

But at least we can no longer rightfully call these centuries the Dark Ages. Besides, such generalizations only go to show the fatal fallacy of attempting to read and interpret life from the imperfect written records of an era. Even the apparently clod-like Anglo-Saxon of this period might have uttered indignantly the simple speech of the murderer in Macbeth: "We are men, my liege!"

- p. 19

Heroic and Christian Epics

Four surviving heroic epic poems:

• Widsith
• Beowulf
• The Fight at Finnsburg
• Waldere

Four important manuscripts of Old English poetry:

• Exeter Book (975)
• Beowulf Manuscript (1000 - British Museum)
• Junius Manuscript (1000 - printed by Huguenot scholar Dujon in 1655)
• Vercelli Book (1000s - large number of prose compositions)

The author wisely decides not to quote from the poem, as that would have ballooned a pocket-sized book into a doorstop, but here are the sections of Beowulf the author highlights:

Lack of space forbitds the quoting here of extensive passages from the poem, but certain lines are especially recommended. There are the final measures of the Prologue, the stern commentary on the passing of Scyld; the grim stage-entrance of Grendel; the horrifying account of the destruction of Grendel's prey; the picturesque contest with Breca in the storms of the winter sea. There are the lines describing the behavior of the Danes on the morning after Beowulf's fight with Grendel, how they went to visit the scene and then came home rejoicing - and here we are told something of the real genesis of a heroic epic, for the Danes spoke of Bowulf's deed...

A most noteworthy passage, sometimes called the first bit of landscape in English literature, although this honor would be a difficult one to bestow justly, is the description of the approach to Grendel's lair.

- p. 27-28

Other heroic epics are listed, two in particular:

• The Battle of Brunanburh - part The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (year 937), chronicles defeat of Norsemen and Scots by English under Athelstan, successor of King Alfred
• The Battle of Maldon - tale of defeat of band of Englishmen under Byrhtnoth by invading Danes in 991