Anglo-Saxon Literature: Critical Overview Of Anglo-Saxon Literature

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CRITICAL OVERVIEW OF ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE The year A.D. 449 marks the invasion of Britain from the European continent by the tribes of Jutes, Angles and Saxons who were all of German descent. Due to the larger strength of number of the Angles the country became known as Angle-land or England, the land of the angles, and the language at first called Engleish. Later when the Angles merged with the Saxons, the language became known as Anglo-Saxon. Hence Anglo-Saxon literature. Today that language is known as Anglo-Saxon English or old English. The two terms are synonymous, but the latter is used to distinguish that language from Middle English, which development from old English after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and from modern English which …show more content…

The metric unit was the single line. Rhyme was rarely used, but compound words were usually used. There was no simile, their poetry is uniform in accent, style and meter. The traditional form and single line incorporate an air of grandeur to specific poems. The epic unity of form and tone is at first impressive, but its continued stress grows monotonous and the periphrastic usage enriches but overshadows and obscures the style. Prominent works of Anglo-Saxon Literature Anglo Saxon poetry consisted of personal and Elegiac poems, lyrical, riddles, and epic poems. Some of the significant books are Widsith, which consists of 150 lines of verse, The Wanderer, an elegiac poem; The Seafarer, a monologue etc .One of the most fascinating Anglo - Saxon poems is a compilation of Riddles. Prominent poets of Anglo-Saxon Literature Caedmon : He was one of the great poets of the old English Christian poetry which was religious. Caedmon was a poor cowherd of the monastery at Whitby in Northumbria. According to Bede, he was hailed in his stable by an angel who made him sing of the creation. Although unlettered and with no gift of song, sang of the creation and of the glory of the creator. As he was divinely inspired he composed only religious

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