ORIGIN OF ENGLISH LITERATURE

ORIGIN OF ENGLISH LITERATURE

Wondering, how English literature originated?

Let’s discuss this.

English literature originated in raw oral form during the Anglo-Saxon period (410-1066 AD). It existed in the form of poetry and prose as discussed below.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry:

The origin of English literature has a close connection with the origin of English language. It was during the 5^th century that Angles, Saxons and Jutes (Germanic tribes) migrated and permanently settled in England. They were using Anglo-Frisian dialects which is known as Anglo-Saxon or Old English language. They used to sing songs in this language for the sake of dance and entertainment. They sang about their ancestral heroes, Gods and battles. These songs were considered as the beginning of English literature, but in oral form only.

Anglo-Saxon people were now following Christianity and so the Anglo-Saxon poets began to write religious poetry. Therefore, the major portion of Anglo-Saxon poetry is religious by nature. The most famous religious poets of the Anglo-Saxon period were Caedmon and Cynewulf. Caedmon is famous for his Hymn in which praises in honor of God. Cynewulf’s famous religious poems were ‘Juliana’, ‘The Fates of the Apostles’’, ‘ Crist’, and ‘Elene’. Among them, ‘Crist’ is the most popular one which narrates the event that occurred in the life of Jesus Christ.

Later, Beowolf (earliest epic) was also written in this Anglo-Saxon Old English. The author of this epic is still unknown.  But it is considered as the first authentic work of English literature. But it lacked in artistic and aesthetic value.

Founder of English literature – Geoffrey Chaucer:

Geoffrey Chaucer is referred to as the father of English literature and was renowned for his courtly love poetry including the famous ‘Canterbury Tales’ though it was left incomplete; ‘The House of Fame’ and ‘The Book of the Duchess’.

Anglo-Saxon Prose:

The famous Anglo-Saxon king, Alfred the Great, translated most of the famous Latin Chronicles in English. Another famous prose writer of the Anglo-Saxon period was Aelfric. He was actually a priest. Among his famous prose writings were ‘Lives of the Saints’, ‘Homilies’, and ‘Grammar’. Compared to other contemporary prose writers of the period, Aelfric’s prose was free-flowing and alliterative.