Write a short note on Anglo-Saxon Period.

Write a short note on Anglo-Saxon Period.

Originally the name Anglo-Saxon denotes two of three Germanic tribes, Jutes,—Angles, and Saxons who in the middle of the fifth century left their homes on the shores of the North sea and the Baltic to conquer and colonize distant Britain. Later in that century the Angles and Saxons took over the lion share of the island of Britain. By 700 they occupied the parts of great Britain which Roman had made part of their empire. This part became known as Englo-land, the land of the Angles and its language was English. Therefore the old English or Anglo-Saxon literature appears to be the origin of English literature. He authorship of most of this literature is unknown. Only one or two names are known. The English poem composed by Caedmon and Bede are the earliest we know of. Their manuscripts were hard to read. Very little were read between middle ages and in the reign of Queen Victoria. Therefore, old English literature is a part of English literature. The Angles, the Saxon and the Jutes were illiterate. Their orally composed verses were not written. Unless they were formed in runic inscription. It seems that the first English poetry resembles homeric poetry. As classical literature begins with Homer's epic, so does early English literature begin with Beowulf The orally composed poetry of the AngloSaxon was an established art.