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.
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