Anglo-Saxon literature Flashcards
(10 cards)
In which period was Anglo-Saxon literature composed?
between the late 5th century and 1066
The Anglo-Saxon rule in Britain lasted from their arrival in the 5th century until the Norman conquest in 1066
In which language was Anglo-Saxon literature composed?
Old English
It is a Germanic language born from the dialects of Anglo-saxon tribes.
Old English originally used the runic alphabet. After Christianisation scribes gradually replaced it with the Latin alphabet.
What were the main prose genres of Anglo-Saxon literature?
Chronicles/histories, religious texts, translations, riddles
What were the main poetry genres of Anglo-Saxon literature?
Elegies, epic poem
An elegy is a poem about serious sad subjects, like death or mourning.
How was Anglo-Saxon poetry composed?
Oral, anonymous composition
This process of composition is often called a collective memorisation process.
Who wrote Anglo-Saxon poetry down?
Christian scribes
The transcription of Anglo-Saxon poetry by Christian monks changed or erased the pagan elements of original works.
Who was the scop?
Poet who accompanied poetry with music
A scop usually sang for kings and nobles during official an public events, such as crownings or funerals.
What were the main features of Anglo-Saxon poetry?
Alliteration, stress, kenning
These devices helped with memorisation, oral exposition and melody.
Why is Anglo-Saxon poetry called alliterative poetry?
the verse is structured by alliterations and stress
What is the kenning?
formulaic metaphoric phrase
A kenning is a short expression that replaces a noun with a metaphor.
Kenning helped with memorization in the same way of the patronimics of Greek epic poems.
