September 2022
Anglo-American
Literature
OBJECTIVE
Identify the distinguishing
features of Anglo-American
literature as a means of self-
discovery and self-
enhancement.
literature
• The humanistic study of a body of literature.
• Creative writing of recognized artistic value.
• Published writings in a particular style on a particular subject.
• The profession or art of a writer.
From the UK
Anglo-American literature
focuses on the study of
different literary texts...
and the USA
Anglo-American Literature
It features famous English and
American Authors and their famous
works. The study of English literature
traces its beginnings from the Roman
period of the British isles to the Anglo-
Saxon period. Until the contemporary
times.
Authors like William Shakespeare, William
Wordsworth, Geoffrey Chaucer, and many more
contributed to the rich study of English literature.
Moreover, Beowulf, Legend of King Arthur,
Romeo and Juliet and many other works of fiction
place English literature in the spotlight of
international study and attention.
Old English
literature
450-1066AD
Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, was
written from 600-1100. The greatest
Old English poem is a long epic called
Beowulf, whose author is unknown.
Two Old English authors that are
known by name are Caedmon, the
author of a short hymn, and Cynwulf,
the author of four long poems.
Epic Epic is a long narrative poem that
relates the great deeds of a larger-than-
life hero who embodies the values of a
particular society.
- Sometimes called a heroic poem.
- Beowulf, the Iliad, and the Odyssey
are all epics.
Beowulf
• Beowulf is the oldest poem in the
English language, so everything
written since Beowulf stems from
it in some way.
• The story of Beowulf encompases
common themes that we still see in
English literature today.
Beowulf
• Beowulf is simply good writing
and a great story.
• In some ways, it doesn't matter
what you read, but how you read it,
so... since Beowulf came first, you
might as well start there.
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DON'T know:
• Who wrote it.
• When exactly it was written.
• How much is based on historical
truth.
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DO know:
• Beowulf is the oldest surviving
English poem. It's written in Old
English (or Anglo-Saxon) Which is
the basis for the language we speak
today.
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DO know:
• The actual poem probably dates
from the 8th century (700s) or so,
and...
• The story may be set even earlier,
around 500 A.D.
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DO know:
• There are a lot of Christian
references in the poem, but the
characteers and setting are Pagan...
this means a monk probably
translated it.
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DO know:
Why wasn't it written down in the first
place?
• This story was probably passed
down orally for centuries before it
was first written down.
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DO know:
Why wasn't it written down in the first
place?
• Some of the characters in the poem
actually existed.
• The only copy of the manuscript
was written sometime around 11th
century A.D. (1000's) however...
Beowulf's
Provenance
What we DO know:
Why wasn't it written down in the first
place?
• It wasn't until after the Norman
invasion (1066) that writing stories
down became common in this part
of the world.
Beowulf's
Setting
• Although Beowulf was written in
English, it is set in what is now
Sweden, where a tribe called the
Geats lived.
• The story may take place as early
as 400 or 500 A.D.
Beowulf's
Setting
• Although Beowulf was written in
English, it is set in what is now
Sweden, where a tribe called the
Geats lived.
• The story may take place as early
as 400 or 500 A.D.
How we date Beowulf
This version was likely composed between 680 and 835, though it may be set
earlier;
• 521 A.D. Death of Hygelac.
• 680 A.D. appearance of alliterative verse.
• 835 A.D. the Danish started raiding other areas, after this, few poets
would consider them heroes.
Beowulf provides a very history of
Anglo-Saxon life, values, and society
at the time that Beowulf was written.
Anglo-Saxon Traits valued and heralded by the
Society
Anglo-Saxons included: courage,
bravery, strength, loyalty and
obedience to one's lord, generosity,
willingness to engage in battle, and
the quest for fame.
It is an aristocratic poem exclusively
- concerned with issues of kingship.
Anglo-Saxon Pagan: polytheistic belief system,
Society
focused around the worship of
deities (7, whose names are the basis
for our names of the days of the
weeks)
Thank You
For Today!
See you in the next class!
