ENGLISH 9: Anglo-American Anglo Saxon Literature

Calvary Christian School

8 Oct 202014:39

Summary

TLDRThis virtual English class explores the evolution of literature in England and the USA from ancient times to the present. It highlights key literary periods, genres, and influential writers, such as Beowulf in Old English, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's sonnets, and the gothic fiction of Mary Shelley. The lesson emphasizes literature's role in reflecting societal changes and sparking imagination, concluding with a reflection on appreciating foreign literature.

Takeaways

📚 Literature is a reflection of a country's sociological, cultural, and historical developments.
🎭 The genre of 'epic' was popular in ancient times, with 'Beowulf' being a notable example from the Anglo-Saxon period.
📜 Biblical and religious themes dominated poetry during the ancient Anglo-Saxon period, with poets like Caedmon known for such works.
🏰 The Middle Ages saw the transition from Latin to the vernacular in literature, with heroic tales and romances becoming prevalent.
🤴 Sir Thomas Malory and the emergence of vernacular literature, exemplified by 'Le Morte d'Arthur', were significant during the medieval period.
📖 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer is a famous collection of stories from the Middle Ages, showcasing diverse narratives.
🎭 The Renaissance period marked a transition to modernity, with William Shakespeare being a prominent figure known for his sonnets and plays.
🏞 Pastoral poetry, focusing on the simplicity of rural life, was also a feature of the Renaissance, with poets like Christopher Marlowe.
🤔 The Age of Enlightenment emphasized reason and featured genres like satire, with Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope being notable satirists.
👻 Gothic fiction, combining horror and fiction, emerged during the Romantic period, with Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' being a seminal work.
🌉 The modern to contemporary period has seen literature address social injustices and commentaries on life, with authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and T.S. Eliot.

Q & A

What is the significance of analyzing the literature of a country?
-Analyzing the literature of a country helps us understand its sociological, cultural, and historical developments, as literature often reflects the forms, conventions, and genres of a society's evolution.
What is the genre of literature that was popular during the ancient times before the 5th century?
-The epic was a popular genre during this period, characterized by long poems that recount the adventures and triumphs of a hero, such as Beowulf in Anglo-Saxon literature.
What are the key themes found in the poems written during the ancient Anglo-Saxon period?
-Poems from the ancient Anglo-Saxon period were often laden with biblical and religious themes, reflecting the cultural and spiritual values of the time.
Who are the famous poets known for their religious and biblical themed poems during the Anglo-Saxon period?
-Caedmon is a famous poet from the Anglo-Saxon period known for his religious and biblical themed poems, although the script mistakenly mentions 'Kenny Wolf' which seems to be an error.
What changes occurred in literature during the Middle Ages or medieval period?
-During the Middle Ages, literary works transitioned from being written in Latin to modern English, and genres such as heroic tales and romances, reflecting chivalry and knightly adventures, became prominent.
Who is considered the father of English literature and what is his famous work?
-Geoffrey Chaucer is considered the father of English literature, known for his work 'The Canterbury Tales,' a collection of stories told by a diverse group of pilgrims on a journey to Canterbury.
What was the impact of the Renaissance period on literature?
-The Renaissance period marked a transition from the Middle Ages to modernity, with literature reflecting a renewed interest in personal expression, as seen in William Shakespeare's sonnets and plays.
What are the characteristics of pastoral poetry?
-Pastoral poetry is characterized by its focus on shepherding and the simplicity of rural life, often contrasting the innocence of the countryside with the corruption of city life.
Which literary genre was utilized by writers during the Age of Enlightenment to criticize social norms?
-Satire was a literary genre used during the Age of Enlightenment to question and criticize social norms, employing humor to attack societal issues.
What is the significance of the term 'vernacular literature' as mentioned in the script?
-Vernacular literature refers to works written in the language spoken by the common people, as opposed to a scholarly or foreign language, making literature more accessible to a wider audience.
How did the Romantic and Realistic periods differ in their approach to literature?
-The Romantic period focused on imagination and free forms of expression, often featuring gothic fiction, while the Realistic period aimed to portray societal problems and the lives of common people with a more grounded approach.
What is the significance of literature in everyday life according to the script?
-Literature is significant in everyday life as it connects individuals with larger truths and ideas in society, allowing people to record and share their thoughts and experiences in an accessible way.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Anglo-American Literature

This paragraph introduces the students to a virtual English literature class focusing on the development of literature in England and the USA from ancient times to the contemporary period. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the sociological, cultural, and historical contexts in literary analysis. The lesson promises to explore key features, genres, and influential literary figures. The ancient Anglo-Saxon period is highlighted with 'Beowulf' as a significant epic, alongside religious-themed poems by Kenny Wolf and Cadman.

05:02

🏰 Middle Ages and Renaissance in Literature

The second paragraph delves into the Middle Ages, noting the transition from Latin to modern English in literary works and the emergence of heroic tales and romances, exemplified by Sir Thomas Mallory's writings. Vernacular literature is introduced with Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales' as a notable example. The paragraph then transitions to the Renaissance period, highlighting William Shakespeare's contribution to lyric poetry and drama, including his sonnets and plays like 'Romeo and Juliet'. Pastoral poetry and the works of Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh are also mentioned, along with religious, practical, and historical themed texts by Francis Bacon.

10:05

🤔 Enlightenment and Romanticism in Literary Evolution

The third paragraph discusses the Age of Enlightenment, characterized by philosophical reasoning and refinement in literature. Comedy of manners, which satirizes the upper class, is identified as a popular genre, with John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' standing out as a significant epic poem. Satire is highlighted as a genre used to critique social norms, with notable satirists like Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and John Dryden. The paragraph also touches on the Romantic period, marked by imaginative expression and the rise of Gothic fiction, with Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and Ann Radcliffe's 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' as key works. American literature is introduced with Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, and Samuel Clemens as influential figures.

📖 Modern to Contemporary Literature and Its Reflections

The final paragraph examines the modern to contemporary period, where writers comment on social injustice and the selfishness of the upper class. It mentions the realistic portrayal of life by authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose 'The Great Gatsby' is a narrative of Jay Gatsby's pursuit of lost love. T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land' is noted for its depiction of post-World War One desolation. Robert Frost's poetry, particularly 'The Road Not Taken', is highlighted for its reflection on life choices. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the importance of literature in everyday life and its role in connecting individuals with societal truths and recording personal experiences.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Anglo-Saxon Period

The Anglo-Saxon Period, lasting from 448 AD to 1066 AD, marks an era in English history where oral traditions were dominant. This period is significant in the video as it highlights the early development of English literature, particularly through heroic and religious poetry, which laid the foundation for later literary works in England.

💡Epic

An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a hero, often embodying the values of a particular culture. In the video, Beowulf is cited as a prime example of an Anglo-Saxon epic, illustrating the period's focus on heroic deeds and the transmission of stories through oral tradition.

💡Renaissance Period

The Renaissance Period, spanning from the 1300s to the 1500s, was a time of cultural rebirth in Europe, marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. The video emphasizes this period's influence on literature, highlighting figures like William Shakespeare, who revolutionized English literature with his sonnets and plays, bringing personal expression and complex characters to the forefront.

💡Vernacular Literature

Vernacular literature refers to works written in the everyday language of the people, as opposed to Latin or other classical languages. In the video, Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales' is noted as a significant example of vernacular literature during the Medieval period, reflecting the common people's language and experiences.

💡Pastoral Poetry

Pastoral poetry idealizes rural life and nature, often contrasting it with the corruption of urban existence. The video mentions pastoral poetry as a key genre during the Renaissance, with poets like Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh celebrating the simplicity and purity of the countryside.

💡Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, occurred from 1685 to 1815 and emphasized reason, science, and intellectual exchange. The video highlights how literature during this period, such as satire and the 'comedy of manners,' was used to critique society, with figures like John Milton and Jonathan Swift being prominent writers of the time.

💡Gothic Fiction

Gothic fiction is a genre characterized by dark, mysterious settings and themes of horror and the supernatural. The video discusses this genre's emergence during the Romantic period, with Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and Ann Radcliffe's 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' being key examples that explore human fears and the unknown.

💡Realism

Realism in literature focuses on depicting everyday life and societal issues with accuracy and honesty. The video notes that during the Romantic and Realistic periods, writers like Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë portrayed the struggles of common people, using literature as a tool to highlight social injustices.

💡Modernism

Modernism is a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and an exploration of new ways of expression. The video mentions modernist writers like T.S. Eliot, whose work 'The Waste Land' reflects the disillusionment and fragmentation of the post-World War I era.

💡Satire

Satire is a genre that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize and expose the flaws in society. The video identifies satire as a prominent literary form during the Age of Enlightenment, with writers like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope using it to challenge social norms and provoke thought about contemporary issues.

Highlights

Introduction to the importance of literature as a product of sociological, cultural, and historical developments.

Explanation of the literary developments in England and the USA from ancient times to the contemporary period.

Discussion on the key features, genres, and literary writers of Anglo-American literature.

Insight into the literature of the ancient Anglo-Saxon period, emphasizing oral traditions and the epic genre.

Beowulf highlighted as one of the oldest and most important recorded epics in Anglo-Saxon or Old English.

Poets Kenny Wolf and Cadman noted for their religious and biblical themed poems.

Overview of the Middle Ages, focusing on the transition from Latin to Modern English and the emergence of vernacular literature.

Sir Thomas Mallory and Joffrey Chaucer recognized for their contributions to heroic tales and vernacular literature.

The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer described as a collection of stories told by a diverse group of travelers.

Introduction to the Renaissance period and its emphasis on personal expression through lyric poems and sonnets.

William Shakespeare celebrated as England's national poet and the greatest dramatist of all time.

Pastoral poetry and its focus on shepherding and the simplicity of rural life during the Renaissance.

Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh identified as prominent pastoral poets of the Renaissance.

The Age of Enlightenment characterized by the use of philosophy, reason, and refinement in literature.

John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' as a significant fictional epic poem in the English language.

Satire as a literary genre used to question and criticize social norms during the Age of Enlightenment.

Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope as renowned satirists of the period, with John Dryden as England's first Poet Laureate.

The Romantic and Realistic period's focus on imagination, gothic fiction, and societal problems.

Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and Ann Radcliffe's 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' as pioneering gothic novels.

Edgar Allan Poe known for his mysterious tales and poetry, exemplified by 'The Cask of Amontillado'.

Realistic writers like Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, and Samuel Clemens highlighting societal issues.

Modern to Contemporary period's commentary on social injustice and the selfishness of the upper class.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' and T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land' as influential works of the 20th century.

Robert Frost's depiction of realistic New England life through relatable language and situations.

The importance of literature in everyday life for connecting individuals with larger societal truths and ideas.

Encouragement for students to show appreciation for literature from other countries.