How English Formed
In 55 B.C., Julius Caesar invaded Britain, and in return, this brought Britain into the world of Western civilization.
In 43 A.D., Emperor Claudius also invaded Britain. The Romans there brought a change; they brought Latin, Greek, and Christianity to Britain.
Later, in 410-449 A.D., Visigoths of Gaul attacked Rome, therefore, Romans in Britain left to defend their home. This is when Vortigern, ruler of the "Britons", asked the Saxons for help against the attacks from Picts in the north and Scots in the south. As a result, the Saxons brought Low German to the area.
While strife in Rome kept on, Britain dwelt with their own problems of invasions. Because of this, natives of Britain, speaking Celtic dialacts, were forced west.
Eventually, the Roman Empire fell in 449. Back in Britain, "Jutes" from Britany were settling in "Angle-land" (northern and eastern parts of island) and France settled in Britain's southeast tip. Settlement was also being made in "Saxony" by the Germanic Angles and Saxons. Due to new people and cultures settling in the area, the languages and people themselves mixed, creating the change known as Anglo-Saxon English (Old English).
From 780 to 800 A.D., Danish Vikings raided England's northeast coast and drove Saxons west. This interaction added Danish to Anglo-Saxon English.
Around 900 A.D., the earliest Beowulf manuscript was found in Wessex. The work was written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon).
Finally, in 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain from Northern France. This caused a blend of Norman French with Anglo-Saxon, forming Middle English. Middle English came to evolve into what we now use, Modern English.
In 55 B.C., Julius Caesar invaded Britain, and in return, this brought Britain into the world of Western civilization.
In 43 A.D., Emperor Claudius also invaded Britain. The Romans there brought a change; they brought Latin, Greek, and Christianity to Britain.
Later, in 410-449 A.D., Visigoths of Gaul attacked Rome, therefore, Romans in Britain left to defend their home. This is when Vortigern, ruler of the "Britons", asked the Saxons for help against the attacks from Picts in the north and Scots in the south. As a result, the Saxons brought Low German to the area.
While strife in Rome kept on, Britain dwelt with their own problems of invasions. Because of this, natives of Britain, speaking Celtic dialacts, were forced west.
Eventually, the Roman Empire fell in 449. Back in Britain, "Jutes" from Britany were settling in "Angle-land" (northern and eastern parts of island) and France settled in Britain's southeast tip. Settlement was also being made in "Saxony" by the Germanic Angles and Saxons. Due to new people and cultures settling in the area, the languages and people themselves mixed, creating the change known as Anglo-Saxon English (Old English).
From 780 to 800 A.D., Danish Vikings raided England's northeast coast and drove Saxons west. This interaction added Danish to Anglo-Saxon English.
Around 900 A.D., the earliest Beowulf manuscript was found in Wessex. The work was written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon).
Finally, in 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain from Northern France. This caused a blend of Norman French with Anglo-Saxon, forming Middle English. Middle English came to evolve into what we now use, Modern English.
The Anglo-Saxon Folk Epic Poem: An Epic Poem is a long narrative poem about a serious or worthy traditional subject such as a hero's deeds in which a hero's success or failure determines the fate of an entire people or nation. It employs a formal, dignified, objective tone. (source) Beowulf is a great example of an epic poem because the whole work revolves around a hero who is depended on by his nation and the rhetorical devices used such as alliteration, caesura, epithet, kenning, etc. also present an epic poem style. This is why Beowulf is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature. (source)
Below, I have written my own epic poem in which the same style of Beowulf is followed such as the dignified, serious tone and usage of rhetorical devices. In my poem, the character portrayed as the hero is a young girl who stands strong and pure rather than falling into the hands of sin. She journeys through life as a leader, helping those of weaker faith.
Other Poems Written in the Style of an Anglo-Saxon Epic:
- Sam wrote "Dumbledore the Brave," demonstrating a creative, narrative style, one as dignified and excellent as Beowulf's. Her poem is also a good example of devices such as alliteration and appositives.
- Amelia wrote "A Break From the Ordinary," demonstrating a fantastic objective tone with good usage of devices from Beowulf such as alliteration and fatalism.
- Amelia wrote "A Break From the Ordinary," demonstrating a fantastic objective tone with good usage of devices from Beowulf such as alliteration and fatalism.