1. BritonsThe English people are of a mixed blood. The early inhabitants on the island now we call England were Britons, or Brythons, a tribe of Celts. From the Britons the island got its name of Britain, the land of Britons. Britons were a primitive people, who probably came from the upper Rhineland(the North of Germany). In about 700 B.C., the first wave of Celtic invaders entered Britain.2. The Roman ConquestIn 55 B.C., Britain was invaded by Julius Caesar, the Roman conqueror. The Britons fought against the invaders bravely, and Britain was not completely subjugated to the Roman Empire until 78 AD. The Roman occupation lasted for about 400 years, and at the beginning of the fifth century, the Roman Empire was in the process of declining. And in 410 AD, all the Roman troops went back to the continent and never returned. Thus ended the Roman Occupation in Britain.3. Angles, Saxons, JutesAfter the Roman invaders withdrew, Britain was invaded by swarms of pirates. They were three tribes from Northern Europe: Angles, Saxons and Jutes. They drove Britons west and north, and settled down themselves. The Jutes occupied Kent, in the southern corner of the island. The Saxons took the southern part and established small kingdoms as Wessex and Essex and Sussex. The Angles spread over the east midland and built the kingdom of East Angles. And by the 7th century the three tribes had mixed into a whole people called English and the Angles were the most numerous of the three. The three dialects spoken by them naturally grew into a single language called Anglo-Saxons which is the OE (Old English).Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1050)BeowulfBeowulf is the English epic, the first long poem in English, over 3000 lines. It is a folk legend brought to England by Anglo-Saxons from their continental home. It had been passed from mouth to mouth for hundreds of years before it was written down in the tenth century. The main stories are evidently folk legends of primitive people who lived along the northwestern coast of Europe. Back of their settlements were impenetrable forests. In front of them was the stormy northern ocean. They had to fight against the beasts, and they had to struggle against the hostile forces of nature, which remained mysterious and unknown to them. When they returned from their exploits and voyages, they would tell stories of strange monsters that lived beneath the sea or in the marshes and dark forests inland. They were brave, but they were superstitious. Such is the background of Beowulf.The Hero BeowulfBeowulf is brave and courageous, but he is simple. He is faithful to his people. He forgets himself in face of death, thinking only of others.Four Elements Expressed In Beowulf 1. Their love of personal freedom2. Their fighting with hostile forces of nature3. Their yearning for glory4. Their respect for womenThe Features of the Poetry1. Alliteration The most striking feature is its poetical form in the use of alliteration. No rime is used in the poem, but the musical effect of the poem is achieved by alliteration and by giving each half line two strongly accented syllables.The Definition of Alliteration: An alliteration is a figure of speech in which consonants, especially at the beginning of words, or stressed syllables, are repeated.2. Metaphors and UnderstatementsMetaphors and understatements are also features of the poem. Metaphors such as swans road, and sea-wood, and understatements such as not troublesome and “need not praise” occur in great number, and they leave an impression of reserve and of ironical humour. This quality is often regarded as a permanent characteristic of the English people. Epic: An epic is a long narrative poem, on a grand scale, about the deeds of warriors and heroes. It is a heroic story incorporating myth, legend, folk tale and history, often with national significance in the sense that it embodies the history and aspirations of a nation in a lofty manner.BeowulfLa Chanson de RolandDas NibelungenliedCantar de mio CidRamayanaNorthumbrian School During the Anglo-Saxon period, there were some influential writers. They are called Northumbrian writers or Northumbrian School. However, toward the end of the eighth century, the Danes swept down the English coasts and conquered Northumbria. Monasteries, schools and libraries were destroyed; scholars and teachers were put to death. So all the true Northumbrian literature perished, with the exception of a few fragments.Northumbrian WritersBede (673-735): his most important work is : The Ecclesiastical History of the English People.Caedmon (7th century): his most important work is: ParaphraseCynewulf (8th century): his most important work is: The ChristThe Anglo-Norman Period (1066-1350)Norman ConquestIn 1066, the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the battle of Hastings. They were headed by William 1, Duke of Normandy. Originally, the Normans were a hardy