The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

This book introduces students to the literature of Anglo-Saxon England, the period from 600‚Ai1066, in a collection of fifteen specially commissioned essays. The Companion is aimed at students encountering Old English literature for the first time, who require clear guidance and orientation in an unfamiliar field. The first chapters describe briefly the political, social and ecclesiastical history of the period and how poetry and prose developed and flourished. A succinct account of Old English language provides beginners with a guide to grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Subsequent chapters explore such topics as Germanic legend and heroic ideals, paganism and fatalism, the cult of saints and responses to the Bible. Important prose texts, such as those by Bede, Alfred, Aelfric and Wulfstan, are covered under these thematic headings. Poems such as The Battle of Maldon, The Wanderer, The Seafarer and The Dream of the Rood, are discussed in detail, but in association with related texts, in prose as well as poetry. A separate chapter is devoted to Beowulf, but aspects of the poem are also discussed in other chapters. Finally a bibliography lists essential editions, reference works and critical studies. This book introduces students to the literature of Anglo-Saxon England, the period from 600‚Äì1066, in a collection of fifteen specially commissioned essays. The Companion is aimed at students encountering Old English literature for the first time, who require clear guidance and orientation in an unfamiliar field. The first chapters describe briefly the political, social and ecclesiastical history of the period and how poetry and prose developed and flourished. A succinct account of Old English language provides beginners with a guide to grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Subsequent chapters explore such topics as Germanic legend and heroic ideals, paganism and fatalism, the cult of saints and responses to the Bible. Important prose texts, such as those by Bede, Alfred, Aelfric and Wulfstan, are covered under these thematic headings. Poems such as The Battle of Maldon, The Wanderer, The Seafarer and The Dream of the Rood, are discussed in detail, but in association with related texts, in prose as well as poetry. A separate chapter is devoted to Beowulf, but aspects of the poem are also discussed in other chapters. Finally a bibliography lists essential editions, reference works and critical studies. Ideal For Students, This Collection Of Fifteen Specially Commissioned Essays Covers All Aspects Of Anglo-saxon Literature From 600-1066. Anglo-saxon Society And Its Literature / Patrick Wormald -- The Old English Language / Helmut Gneuss -- The Nature Of Old English Verse / Donald G. Scragg -- The Nature Of Old English Prose / Janet Bately -- Germanic Legend In Old English Literature / Roberta Frank -- Heroic Values And Christian Ethics / Katherine O'brien O'keeffe -- Pagan Survivals And Popular Belief / John D. Niles -- Beowulf / Fred C. Robinson -- Fatalism And The Millennium / Joseph B. Trahern, Jr. -- Perceptions Of Transience / Christine Fell -- Perceptions Of Eternity / Milton Mcc. Gatch -- Biblical Literature : The Old Testament / Malcolm Godden -- Biblical Literature : The New Testament / Barbara C. Raw -- The Saintly Life In Anglo-saxon England / Michael Lapidge -- The World Of Anglo-saxon Learning / Patrizia Lendinara. Edited By Malcolm Godden And Michael Lapidge. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 282-291) And Index. This book introduces students to the literature of Anglo-Saxon England, the period from 600-1066, in a collection of fifteen specially commissioned essays. The chapters are written by experts, but designed to be accessible to students who may be unfamiliar with Old English. The emphasis throughout is on placing texts in their contemporary context and suggesting ways in which they relate to each other and to the important events and issues of the time. With the help of maps and a chronological table of events the first chapters describe briefly the political, social and ecclesiastical history of the period and how poetry and prose in Latin and in the vernacular developed and flourished. A succinct account of Old English provides beginners with a handy guide to the rules of spelling, grammar and syntax. Subsequent chapters explore the range of Anglo-Saxon writing under different thematic headings. A final bibliography gives guidance on further reading. This book introduces students to the literature of Anglo-Saxon England, the period from 600–1066, in a collection of fifteen specially commissioned essays. The Companion is aimed at students encountering Old English Literature for the first time, and teachers who have no expertise in Old English but who require clear guidance in an unfamiliar field.