Anglo Saxon Literature Summary

Anglo Saxon Literature Summary

Anglo-Saxon Literature summary prepared for M.A, M.Phil, CSS, FPSC, PPSC, PCS, Teachers and Lecturer entry tests & other competitive examination 2020.


Read More: Objective Questions on Anglo Norman Period


The earliest phase of English literature started with Anglo-Saxon Literature of Angles and Saxons (the ancestors of the English race).

Main Historical / Literary Points

Sr.No

Question

Answer

1

Ancestors of the English race were

Angles and Saxons (Occupied Britain)

2

Tongue of these tribes (Angles, Saxons)

English

3

Land they occupied before Britain

Coasts of Sweden and Denmark called Engle-Land

4

Characteristics of these tribes were

Fearless, adventurous, brave, sang about battles, gods and their ancestors heroes.

5

Angles and Saxons came to England Middle of fifth century
6 They occupied the whole country (England)

670 AD

7

Alfred the king of Anglo-Saxon Period ruled till 1066 AD
8 Conqueror of Normandy, France

William

9

The last of Saxon Kings was Harold
10 Harold was defeated at the Battle of Hastings by

William

11

The reason of beginning of English Poetry in ancient Engle-Land is

Songs of religion, wars and agriculture of these tribes

12

Main poems of Anglo-Saxon poetry includes

Widsith, Waldhere, The fight at finnesburg, complaint of Deor, Beowulf

13

Widsith deals with

Continental courts

14

Waldhere deals with

Walter of Aquitaine withstood a host of foes in the passes of Vosges

15

The fight at finnesburg deals with Theme  of battle against fearful odds
16 Complaint of Deor deals with

Disappointment of a lover

17

Most important poem of this period is Beowulf deals with adventures of Beowulf
18 Anglo-Saxon embraced

Christianity

19

Subject matter of poetry become

Religious themes

20

Two important poets of the Anglo-Saxton period were

Caedmon an Cynewulf

21

Cynewulf most important poem is Crist
22 Beginning of English Prose

Anglo-Saxton Period

23

Two great pioneer of English prose

1.      Alfred the great, the glorious king of Wessex translated Latin Chronicles in English

2.      Aelfric, a priest, wrote sermons in a sort of poetic prose

24

Five great principles of this period were

1.      Love of personal freedom

2.      Responsiveness to nature

3.      Religion

4.      Love for womanhood

5.      Struggle for glory

25

The basis of modern English is

Old vigorous Anglo-Saxon language

The above key points are surely prepared for our readers to make it easy to find Anglo Saxon literature summary which covers the basic study of historical background of English literature.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *