1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1.1. At the end of the sixth century, The Anglo-Saxons accepted Christianity. Here begin oral tradition.
1.2. The language of this period is known as old English. Most old English words were Germanic.
1.3. The first written records of the language date from around 690 AD (however, people had spoken it long before then).
1.4. By the end of the Old English period, Old English had been established as a literary language with a remarkable polish and versatility.
1.4.1. Old English literature consists of poetry, prose, charms, riddles, maxims, proverbs, and various other wisdom sayings.
2. OLD ENGLISH DRAMA
2.1. The origin of drama goes back to brief scenes that monks acted out in churches to illustrate Bible stories.
2.2. Sources of drama were primarily Catholic traditions and ceremonies.
2.2.1. Including literary art.
2.3. Two strong undercurrents influenced early drama
2.3.1. Folk plays based on ancient nature culls and pagan traditions
2.3.2. Classic Greek and Latin drama which were preserved, at least in rudimentary form, throughout the Dark Ages.
3. OLD ENGLISH POETRY
3.1. Long Epic Heroic Poems
3.1.1. Some describe battles for example "The Battle of Maldon" and "The Battle of Brunanburh"
3.1.2. Some describe lament and melancholy such as "The Wanderer", "The Seafarer", "The Ruin", "The Wife's Lament" and "The Husband's Message".
3.1.3. Beowulf - Typical Old English Verse
3.1.3.1. Beowulf is an epic poem of over 3,000 verses, whose manuscript dates from about the 10th-century
3.1.3.2. The work glorifies a hero and the values of bravery and generosity
3.1.3.3. It uses alliteration, kennings and internal rhyme.
3.1.4. Caedmon - a 7th-Century Poet
3.1.4.1. Caedmon was one of the religious writers of the time. Some historians have attributed to Caedmon writing a 3,000-verse poem
3.1.5. Cynewulf- a 9th-Century Poet
3.1.5.1. His theme is the continuing evangelical mission of the church from the time of Christ to that of Constantine
4. OLD ENGLISH PROSE
4.1. It was influenced by latin.
4.2. It consisted of factual, historical, and religious writings.
4.2.1. King Alfred's Works
4.2.1.1. He translated many works from Latin, especially in the areas of religion, history and philosophy.
4.2.1.1.1. The Pastor's Book
4.2.1.1.2. Baede 's Church History
4.2.2. Later Annals and Religious Writings
4.2.2.1. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is the best-known work of historical records spanning even beyond the Norman conquest. It contains both prose and poetry
4.2.2.2. The main literary styles included homilies, sermons, stories of saints' lives, and Bible translations
4.2.3. Aelfric and Wulfstan
4.2.3.1. Aelfric, abbot of Eynsham, wrote three cycles of forty homilies. His alliterative prose, which loosely imitated the rhythms of Old English poetry, influenced writers long after the Norman conquest.
4.2.3.2. Wulfstan, the archbishop of York, wrote civil and church-related legal codes as well as homilies