Laoag City, Ilocos Norte LIT 102 WORLD LITERATURE Page1of13UNIT II: EUROPEAN LITERATURE At the end of the unit, you will be able to: a.comprehend the stories read; b.analyze the stories based on the elements and structure; c.appreciate the different stories from the different countries; and d.internalized and apply the values learned from the different stories. European literature refers to the literature of Europe. European literature includes literature in many languages; among the most important of the modern written works are those in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Polish, Ukrainian, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Czech, Russian, Bosnian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and Irish. Important classical and medieval traditions are those in Latin, Old and Middle English,AncientGreek,OldNorse,MedievalFrenchandMedievalItalian. In colloquial speech, European literature is often used as a synonym for Western literature. Literature became the venue of many sensitive people who wanted to preserve their feelings, emotions, observation on the world they are living. It is in literature that they can tell the world and other generations on how they live, feel, and dream for their world. Thus, it is through literature that we can see the deepest aspect of human life. DIFFERENT PERIODS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE A.The Anglo-Saxon Period (499-1066 BC) a.Who were they? “Anglo-Saxon” is the term applied to the English-speaking inhabitants of Britain from around the middle of the fifth century
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte LIT 102 WORLD LITERATURE Page2of13until the time of the Norman Conquest, when the Anglo-Saxon line of English kings came to an end. b.Where did their language come from? Bede tells us that the Anglo-Saxons came from Germania. The languages spoken by the inhabitants of Germania were a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, which linguists believe developed form a single language spoken some five thousand years ago in an area that has never been identified–perhaps, some say, the Caucasus. B.The Medieval Period (1066-15thCentury) Celtic fancy, Anglo-Saxon solidity, and Norman vivacity–these were the original ingredients of English life and letters. The third was brought into England from northern France by William the Conqueror and his Norman knights and churchmen. Castles and feudalism, joust and duels, cathedral and monasteries, chivalry and adventure were the contributions of these aristocratic newcomers. Middle English lasts up until the 1470s, when the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, became widespread and the printing press regularized the language. The prolific Geoffrey Chaucer, whose works were written in Chancery Standard, was the first poet to have been buried in Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey. Among his many works, which includeThe Book of the Duchess,the House of Fame,theLegend of Good WomenandTroilus and Criseyde,Chaucer is best known today forThe Canterbury Tales.
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