• When Beowulf retuned to Geats, he becomes king
and reigns over his people for fifty years. Then it comes to pass that a fire dragon comes over of its den and belches forth its fire to burn the people. Beowulf is an old man now. But he bids farewell to his household and goes to seek the dragon with eleven companions. He fights it single-handed. The dragon is killed at last.
• Chapter three Chaucer • Geoffrey Chaucer plays a very important
role in the medieval English literature. Geoffrey Chaucer is the founder of English poetry.
• The three tribes hand mixed into a whole
people called English. And the three dialects spoken by them naturally grew into a single language called Anglo-Saxon, or Old English. • The Anglo-Saxon period witnessed a transition from tribal society to feudalism.
All these refinements of civilization, however, were for the enjoyment of the Roman conquerors, the native Britons were trodden down as slaves. The Roman occupation lasted for about 400 years, during which the Romans, for military purposes, built a network of highways, later called the Roman roads, which remained useful for a long time to come.
• The Roman Conquest: • In 55 B.C. Britain was
invaded by Julius Casar , the Roman conqueror. But as soon as the Romans landed on shore of the island, the Britons fought like lions. Britain was not completely subjugated to the Roman Empire until 78 A.D. With the Roman Conquest the Rome mode of life came across to Britain also. Roman theatres and baths quickly rose in the towns.
• Chapter two Beowulf • English literature began with the Anglo-Saxon
• • The story of Beowulf • Beowulf is the nephew
settlement in England. Of old English literature, five relics are preserv
•
• Beowulf is a grand hero. He is so, simply
by his deeds. He is faithful to his people. He goes alone, in a strange land, to rescue his people. He forgets himself in face of death, thinking only that it profits other. Though the poem was written in the tenth century, its hero was no doubt mainly the product of a primitive, tribal society on the continent. In fact, “Beowulf” reflects the features of the tribal society of ancient times.
of Hygelac, king of the Geats, a people in Jutland, Denmark. News reaches him that Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is in great trouble. Hrothgar has built a great hall.
Along these roads grew up scores of towns, and London, one of them, became an important trading centers. It was also during the Roman rule that Christian was introduced into Britain. But at the beginning of the fifth century, the Roman Empire was in the process of declining. And in 410 A.D. all the Roman troops went back to the continent and never returned. Thus ended the Roman occupation in Britain.
•
But a terrible monster Grendel visits the hall from night to night and carries the warriors away. So the hall is deserted. On hearing the news, Beowulf sails for Denmark with fourteen companions and offers to fight the monster. After a feast of welcome, Beowulf and his companions lie down in the hall for the night. Then Grendel appears, seizes and devours one of Beowulf’s men.
• He next attacks Beowulf, who grapples with •
him single-handed, because weapons do not avail against him. After a terrible hand-to-hand combat, Grendal retreats mortally wounded, leaving one of his arms with Beowulf. Great rejoicing follows and next night the hall is once more full of joys and songs.
• Life experience: • Chaucer was born about 1340 in London.
He was the son of a wine merchant who had connection with the court. He began life as page in a nobleman’s household. Then he went to France at 19 on one of the campaigns of the Hundred Years’ War, and was taken prisoner. On his return, he married Philippa , a maid of honor to the queen and relative of the Duke of Lancaster, who became his patron.
• Analysis of its content • Beowulf is a folk legend brought to
England by Anglo-Saxons from their continental homes. It had been passed from mouth to mouth for hundreds of years before it was written down in the tenth century. Its main stories are evidently folk legends of primitive Northern tribes.
• The English Conquest: • At the same time Britain was invaded by
swarms of pirates. They were three tribes from Northern Europe: the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. These three tribes landed on the British coast, drove the Britons, settled down themselves, and established some small kingdoms. And by the 7th century these small kingdoms were combined into a united kingdom called England.