PROGRAMME CODE: MAEL 20 SEMESTER I BRITISH POETRY I (MAEL 502) SEMESTER II BRITISH POETRY II (MAEL 506) SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES Uttarakhand Open University PROGRAMME CODE: MAEL 20 SEMESTER I BRITISH POETRY I (MAEL 502) SEMESTER II BRITISH POETRY II (MAEL 506) SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES Uttarakhand Open University Phone no. 05964-261122, 261123 Toll Free No. 18001804025 Fax No. 05946-264232, e-mail info @uou.ac.in http://uou.ac.in Board of Studies Prof. H. P. Shukla (Chairperson) Prof. S. A. Hamid (Retd.) Director Dept. of English School of Humanities Kumaun University Uttarakhand Open University Nainital Haldwani Prof. D. R. Purohit Prof. M.R.Verma Senior Fellow Dept. of English Indian Institute of Advanced Study Gurukul Kangri University Shimla, Himanchal Pradesh Haridwar Programme Developers and Editors Dr. H. P. Shukla Dr. Suchitra Awasthi (Coordinator) Professor, Dept. of English Assistant Professor Director, School of Humanities Dept. of English Uttarakhand Open University Uttarakhand Open University Unit Writers Dr. Suchitra Awasthi, Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani Semester I: Units 1,2,3,4,5, Semester II: Unit 7 Dr. Binod Mishra, IIT, Roorkee Semester I: Units 6,7,8,9 Dr. Preeti Gautam, Govt. P.G. College, Rampur Semester II: Units 1, 2 Mr. Rohitash Thapliyal, Graphic Era Hill University, Bhimtal Semester II: Units 3,4,5 Dr. Mohit Mani Tripathi, D.A.V. College, Kanpur Semester II: Unit 6 Edition: 2020 ISBN : 978-93-84632-13-7 Copyright: Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani Published by: Registrar, Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani Email: [email protected] Printer: CONTENTS SEMESTER I MAEL 502 BLOCK 1 Unit 1 Introduction to Early English Poetry 2-16 Unit 2 Chaucer: Prologue to the Canterbury Tales (1) 17-27 Unit 3 Chaucer: Prologue to the Canterbury Tales (2) 28-44 Unit 4 Spenser: The Faerie Queene Book 1 Part 1 46-58 Unit 5 Spenser: The Faerie Queene Book 1 Part 2 59-71 BLOCK 2 Unit 6 Metaphysical Poetry 72-85 Unit 7 The Poems of John Donne (1) 86-99 Unit 8 The Poems of John Donne (2) 100-112 Unit 9 The Poems of Andrew Marvell 113-128 SEMESTER II MAEL 506 BLOCK I Unit 1 Milton and His Age 130-143 Unit 2 Paradise Lost Book 1 144-162 BLOCK 2 Unit 3 Neoclassicism 163-172 Unit 4 Dryden: Absalom and Achitophel 173-181 Unit 5 Pope: Rape of the Lock 182-189 BLOCK 3 Unit 6 Thomas Gray and his Poems 190-205 Unit 7 William Collins and his Poems 206-218 British Poetry I/British Poetry II MAEL 502/MAEL 506 SEMESTER I Uttarakhand Open University 1 British Poetry I/British Poetry II MAEL 502/MAEL 506 UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO EARLY ENGLISH POETRY 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Objectives 1.3. The Anglo-Saxon Invasion 1.4. Anglo Saxon Literature – an Overview 1.4.1. Major Extant Works of the Anglo Saxon Period 1.5. Origin of Anglo Saxon Poetry 1.5.1. Characteristics of Anglo Saxon Poetry 1.5.2. Some Important Anglo Saxon Works 1.5.3. Some Famous Anglo Saxon Poets 1.6. The Coming of the Normans 1.6.1. The Norman Conquest 1.6.2. The Shift of Language 1.7. The Norman Literature 1.8. Anglo Norman Poetry 1.8.1. Characteristics of Anglo Norman Poetry 1.8.2. Some Important Anglo Norman Works 1.8.3. Some Famous Anglo Norman Writers 1.9. Glossary 1.10. Let Us Sum Up 1.11. Answers to Check Your Progress 1.12. References 1.13. Suggested Reading 1.14. Terminal and Model Questions Uttarakhand Open University 2 British Poetry I/British Poetry II MAEL 502/MAEL 506 1.1. INTRODUCTION In this Unit we will be covering the Anglo-Saxon and the Norman periods of English History, which range from 449 to 1066 CE. However, prior to the Anglo-Saxon period, England was inhabited the by the Celts. The Celts were large bands of nomadic European tribes who arrived in England around 900 BCE. The Celtic tribes that settled in the British Isles were the Brythons and the Gales; the Brythons mainly occupied regions of the present day Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) whereas the Gales settled in the present day Ireland. The language that the Celts spoke was Celtic which is very different from English which is considered to be a Germanic language. Like most other ancient languages, Celt too did not have a well-developed script. Nonetheless, the Celtic myths, legends and laws were preserved orally by the Celtic priests known as the Druids. Thus, the Druids played an important role in preserving the Celtic heritage and have been eulogised by various historians and litterateurs. Next, the Romans invaded England around 43 CE. The Romans ruled England for about three hundred years and their contributions to England were primarily through remarkable architectural feats. However, the Romans had to withdraw from England as Italy was under attack by the northern invaders. Thus, the Roman troops were called back to defend their homeland. to defend and that left England open for the Germanic tribes such as the Angles, the Saxons and the Juts to take over. Besides these two formative periods of the English history, we will also be glancing through the history of England under the Celts, who were the native inhabitants of England will cover the time span from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the Norman period. It will discuss a brief history of the Anglo Saxon and the Norman periods. The characteristics of the Anglo Saxon and Norman literature, in particular poetry will also be explained in this unit. You will also read about some of the earliest extant works of English poetry like Beowulf, Waldere, Widsith and Deor. 1.2. OBJECTIVES After reading this unit you will be able to: Trace the beginning of English Literature Understand and appreciate the Anglo Saxon literature Understand and appreciate the Anglo Norman literature 1.3. THE ANGLO SAXON INVASION The history of early English poetry can be traced back to the Anglo Saxon period. The Anglo Saxons invaders came from Germania to Britain in the latter part of the fifth century A.D and eventually established their kingdom in the British Isle. The Anglo Uttarakhand Open University 3 British Poetry I/British Poetry II MAEL 502/MAEL 506 Saxons belonged to a group of Teutonic peoples mainly consisting three related tribes namely the Angles, Saxons and the Juts. From this group the Angles came to Britain from the region of Angeln, a district located in Schelswig Holstein, Germany, the Saxons from the North German plain and the Juts from Jutland in modern Denmark. After reaching the shores of Britain, the Angles established their kingdom in the East, North and Midlands, the Saxons in the South and South West of the country and the Juts in Kent which is in the South East part of the country. As these three tribes were related, a similarity can be witnessed in their language, culture and mode of life. Before the coming of the Anglo Saxons, Britain was inhabited by the native Brythons (now spelled Britons)and the Celt who were driven out from the eastern, central and southern portions of the country and confined to the area we today know as Wales. Besides Wales Celts were also pushed to areas such as the present day Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany and Ireland. As the native Britons had little to offer in the field of literature and it can be safely considered that the arrival of the Anglo Saxons signaled the beginning of the English language and literature. After the conquest, the area inhabited came to be known as “Angles land” which over a period of time became England. This group of Teutonic peoples spoke closely related Germanic languages which developed into a new language called “Angle-ish”, which over a period of time came to be known as English. However, the Anglo Saxon literature did not begin with books but with spoken verse and incantations. The purpose of these verses was to pass along the tribal history, folk lores, heroic tales and values to an audience who could not read. The literature of that time is written in what we today know as Old English or the Anglo Saxon English. 1.4. ANGLO SAXON LITERATURE- AN OVERVIEW A large number of Anglo Saxon manuscripts survive till date. In all there are about 400 surviving manuscripts mainly from the 9th to the 11th centuries. These are written in both Latin and vernacular languages. Out of these 400 manuscripts, 189 are major works while the remaining ones are less recognized. MAJOR EXTANT WORKS OF ANGLO SAXON PERIOD: The following are some of the major surviving manuscripts of the Anglo Saxon poetry: 1. The Janius manuscript, also known as the Caedmon manuscript, which is an illustrated poetic anthology. 2. The Exeter Book, also an anthology, located in the Exeter Cathedral since it was donated to the Cathedral in the 11th century. 3. The Vercelli Book, a combination of poetry and prose; 4. The Nowell Codex, also a combination of poetry and prose. Uttarakhand Open University 4 British Poetry I/British Poetry II MAEL 502/MAEL 506 Not all of the texts of Anglo Saxon period can be called works of literature and most of them are anonymous. The above mentioned manuscripts consist of miscellaneous forms of writings including both prose and poetic works. However, as this unit focuses on Early English Poetry, we will be focusing on Old English Poetry only. 1.5. ORIGIN OF ANGLO SAXON POETRY The early Anglo Saxon poetry was oral and was recited on various ceremonies.