BRITISH LITERATURE

7th century-THE SONG OF BEOWULF
-the oldest written monument
-old English epic (staroanglický epos)
-copy from 20. century – in British Museum
-3182 verses
-the story is based on old Germanic legend, which was brought with Angles, Saxous, Jutes
-Beowulf is the knight, who fight against the monster and his mother. He kills both of them.
Fifty years later he fight against another monster, he wins, but he is wounded and dies.
-lot of contrasts, Christianity, paganism ………..glory & fall
youth & old age
loyalty & betrayal
friendship & loneliness
hero & coward
good & evil
-alliterations (aliterace- opakování stejných hlásek na začátku slov ve verších)

14th century- THE CANTERBURY TALES
-its author is GEOFFREY CHAUCER – his Family come from France (Normandy)
-he worked for the king (diplomatic cervices)
-these were tales told by pilgrims travelling to the grave of Thomas Beckett in Canterbury
-its not only for entertainment; interesting analysis of society (all classes)
pozn.: “to tell Canterbury Tales”- “věšet někomu bulíky na nos”

15th century- WILLIAM CAXTON- printer, publisher (1st in Br.)
THOMAS MALLORY-MORTE’D ARTHUR (stories, T.M. isn’t author off all of the