The Old English Period or The Anglo-Saxon Period- (450-1066)

This Age started in the fifth century when the Jutes, Angles and Saxons came to England from Germany, defeated the English tribes and started their reign. It ended in 1066 with the Norman Conquest. The historical events which influenced the literature of this period were:

1.      Christianity reached England and Christianization of the pagan English tribes began. In the 7^th century monasteries were established where a written literature began. Earlier to this whatever existed as literature was oral. Alfred the Great who reigned over England from 871 to 901 encouraged education and supervised the compilation of The Anglo Saxon Chronicle.

Literary Works of This Period :

Beowulf, the earliest epic of English literature, was written in this period "The Seafarer", "The Husband's

"The Wanderer", Message", "The Wife's Lament" are among the remarkable poems of the age. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle written in this age is the earliest prose of English literature.

Literary Features of the Age:

Most of the writers of this -age are unknown except Caedmon who is held to be the first known poet of English and Bede, the first historian. Though Christianity is traceable, paganism dominates the literary spirit of the time. Heroic deeds, love of sea adventure, intense love of glory and savagery are the main features of the literature of this period.

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