U NET : NET SET PHD EXAM

Explore the origins of English literature through Old English poetry, Beowulf, Anglo-Saxon culture, heroic code, elegies, and Christian themes. 📝 Introduction  Old English Literature, also known as Anglo-Saxon Literature , refers to the earliest phase of English literary history , written between 450 AD and 1150 AD . Composed in Old English , a Germanic language with strong Latin influences, this literature marks the beginning of English literature and reflects the Anglo-Saxon culture , beliefs, and historical transitions. The core of Old English literature is poetry , especially heroic and elegiac poetry . These works were passed down through oral tradition before being recorded by monks in monasteries. Famous examples include Beowulf , The Wanderer , and The Seafarer . These poems showcase themes like heroism , exile , loyalty , fate (wyrd) , and the Christian vs Pagan conflict . Beowulf is the most renowned Old English epic poem , illustrating the heroic code , the importanc...