Lecture 1 theme: introduction. Literature of middle ages

As a result of this process there appeared a large store of synonyms. Each of them has its own shade of meaning. The use of one or other of these synonyms makes all the difference between-the written and the spoken language. Note the difference between the following verbs; those of Anglo Saxon origin are used in conversation, while the verbs of French origin are used in formal speech.

• As a result of this process there appeared a large store of synonyms. Each of them has its own shade of meaning. The use of one or other of these synonyms makes all the difference between-the written and the spoken language. Note the difference between the following verbs; those of Anglo Saxon origin are used in conversation, while the verbs of French origin are used in formal speech.
• To give up - to abandon,
• to give in - to surrender,
• to come in - to enter,
• to begin - to commence,
• to go on - to continue.
• Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon were molded into one national language only towards the beginning of the 14th century when the Hundred Years' War broke out. The language of that time is called Middle English.

ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE (7th -11th centuries)

• ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE (7th -11th centuries)
• The Spread of Christianity The culture of the early Briton changed greatly under the influence of Christianity, which penetrated into the British Isles in the 3rd century. This was the time when many Christians escaped from Roman persecution to Britain and Gaul (France).
• In the year 306, the Roman emperor, Constantine the Great, made Christianity the official religion of Rome. It was brought to all countries belonging to the Roman Empire. The Celtic Druids in Gaul and Britain disappeared. All Christian Churches were centralized in the city of Constantinople, which was made the capital of the Roman Empire. This religion was called the Catholic Church ("catholic" means "universal"). The Latin language became the language of the Church all over Europe.
• When the Saxon and other pagan tribes invaded Britain, most of the British Christians were put to death or driven away to Wales and Ireland. They told stories of Christian martyrs and saints. Such stories were typical of the literature of that time.