영문학의 시작부터 17세기 Restoration을 전후한 Stuart Literature까지 흠미진진한 모험을 떠날 영문학으로의 여정을 시작합니다.
영문학은 앵글즈와 색슨이 5, 6세기경 잉글랜드를 정복하기 시작하고 7세기에 기독교 선교사들이 잉글랜드인들에게 글쓰기를 가르치면서 시작이 됩니다. 1066년의 Norman Conquest 이전 4세기 동안의 문학을 Old English Literature라고 하는데 여기서부터 우리의 여행을 출발하겠습니다.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_literature
Old English literature (sometimes referred to as Anglo-Saxon literature) encompasses literature written in Old EnglishNorman ConquestCædmon's Hymn", composed in the 7th century according to Bede, is often considered the oldest extant poem in English, whereas the later poem, The Grave is one of the final poems written in Old English, and presents a transitional text between Old and Middle EnglishPeterborough Chronicle continues until the 12th century.
The poem Beowulf, which often begins the traditional canon of English literature, is the most famous work of Old English literature. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle has also proven significant for historical study, preserving a chronology of early English history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf
Beowulf (; in Old English [ˈbeːo̯ˌwulf]) is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative linesOld English literatureAnglo-Saxon poet, referred to by scholars as the "Beowulf poet".
The poem is set in ScandinaviaBeowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as GrendelGrendel's motherGötalanddragon
The main protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel
Later in his life, Beowulf becomes himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorized by a dragondragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon to its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf
Beowulf is considered an epic poem in that the main character is a hero who travels great distances to prove his strength at impossible odds against supernatural demons and beasts. The poem also begins in medias res
First battle: Grendel
Beowulf begins with the story of King Hrothgar, who constructed the great hall HeorotWealhtheow
Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland, hears of Hrothgar's troubles and with his king's permission leaves his homeland to assist Hrothgar.
Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot. Beowulf refuses to use any weapon because he holds himself to be the equal of Grendel. When Grendel enters the hall, Beowulf, who has been feigning sleep, leaps up to clench Grendel's hand. Grendel and Beowulf battle each other violently. Beowulf's retainers draw their swords and rush to his aid, but their blades cannot pierce Grendel's skin. Finally, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from his body at the shoulder and Grendel runs to his home in the marshes where he dies.
Second battle: Grendel's Mother
The next night, after celebrating Grendel's defeat, Hrothgar and his men sleep in Heorot. Grendel's mother, angry that her son has been killed, sets out to get revenge. She violently kills Æschere
Hrothgar, Beowulf and their men track Grendel's mother to her lair under a lake. Unferth, a warrior who had doubted him and wishes to make amends, presents Beowulf with his sword Hrunting
At first, Grendel's mother appears to prevail. Beowulf, finding that Hrunting cannot harm his foe, puts it aside in fury. Beowulf is again saved from his opponent's attack by his armor. Beowulf takes another sword from Grendel's mother and slices her head off with it. Traveling further into Grendel's mother's lair, Beowulf discovers Grendel and severs his head. The blade of Beowulf's sword touches Grendel's toxic blood, and instantly dissolves so that only the hilt remains. Beowulf swims back up to the rim of the pond where his men wait in growing despair. Carrying the hilt of the sword and Grendel's head, he presents them to Hrothgar upon his return to Heorot. Hrothgar gives Beowulf many gifts, including the sword Næglingthanes
Third battle: The Dragon
Beowulf returns home and eventually becomes king of his own people. One day, fifty years after Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother, a slave steals a golden cup from the lair of an unnamed dragon at EarnanessBeowulf lines 2712–3182).