XIV Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2022

English literature is an integral part of world culture. The best traditions of English art have enriched world literature; the works of the masters of English fiction and poetry, translated into many languages, have won recognition far beyond the borders of England.

The literature of England has passed a long and difficult path of development, it is associated with the history of the country and its people, it conveys the peculiarities of the English national character. Its originality manifested itself in medieval poetry, in Chaucer's poems, in the bold flight of thought of Thomas More, in the comedies and tragedies of Shakespeare; it manifested itself in Swift's satire, in Fielding's comic epics, in the rebellious spirit of Byron's romantic poetry, in Shaw's paradoxes and Dickens's humor.
In the history of English literature, the following main periods are distinguished: the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the 17th century, the Enlightenment of the 18th century, the 19th century, the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, the 20th century. (periods 1918-1945 and 1945-1990s). In its main points, the periodization of English literature corresponds to the periodization of the literary process in other European countries (France, Germany, Italy, etc.). However, the historical development of England is characterized by some peculiarities associated with the fact that the bourgeois revolution took place in England in the middle of the 17th century, i.e. much earlier than in France. The development of capitalism proceeded at a faster pace in England. England became a kind of classical country of capitalist relations with all the contradictions inherent in them, which also affected the nature of its literary development.
English literature developed in Great Britain. Its origins originate in the oral folk poetry of the tribes inhabiting the British Isles. The original inhabitants of these lands - the Celts - were under Roman rule (1st-5th centuries), then they were attacked by the Anglo-Saxons (5th century), who, in turn, in the 11th century. were conquered by the descendants of the Scandinavian Vikings - the Normans. The language of the Anglo-Saxon tribes was influenced by Celtic, Latin and Scandinavian influences. The confusion of various ethnic origins determined the originality of the literature of the early Middle Ages.

Early Middle Ages Literature

By the V-XI centuries. AD refers to the oldest period in the history of English literature. The beginning of this period was associated with the invasion of the Jutes and Anglo-Saxons in Britain. The end falls in 1066, when, at the Battle of Hastings, the British Isles finally fell under the rule of the Normans. With their arrival on British lands, the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes brought with them their way of life, culture, language, the subsequent development of which proceeded in the conditions of the disintegration of the tribal system and the formation of feudal relations. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes formed seven kingdoms (Kent, Sessex, Essex, Wessex, East Anglia, Northumbria, and Mercia), each of which sought to dominate the others. The process of centralization of power and the adoption of Christianity (VI century) contributed to the strengthening of the state unity of the country. The disintegration of the tribal system and the formation of feudalism were accompanied by the division of society into classes.

Due to the aggressive nature of the newcomers, the relationship between the Celts and the Anglo-Saxons was expressed by mutual deep national hatred. The further development of England, as the land was called by the Anglo-Saxons who conquered it, determined more perfect and complex forms of interaction between these two cultures. Celtic legends formed the basis of medieval knightly novels about King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, they were the source from which the poets of subsequent centuries drew inspiration and plots of their works.

On swords and household items, as well as on a stone carved cross near the village of Rutwell in Scotland, runic inscriptions remained - monuments of the runic writing of the Anglo-Saxons. In addition, there is information about the existence of songs that were performed during wedding and funeral rites, during labor and during military campaigns. Legends, legends and songs were passed from one generation to another. They were sung by the singers of each tribe. Singers were divided into osprey (singers-poets), who were the creators of the songs performed, and glimens (singers-performers), who sang songs created by others. Both osprey and glymene were honored and respected; they were the keepers of folk traditions, skillful professional craftsmen.

Due to the fact that the pagan priests forbade writing poetry, this role was assumed by the learned monks after the introduction of Christianity. Far from everything was recorded; many records have not survived, almost all lists and manuscripts have been changed several times: the legends of pagan times were subjected to Christianization.

The dating of the surviving monuments presents significant difficulties. The exact dates of creation of many works have not been established. The time of the appearance of the monument, its initial recording and the appearance of the edition that has survived to this day do not always coincide; several centuries may separate the appearance of a work from the edition in which it becomes known to subsequent generations.

So, the most significant of the surviving works of Anglo-Saxon poetry - the poem "Beowulf" (Beowulf) has come down to us in the lists of the 10th century, and the emergence of this monument dates back to about the 8th century. The first English edition of the poem was made in 1833. The manuscript of the poem is kept in the British Museum. "Beowulf" is one of the samples of the medieval heroic epic. The poem arose on the basis of ancient Germanic traditions dating back to pagan times. These legends appeared among the Germanic tribes long before the migration of the Anglo-Saxons to the territory of Britain. The poem takes place on the shores of the Baltic Sea, its plot is borrowed from Germanic mythology. There is no mention of England in the poem.

"Beowulf" consists of two parts and tells about the exploits of the brave Geat * knight Beowulf, who saved Denmark from the terrible sea monster Grendel. For twelve years now, Heort ("deer chamber") has been attacked by the sea monster Grendel. Beowulf is sailing to the aid of King Hrothgar with fourteen warriors. Arriving in Denmark, he feasts with friends in the "deer chamber", and when Hrothgar and the other Danes leave Heort at nightfall, Beowulf prepares for the battle with Grendel. He takes off his chain mail and helmet, gives his armor and "giant sword" for safekeeping to the servants. Beowulf wants to face off against Grendel in hand-to-hand combat.

Middle Ages

Features of the development of English literature during the XI-XIII centuries. associated with the conquest of the country by the Normans.

Natives of Scandinavia, the Normans, long before the invasion of England, settled in the north-west of France, adopting the language and culture of this country. In 1066, under the leadership of Duke William, they invaded Britain and at the Battle of Hastings defeated the Anglo-Saxon forces led by King Harold P. Harold was killed, and William the Conqueror became king of England.

The Norman conquest marked the beginning of a new period in the history of England. Under the prevailing feudal system, it contributed to the spread of French influence on the socio-political and cultural life of the country. The conquered Anglo-Saxons were oppressed by the Norman feudal lords, whom the king generously endowed with land holdings; the Normans also took over all the highest ecclesiastical offices. The people found themselves in serfdom. There was an incessant struggle between the feudal lords: striving to expand their possessions, they were at enmity with each other and opposed the strengthening of royal power.

French became the official language in the country. It was spoken by the ruling elite; it was used in parliament, courts, schools, it was spoken by those strata of the population who had migrated from France. The indigenous population spoke the Anglo-Saxon language, which underwent significant changes after the Norman conquest. Latin was used in church circles.

Trilingualism affected the development of literature. Literary works appeared in Latin, French and Anglo-Saxon. Scientific works, historical chronicles, anti-church satire were written in Latin. Literature in French was represented by knightly poetry. Works of folk poetry, as well as a number of poems, poems and knightly novels dating back to the XIII-XIV centuries, have survived from this period in the Anglo-Saxon language. Only in the XIV century. in connection with the formation of the English nation, English became the main literary language. Among the monuments of literature (XI-XII centuries) in Latin, an important place belongs to works on the history of Britain. These are the Historia novorum of the Anglo-Saxon monk Edmer of Canterbury, The Historia regum Anglorum by the librarian of the Malmesbury monastery, William of Malmsbury, The Historia Anglorum by Henry of Huntingdon.

Of particular importance for the further development of medieval literature was the "History of the Britons" (Historia Britonum, 1132-1137) by Galfrid of Monmouth, containing the earliest processing of Celtic legends about King Arthur, which later became the property of other European literatures. In the multivolume "History of the Britons", the images of King Arthur, the wizard Merlin, the fairy Morgana, Queen Ginevra and the brave knights appear for the first time, who will occupy such an important place in knightly poetry in French and English. This is where the novels of the Arthurian cycle originate. Here, for the first time, the court of the king of the Britons is depicted as the center of valiant chivalry, embodying the ideals of nobility, and the semi-legendary Arthur is shown as a wise and powerful ruler. Galfried of Monmouth made the first literary adaptation of the legend of King Lear and his daughters. At the end of the XII century. the work of Galfrid the Englishman appeared on the rules of versification (Nova poetria), which is of interest as an early example of a treatise on the foundations of poetry.

In Latin in the XII-XIII centuries. satirical works are also created. These include the five-volume works of Walter Mala, De nugis curialium, on the amusing conversations of courtiers. As chaplain at the court of Henry II, Walter Man was well acquainted with the mores and customs of the court circles. In the form of anecdotes and funny stories, he told about them in his book, including retellings of folklore works (legends, sagas, songs). Having long remained the source of many narrative plots, Map's work was not only entertaining: it contained bold satirical attacks against secular and church circles.

The anti-church satirical literature had a democratic character, examples of which were created among the lower clergy. Wandering clergy and scholars - vagants * - composed free-thinking verses in Latin, subjecting the Catholic Church to ridicule, the customs of its ministers, and sang the joys of life, glorifying wine and women. Among the vagants there was an idea of ​​a certain Bishop Golia, a lover of sweet food and drink, who was passed off as the author of these hedonistic and daring songs. Certain works of goliardic poetry were a frank parody of cult church songs. In works of this kind, Latin was gradually replaced by English. * From lat. vagantes - stray. An important place in the literature of England during the XI-XIII centuries. are occupied by works in French, which was represented by the Norman dialect of the Old French language. Some of them were imported from France, others were created on the territory of England. The largest work of the French folk heroic epic "The Song of Roland" enjoyed fame. Poetic chronicles were circulated containing descriptions of the genealogies of the Norman dukes. In the XII century. French literature is flourishing in England. It is represented by such writers as You, Benoit de Saint-Maur, Robert de Borron, Maria French. All of them are associated with the court environment and in their works strive to satisfy her needs and tastes. In the poetic novels Brut and Roman de Rou, you are told the story of the Normans. In "The Novel of Roux", consisting of four parts, he tells the story of the conquest of Normandy by the Scandinavian Viking Rollo, about his subsequent reign and his successors. You strive to be accurate in conveying historical details and details. He describes battles and battles, praises the exploits of the Normans, culminating in the conquest of England. Following Galfried of Monmouth, you turn to Celtic legends, retelling the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The poetry of the 12th century is associated with knightly poetry. Mary of France. She drew plots of her works from Celtic folklore, developing them in the form of poetic short stories. They tell about the love of glorious knights, fairies and wizards. Maria French writes about love experiences sincerely and simply, conveying the beauty and tenderness of human feelings; their depth and naturalness mean much more to her than the conventionality of the courtly form of their expression. The story of one of the best poetic works of Mary of France - "Honeysuckle" (Chievrefueille) was based on the legend of the love of Tristan and Isolde.

In the 60s of the XV century. Thomas Malory (c. 1417-1471) collected, systematized and processed the novels of the Arthurian cycle. He retold their content in the book "Death of Arthur" (Morte d'Arthur, 1469), which in 1485 was printed by the publisher Caxton and immediately became popular. Malory's book is the most significant work of 15th century English fiction. Freely handling sources, shortening lengths, skillfully combining entertaining adventures, bringing in a lot of her own, Malorie perfectly conveys the spirit of courtly knightly romances. He fascinatingly recounts the history of the life and exploits of King Arthur and his knights, combining in his book the best that was characteristic of both French and English knightly novels. The legends and novels of the Arthurian cycle attracted the attention of many writers of subsequent eras. They were approached by E. Spencer, J. Milton, R. Southey, W. Scott, A. Tennison, W. Morris and others, interpreting the plots and images of medieval works in accordance with their views and requirements of the time.

References:

1. Mikhalskaya N.P., Anikin G.V .: "History of English Literature"

2. Gurevich A.Ya. Medieval heroic epic of the Germanic peoples

3. Pakhsaryan N.T. History of foreign literature of the 17th - 18th centuries.

4. D.O. POLOVTSEV "History of literature of the country of the target language" (England)

5. History of English and American Literature / LR Pozdnyakova.

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