Middletown transcript., 1897-03-06
A BRIEF SKETCH OF EARLY EN-
GLISH LITERATURE.

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growth. In something's. however, the true
origin is difficult to find and the develop
ment hard to trace. just what were the
true beginnings of English literature, we
know not. The gleemen, perhaps, who
travelled far and wide. just after the early
conquests in Britain, singing and. playing
in the halls and at the courts of kings,
formed the nucleus Of our noble literature
The hymnic songs, used in religious fes-
dvals came next, which, in the sixth CEN
tury, grew into the early epics among the
English tribes. The most noted of these
epics is that of Beowulf. The hero of this
pretty story reminds one of Hercules in
Greek myth. There were of Beowulf, as of
the Iliad, no written copies for a long
time. 1t was growth in heroic song; and
did not contain the smoothness and logical
connection which one finds in the Ilaid.
Its author was not such noble songster as
was the composer of the early stories of
Greek chivalry.
In the latter part of the sixth century,
missionaries introduced the art of writing
into Britain. and the "Roman alphabet,
paper or parchment, and pen and ink,
drove out the Northern runes, the beechen
tablet and the scratching implement"
Beowulf was written down, and the monks
no doubt changed it to suit themselves.
Religion seems always to have been an
impetus to literature. In early Engla.. d, it
gave to literature new life. Nor were the
learning and culture brought by the Ro-
mans into England without their influence.
Schools and monasteries were founded,
and from these came one noted man at
least-the Venerable Beda, who wrote
about education, theology, history, poetry
and letters. He tells us more of Caedmon,
the first English poet who ''sang of the be-
ginning of creation" than perhaps any
other writer; although Alfred the Great
gives part of one of Caedmon's hymns.
Alfred also was quite writer. He began by
translating, and was the first, tits said, to
give his people national prose literature.
The species of fiction commonly called
Romantic, we are told, was introduced
into England in the eighth century. The
Arabians, who held the northern part Of
Africa, crossed over to Spain, and con-
quered that country. They introduced their
books on literature and science, which
were SO remarkable that they were soon
known over the western part of Europe.
From France, they were carried to England
Others maintain that the Crusaders brought
this kind of fiction from the Orient. Ar
thur and Charlemagne are said to be the
first and original heroes of romance.
In 1865, the Normans conquer England;
and the English language becomes obscure,
despised, and I'VE hear it no more, except
in the mouths of degraded franklins, out
laws of the forest. swineherds, peasants,
the lowest orders.n The Saxon Chronicle
finally ceased. Children were forbidden to
read in their native tongue. and were in
structed in the knowledge of the Norman
only. The Normans, however, brought
with them their rudiments of cultivation
which they had learned from the French.
They founded schools and encouraged
Books were loaned to the people
to read, and salvation was offered to all
who gave book to the monastic libra
ries.
A good Latin literature was the out
growth Of the conquest. It was especially
rich in history. Poetry, on the contrary,
did not amount to much. Warton says
there was nothing but rude rhymes from
the Conquest to the twelfth century. These |
were furnished by French songsters. For
two hundred years, French was the court |
language Literature was full Of romance
md chivalry. Scme Of the adventurous
kings. on their return from the Crusades,
furnished themes for the poets. The legends |
Of Arthur became famous.
Alter the English Chronicle ceased, En-
glish literature seemed to be lost to the |
world forever. The young mobiles finished |
their education in France. Yet they knew
their native language. 1t was used in the
home. The nurse knew no other, and the
Norman husband had to learn It to under
stand his Saxon wife.
Fifty years after the Saxon Chronicle |
was discontinued, Layamon revived ED-
glish. PEN be took with fingers ana wrote
. bookskin, and the true word set together
and compressed the three books into one. =
Speaking Of Laysmon's effort, the historian /
Green says. Historically It Ii worthless,