Anglo saxon Literature:
Old English literature,
also called Anglo-Saxon literature, literature written in Old English c. 650–c.
1100. For a description of this period in the context of the history of English
literature, see English literature: The Old English period.
Beowulf is the oldest surviving Germanic
epic and the longest Old English poem; it was likely composed between 700 and
750. Other great works of Old English poetry include The Wanderer, The
Seafarer, The Battle of Maldon, and The Dream of the Rood.
Old English prose works include
legal writings, medical tracts, religious texts, and translations from Latin
and other languages. Particularly notable is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a
historical record begun about the time of King Alfred’s reign (871–899) and
continuing for more than three centuries.
History of Literature:
Literature is the
written work of a specific culture, sub-culture, religion, philosophy or the
study of such written work which may appear in poetry or in prose. Literature,
in the west, originated in the southern Mesopotamia region of Sumer (c. 3200)
in the city of Uruk and flourished in Egypt, later in Greece and from
there, to Rome. Writing seems to have originated independently in China from
divination practices and also independently in Mesoamerica and elsewhere.
The first author of
literature in the world, known by name, was the high-priestess of Ur,
Enheduanna (2285-2250 BCE) who wrote hymns in praise of the Sumerian goddess
Inanna.
Literature is divided
into the categories of fiction or non-fiction today but these are often
rbitrary decisions as ancient literature, as understood by those who wrote the
tales down, as well as those who heard them spoken or sung pre-literacy, was
not understood in the same way as it is in the modern-day.
Literature theme:
In contemporary literary
studies, a theme is the central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided
into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the
work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says
about the subject".[2]
The most common
contemporary understanding of theme is an idea or point that is central to a
story, which can often be summed in a single word (e.g. love, death, betrayal).
Typical examples of themes of this type are conflict between the individual and
society; coming of age; humans in conflict with technology; nostalgia; and the
dangers of unchecked ambition.
II. Examples of Theme
Example
1
A
man, fueled by an urge for power and control due to his own pride, builds a
supercomputer. That supercomputer then takes over the world, causing chaos and
struggle galore.
This
sci-fi style story contains many common themes. A
few of its themes include:
§
Danger of excessive pride
§
The risky relationship between humankind and developing technology
Example
2
A boy
and a girl fall in love. The boy is forced to join the army and fights to
survive in a war-torn country as his beloved waits at home. When he returns
from war, the two are united and married.
The love story also has many common
themes in literature:
§
The power of true love
§
Fate, which sometimes tears lovers apart and then joins them together
§
War
As can be seen from these examples,
themes can range widely from ideas, as large as love and war, to others as
specific as the relationship between humankind and technology.
III.
Types of Theme
there are two types of themes: major
and minor themes.
a. Major Themes
Major
themes are, just as they sound, the more important and enduring themes of the
narrative. Major themes are the most significant themes of the story, and often
they are a part of the entire story. A book on war would have the major theme
of war’s effect on humanity, whereas a romance novel would have the major theme of love.
b. Minor Themes
Minor themes are, on the other hand,
less important and less enduring. They may appear for part of the narrative only
to be replaced by another minor theme later in the narrative. They provide
discussion points for a chapter or two, but do not color the entire story. A
book on war may have minor themes such as the home front’s reaction to war or
the political aspects of war. A romance novel may have minor themes such as
flirtation, marriage, and fidelity.
