English Literature
Assignment 1b: Old English/Beowulf

1. When was Old English spoken?
It was spoken and written between the mid-5 century and the mid-12 century.

2. Name 4 languages groups which influenced the development of old English?
Influence: Grmanic-Latin-Norse and Celtic.

3. In the phonology section,name 5 phonetical differences between Old English and modern English?

*Long/a:/.Rarely found in manuscripts,but usually distinguished from short (a)in modern editions.

*Long/ae:/.Rarely found in manuscripts,but usually disringuished from short (ae)in modern editions.

* Long /e:/.Rarely found in manuscripts,but isually distinguished from short (e) in modern editions.

* Long /e:o/.Rarely found inmanuscripts,but usually distinguished from short (eo) in modern editions.

* /w/.A modern substitution for (p).

4. Are there any similarities between Old English and modern English?
Some similarities are in grammar.How the sentences are organized.

5. In the orthography section,enlarge the picture of the runic alphabet.How many letters (runies)are there in this alphabet?

There are 34 letters.

6. Which epic poem was originally written in Old English?
It was Beowulf.

7.In the See Also Section,click on:Beowulf approximately when was Beowulf written?
It was written between the 8 and the early 11 centuries.

8. Even though Beowulf was written in England,the story takes place in which countries?
The story takes place in:Denmark,Scandinvia and Germany.

9. In the poem,which 3 antagonists does Beowulf battle or fight against?

Grendel,the monster.

Grendel's mother.

An unnamed dragon.

10. What happens to Beowulf at the end of the story?
Bowulf fight against a dragon and both die.He leaves his kingdom to his friend Wiglaf.

11. Who was the author of Beowulf?
It is a epic poem of unknown author.

12. What was the titles and the dates of the two film versions of Beowulf?
*In 2007
* In 1990