The concise history of English literature, the early Christian Literature

“The concise history of English literature” is a delightful article that will be published in a series of short articles covering, in a chronological order, eras, movements and events that have shaped and formed the English literature. Through these series, the reader will have a very concise and informative glimpse into the colorful history and evolution of the English literature.

In the previous article we have talked about the early literature and have shed light on an ancient civilization known as the Celts. In this article, we will introduce you to the Christian literature and have an idea about the influence of Christianity on the Anglo-Saxon people.

The coming of Christianity:

Christianty was first brought to Britain during the Roman occupation. Christian missionaries arrived in Britain from two directions, from Ireland (about 563 A.D.) and from Rome (597 A.D.)

The coming of Christianity to England brought about a new way of thinking to the ancient people. Contrary to the pagan beliefs, the idea of a single mighty God had significant impacts on the daily lives of the Anglo-Saxon people. Christianity had reshaped the way people regard literature and made changes in the life of early British people. It led people to live by gentler manners, better morals, and a more civilized way of life.

Nearly all the Christian literature was composed in the form of long poems. With consonant rhyme it was easy for the Anglo-Saxon people to memorize those long poems. Like in all ancient nations, the oral culture was so strong in the English culture and many poems – in spite of their significant length- were handed down orally from generation to generation. The themes dominating those poems were nature, service and precisely praising God.

It had had an immense influence upon their literature; for example, one of the most charming stories in English literature is told of Caedmon. According to the 8th-century monk Bede, this poor man in spite of his ignorance of “the art of song” was able to compose a poem nine lines long one night in the course of a dream. This poem, the oldest piece of verse in English language, is usually known as Caedmon’s hymn, translated out of Anglo-Saxon language into modern English.

It runs:

Caedmon's hymn

Now shall we praise the master of heaven
The mighty of the Maker, the thought of his heart
The deeds of the father. How he, Lord everlasting,
Established of old the source of all wonders.
Creator all-holy, he hung the heavens,
A roof high up reared, o’er the children of men;
The king of mankind then created for mortals
The world, the earth spread beneath them,
He, Lord everlasting, omnipotent God.

(to listen to the old English version click here)





To be continued......
By Larbi Arbaoui
Morocco World News
Taroudant, Morocco, May 10, 2012

The concise history of English literature, the early literature

“The concise history of English literature is a delightful article that will be published in a series of short articles covering, in a chronological order, eras, movements and events that have shaped and formed the English literature. Through these series, the reader will have a very concise and informative glimpse into the colorful history and evolution of the English literature.

The author Mr. Larbi Arbaoui takes us on a journey back in time, to a long and distant past. We are, thus, given images of an ancient culture  huddled around  their camp  fires or singing prayers of thanks and reverence to great powers such as the Sun,  the Weather, and all Mother Earth’s natural forces.

In this article, we encounter an ancient civilization known as the Celts. We are given a glimpse into the wonderful poetry of their bards. The author also highlights interesting details about life in these ancient times such as the Celts deep respect for woman in their culture and their appreciation of all natural beauty.” Simon Michael Murphy An English teacher from England, teaching in Budapest.

The English literature has been pieced together from different languages because of the diversity of influences shaping English history. The oldest literature known as English was written in a Germanic language called Anglo-Saxon; later on a kind of French called Anglo-Norman was used for literary purposes by the aristocracy. Throughout the early history of England –for more than a thousand years– Latin was used for composing serious and dignified literature.

Historians share the opinion that the earliest inhabitants of Britain left no written literature or history. They lived during what is known as the Stone Age, but we should not go far as to say that these people lived without any kind of literature; indeed, they worshiped the sun and said prayers and sang hymns to the weather and other natural forces. Unfortunately, we know nothing about what language they spoke, what songs they sung, and what tales they told as they crouched together around their fires.  While a lot of literature from the oral tradition wasn’t written down, many of these stories still exist today in some form, such as the King Arthur legend and many Irish folk tales (see below).

The Celts: Later on there came to the British Isles a group of tribes speaking various forms of language known as Celtic. This primitive people had many classes of poets, of which the most famous, the bards (professional poet, employed by a patron to commemorate the patron’s ancestors and to praise the patron’s own activities, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bards) sang songs in praise of their chiefs, accompanying themselves with a small harp with five strings. During the middle Ages, Irish and Welsh bards were well-known throughout Europe. These bards, tales and songs served to enrich the great stream of English literature. An ancient author said that the Celts had two passions: to fight well and to talk cleverly.

Frankly, their literature shows not only that they were fierce in battle, but also cultivated the art of poetry. It shows that they held a high respect for women and for the beauties of nature, the fairy charm of flowers, leaf and stream. This all is present in Celtic poetry. Many Celtic poems and prayers had been composed before the coming of Christianity and had been passed on orally from person to person.

An example of a Celtic poem addressing a little bird on a tree:

Little Bird

Little bird! O little bird!

I wonder at what thou doest,

Thou singing merry far from me,

I in sadness all alone!

Little bird! O little bird!

I wonder at how thou art

Thou high on the tips of branching boughs,

I on the ground a-creeping!

Little bird! O little bird!

Thou art music far away,

Like the tender croon of the mother loved

In the kindly sleep of death.

To be continued……….

By Larbi Arbaoui
Morocco World News
Taroudant, Morocco, May 10, 2012

Mr. Benkirane’s Coalition Government: Intentions versus reality

Mr. Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of Moroccan Government

The Islamist-led government in Morocco boasts an unprecedented qualification. Most of the ministers of the ruling party have a high academic educational level and early all of them have shown their willingness to reform the ministry of which they are in charge.

All the ministers of the new government have expressed more than once through different public media outlets that they are ready to do all that it takes to put the statements of the new constitution into practice and to abide by its guidelines.

But unfortunately, press releases and good intentions don’t make politics. In the absence of a strategic program and a clear future vision, all that remains is just talk. Politics is not manufactured by an aura of hopes as it is not based on aspirations.

One swallow doesn’t make spring. Mr Abdelilah Benkiran, head of government, is preoccupied creating a harmonious coalition among the entire political strips that seemed to march to the beat of a different drummer. Observers of the political scene in Morocco would notice how the statements of ministers within the government are in stark inconsistency.

Mr Abdelilah Benkiran has sought, since the early days of his government, to adopt a different strategy in dealing with the social files relying on a religious diction in his direct talks with protesters in Rabat to reassure them. However, the continuation of protests today, both in the capital, Rabat, and in other areas, quickly have proved the limitations of this new approach.

Neither, the populism of Mr Benkirane, the smiles of Mr. Othmani, nor the plainness of Mr Elkhalfi will succeed to convince the angry, unemployed youth, the underpaid public sector employees and the majority of people under agreed standards of living at the absence of concrete projects aiming to create new jobs and eradicate poverty.

The novice government is still having more challenging issues hindering its progress. Even the weather seemed to conspire against it. Agriculture, which is considered a vital and important pillar marking the strength of the Moroccan economy, was effected badly this year by the shortage of rain. Consequently the prices of food get higher. This only is enough to kindle the rough of people and may lead to more strikes and protests.

Another unexpected source of concern to the Islamist-led government came but from the movement of Unity and Reform, the advocacy arm of the ruling party, the PJD. Mr. Ahmed Alhamdawi, head of the movement (MUR), forwarded a strongly worded message to the Government of Mr. Benkirane, calling him to carry on the reform away from excuses.

The existence of corruption lobbyists in Morocco is crystal clear to everyone and exists nearly in all countries. They stand in the way of any attempts to reform once it contradicts their benefits or does not favor their business. However, it is never an accepted excuse to free the government from fulfilling its duties and responsibilities towards people. Before being elected, any government should have a clear program and tactful strategies to attain those goals underlined in their program.

Unlike the previous Moroccan governments, the Islamist-led government is somehow doing well. But to bring significant improvements in living standards, reforming the decaying educational system, creating the thousands of jobs and affording housing to the homeless, it still has a long way in the future.

By Larbi Arbaoui

Morocco World News

Taroudant, Morocco, May 4, 2012

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