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

The expenssive ticket back home

It is vacation time. Everybody is rushing to the bus station to secure their tickets to their homeland. An unusual activity is observed in the bus station and taxi stands. Passengers with their heavy bags wearing jubilant smiles are bidding farewell to their friends and to shop keepers.  You can notice from a distance that they are very enthusiastic to leave, soon to meet their families and beloved ones. Yet  they are very concerned and worried about the long miles they have to take, too. For some people long distance is never a source of discomfort, but the poor state of many buses and taxis (plus to the crazy speed they run and repulsive treatments of those in charge of them) are, indeed, something that brings concern.

Having not been to my hometown for so long, my heart grew fonder and my desire to see my family and home-folk got even worse. Yet, I had to wait at least three days after the beginning of vacation. Everyone who has traveled by bus during the first days of holiday may be cognizant of the reasons behind my delay.

Traveling mostly by public means during the early and last days of vacation can be a risky experience. In addition to the incredible speed they run, buses, taxis and transits surfeit the number of seats they are allowed to carry, and many deadly accidents result therefrom. During these periods, all the means of transportation don’t respect the prices that are established by and maintained by the government.  Worse, they fleece passengers and make them pay out the wazoo for their tickets, even paying all the way to the final station of the bus regardless of where they want to stop. All these intentionally contemptuous practices and defiance of the law I have eye-witnessed and were usually done before the authorities.

Passengers who may be considered lucky to secure a ticket in those hard times are not always to be begrudged. They are subject to offensive language and repulsive behaviors and treatments. Most of the times buses drive non-stop, and passengers are not given any rest along the exhausting and extended distance. The luggage safety is the last thing for which you may rest assured. Being careless may cost one his/her bags.

Snatchers are generally more lively active during these busy days. Snatchers are not legally allowed to pick up passengers, but since authorities turn a blind eye, they never hesitate to give rides to passengers who are ready to pay incredible sums. These casual opportunists take advantage of the occasional and temporary periods where there is a shortage of approved means of transports and of local people’s desperation. They carry passengers with next to no measures of security for the passenger.

At the absence of a clear insight and a wise strategy on the part of the government to find a solution to this seasonal crisis, people will remain at the mercy of those self-seekers that are looking to take advantage of the chaos in this time.  But whatever it may be like in getting there, seeing your home appear on the horizon feels like no other thing on this Earth.

By Larbi Arbaoui

Morocco World News

Taroudant, Morocco, April 13, 2012

The Shackled Continent

The Shackled continent by R. Guest

The Shackled Continent: Power, Corruption, and African Lives, by Robert Guest - former Africa editor for the Economist – is an exhaustive and lively book that tries to explain the reasons behind Africa’s poverty . It accounts for the hard economic situation in African and how to make it better « Africa- is in a bad way and this book is my attempt to explain why. » R. Guest. The author makes it clear from the beginning of the book that he means by Africa the sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the Arab countries of north Africa. Africa is a mineral rich continent, with tourist potential and a fertile ground advantageous for  agricultural. However, it is growing poorer. Guest notes that so many factors are the stumbling block to the development of African nation ; such as geography, slavery , the remnant of colonialism, AIDS and bad government to name but few.

Most of the African countries are tropical. Such weather is convenient for many deadly diseases to flourish “Africa has the worst of them: Malaria, Yellow Fever, rare but deadly viruses such as Ebola, and a host of energy sapping parasites”.

Another factor to blame for Africa’s misfortune is slavery. Although Guest doesn’t consider slavery a serious element contributing to Africa’s poverty for the reason that « the Trans Atlantic slave trade ended in the 19th Century,” so that can hardly explain 21 st Century problems, but , in fact, it has tremendous negative aspects on the history of most of African countries.

Guest admits that it is « easy to find colonial roots for modern problems ». South Africa ; for instance, was one of the first African countries to gain independence ; however, it remained under the control of a  white minority through a biased unfair system of racial segregation known as apartheid until 1994. Practically, African countries have gained their independence, but the colonialists have left most countries under ethnic conflicts and disputes over borders that are intently left ambiguous with neighbouring countries. Guest claims that the colonialists « left deep scars. » but he adds «  they also left behind some helpful things such as roads, clinics and laws. »  despite all these problems handed down from the colonialists, Guest still doesn’t consider all these unfortunate defects excuses for the modern problems believing that « If colonialism was what held Africa back, you would expect the continent to have boomed when the settlers left. »

AIDS in Africa is the most threatening disease ; regardless, of all the advances achieved in modern medicine. Guest points out that not only do soldiers and migration help the virus to cross borders, but prostitution, witchcraft, and some cultural beliefs worsen the problem «  some young African women believe that without regular infusions of sperm, they will not grow up to be beautiful » these myths must be « rebutted » he adds.

Guest , with powerful arguments and an exceptional lively style , is able to convince the reader that the misery of Africa is caused by African themselves. To solidify his statements, he quotes from The great African Novelist, Chinua Achebe: “ The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, of the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership. » In fact, all the external factors mentioned so far can be successfully overcome if the people in power were not corrupt. African countries would have progressed, he added, if their leaders believed in democracy and engaged seriously in promising projects.

Finally, Robert Guest ,through his amazing book , has shed light on the major problems hindering Africa’s improvement. He clearly believes that African countries can improve. It is through access to primary education, reducing bureaucracy, privatisation and fundamentally embracing the free market that these countries will prosper. 

Larbi Arbaoui

Tuesday February 7, 2012

http://www.northafricaunited.com/Africa-the-shackled-continent_a737.html