The Old English Language by Rebecca Greenberg

Currently in our Honors English we have just received the novel, Beowulf, which  is an Epic that takes place in the European mainland among two tribes, the Danes, and the Geats. An Epic is a long narrative poem that celebrates a hero's deed. What makes this novel so unique, is the fact that it is written in Old English, which seems like a completely new language to modern day English. As the students continue to read this novel, they may become frustrated with this odd vernacular however as one looks past this, the reader will understand how Beowulf is arguably the greatest achievement of Old English literature. Old English is the name given to the earliest recorded stage of the English language, up to approximately 1150 AD, which is when the Middle English period is generally began. It refers to the language as it was used in the long period of time from the coming of Germanic invaders and settlers to Britain—in the period following the collapse of Roman Britain—up to the Norman Conquest of 1066, and beyond into the first century of Norman rule in England. It is thus first and foremost the language of the people normally referred to by historians as the Anglo-Saxons. As we become accustomed to this language we will understand the values that pertain to us today, and why this story was passed down through generations upon generations. 




Try and decipher the following words that are in Old English! ( answers will be posted at the end of the blog. See how many you can get right!) 

• pannikan 
• soothsayer 
• Thwart 
• aglæca, 
• betweonan

Below, is an attached link that,  is the Prologue of Beowulf read in Old English 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K13GJkGvDw

Answers 

•  small pan
• someone who makes predictions
• hinder or prevent
• monster
•  between