A Critical History of English Literature

The story of English literature begins with the Germanic tradition of the Anglo Saxon settlers. Beowulf stands at its head. This epic poem of the 8th century is in Anglo Saxon now more usually described as Old English. It is incomprehensible to a reader familiar only with modern English. Even so there is a continuous linguistic development between the two. The most significant turning point from about 1100 is the development of Middle English differing from Old English in the addition of a French vocabulary after the Norman conquest. French and Germanic influences subsequently complete for the mainstream role in English literature.