Revisiting Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Anglo-Saxon literature covers literary writings in Old English, or from c.650 to c.1100. This is the 600-year period of Britain from the mid-5th century to the Norman Conquest of 1066, and works in this period include genres such as epic poetry, sermons, Bible translations, chronicles, and riddles. About 400 manuscripts from the Anglo-Saxon time still exist today.

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There are generally two types of Old English poetry: the heroic (sourced from pre-Christian Germanic myth, history, and custom) and the Christian. Almost all Old English poetry is preserved in a mere four manuscripts – namely the Exeter Book, the Junius Manuscript, the Vercelli Book, and the Beowulf manuscript – but much of it is deemed of high literary value and quality. Old English heroic poetry, for instance, is the earliest extant in Germanic literature, serving as the closest one can come to the oral pagan literature of Germanic culture.

Beowulf, likely produced between 700 and 750, is the oldest surviving Germanic epic as well as the longest Old English poem. Other great examples of Old English poetry are The Wanderer, The Seafarer, The Battle of Maldon, and The Dream of the Rood. Two popular poets from this period are Caedmon, deemed the first Old English Christian poet, and Cynewulf.

Old English poetry’s verse form is an alliterative line of four stressed syllables and an unfixed number of unstressed syllables interrupted by a caesura and arranged in one of different patterns. The lines are end-stopped and unrhymed, and the whole form lends itself to narrative, or the absence of lyric poetry in Old English.

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John Eilermann from St. Louis, Missouri is a student of comparative literature. It is his goal to develop an understanding of literary compositions regardless of boundaries such as language, culture, and tradition. Learn more about English literature on this

Biblical Allusions Within C. S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe”

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An allusion is a literary device wherein an author pertains to a particular subject indirectly or without explicitly mentioning it. Allusions are often used in poetry alongside metaphors. However, spotting particularly themed allusions can be difficult when discussing prose. To further explain this idea, let’s look at Biblical allusions used by C. S. Lewis in his novel “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

Midway through the narrative, Edmund betrays his siblings and joins forces with the White Witch. This is an allusion to Judas and his betrayal of Jesus with the White Witch pertaining to Satan. The White Witch’s lair is also a stark contrast to hell as it is cold, ice-filled, and yet equally filled with minions and trapped souls.

The theme of resurrection is also apparent when Aslan sacrifices himself to the White Witch, just as Jesus did in return for mankind’s redemption. In the scene, Aslan is humiliated, his mane cut away just as Jesus was stripped of his clothes when he was burdened with the cross.

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Lastly, the dangers of the sin of gluttony appear early in the narrative when Edmund gobbles the Turkish Delights as he begins his service to the White Witch. He also does this after leaving her. This may also be symbolic of the sin of consumption committed by Adam and Eve.

Hi there! My name is John Eilermann, and I’m from St. Louis, Missouri. I’m currently working on getting a degree in comparative literature. It is my goal to develop an understanding of literary compositions regardless of boundaries such as language, culture, and tradition. For more fascinating reads on literature, visit this blog.

The Mysterious Effect Of Bradbury’s 'Fahrenheit 451'

Ray Bradbury is an icon, not just in the sci-fi community, but in world literature in general.  His novels and other literary works have gone on to sell millions upon millions of copies, have been studied in universities everywhere, and have continued to capture the hearts and minds of readers everywhere.

Some lit experts say that his crowning achievement is the novel “Fahrenheit 451.”  The message it sends to people – that people without an education can be convinced to “think” – is central to the appeal of the novel.

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“Fahrenheit 451” is not a long novel, but it gets what it wants to say across to readers quite strongly.  While lit majors have noticed the influence of George Orwell’s “1984” on it, the same people admit the book can stand on its own quite capably.  The setting is an extreme dystopian universe where books are burned, and people are coerced away from thinking for themselves.

Though this reality seems far from the one we live in, there is a strong connection between the message and people today.  In Bradbury’s book, without spoiling it for anyone, it shows how a world, which is dangerously close to eradicating individualistic thought, can be changed by a small group of people who believe strongly enough that they can help everyone else think.

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If you think about that premise through and through and take a few minutes to go on social media or any online forum, you’ll gradually see how “Fahrenheit 451” figures into all of it.

Hello! My name is John Eilermann from St. Louis, Missouri. I’m currently in college pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. Learn more about my passion for lit by visiting this page.

A Quick Dive Into Nick Hornby’s Works

English novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and lyricist Nick Hornby has produced a number of memorable works, foremost of which are his novels “High Fidelity” and “About a Boy” and screenplays for films “An Education” and “Brooklyn.” Here’s a quick look at the writer born in Surrey, England, in April 1957 and who attended Cambridge University.

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Hornby’s fiction is known to be a thorough navigation of male crises, weaknesses, and even obsessions. His 1998 novel “About a Boy” zeroes in on the growing relationship between a 30-something man and a 12-year-old boy, while “How to Be Good” is an exploration of marriage, parenthood, and contemporary morals that affect these two central themes. His early works are marked by 30-something male characters who struggle with emotional maturity and move about with uncertainty in their careers and personal lives. 

It’s interesting to note that his characters are often semi-autobiographical, and sans harsh judgment or condemnation of the careless decisions they often make. His later novels such as “Juliet, Naked” in 2009 and “Funny Girl” in 2014, however, offer more insight into female characters while they continue to highlight men’s search of strong emotional connections. 

Hornby’s empathy for these celebrated characters (which mostly enjoy both critical acclaim and public popularity) extends to what he does in his personal life. When not writing, he is involved in the London organization TreeHouse School for children with autism, which he helped establish in support of his eldest son, as well as a writing mentoring program for the youth. 

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John Eilermann from St. Louis, Missouri, is currently in college pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. Growing up, he read books by Nick Hornby, Roald Dahl, C.S Lewis, and many others. Read more articles like this here.

Getting To Know The Quirks Of P.G. Wodehouse’s Imaginings

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Sir Pelham Granville Wodehouse, otherwise known as P.G. Wodehouse is an esteemed author and creator of the fictional valet, Reginald Jeeves. Wodehouse is popular for his quirky humor and his seemingly endless wit when it comes to his writings. His unparalleled innovation in creating the most memorable characters have earned him praise throughout the years.

Take for instance his recurring characters Friday, Jeeves, and Bertie Wooster, all of whom are infused with their own flavorful wackiness that offer a fresh perspective on English society during the turn of the century.

Another group of Wodehouse’s beloved characters reside in and around Blandings Castle. Lord Emsworth, his family and guests, and the Empress of Blandings are all there to tickle your funny bone.

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Among Wodehouse’s plays, his most memorable one would probably be wildly entertaining story of young love and mistaken identity, “Anything Goes.” Wodehouse collaborated with Guy Bolton, a fellow writer, and Cole Porter, a well-known composer, who later on helped Wodehouse turn the play into a Broadway production. “Anything Goes” was a hit both critically and publicly, and was the first time people actually discovered Wodehouse’s talent for music, as he co-wrote some of the songs with Porter.

Today, many of Wodehouse’s stories are still read and studied, and many of his plays are still being adopted. Such is the testament to a rare talent.

Hello! My name is John Eilermann from St. Louis, Missouri, and I’m currently in college pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. For more on my passions, check out this blog.

The Enigmatic Legacy Of The Greatest Mystery Novelists

Everyone loves a good mystery. A lot of suspense thrillers that come out in cinemas nowadays have nail-biting mysteries at their core. However, mysteries have been around way before Hollywood started making these films. In fact, the greatest mystery writers of modern times were around longer than we care to think. Let’s take a look at some of the most influential mystery novel pioneers. 

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Edgar Allan Poe 

A master at both mystery and the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe has been one of the most influential writers the world has ever known. You’d be hard-pressed to find a mystery or horror novelist today who doesn’t credit Poe as one of his inspirations. Playwrights and filmmakers have never stopped coming up with adaptations of Poe’s works. He even has a number of awards given out today in his name. 

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the well-renowned author of the “Sherlock Holmes” series. However, his roots at and contributions to the genre go well beyond Britain’s most famous detective. Doyle’s details were so immersive that his readers felt they themselves were solving mysteries alongside Holmes and Watson. That is not an easy thing for a writer to do. 

Agatha Christie

With the exception of Shakespeare, no other author has sold more books than Agatha Christie. She is one of the first mystery authors known to effectively use plot twists and red herrings to leave readers’ mouths agape. Christie’s works will leave you suspecting everyone and everything.

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Hello! My name is John Eilermann from St. Louis, Missouri, and I’m currently in college pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. It offers me an abundance of opportunities once I graduate and is also one of my passions. For more on literature, check out this website.