Year Seven began their year by taking a look at the beginnings of English literature. By studying the first ever text written in Old English, they were able to see etymological and literary connections that modern English has to the past, learning about the evolution of the English language, and gaining an understanding and appreciation of its varied influences.
That piece of literature was the epic poem Beowulf, the Viking tale put to manuscript around 1000 years ago by an unknown author in England. The tale tells of a noble warrior – the eponymous hero – who comes to the aid of a friend who once saved his father’s life, to fight a monster, the monster’s furious mum, and a similarly irritated dragon.
More specifically, they studied the features of Anglo-Saxon poetry, such as alliteration, kennings (two-word metaphors that were the precursors to modern-day compound nouns), and caesura (a split in a line of poetry that separates two stressed syllables on either side (the precursor to the modern comma and the sophisticated scansion of later poetry).
They then wrote poems in the Anglo-Saxon style, imagining themselves to be Vikings boasting about their own greatness, the greatness of their ancestors, and the future adventures they plan to embark upon. Their knowledge of Viking attitudes and life was further enhanced by their work in history with Mr Gale, who is currently teaching them about the Viking way of life.
The poems were a nice way to get to know more about the class and their families, while at the same time engendering a love and appreciation for language that we hope will grow over the coming years. It also encouraged discussions about loyalty, bravery, friendship and determination, which we hope will also be a part of their futures.
