This is a simple introduction to Old English for students with little or no linguistic knowledge. Unlike other textbooks on the subject, Beginning Old English focuses on the explanation and illustration of how the language works, using accessible illustrations from simplified Old English texts and demonstrating how many feature of present-day English have their roots in this stage of the language. It also includes long extracts from popular Old English works for use in the classroom.
From Library Journal This three-volume work is a clever and serviceable repackaging of the eight-volume Critical Survey of Long Fiction, second revised edition (LJ 10/1/00). Rollyson, who also supervised the Critical Survey, offers 104 up-to-date essays, primarily by U.S. scholars, maintaining the same thorough analysis and consistent tone as the original. Each essay lists the principal works by the author and describes his or her achievements and biography, analyzing the overall body of work and each novel individually. The updated annotated bibliography at the end of each essay provides excellent sources for further research, and over half the essays include a photo or drawing of the author. The writers, a few of whom were born in Ireland but have close associations to Great Britain, were chosen because their works are often studied in high school and college. A wide range of styles and genres, notably gothic, mystery, and sf, are represented. A nine-page glossary of terms and techniques and a time line, which begins in the early 15th century, ends in 1950, and notes each author's date and place of birth, precedes an index consisting mainly of author and title references. The volumes seem well bound, but the type is smaller and the paper thinner than in the original series. A complete list of contents appears at the beginning of each volume, making the set easy to browse. The compact size and focus on one country of origin will appeal to less sophisticated scholars. Highly recommended for small public and college libraries.
This concise companion provides a succinct introduction to Chaucer's major works, the contexts in which he wrote, and to medieval thought more generally. * Opens with a general introductory section discussing London life and politics, books and authority, manuscripts and readers. * Subsequent sections focus on Chaucer's major works - the dream visions, Troilus and Criseyde and The Canterbury Tales. * Essays highlight the key religious, political and intellectual contexts for each major work. * Also covers important general topics, including: medieval literary genres; dream theory; the Church; gender and sexuality; and reading Chaucer aloud. * Designed so that each contextual essay can be read alongside one of Chaucer's major works.
With brevity, depth, and accessibility, this book helps readers to appreciate the works of John Milton, and to understand the great influence they have had on literature and other disciplines.
* Presents new and authoritative essays by internationally respected Milton scholars. * Explains how and why Milton's works established their central place in the English literary canon. * Structured chronologically around Milton's major works. * Also includes a select bibliography and a chronology detailing Milton's life and works alongside relevant world events.
The history of European drama began at the festivals of Dionysus in ancient Athens, where tragedy, satyr-drama and comedy were performed. Understanding this background is vital for students of classical, literary and theatrical subjects, and Alan H. Sommerstein's accessible study is the ideal introduction. The book begins by looking at the social and theatrical contexts and different characteristics of the three genres of ancient Greek drama. It then examines the five main dramatists whose works survive - Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes and Menander - discussing their styles, techniques and ideas, and giving short synopses of all their extant plays.
