The+English+Eras

= The English Eras =

The English of the Past.
The language of English began somewhere around 450 AD. Today, it has been categorized into 4 eras. Here's some basic info about them.
 * The Old English Era
 * The Middle English Era
 * The Early Modern English Era
 * The Late Modern English Era

=__The Old English Era __= The Old English Era began in 450 AD and ended in around 1,100 AD, lasting 650 years. This makes this the longest lasting era for the English language. The way Old English was written and spoken was very different than it is used today. The grammar and spelling used are almost completely unrecognizable. In fact, almost no one that uses Late Modern English, the English that is used today, would be able to read it. It used less letters than now and they are written in a different way. Approximately half of the words we use today are originally from Old English. Some examples of these words are //be//, //strong//, and //water//. A very old play called __Beowulf__ was written in the era of Old English. media type="youtube" key="hkaPNlOz0N4" height="314" width="420" align="right" "Lo, we have heard of Spear-Danes in days of yore, of folk-kings' prowness, how the princes wrought deeds of valor.

Often Scyld Scefing wrested mead-benches from bands of enemies from many tribes -- terrified earls -- since first he was found abandoned. (He received consolation for that.) He grew under the heavens, thrived with honors until all peoples across the sea had to obey: pay him tribute. That was a good king!

Then a child was born to him, a young man in the court; God sent him to the people for solace. He perceived the dire distress which they suffered before, lordless for a long time. For that the Lord of Light, the Wielder of Glory, gave him worldly honor. Beowulf was renowned; the fame of Scyld's son spread far in Danish lands. Thus should a young man accomplish good with splendid money-gifts while in his father's bosom, so that afterwards men stand by him, dear companions to serve the people when war comes. In all nations, a man is sure to prosper by praiseworthy deeds."

=__The Middle English Era __= The Middle English era began in 1,066 AD and ended in 1,500 AD. 1,066 AD was when William the Conqueror invaded and conquered England. The Normans brought an unknown dialect of French, and it became the official language of the upper class people such as the Royal Court. Beginning in the fourteenth century, Old English was dominating again, but many French-based words were added to its vocabulary. Even with these great additions to the English language, this was still written and spoken in a way that Modern English speakers would find hard to understand. One story that was written in Middle English was the __Canterbury Tales__. The __Canterbury Tales__ are a set of tales that are told as a story-telling contest by the pilgrims who were traveling from Southwark to the Saint Thomas Bucket. The picture, translation quote, and video below are from the beginning of the story. media type="youtube" key="QE0MtENfOMU" height="315" width="420" align="right" "When April with his showers sweet with fruit, the drought of March has pierced unto the root and bathed each vein with liquor that has power to generate therein and sire the flower; When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, quickened again, in every holt and heath, the tender shoots and buds, and the young sun into the Ram one half his course has run, and many little bird make melody that sleep though all the night with open eye (so Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)- then do folk long to go on pilgrimage, and palmers to go seeking out strange lands. And specially from every shire's end of England they to Canterbury wend, the holy blessed martyr there to seek who helped them when they so ill and weak."

=__<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 170%; line-height: 33px;">The Early Modern English Era __= <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Early Modern English era began in 1,500 AD and ended in 1,800 AD. For the most part, what started this era was the Great Vowel Shift. This was when the pronunciations of words changed drastically and vowels were beginning to be pronounced shorter. Also, the Renaissance of Classical Learning contributed to many new words and phrases that were added to the English language at the time. Starting with this era, Britain became in contact with many other countries from around the world. People were now able to learn how to read easier and books became cheaper. The first English dictionary was published in 1,604 AD. A very famous poet and playwright named William Shakespeare was a huge influence on both of the Modern English Eras. Below is __Hamlet__, one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays. media type="youtube" key="-JD6gOrARk4" height="315" width="420" align="right" <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The question for him was whether to continue to exist or not – whether it was <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">more noble to suffer the slings and arrows of an unbearable situation, or to declare war on the sea of troubles that afflict one, and by opposing them, end them. To die. He pondered the prospect. To sleep – as simple as that. And with that sleep we end the heartaches and the thousand natural miseries that human beings have to endure. It’s an end that we would all ardently hope for. To die. To sleep. To sleep. Perhaps to dream. Yes, that was the problem, because in that sleep of death the dreams we might have when we have shed this mortal body must make us pause. That’s the consideration that creates the calamity of such a long life. Because, who would tolerate the whips and scorns of time; the tyrant’s offences against us; the contempt of proud men; the pain of rejected love; the insolence of officious authority; and the advantage that the worst people take of the best, when one could just release oneself with a naked blade? Who would carry this load, sweating and grunting under the burden of a weary life if it weren’t for the dread of the after life – that unexplored country from whose border no traveler returns? That’s the thing that confounds us and makes us put up with those evils that we know rather than hurry to others that we don’t know about. So thinking about it makes cowards of us all, and it follows that the first impulse to end our life is obscured by reflecting on it. And great and important plans are diluted to the point where we don’t do anything.

=__<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 170%; line-height: 33px;">The Late Modern English Era __= <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Today, we are in the Late Modern English Era, which began in 1800 AD. The main difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is the vocabulary. Like the Early Modern English era, many new words have been added and changed these past couple centuries. This was because of new technology and the rise of the British Empire. Another cause of the many new changes was the Industrial Revolution. This was when social, economic, and cultural changes were made all around the world. This lasted for 100 years from 1750 to 1850. One very famous author from earlier in this era was Charles Dickens. He wrote __A Tale of Two Cities__, which has sold over 200 million copies around the world. media type="youtube" key="phDAX_3Qw5I" height="315" width="560" align="right"

=__<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 170%;">My Overall Evaluation __= <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">When I was looking at the picture of an excerpt from Beowulf, it was almost impossible to read because the letters and spelling were written in a completely different style. It really shows how much the language has changed. I think that the era before our time that was more effortless to read Early Modern English because the way it was written is a lot like today and it is more neat. I just find it strange that the pronunciations of words changed so suddenly instead of gradually. Also, I never knew that the first English dictionary was published so long ago. I would like to know how the English dictionary was organized back then and how many pages it was. I think the greatest change had to be between Old English and Middle English because Middle English had many of the words that we use today. Although they are said very differently, it was a lot easier to understand. All in all, I think it is very interesting that the English language has been modified and changed many times. It really has come a long way since then.

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