English literature

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/english-literature

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote English literature?Geoffrey Chaucer, author of 'The Canterbury Tales'
2. What is the origin of english language?Developed from Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain in the 5th century
3. What is the key old english work?'Beowulf', an epic poem
4. Why did English change after 1066?After the Norman Conquest, French became the language of the rulers, so English mixed with French and became Middle English.
5. How did the printing press help English literature?The printing press made books easier to copy, so more people could read and the spelling and grammar of English became more similar.

Anglo-Saxon Settlers: Germanic tribes who migrated to Britain starting in the 5th century, influencing the English language.
Norman Conquest: The invasion and occupation of England by Norman forces in 1066, significantly altering the English language and culture.
Great Vowel Shift: A major historical change in the pronunciation of English vowels that occurred between the 15th and 18th centuries.
Vernacular Literature: Literary works written in the common language of a particular region or country, rather than a formal or foreign language.