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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
There must be something wrong with my AP English/British Lit. class. According to this class the first English language poet was Caedmon
Sorry, I am no scholar, so I am unable to help. However, from a purely lay point of view, for a teacher or reference work to say "the first English poet was ..." seems a bit ambitious. For the statement to have meaning, one must accept a definition of "English" and "poet" - and then prove that no one matched that description prior to the chosen individual. As it happens, my book attributes Cuckoo Song to that most prolific of authors - Anon.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
the first English language poet was Caedmon
I will stick my neck out here, fully expecting to have it chopped off at the collar, as I have no idea of who was Caedmon, nor whenor what he wrote. However, the name sounds typically British and a bit dark-age-ish. There is considerable debate among historians (well- there was, I haven't heard it recently) as to when the inhabitants of this cess-pitted isle became "English", but no-one dates it b4 1066, and I'm fairly sure no-one really believes it was as late as the 13th century, so it sounds to me (says he, ducking nervously) as though Caedmon was writing before "English" was a real thing.
The Cuckoo Song is, indeed, a classic which brings back fond memories of the school music-room, where we used to sing that lovely song.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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says he...
Hello, s'ayleur!
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
Ah-hah! Fast search ( http://www.alltheweb.com) did it for me - Winter is icumen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm !
Sing : Goddam.
- Ezra Pound, Ancient MusicShona appreciated the fact that the page I found this on - http://www.gardendigest.com/winter.htm- also contained an e.e.cummings quote: the snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Well, I knew it was Pound. That's why I didn't spoil it for the others *materternal glance @ Shona*. The original has been attributed to Chaucer, but you know how the Middle Ages were....
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
to say "the first English poet was ..." seems a bit ambitious
Well, it's straight from the history of the one and only Venerable Bede. He was supposedly the first to write in Old English.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
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Ezra Pound. I don't recall all the poem at the moment, but if I do, I'll be back.
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