THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

In Middle Age, most of European countries was managed with feudal system. The feudal system is based on hierarchy. The system works like that:

    It was all about land ownership. The King gave land to the nobles, who gave it to their knights who gave it to the peasants. The peasants did the work, payed taxes and served in the armies of the knights and nobles. The knights were loyal to their Lords and supported them in their wars. All served the king!
Place in society was determined by birth and heritage. And the church confirmed this was a God-given system!

    By time, lords and barons became so powerful and signed The Magna Carta with King in 13^th century.

    But nothing lasts forever! After so many big problems (like The Black Death, The Peasants Revolt, land based economy to money based  economy) feudalism declined.
      

  

           

                                                      BUKET SINMAZ

Nascence of Old English

    

    In this week’s class, Old English Literature kindle my interest. I wonder the nascence of Old English and the details about language. After searching I gathered some significant information. 

   Ø The Celts and the early Anglo-Saxons used an alphabet of runes, angular characters originally developed for scratching onto wood or stone. The first known written English sentence, which reads "This she-wolf is a reward to my kinsman", is an Anglo-Saxon runic inscription on a gold medallion found in Suffolk, and has been dated to about 450-480 AD. The early Christian missionaries introduced the more rounded Roman alphabet (much as we use today), which was easier to read and more suited for writing on vellum or parchment. The Anglo-Saxons quite rapidly adopted the new Roman alphabet, but with the addition of letters such as   ("wynn"), ş (“thorn”), ğ (“edh” or “eth”) and 3 (“yogh”) from the old runic alphabet for certain sounds not used in Latin.   later became "uu" and, still later, "w"; ş and ğ were used more or less interchangeably to represent the sounds now spelled with “th”; and 3 was used for "y", "j" or "g" sounds. In addition, the diphthong æ (“ash”) was also used; "v" was usually written with an "f"; and the letters "q", "x" and "z" were rarely used at all. 

   Ø Old English literature, or Anglo-Saxon literature, encompasses the surviving literature written in Old English in Anglo-Saxon England, in the period after the settlement of the Saxons and other Germanic tribes in England (Jutes and the Angles) c. 450, after the withdrawal of the Romans, and "ending soon after the Norman Conquest" in 1066. These works include genres such as epic poetry, hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, legal works, chronicles and riddles. In all there are about 400 surviving manuscripts from the period.

   Ø Oral tradition was very strong in early English culture and most literary works were written to be performed. Epic poems were very popular, and some, including Beowulf, have survived to the present day. Beowulf is the most famous work in Old English, and has achieved national epic status in England, despite being set in Scandinavia. The only surviving manuscript is the Nowell Codex, the precise date of which is debated, but most estimates place it close to the year 1000. Beowulf is the conventional title, and its composition is dated between the 8th and the early 11th century.

* I took the information from:

-http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_old.html

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_literature

60th Wedding Anniversary

        Today is a special day. An excitement surrounded me. I took a deep breath and got ready specially. I brush my hair neatly. Because you like my hair like that. Sorry for getting deepen wrinkles. They are so fast, I couldn’t stop time. Never mind me. Look, I bought your favorite wine. And I made the food that you like as usual. Even I wore the shirt that you buy. Once you said that it looks good on me so just wear on special days. You still remember, right? There isn’t a better time than today.

        Today is our 60^th wedding anniversary. Let’s drink to our precious times. When we laughed and cried together. When we leaned on each other. When we lighted our ways like a candle. Time was flowing faster when we were together but nowadays I feel like it has stopped. Sigh... I’m looking at the clock every half hour. Every passing day taking away pieces from my memory. Even if I don’t want let it go. Only I am talking. Now your turn. How are you nowadays? Do you miss me? I’m missing you so much. How about you? Are you keeping your promise? I know, I know, you do.

      Let’s cheers to us!

    

Literature

WHAT LITERATURE MEANS TO ME?

          Basically, Literature is expressing notions, events and sentiments in an esthetic way. For centuries, numerous writer grinded out their works with ornate love words, harsh critical sentences, deep vague meanings etc. Why did they do that? Why hundreds of writer write thousands of novel, poem, theater play, movie and other type of work? And it’s still resuming. But why?

          Because they want to express themselves to the world.They share emotions with us. Emotions are not only benefit of literature, we also learn how to judge, history and culture of the era.

          The words that writer grinded out, waking up some feelings inside the reader. While reading a book, I imagination all the scenes and places in my mind. Maybe after 10 pages, I don’t read the book anymore, I watch it in my mind. That’s why after finishing the book, I don’t remember the pages or writing style of the book, I just remember the events in it. In tragic parts, I cry so hard. Basically I share the main characters feeling and thoughts.

          Not today’s works, but especially historical works gives a lot of information about incidents in that time. We also have fun while learning these. We don’t need to read an extra history book for it.

         Culture is also one of the biggest benefits in my aspect. Every country, every nation has their own culture. And litterateurs one way or another add cultural pieces in their works. We can learn many things from literary works.

         Meaning Literature is not only emotions but also history and culture to me. I can’t imagine a work without these items. Also they become one in works so we can’t judge the writer or characters in that time. Every book, every poem add a lot of thing to me. I care Literature because it makes my reading time more enjoyable and meaningful. 

                                                                                                                    Buket SINMAZ