A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance
CHAPTER III.
THE NATIONAL POETRY OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS.
I. The Poetry of the North.--The Germanic period of English literature--Its characteristics--Anglo-Saxon poetry stands apart and does not submit to Celtic influence--Comparison with Scandinavian literature--The Eddas and Sagas; the "Corpus Poeticum Boreale"--The heroes; their tragical adventures--Their temper and sorrows 36
II. Anglo-Saxon Poems.--War-songs--Epic tales--Waldhere, Beowulf--Analysis of "Beowulf"--The ideal of happiness in "Beowulf"--Landscapes--Sad meditations--The idea of death--Northern snows 45