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OE: Þæs ofereode,þisses swa mæg! Idiomatic translation: This too shall pass!

Deor’s Lament (Exeter manuscript) My favorite OE quote...

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How English has changed in the past 1000 years.

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strawberry

strawberry–a low, ground hugging plant with a sweet red fruit.

Word origin:  The word seems to be of Germanic origin although in modern German a strawberry is an Erdbeer or earth berry.  The English “strawberry” probably comes from Old English strew, meaning “that which is scattered or strewn,” as the ripe berries appear “strewn” over the ground.

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shoes and boots

shoe, from the Old English scoh, via the Proto-Germanic skokhaz. The plural form shoon lasted until Modern English (16c.).

boot (14c.), from the Old French bote, originally only used for riding boots.

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cross

cross (10c), from the Old English cros, via the Old Irish cros, via the Latin crux. The word replaced the Old English rood, a pole or cross. 

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April

April, from the Old French avril, meaning “(month of) Venus.” In the 13th Century, it replaced the Old English Eastermonað, the month of the fertility goddess. 

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From Maxims I

Friday, March 13, 2015

Bliþe sceal bealoleas heorte.

The innocent heart must be happy.

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þrym sceal mid wlenco, þriste mid cenum, sceolun bu recene beadwe fremman.

Glory must be with pride, the bold with the brave, both must go to battle together.

Maxims I, Sunday, April 5th, 2015

(via oldenglisheveryday)

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Oh boy! I didn't realize this blog has so many notes!

I promise to post more soon!

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What/Who made you guys love Old English?

I began to be interested in Old English when I was taking a Middle English class my sophomore year of college. I'm now a junior, and I took Old English last semester. The same professor taught the class, and I love everything about his teaching.

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Me translating Beowulf. With the help of a few different translations. After I do this, I'm going to the OED to look at etymology. Woo hoo!

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I have to present part of Beowulf to the class

...along with my translation. Lines 901-1050. I'll post a pic of my work so far. Soon!

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The Battle of Maldon

I studied this poem shortly last semester in my Old English class. It's about the Battle of Maldon (991 AD), in which Earl Byrhtnoth and his army were defeated by the Vikings. As stated on www.battleofmaldon.org.uk, "There was a heroic stand by the Anglo-Saxons against the Viking invasion which ended in utter defeat for Brithnoth and his men. The battle's progress is related in a famous Anglo-Saxon poem, only part of which survives." Interestingly, the poem focuses more on the losing side, rather than the victors. Although the Anglo-Saxons are losing the fight, it emphasizes the leader's relentlessness and vigor. 

It's a wonderful poem. Did I mention that I love Old English? *swoon*

P.S. Byrhtnoth/Brithnoth are just different spellings of one man's name. 

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"Hiġe sceal þē heardra, heorte þē cēnre, mōd sceal þē māre þē ūre mæġen lȳtlað." English Translation - "Mind must be harder, spirit must be bolder, And heart therefore greater, as our might diminishes."

Byrhtwold - The Battle of Maldon (via justgetdancyy)

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I really like kennings.

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…ðonne sorg ond slæp somod ætgædre earmne ānhogan oft ġebindað, þinceð him on mōde þæt hē his mondryhten clyppe and cysse ond on cnēo lecge honda ond hēafod, swā hē hwīlum ær in ġeārdagum ġiefstōlas brēac. Ðonne onwæcneð eft winelēas guma, ġesihð him biforan fealwe wēgas, baþian brimfuglas, brædan feþra, hrēosan hrīm ond snāw, hagle ġemenġed. Þonne bēoð þy hefiġran heortan benne, sāre æfter swæsne.

the Old English elegy “The Wanderer”

(“…when sorrow and sleep together bind the poor dweller-alone, it will seem to him in his mind that he is embracing and kissing his liege lord and laying his hands and his head on his knee, as it some times was in the old days when he took part in the gift-giving. Then he wakens again, the man with no lord, sees the yellow waves before him, the sea-birds bathe, spread their feathers, frost and snow fall, mingled with hail. Then the wounds are deeper in his heart, sore for want of his dear one.”)