This journey to the heart of Old English takes the reader back over fifteen centuries to Anglo-Saxon times, and the language used then. It uses only original and primary materials to teach the earliest known historical form of the English language as it was spoken by the Anglo-Saxon settlers and their descendants.

Complete Old English draws on extracts from canonical texts such as Beowulf and the earliest version of the Lord's prayer to teach the language in a way that assumes no prior knowledge on the part of the student. It introduces each new grammatical point systematically and thoroughly, ensuring complete understanding before progressing to the next stage and with emphasis on a deeper understanding. Throughout the book, grammar is explained and reinforced with a wide range of readings and exercises, including translation practice.

This course enables readers to understand Old English literature, manuscripts and historical documents in their original form, removing the barrier of translation and allowing a deeper understanding of the culture, religion and society of the time. From the earliest point, the reading material is taken from primary sources, avoiding 'made up' phrases or reading exercises and helping the reader gain confidence in their ability to read the language. With full audio support, and further insights into Anglo Saxon history, this is an ideal language course for anyone interested in the writings of this formative age, offering an enhanced appreciation of their significance.

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You will be able to access this enhanced ebook online, or download it to the Teach Yourself Library app. Please note you will not be able to save the files to your computer.