Layamon's Brut (eBook)

Layamon, a notable figure in early English literature, was a priest and poet active at the turn of the 13th century, whose work crucially bridges the gap between Old English and Middle English literary traditions. Virtually all that is known of Layamon's life comes from his seminal work, 'Layamon's Brut,' also known as 'The Chronicle of Britain.' This significant poem, written in a transitional form of English that mingles Old English and early Middle English features, retells the legendary history of Britain, stitching folklore, history, and myth. 'Layamon's Brut,' composed in over 16,000 lines of alliterative verse sometime between 1190 and 1225, draws extensively from Wace's 'Roman de Brut,' a work itself heavily influenced by Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae.' Layamon expands on Wace's text with additional detail and episodes from Celtic folklore, demonstrating his innovative narrative techniques and his distinctive literary style characterized by a strong sense of rhythm and a rich use of language and imagery. His ambitious attempt to reassert native folklore and his blend of vernacular language are marked as pivotal in the development of English literature. Notwithstanding the obscurity that shadows his life, Layamon's contributions resonate deeply in the historical tapestry of narrative and poetic tradition in England (Allen, 1892; Barron 1992; Matthews, 1991).