1
A History of the English Language Webquest
Name:Date:
Access the following websites to answer the questions below.
1. Go to
Describe these tribes including where they came from and what part of England they occupied?
Jutes
Angles
Saxons
2. Go to and search “A Brief History of the English Language”
a. What four major dialects of Old English emerged and where?
b. According to this site, what portion of Modern English words has Old English roots?
c. In what year, do most scholars agree, did Old English end and what historical event coincided with its demise?
3. Go to
List and describe the significance of the following aspects of Anglo-Saxon life.
Religion-
Slavery-
Farming-
4. Go to
a. Read Deor a poem by a Scop, an Old English poet. Pick one stanza of the poem and translate it into your own words.
b. Then go to
Read the Modern English translation of the poem above. Comment on how successful your translation from Old English into Modern English was.
c. Go to
Click on any selection under “Readings from Beowulf” and listen to a part of the poem read in Old English. Comment on what Old English sounds like to you. Does it resemble any language you have ever heard? Are you surprised by how the written words are pronounced? Why or why not?
5. Go to
List the dates attributed to the following periods and at least three groups of people who influenced the language of each period.
Old English
Middle English
Modern English
6a. Go to
Scroll down to and read the paragraph entitled “1066 and after 1066…”
List three of the “enormous changes” that occurred in the English language in the centuries after the Norman Conquest.
b. Go back to and search “A Brief History of the English Language”
Scroll down to the section entitled “Early Modern English.” Explain what effect the printing press had on the English language. Describe the Great Vowel Shift.
c. Scroll down to and read “Late-Modern English.” Explain and describe in your own words the main difference between early-and late-modern English.
7a. Go to
Listen to a portion of the Prologue from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, and explain what the language sounds like to you. Does it resemble any language you have heard? Does it remind you of the Old English you listened to earlier or does it remind you more of Modern English? Explain your response.
b. Go to
Listen to this reading of Shakespeare’s 18th Sonnet which is an example of Modern English (you may have to share the computers with speakers). Explain how this is different than what we speak today and why.
8. Go to
Read the section entitled “Why are There Dialects” and explain in your own words three major influences on the variety and frequency of dialects in the United States. In your response include whether you believe dialects help to preserve and celebrate our multiculturalism or rather serve as a way to distance further and keep separate the many cultural groups in this country.
9. Finally, go to and Search the following words.
Review “A Chronology of the English Language.” List at least two works written and/or published during the following periods.
Old English (500-1100 AD)
Middle English (1100-1500)
Early Modern English (1500-1800)
Late-Modern English (1800-present)