Poetry and Storytelling

Storytelling: an ancient art form and a valuable form of human expression

Storytelling, intertwined with the development of mythologies and folklore, predates writing. The earliest forms of storytelling were usually oral, combined with gestures and expressions. Some archaeologists believe that rock art may have served as a form of storytelling in some ancient cultures.

When it is done well, storytelling involves a two-way interaction between the storyteller and the listeners, where the responses of the listeners may influence the way in which the story is told. Some storytellers use body movement extensively to help to convey the meaning of the words and to increase its dramatic impact.

An extract from The Battle of Maldon – an Old English poem

The oldest poems are the epic poems derived from the oral traditions of ancient civilisations.The word epic comes from the Greek for word, poem or story.

Beowulf is one of the the oldest and longest Old English poems and dates from around 700-750 although the earliest known English poem is a hymn on the creation, attributed by Bede to Cædmon (658–680).

The Battle of Maldon is an important Old English heroic poem describing a skirmish between the East Saxons and the Viking raiders in 991. It is incomplete now, having lost both the beginning and end sections. However, the poem is regarded as important by historians as it gives an insight into the culture of Anglo-Saxon England.