Back during the first semester of my senior year of high school (Autumn of 2000), I undertook a great project under the supervision of my great teacher Mr. Lash. This project was the history of the English language, and though I look at it now with more amusement than academic awe, it still is a great first step into the field of linguistics for me. Some of the facts are wrong, and some of the more significant details are lacking. Some of the conclusions I draw at the end I have decidedly different opinions on now, but that is just maturity and understanding taking root. I don't know where the bibliography went, but maybe I'll stumble on it some day. If you really want a good understanding of this subject, I very emphatically recommend "Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson, its incredibly entertaining and informative... of course there's tons out there on this, and I have no doubt that Wikipedia has a very thorough page devoted to this subject. Enjoy!
Introduction
Primeval Language
Written Language
Germanic
The Normans and Their Influence
Modern English
Modern Vernacular English
Conclusion