What England is today…What England is today…

Is not what it used to beIs not what it used to be

But before all of thatBut before all of that

There was …There was …

Anglo-Saxon PeriodAnglo-Saxon Period449-1066 AD 449-1066 AD (over 600 years)(over 600 years)

Britain before Britain before the Anglo-Saxon Arrivalthe Anglo-Saxon Arrival

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

·  Barbaric·  Barbaric

·  Violent·  Violent

·  Uneducated·  Uneducated

·  Lack of written ·  Lack of written languagelanguage

·  Lack of structured ·  Lack of structured Christian beliefsChristian beliefs

Arrival of the CeltsArrival of the Celts• Most important conquerorsMost important conquerors• Two Celt groups: Two Celt groups:

• Brythons (Britons) – settled in BritainBrythons (Britons) – settled in Britain• Gaels – settled in IrelandGaels – settled in Ireland

• Organized in clans, loyal to its chieftainOrganized in clans, loyal to its chieftain• Clan disputes settled by Druids (class of Clan disputes settled by Druids (class of

priests)priests)• Druids presided over religious rituals and Druids presided over religious rituals and

memorized and recited long heroic poemsmemorized and recited long heroic poems• Celtic languages had nothing in common with Celtic languages had nothing in common with

Germanic languageGermanic language

The Roman ConquestThe Roman Conquest

Roman Rule started in 55 B.C. and lasted more Roman Rule started in 55 B.C. and lasted more than 300 yearsthan 300 years

Ended when northern European tribes invaded Ended when northern European tribes invaded Italy and the Roman Empire began to fallItaly and the Roman Empire began to fall

Some of Shakespeare's work comes from this Some of Shakespeare's work comes from this periodperiod

The Anglo-Saxon ConquestThe Anglo-Saxon Conquest Next invaders came from Denmark and Next invaders came from Denmark and

Germany.Germany. Their arrival signaled the start of the English Their arrival signaled the start of the English

Language.Language. Ferocious as the Angles and Saxons may Ferocious as the Angles and Saxons may

have been, they did not perform piracy for have been, they did not perform piracy for plunder. plunder.

They were in search of and won territory. They were in search of and won territory.

Early Anglo-Saxon LifeEarly Anglo-Saxon Life The first Angles, Saxons, and Jutes transferred The first Angles, Saxons, and Jutes transferred

to England their highly organized tribal unitsto England their highly organized tribal units Each tribe ruled by a kingEach tribe ruled by a king King chosen by Witan (council of elders)King chosen by Witan (council of elders) Brought Pagan beliefs = “every human life was Brought Pagan beliefs = “every human life was

in the hands of fate”in the hands of fate” Worshiped ancient Germanic godsWorshiped ancient Germanic gods In terror of the Anglo-Saxons, the Britons In terror of the Anglo-Saxons, the Britons

retreated to the edges of their island and beyondretreated to the edges of their island and beyond Spoke Celtic languagesSpoke Celtic languages

CultureCultureCurrency

Games

Housing

Warfare and WeaponsFood and Feasts

Ship Construction

Christianity and Literature Christianity and Literature The church brought to England two elements The church brought to England two elements

of civilization: Education and Literatureof civilization: Education and Literature Christianity caused disruption in the Anglo-Christianity caused disruption in the Anglo-

Saxon civilization differed from Pagan beliefs Saxon civilization differed from Pagan beliefs Christianity = Free WillChristianity = Free Will Paganism = Fate Paganism = Fate

Venerable Bede (673-735, 65 yrs)Venerable Bede (673-735, 65 yrs) England’s first historian commissioned by Alfred the GreatEngland’s first historian commissioned by Alfred the Great Famous for writing “A History of the English Church and Famous for writing “A History of the English Church and

People” offers the clearest account of Anglo-Saxon times People” offers the clearest account of Anglo-Saxon times He was a monkHe was a monk Monk’s life consisted of reading for mental exercise, prayer Monk’s life consisted of reading for mental exercise, prayer

for spiritual exercise, meditation and physical exercise. for spiritual exercise, meditation and physical exercise. From boyhood placed in monastery and dedicated his life to From boyhood placed in monastery and dedicated his life to

service of God and learning.service of God and learning. Unheated monastic cellUnheated monastic cell Pens made of bird feathers, parchment paper (skin of an Pens made of bird feathers, parchment paper (skin of an

animal prepared for writing on)animal prepared for writing on)

Alfred the Alfred the Great Great

Credited with changing the course of British literatureCredited with changing the course of British literature 871 ascended to the Wessex throne only King to be honored 871 ascended to the Wessex throne only King to be honored

with “the Great”with “the Great” Instrumental for preserving remnants of pre-Danish Instrumental for preserving remnants of pre-Danish

civilizationcivilization Encouraged a rebirth of learning and educationEncouraged a rebirth of learning and education Fostered the growth of the English languageFostered the growth of the English language Kept records of English history in the “Anglo-Saxon Kept records of English history in the “Anglo-Saxon

Chronicle” Chronicle” Successors Aelfric and WulfstanSuccessors Aelfric and Wulfstan

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature Began with Celtic Druids (priests) functioned as storytellers, Began with Celtic Druids (priests) functioned as storytellers,

reciting poems about Celtic leaders and their heroic deedsreciting poems about Celtic leaders and their heroic deeds Storytelling, spoken verse and incantations (a formula of Storytelling, spoken verse and incantations (a formula of

words used during a ritual) performed by Scopswords used during a ritual) performed by Scops CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Kenning – metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete Kenning – metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete nounnoun

• Four beat linesFour beat lines• Frequent reversal of word orderFrequent reversal of word order• Formal rigid pattern of word stresses gave the lyrics a Formal rigid pattern of word stresses gave the lyrics a

terse, sing-song effectterse, sing-song effect• Caesura – mid-line pauseCaesura – mid-line pause• Alliteration – repetition of soundAlliteration – repetition of sound

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon LiteratureProseProse Heroic poetry – achievements of warriorsHeroic poetry – achievements of warriors Elegiac poetry – sorrowful laments Elegiac poetry – sorrowful laments

(mourn aloud, crying out in grief) (mourn aloud, crying out in grief) morning death, mournful contemplative morning death, mournful contemplative poempoem

Lyric poem one that expresses intense Lyric poem one that expresses intense personal emotionspersonal emotions

Recited and chanted aloudRecited and chanted aloud

The SeafarerThe Seafarer

Compiled during the Alfred the Great era Compiled during the Alfred the Great era sometime between 871 – 899sometime between 871 – 899

Elegy - mournful, contemplative poemElegy - mournful, contemplative poem Speaker experiences life as an isolated and Speaker experiences life as an isolated and

wandering exilewandering exile Conflicts between Pagan and Christian beliefsConflicts between Pagan and Christian beliefs

BeowulfBeowulf Most important workMost important work Epic long heroic poemEpic long heroic poem National epic of EnglandNational epic of England Unknown AuthorUnknown Author Many references to both Pagan and Christian ideas Many references to both Pagan and Christian ideas Values of a warrior society, dignity, bravery and the Values of a warrior society, dignity, bravery and the

prowess in battleprowess in battle http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/noa/a

udio.htm

Characters in BeowulfCharacters in Beowulf Danes (Scyldings)Danes (Scyldings)

Beowulf the Dane Beowulf the Dane (Beow)(Beow)

EcglafEcglaf FreawaruFreawaru HelafdeneHelafdene HeremodHeremod HrethicHrethic Hrothgar (King)Hrothgar (King) HrothmundHrothmund HrothhulfHrothhulf Scyld SceafingScyld Sceafing UnferthUnferth WeatheowWeatheow

Geats (Weder-Folk)Geats (Weder-Folk) Beowulf (Hero)Beowulf (Hero) EcghteowEcghteow HaethcynHaethcyn HeardredHeardred HrethelHrethel HygdHygd HygelacHygelac WiglafWiglaf

MonstersMonsters GrendelGrendel Grendel’s Dam Grendel’s Dam DragonDragon Nicors (nickers)Nicors (nickers)

Other CharactersOther Characters CainCain AbelAbel