Anglo-Saxon Literature Beowulf

1
Anglo-Saxon LiteratureBeowulf

• Old English Period
• Or
• Anglo-Saxon Period
• 450-1066

2
The Anglo-Saxon Period449-1066 AD

• The island we now call Britain was home to the
  Celtic people. In 449, they were being invaded
  by Scottish and Irish tribes and could not fight
  them off.
• The Celts asked for help from the Angles, Saxons,
  and the Jutes(from Denmark) , who were Germanic
  tribes. Instead of helping, they invaded and
  took over the island for themselves, and called
  it Angle-land.
• So, English history and literature begins in 449
  AD.

3
English Language

• During this time, the English language was
  growing. The Celtic language merged with the
  Anglo-Saxon language.
• Some words added by A-S to, and, for, man, wife,
  child, drink, eat, sleep, T, W, R, F.
• When Christian missionaries started coming to
  England around 600 AD, they brought words such
  as altar, monk, preach, school, anthem, rule,
  candle, offer, hymn
• From 787-1000 AD, Vikings came to the island with
  words such as lift, take, give, live, husband,
  sky, trust, rotten
• When the Normans invaded and conquered the
  Anglo-Saxons, they brought 10,000 words like
  action, adventure, marriage, power, vision, rage,
  honest

4
Christianity of the A-S

• In 596, missionaries came attempted to convert
  them to Christianity.
• By 650, most A-S were Christians in name.
  However, they still held on to some of their
  pagan traditions.

5
More Invasions

• Danish Invasions
• During the 700 and 800s, the Danes and the
  Normans began attacking the island of Britain and
  almost won until Alfred the Great, a Saxon,
  fought back and won the country back - and there
  was peace - for a while.

6
End of the Anglo-Saxon Period

• When Alfreds grandson Edward died in 1066, there
  was an argument over the throne. The Duke of
  Normandy claimed the throne, but the English
  chose Harold II. The Duke retaliated by
  attacking and defeating the Anglo-Saxons at the
  Battle of Hastings.
• So, the A-S period ended in 1066 when the Normans
  won the Battle of Hastings and the Duke - William
  the Conqueror was the new King.

7
Social Order

• Based on warrior bonds-they bonded together under
  a strong leader.
• Heroic groups rural and tribal
• Core of culture was comitatus relationship-warrior
  bond for each other and their leader. Tribes
  engaged in blood feuding constantly.
• WER GELD man price, absolute obligation to
  avenge a fellow warriors death (like gangs).
• Loyalty fight to death to protect and/or avenge
  obligation to King and warrior.
• After battles, there was a strict payment of
  treasure.
• Chief selected for loyalty, generosity, strength,
  and courage.

8
Vocabulary

• Mead - an alcoholic beverage
• Wyrd - fate the inevitable
• Elegy - a poem of mourning

9
Anglo-Saxon Literature

• All literature was oral (spoken), not written,
  because there was no real written language yet.
• Literature history was passed down by Scops,
  people in each tribe who composed stories and
  songs about the tribe and its heroes. The
  stories were passed down from generation to
  generation. He told the stories every night
  after supper.

10
Beowulf

• Was written around 700 AD
• Author was unknown- it is known the poet was a
  Christian, an aristocrat, and was a professional
  (by language)
• Poet composed it in his head performed it.
• Poem was not written down for about 250 years.

11
Epic Poem, Hero

• Epic Poem-long narrative poem about a national
  hero who has the virtues and qualities his
  society values. Epic poems are fiction with some
  fact put in.
• Epic Hero- courageous, resourceful, loyal,
  generous, willing to avenge wrongs, gentle,
  brave, strong, loves beauty, has deep feelings,
  able to express feelings.

12
Characteristics of an Epic

• Major characters deliver long, formal speeches.
• The hero performs courageous, sometimes
  superhuman deeds.
• The poem includes universal themes such as
  good/evil and life/death.
• The setting is vast in scope, often involving
  more than one nation.
• The hero, generally male, is of noble birth or
  high position.
• Hero characteristics reflect important ideals of
  his society.
• The plot is complicated by supernatural beings or
  events and may involve a long and dangerous
  journey to a foreign land.

13
The Story

• Takes place in Denmark Sweden (not England)
• Herot- hall of Hrothgar, King of Danes
• Grendel-monster who is descendant of Cain
• Beowulf-prince of Geats-a Swede
• First great work of the English/British
  Literature.

14
What is a Hero?

• What do you think this story is going to be about?