The Anglo-Saxon Era

1
The Anglo-Saxon Era

• 449-1066 A.D.

2
What is English Lit?

• Really British Lit (United Kingdom) Literature
  of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England.
• England is divided into different kingdoms Kent,
  Wessex, Nourthumbria, etc.

3
Pre-Anglo-Saxon

• The earliest known people of Britain are known as
  the Celts. They date back as early as 300 B.C.

4
Pre-Anglo-Saxon

• 55 B.C.
• Julius Caesar, continuing his conquering ways,
  invaded Britain. Encountering the Celts, he
  called them Britons.

5

• Caesar conquered Britain. The Romans were much
  more advanced than the Celts.
• The Romans stayed for over 300 years, until the
  empire started to fall and they were forced to
  move back into Rome.

6
Roman Influence

• The Romans left a lot behind, and helped bring
  civilization to the Celtic tribes.
• The Romans
• Were skilled engineers
• Built roads, villas, huge buildings, etc.
• Christianity

7
Another Invasion

• After Rome left, the Jutes (from Denmark) and the
  Saxons and Angles (Northern Germany) invaded
  England. They are called Germanic tribes.
• King Arthur (a Christian King), was a leader
  amongst the Celts who fought bravely. However,
  they were eventually pushed out by these tribes.
• The Roman Civilization was, for the most part,
  destroyed.

8
Anglo-Saxon is born

• The Angles and Saxons were the dominant of the
  tribes now in England. Hence, the name.
• They introduced a democratic society
• They brought their own language, which is an
  early form of todays English.
• The Angles gave the language a nameAngle-ish,
  as well as the countryAngle-land.

9
Anglo Saxons

• Heroic ideals traditional heroes
• Admired loyalty, valor, bravery, courtesy
• Believed in fate, or wyrd
• They were an adaptable people
• They gathered in mead halls, where feasting and
  drinking were popular.

10
Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Began as oral stories, songs, poems.
• Passed down orally through generations, usually
  through minstrels, or scops.
• Characteristics of poems strong beat,
  alliteration, no rhyme.

11
Viking Invasions

• Circa 793, war-like Danes, or Vikings, invaded
  Britain.
• The Vikings raided monasteries and destroyed
  important documents.

12
England Fights Back

• Alfred the Great became the king of England in
  871.
• Established a system of education and rebuilt
  monasteries.
• Gave us the first notable literature The
  Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.
• Led a successful campaign when he forced the
  Danes from Wessex.
• Unified Anglo-Saxons
• Saxons ruled the south. Danes ruled the north.
  For the first time, they respected each other.

13
The Norman Conquest

• Fighting continued between the Danes and the
  Anglo-Saxons until both were defeated by William
  the Conqueror in 1066. This date marks the end
  of the Anglo-Saxon era, and the beginning of
  Medieval times.