The Anglo-Saxon Period

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The Anglo-Saxon Period
British Legends

• 449-1066
• Theme Heroes and Heroism

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Fold your paper so you have 4 boxes
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Using these boxes, tell the story of the 3 little
pigs you can write or illustrate the story, but
include as many details as possible in the time
allotted.
Where is the pigs father/mother?
Where did they get materials?
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OkaySo what?

1. Oral HistoryLessons and entertainment
2. British folktale
3. Anglo Saxon time period

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Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

• Between 800 and 600 B.C., two groups of Celts
  from southern Europe invaded the British Isles.
• Brythons (now spelled Britons) settled on the
  largest Island, Britain.
• Gaels, settled on the second largest island,
  known to us as Ireland.

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Similarities/Differences

• Stone Age weapons
• Celts settled onto the largest island of Britain
• Gaels settled onto the second largest island of
  Ireland
• Different languages but related within the Celtic
  family. Similarities of grammar, sound,
  structure, and vocabulary.

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The Celts

• farmers and hunters
• organized themselves into clans
• clans had fearsome loyalty to chieftains
• looked to priests, known as Druids, to settle
  their disputes

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Clans

• Tight knit with loyalty to their chief. Look to
  Druids (group of priests) to settle arguments.
• They presided over religious rituals and also
  memorized and recited long, heroic poems. This
  preserved the myths of the past.

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Celtic Druids

• Believed to have begun literature.

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Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

• Roman conquest of Britain AD 43
• Britain annexed as a province in the Roman Empire
• Difficult to control such a large piece of land
• Brought Christianity to Britain around AD 300
• Pagan vs. Christian themes throughout never
  fully indoctrinated at this time
• The last Romans left around 407 A.D.
• Needed to defend against rebelling European
  countries England left to its own devices

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Celtic Druids
Literature began not with books, but with spoken
verse. Purpose was to pass along history and
values to a population that mostly could not
write or read. The reciting of poems often
occurred on ceremonial occasions, such as the
celebration of a military victory.
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Roman Empire
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Roman Gatehouse in BritainArbeia
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Entertainment in words by Minstrels, Gleemen,
Scopssupposedly recited with harp.
Caesura-mid-line pause Alliteration-repetition of
consonant sound Kenning-phrase replaces concrete
noun Four-beat line Stock Epithets-adj. that
point out special traits of particular
person Reversal of word order
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Spoken word

• Heroic poetry-recounting of the achievements of
  warriors involved in battle
• Elegaic poetry-sorrowful laments that mourn the
  death of loved ones
• Created the RUNES
• www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/write-your-name-in-r
  unes.html

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Roman invasion

• Romans conquered Britain in 55 BC and again
  sporadically over the following years.
• Left behind CampsCastras

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Castras

• Looking at your map
• Lancaster
• Winchester
• Normally located on the main roadway, also
  something left behind by the Romans.
• CASTRAScaster, chester, ceister.
• Later formed into towns.

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Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from? Also known
as the DARK AGES

• 449AD 3 Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and
  Jutes) invade.
• Destruction of Roman influence, including
  Christianity
• New land Angle-land
• - small tribal kingdoms
• - no written language
• - supported themselves through farming and
  hunting

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Anglo Saxon King and Warriorearly 7th century
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An Anglo-Saxon Hall
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An Anglo-Saxon Farmstead
Remember the 3 little pigs
West Stow reconstructed village
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Sutton Hoo

• Burial site discovered in 1939
• Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf
• Remains of a boat were discovered and large
  burial chamber containing numerous artifacts
• Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element
  intermingled with pagan ritual.

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• Transferred their tribal units.
• Tribes were ruled by witans, council of elders.
• Still of pagan beliefgrim look at life.
• Every human life was in the hands of Fate.
  Whatever was meant to happen, was already
  planned. No human can determine his or her path.
• Eventually, worshipped Germanic gods
• Tiu-god of war and sky
• Woden-chief of gods
• Fria-Wodens wife and goddess of home
• weekdays

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The Reemergence of Christianity

• 596AD attempt to convert Anglo- Saxons to
  Christianity
• 597AD Saint Augustine
• converted King Ethelbert of Kent to Christianity.
• set up a monastery in Canterbury in Kent.
• 650AD most of England is Christian some hold on
  to previous beliefs
• The church provided counsel to quarreling rulers
  in efforts to unify the English people.
• At this time, the British Isles were not unified
  and included separate kingdoms with separate
  rulers. They fought continuously over the
  fertile, green land

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Constant Conflict

• 9th Century
• Norway invaded Northumbria (Anglo-Saxon kingdom
  in northern and central England), Scotland,
  Wales, and Ireland.
• The Danes of Denmark targeted eastern and
  southern England
• Destroyed manuscripts
• Burned and plundered homes

Remember the 3 little pigs
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Alfred the GreatKing of Wessex 871-899

• 866resisted Danish intrusion and earned the
  great title
• Saxons acknowledged Danish rule in East and North
• Danes respected Saxon rule in South
• End of 10th CenturyDanes want to widen Danelaw
• Forced Saxons to select Danish Kings
• 1042Kingship returned to Alfred the Greats
  descendent Edward
• Edward the Confessor died in 1066. His death led
  to the end of the Anglo-Saxon Period.

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Literature of Anglo-Saxon Times

• 2 major influences
• 1) Germanic Traditions of the Anglo-Saxons
• 2) Christian Traditions of the Roman Church
• Denmark, Germany, Sweden

Remember the 3 little pigs
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1) Germanic Traditions of theAnglo-Saxons

• Germanic language
• Mixture of various Germanic dialects Old
  English
• Old English (often looks like a foreign
  language)

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Page of Beowulf manuscript in Old English
Listen to me!
Monks worked as scribes, recording and
duplicating manuscripts, by hand. At first only
in Latin, the language of the church. Venerable
Bede, Father of English History, was a master
of thorough research, tracking of information by
studying earlier documents and interviewing
people. Wrote A History of the English Church
and People.
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Heroic Ideals Dominate

• Warrior culture
• Poems and stories depict a society like the
  Anglo-Saxons
• Military and tribal loyalties
• Bravery of warriors
• Generosity of rulers
• Oral tradition
• Songs and stories often sung and told about
  the valiant struggles of heroic warriors
• More than just entertainment provided a model
  for living and a form of immortality they could
  aspire to
• Note all of these provided the foundation for
  early written literature in Old English

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Anglo-Saxon Literature cont.

• Anglo-Saxon poetry falls mainly into two
  categories
• Heroic poetry recounts the achievements of
  warriors
• Elegiac poetry laments the deaths of loved ones
  and the loss of the past
• Beowulf is the most famous example of heroic
  poetry.

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The Beowulf Poet

• Christian reflects established tradition
• Allusions to the Old Testament
• Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save
  man from sin
• Christ archetype Correspondences between
  Beowulfs death and the death of Christ
• The price of salvation is life itself

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Epic

• Beowulf Unknown author
• The national epic of England (first work to be
  composed in English)
• A long heroic poem, about a great legendary
  warrior renowned for his courage, strength, and
  dignity.

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Epic Elements

• Most epics are serious in tone and lofty in
  style, a technique meant to convey the importance
  of the events. Long speeches by the characters
  suggest an impressive formality.
• Use of kennings

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Epic Elements
Epic Element Definition As seen in
Epic Hero  
Quest  
Valorous deeds  
Divine intervention  
Great events  
Epic Element Definition As seen in
Epic Hero  the central character of an epic. This character is a larger-than-life figure, typically of noble or semi-divine birth, who pits his courage, skill, and virtue against opposing, often evil, forces.   
Quest a long, dangerous journey or mission undertaken by the epic hero. The quest is the heros opportunity to prove his heroism and win honor and undying renown.  
Valorous deeds  long, dangerous journey or mission undertaken by the epic hero. The quest is the heros opportunity to prove his heroism and win honor and undying renown.  
Divine intervention  In many epics, the hero receives help from a god or another supernatural force who takes an interest in his quest.  
Great events  Important events from the history or mythology of a nation or culture often provide the backdrop for the epic narrative.      
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Heroic Values in Beowulf

• Relationship between king and his warriors
• The king rewards his warriors with gifts
• If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the
  slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in
  compensation

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Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values

• This tension is at the heart of the poem
• Pagan history and myth are made to point to a
  Christian moral
• Beowulf is poised between two value systems

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The Epic Hero
A man of high social status whose fate affects
the destiny of his people

• Defeats his enemies using
• Physical strength
• Skill as a warrior
• Nobility of character
• Quick wits
• Is not modest boasting is a ritual
• Embodies the ideals and values of his people
• Is eager for fame
• Because the Germanic tribes believed death was
  inevitable, warriors sought fame to preserve the
  memory of their deeds after death

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Epic Hero Cycle
Element Example Example
The main character is a hero, who is often possessed of super natural abilities or qualities (STATUS QUO) The main character is a hero, who is often possessed of super natural abilities or qualities (STATUS QUO)
The hero is charged with a quest (call to Adventure) The hero is charged with a quest (call to Adventure)
Crossing the Threshold Moving from the known to the unknown (DEPARTURE) Crossing the Threshold Moving from the known to the unknown (DEPARTURE)
The hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL (TRIALS) The hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL (TRIALS)
The presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals, and/or human helpers and companions The presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals, and/or human helpers and companions
The heros travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering The heros travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering
The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated (APPROACH, CRISIS) The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated (APPROACH, CRISIS)
A resurrection (TREASURE) A resurrection (TREASURE)
Achieving the goal or the boon (RESULT) Achieving the goal or the boon (RESULT)
Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his rightful place on the throne. Return to the ordinary world (RETURN/NEW LIFE) Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his rightful place on the throne. Return to the ordinary world (RETURN/NEW LIFE)
Applying the boon (RESULUTION/STATUS QUO) Applying the boon (RESULUTION/STATUS QUO)
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Are Modern Super Heroes Epic?

• Using the profile provided to your group and your
  own prior knowledge fill out the epic hero cycle
  chart for the super hero, then answer the
  question at the bottom of the page using the
  chart to back up your opinion.

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HELP! I need somebody!

• Think of a time when you helped someone in need
  or someone helped you OR a time when you did NOT
  render help and wish you had. Give a brief
  summary of the incident then answer the following
  analysis questions
• What was your/their motivation (why was help
  rendered?)?
• What was the result?
• What would have happened if help was not
  rendered?
• Did anyone else offer help? Why/why not?