The Anglo-Saxon EraThe Anglo-Saxon Era449 - 1066449 - 1066

Glory in BattleGlory in Battle

The Anglo-Saxon EraThe Anglo-Saxon Era449 - 1066449 - 1066

Celts & Britons – original inhabitants of EnglandCelts & Britons – original inhabitants of England Romans invaded in 55 BC (brought government, Romans invaded in 55 BC (brought government,

roads, villas and Christianity). Romans leave in roads, villas and Christianity). Romans leave in 410410

449 – Angles, Saxons & Jutes invaded England 449 – Angles, Saxons & Jutes invaded England from North; Danes invaded later (Germanic)from North; Danes invaded later (Germanic)

Alfred the Great defends England from Danish Alfred the Great defends England from Danish invaders and unites Anglo- Saxonsinvaders and unites Anglo- Saxons

Pagan – worshipped Germanic gods and fatePagan – worshipped Germanic gods and fate Oral tradition recorded by Christian monksOral tradition recorded by Christian monks

Anglo-Saxon CultureAnglo-Saxon Culture

Bravery in BattleBravery in Battle Loyalty to King or leaderLoyalty to King or leader Bards or poets were used to elevate Bards or poets were used to elevate

heroes of tribes and were as heroes of tribes and were as important as warriorsimportant as warriors

Faith in God to intervene with fate. Faith in God to intervene with fate. Influence of paganismInfluence of paganism

Warfare was the order of the dayWarfare was the order of the day Amassing a fortune in battleAmassing a fortune in battle

Anglo-Saxon PoetryAnglo-Saxon Poetry

Subjects: Glory, Battle, Treasure, Subjects: Glory, Battle, Treasure, Ocean Travel, Fate, Good vs. EvilOcean Travel, Fate, Good vs. Evil

Tone: Heroic, Tragic, BellicoseTone: Heroic, Tragic, Bellicose Form: Narrative, alliterative poetry Form: Narrative, alliterative poetry

(not rhyming) blank verse; kenning –(not rhyming) blank verse; kenning –two or three words in place of one two or three words in place of one (whale- road; the pathless deep; the (whale- road; the pathless deep; the prison house)prison house)

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

The Book of KellsThe Book of Kells

The InvasionsThe Invasions

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

The Age of The Age of ChivalryChivalry

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period1066 - 14851066 - 1485

1066 – Norman Conquest: William the 1066 – Norman Conquest: William the Conquerer brought French language, Conquerer brought French language, customs (chivalry) and government customs (chivalry) and government (feudalism)(feudalism)

Feudalism = 3 classes: nobility, Feudalism = 3 classes: nobility, clergy, peasantry; religion dominated clergy, peasantry; religion dominated

Legends – King Arthur and Robin HoodLegends – King Arthur and Robin Hood 1348-49 – Plague killed 1/3 European 1348-49 – Plague killed 1/3 European

pop.pop.

Medieval LegendsMedieval Legends

The Medieval BalladThe Medieval Ballad

Form: Narrative poem; originated Form: Narrative poem; originated in oral tradition; often set to in oral tradition; often set to music, usually quatrains (abcb)music, usually quatrains (abcb)

Subjects: Loyalty, Christianity, Subjects: Loyalty, Christianity, battle, chivalry (focus is on plot battle, chivalry (focus is on plot only) only)

Tone: Usually tragic, often Tone: Usually tragic, often supernatural, dutiful, heroicsupernatural, dutiful, heroic

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance1485 – 16601485 – 1660

Rebirth of KnowledgeRebirth of Knowledge

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance1485 – 16601485 – 1660

““Rebirth” of classical knowledge moved north from Italy Rebirth” of classical knowledge moved north from Italy Tudor Dynasty – patrons of arts and sciencesTudor Dynasty – patrons of arts and sciences Gutenburg and Caxton increased literacyGutenburg and Caxton increased literacy Reformation split church – Protestant / CatholicReformation split church – Protestant / Catholic Highly structured & stylized designs in art & lit.Highly structured & stylized designs in art & lit.Characteristics of poetry:Characteristics of poetry:

Form: Lyric poem, highly stylized – every syllable Form: Lyric poem, highly stylized – every syllable countscounts

Subject: Ideal love, classical allusionsSubject: Ideal love, classical allusionsTone: Respectful, impassioned, dutifulTone: Respectful, impassioned, dutiful

Medieval v. Renaissance ArtMedieval v. Renaissance Art

The SonnetThe Sonnet

Most popular form of poetry in Most popular form of poetry in RenaissanceRenaissance

Meter: Iambic PentameterMeter: Iambic PentameterRhyme Scheme:Rhyme Scheme:

Petrarchan / Italian – first form: ABBA Petrarchan / Italian – first form: ABBA ABBA CDDC CC ABBA CDDC CC Octet – First 8 lines, sets up the storyOctet – First 8 lines, sets up the storySestet – Second 6 lines, tells feelings / Sestet – Second 6 lines, tells feelings /

actions / outcomesactions / outcomesAdapted by Shakespeare to form English Adapted by Shakespeare to form English

sonnet: ABAB CDCD EFEF GGsonnet: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment1660 - 17981660 - 1798

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment1660 - 17981660 - 1798

Out of the “Dark Ages” into “the Light”Out of the “Dark Ages” into “the Light” Discovery of Microscope and Telescope in Discovery of Microscope and Telescope in

1600’s: 1600’s: The educated could see the world in a new The educated could see the world in a new light. Believed in the human ability to solve problems in light. Believed in the human ability to solve problems in a logical way using reason not religious beliefs.a logical way using reason not religious beliefs.

Focus on Rationalism, Science, KnowledgeFocus on Rationalism, Science, Knowledge General belief that people are naturally good General belief that people are naturally good

and must do good deeds: Social reform, and must do good deeds: Social reform, Restraint, Control, OrderRestraint, Control, Order

Neoclassicism – influenced by classical culturesNeoclassicism – influenced by classical cultures Satire (humor + morality) flourishedSatire (humor + morality) flourished

Characteristics of Characteristics of Enlightenment PoetryEnlightenment Poetry

Tone: Logical, reasonableTone: Logical, reasonable Form: Strict rhyme scheme—often Form: Strict rhyme scheme—often

coupletscouplets Subjects: man and his role in the world, Subjects: man and his role in the world, Classical allusionsClassical allusions

:

The RomanticsThe Romantics1780 - 18301780 - 1830

Nature, Imagination & the Common Nature, Imagination & the Common ManMan

The RomanticsThe Romantics1798 - 18321798 - 1832

Lyrical BalladsLyrical Ballads written by Wordsworth and written by Wordsworth and ColeridgeColeridge

3 Revolutions: Industrial, French, American3 Revolutions: Industrial, French, American Reaction against EnlightenmentReaction against Enlightenment Poetry – “the spontaneous overflow of powerful Poetry – “the spontaneous overflow of powerful

emotions recollected in tranquility”emotions recollected in tranquility” Characteristics of poetry:Characteristics of poetry:

– Subjects: Middle Ages, nature, mysterious and Subjects: Middle Ages, nature, mysterious and supernatural events, common man, rebellionsupernatural events, common man, rebellion

– Form: Often lyric with looser rhymesForm: Often lyric with looser rhymes– Tone: Spontaneous, rebellious, imaginative, mysteriousTone: Spontaneous, rebellious, imaginative, mysterious

Enlightenment v. Romantic ArtEnlightenment v. Romantic Art

The Victorian Age1830 - 1880

The Duty to Lead the World

The Victorian Age1830 - 1880

• Optimism caused by strong navy, growing economy, technical progress

• Anxiety caused by Darwin’s theory & geological discoveries that challenged religious thought

• Duty to enlarge the Empire led to self-discipline, strict control, “stiff upper lip”

• Characteristics of poetry:• Subjects: Duty, modernization,

imperialization, reform, British Empire• Form: Lyric, dramatic or narrative w/ strict

rhymes•Tone: Controlled, disciplined

The British Empire

The Modern EraThe Modern Era1905 - Present1905 - Present

Fragmentation and Fragmentation and GlobalizationGlobalization

The Modern EraThe Modern Era1905 - Present1905 - Present

““Things fall apart; the center cannot hold…” (Yeats) a Things fall apart; the center cannot hold…” (Yeats) a motto for the 2oth centurymotto for the 2oth century

Political and cultural institutions continue to “fall Political and cultural institutions continue to “fall apart” and no longer provide stability apart” and no longer provide stability

1905 – Einstein’s theory of relativity abolished 1905 – Einstein’s theory of relativity abolished absolutes, Darwinism theory of natural selection absolutes, Darwinism theory of natural selection challenges Christian doctrine challenges Christian doctrine

WWI, WWII, The Holocaust, Nuclear bomb, Great WWI, WWII, The Holocaust, Nuclear bomb, Great Depression, scandals of 60s and 70s, assassinations, Depression, scandals of 60s and 70s, assassinations, riots and threat of nuclear annihilationriots and threat of nuclear annihilation

Culture of ParanoiaCulture of Paranoia Women’s Rights movement changed/ stressed the Women’s Rights movement changed/ stressed the

relationships between sexesrelationships between sexes Civil Rights movement sought to end racial Civil Rights movement sought to end racial

oppressionoppression

Characteristics of poetry:Characteristics of poetry:

• Form: Loosened forms, informal style, Form: Loosened forms, informal style, conversational tone, layered w/ meaningconversational tone, layered w/ meaning

• Subjects: Consciousness, time, movement, Subjects: Consciousness, time, movement, nebulous modern lifenebulous modern life

• Tone: angry, lonely, apathetic, rebelliousTone: angry, lonely, apathetic, rebellious

• Literature much less dominated by white Literature much less dominated by white men. men.

Modern ArtModern Art