The Anglo-Saxon Period

449-1066 A.D.

A Brief History• Original inhabitants of what is

known as England were the Celts, the original Britons

• Pagan• Much of their history is unknown

until later

The First Invasion of the

Celts

The Romans...

• Julius Caesar raided “Britain” in 55 and 54 B.C.

The Romans...

• Introduced the concept of Christianity

The Roman Rule...• Lasted for

nearly 300 years

• During this time, commerce flourished

• Civilization advanced

• Roman rule crumbled in the fourth and fifth centuries

The Romans Built Hadrian’s Wall

• A great fortification running across the island near the Scottish border

• Built circa 123 A.D. for protection from invading Picts and Scots

• Nearly 70 miles long

The Second Invasion

The Germanic Invasions

• According to history, in 449 the first band of people from the North German plain crossed the North Sea and settled in what is now known as Kent.

• These people were the Jutes from Jutland.

The Germanic Invasion...

• After the first wave of Jutes came the Angles.

• Present day England derives its name from the name “Angle-Land.”

• Known as the “hook-men.”

The Germanic Invasions

• Following the Jutes and the Angles, the next invaders were the Saxons.

• Known as the “swords-men.”

The Three Tribes Combined to Create

Anglo-Saxon England

What Were the Anglo-Saxons Like?

• Hearty• Athletic• Wandering• Fierce in personal valor• Pagan• Sea-Faring• Loyal to leader and tribe• Ruled by fate called “wyrd”

Believed in the Norse Gods as part of their

superstitions and religious beliefs...

Even now, our weekdays are named after their ancient Norse gods...

• Wednesday for the warlike Woden

• Thursday for Thor, the god of thunder

• Friday for Frigga, the goddess of love and the home

Anglo-Saxon Lives• Divided into tribes and kingdoms• Each tribe led by a king or chieftain• Followers of these kings were called thanes• After hunt and battles, they would gather in

a mead hall• Entertained by a scop and gleeman• Governed themselves democratically• Decisions made in meeting called

folkmoots- the term now applies a moot point (a question that can be argued)

Anglo-Saxon Chieftain or King

Anglo-Saxon Thane

The Mead Hall

The Scop and Gleeman

As the Anglo-Saxons had no written

language, they relied on the following as a

means of literary preservation...

The Oral Tradition• Defined as a body of songs, stories, and poems

preserved by being passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.

• Often sung by a scop- a traveling storyteller often accompanied by a harp.

Elements of Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Composed in Old English• Each line is divided by a caesura

(a natural pause or break in a line of poetry, is essential for rhythm)

• Incorporates kennings (a metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun)

• Usually includes a blend of pagan and Christian elements

Old English Text

Anglo-Saxon Literary Terms

Epic Poem

A long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.

Folk EpicsHave no certain authorship and arise,

usually through storytelling, from the collective experiences of a people.

Example: Beowulf

Literary Epics

Written down by known authors

Example: Paradise Lost by John Milton

Characteristics of Epics• begins in “medias res” (in the middle

of things)• begins with an invocation to a Muse• content is concerned with the fate of a

nation or a people• set on a large scale, ranging around

the world

• the intervention of supernatural figures

• extended similes• long catalogues (lists)• extensive battle scenes• stock episodes

Epic Boast

A self-admiring speech given by the hero of an epic for the purpose of glorifying himself.

Caesura

A natural break in a line of poetry which helps to provide rhythm

Lament

A song or poem that expresses grief or regret

In its verb form, it means “to cry or grieve.”

Elegy

A type of lyric poem which is usually a formal mourning for someone’s death

Archetype

An original pattern or model from which all other things of the same kind are made

Example: The film was one of the archetypes of the American Western.

Quest

A journey one undertakes with the intention of seeking something

Example: the Holy Grail

Mead

The fermented beverage made of water, honey, malt, and yeast.

ComitausAn agreement between a lord

and his thanes in which the thanes swear to protect the lord, while the lord provides protection, wealth, and weapons

KenningThe metaphoric and often

creative compound re-naming of an ordinary object

Examples: bird’s nest (hair)

sea road (ocean)

Ecclesiastical

Having to do with the church

Epithet

A word or phrase, often disparaging or abusive, which expresses a character trait of someone or something

VocationA profession that is often

seen as a calling by those who carry it out

Examples: minister, teacher, fireman, policeman

Since the Anglo-Saxon people had no form of written language in the beginning, they relied on oral tradition to pass down stories and songs.

MotifA theme, character type, image,

metaphor, or other verbal element that recurs throughout a single work of literature or occurs in a number of different works over a period of time

IconThis shape can be said to be an

“icon” because it is easily associated with the word “Stop”

Beowulf

• The oldest surviving manuscript in the English language

• Originally written in Old English• An epic poem• Composed by unknown source circa 750 A.D.• The national epic poem of England

Beowulf• A complete epic poem- a long narrative poem

about the adventures of a god or hero.• Beowulf is a form of a folk epic.• Originated as a pagan saga.• Most likely written down by a Christian, hence the

elements of Christianity.• Celebrates the hero's fearless and bloody

struggles against monsters and extols courage, honor, and loyalty as the chief virtues in a world of brutal force.

Beowulf’s Essential

Characters

Beowulf• A high ranked

nobleman from Geatland (southern Switzerland)

• Nephew of Hygelac• Typifies Anglo-

Saxon ideals of conduct

• Fights the notorious Grendel

Hrothgar

• King of the Danes• His mead hall, Heorot, is

terrorized by Grendel• Regards Beowulf as being sent

by God

Grendel• Descendent of Cain from the

book of Genesis• Raids Heorot for 12 years

Grendel’s Mother• Resides with her son in a cave

beneath a lake• Not as fierce as Grendel but still

a formidable adversary

Dragon• Hoards a treasure of gold• Ravages Beowulf’s land• Mighty adversary of Beowulf

Minor Characters• Wealtheow- Hrothgar’s

Queen

• Unferth- Hrothgar’s top thane who feels threatened by Beowulf

• Wiglaf- loyal thane of Beowul’s