The Anglo-Saxon Period

449-1066

The Language of Literature

Introduction (p.18) (1)

• Living on Britain were Britons and Picts (Celtic people)

• Living on Ireland were Gaels• Romans came, conquered Britons,

drove Picts to Scotland• Britain became province of Roman

empire• Britons depended on Romans, but

they left, leaving Britain a target for invasion

The Anglo Saxon Period (p. 19) (1)• Angles, Saxon, and Germanic people

began settling on Britain• They formed a confederation of 7

kingdoms called Heptarchy• This area became known as Angle-land

or England• The term Anglo-Saxon refers to these

people and their culture• Anglo-Saxons believed in wyrd or fate• They became more agricultural and

civilized largely due to the influence of Christianity

Development of English Language (p.19) (1)

• Old English very different from what we know as English

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K13GJkGvDw

• Harsh sound• Written phonetically• No silent letters• Grammatically complex• Flexible word order• Adopted new words based on need

Literary History (p.19) (2)

• Anglo-Saxon writing system is runic alphabet

• Literature composed and transmitted orally

• Oral poets = scops (sounds like skops)• Epic poem• Lyric poem• riddles

The Growth of Christianity (p.20) (2)• Missionaries spread faith among

Picts and Angles• 597 Roman missionary

established monastery at Canterbury

• 690 mostly all of Britain Christian

The Danish Invasions (p.21) (2)

• 790’s Danes (Vikings) invaded England• King of Wessex (Alfred the Great) forced

them to truce• Alfred’s reign was high point in Anglo-

Saxon history• When he died, Danes tried again to rule• William, duke of Normandy, led last

successful invasion of Britain (Norman Conquest)

• 1066 William the Conqueror crowned king of England

Literary History (p. 21) (3)• As Christianity spread, so did literacy• Introduction of Roman alphabet• Some poems written down, but copied by

hand so only fraction of Anglo-Saxon poetry survived

• Most famous survivor is Beowulf• Also Exeter Book (lyrics and riddles)• Most poems anonymous• Most scholars wrote in Latin• 891 Alfred compiled Anglo Saxon

Chronical and encouraged translations to English

Oral Heroic Narrative (p.28) (3)• Oral poets = master improvisers• Had to compose verse in head while

singing or chanting it• Drew on existing songs and legends for

their material• Oral poetry features repetition of

words, phrases, lines• Ex. Stock epithets• Ex. kennings

What is an Epic? (p.28) (4)

• A long narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds

• Stock epithets = adjectives that point out special traits

• Kennings = poetic synonyms that substitute nouns

Characteristics of an Epic (p.28) (4)• The hero is male, of noble birth, and has historical/legendary importance

• Hero’s traits reflect society’s ideals• Hero performs courageous deeds that reflect

values of era• Actions of hero determine fate of nation• Setting is vast, involves more than one

nation• Poet uses formal diction and serious tone• Major characters give long, formal speeches• Plot is complicated by supernatural• Poem reflects timeless values (ex. Courage,

honor)• Poem deals with universal themes (ex. Good

vs. evil, life vs. death)