The Anglo-Saxon Period

449-1066

Theme: Heroes and Heroism

Strength and Honor: A Heroes Journey

British Legends

Do Now: 9-19-12

• What are your prior experiences with epics? What is an "epic"? What is a "hero"?

Proto Indo EuropeanProto Indo European

GermanicGermanicCelticCelticBalto-SlavicBalto-SlavicLatinLatinGreek Greek AlbanianAlbanian

Indo-Indo-IranianIranian

RussianRussian

UkrainianUkrainian

CzechCzech

SlovakSlovak

Serb-Serb-CroatianCroatian

PersianPersian

KurdishKurdish

HindiHindi

BengaliBengali

IranianIranianSanskritSanskritRomanianRomanian

FrenchFrench

SpanishSpanish

PortuguesePortuguese

ItalianItalian

SlavicSlavicBalticBaltic WelshWelsh

BretanBretan

GGælicælic

LatvianLatvian

LithuanianLithuanian

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.

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

• 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

Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

Roman Empire

Roman Gatehouse in BritainArbeia

Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

• 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

Anglo Saxon King and Warriorearly 7th century

An Anglo-Saxon Hall

An Anglo-Saxon Farmstead

West Stow: reconstructed village

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

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

Do Now: 9-20-12

• What two groups of Celts, from southern Europe, invaded the British Isles?

Alfred the GreatKing of Wessex 871-899

• 866—resisted Danish intrusion and earned “the great” title– Saxons acknowledged Danish rule in East and North– Danes respected Saxon rule in South

• End of 10th Century—Danes want to widen Danelaw– Forced Saxons to select Danish Kings

• 1042—Kingship returned to Alfred the Great’s descendent Edward

• Edward the Confessor died in 1066. His death led to the end of the Anglo-Saxon Period.

Literature of Anglo-Saxon Times

• 2 major influences

1) Germanic Traditions of the Anglo-Saxons

2) Christian Traditions of the Roman Church

1) Germanic Traditions of theAnglo-Saxons

• Germanic language

– Mixture of various Germanic dialects + Old English

– Old English (often looks like a foreign language)

Page of Beowulf manuscript in Old English

Listen to me!

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 - Scop– 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

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.

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.

Epic ElementsEpic 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 hero’s opportunity to prove his heroism and win honor and undying renown.

 

Valorous deeds

something that is done or accomplished, by being courageous, valiant, and brave.

 

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.  

 

Epic• 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.

The Epic HeroDefeats his enemies using

Physical strengthSkill as a warriorNobility of characterQuick wits

Is not modest – boasting is a ritualEmbodies the ideals and values of his peopleIs eager for fame

Because the Germanic tribes believed death was inevitable, warriors sought fame to preserve the memory of their deeds after death

A man of high A man of high social status social status

whose fate affects whose fate affects the destiny of his the destiny of his

peoplepeople

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

Courage - the foundation of the warrior culture that underlies the story of Beowulf. a true warrior's bravery

comes from a completely fatalistic attitude toward life and indifference to death.

Someday, he will die and be defeated. Everything happens as God wills it.

All the warrior can do is meet every challenge fearlessly, increasing his own reputation.

When he dies - renowned for his bravery.

There are a lot of cowards in Beowulf…or, if that's a little harsh, people who aren't willing to live by this fatalistic code of honor.

Courage in BeowulfCourage in Beowulf

Epic Hero Cycle

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.

Characters

Danes• Hrothgar

• Unferth

Dane Monsters• Grendel

• Grendel’s Mother

GeatsGeats►BeowulfBeowulf►WiglafWiglaf►HygelacHygelac►EcgtheowEcgtheowGeats MonstersGeats Monsters►DragonDragon

PlacesPlaces: : HerotHerot

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 Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ

• The price of salvation is life itself

• Pagan; fate and human will, offerings to gods/shrines, come to aide.

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

Mix of pagan and Christian Values

• Fate vs. choice of good and evil

• Mythological monsters vs. references to God and Jesus

• Ralph Waldo Emerson said that, "A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.”

– Do you agree or disagree with his statement and why? Are heroes just ordinary men who do something when other men have already given up?