The Anglo Saxons

The Anglo Saxon Period 440 AD-1066 AD Britons: Celtic people, original inhabitants

of Britain 449 AD: the first people from North German

plain settled in Kent Jutes: from Jutland in Denmark Angles and Saxons followed Britons were no match

King Arthur, Whales

Brought Old English A/S England – military society born in warfare

1066 AD: Norman Invasion ends A/S society

Anglo Saxon Civilization Admired men of courage Loyalty to leader and tribe Person of rank received with courtesy Ruler was generous to followers Believers in an impersonal fate Highly developed feeling for beauty Aware of short life span: ubi sunt

Anglo Saxon People Brain capacity same as our own Practical and self-contained

Not given to excessive self-analysis Skillful with hands – knew how to make

and mend Knew how to entertain themselves Only a small minority could read Learned by observing and imitating Folklore and family history memorized

Christianity

Christianity came to Britain in AD 314

St. Augustine – 597 AD First archbishop of Canterbury

Beowulf Christian characteristics

written down by monks in 10th or 11th century

BeowulfHomeric, or Herioc, Age - Mycenaean- 1400 B.C. M Celts 500BC-43BCRomans 43BC-c.450ADAnglo Saxons 449ADSt Augustine 597 ADVikings 789ADNormans 1066100 Years War 1337-1450sRenaissance 1476-16501700sIndustrial Revolution 1760-1800s1900s - Present Day

Background First English literary masterpiece Beowulf was probably composed between 700 A.D. and

900 A.D The place of its composition was probably Northumbria Northumbria was home to Roman Catholic monks who

excelled in learning and literature The most famous was the Venerable Bede (672-735) "A.D." (abbreviation for the Latin Anno Domini,

meaning in the year of the Lord) First transmitted orally for one to three centuries Although its author did not write it down, two English

scribes did so in about 1000 A.D

Setting Dark Ages, between 500 and 700 A.D Danish kingdom ruled by Hrothgar, situated on the island

of Zealand (site of present-day Copenhagen, Denmark) A mead hall was a communal gathering place for feasting

and drinking mead an alcoholic beverage made of water and fermented

honey Mead was a popular drink in Denmark and other

Scandinavian countries during the Middle Ages because grapes, a crop that thrives in warmer southern climates, were not readily available to make wine.)

The scene of action then shifts 50 years later to the land of the Geats in Sweden

Important Terms

Scop: Old English term for poet Heroic Ideal: A/S culture governed

by ideals of bravery, loyalty and generosity

Comitatus: loyalty to king and king to men

Wyrd: Old English for fate Wergild: “manprice”

Literary Devices Compounding: the combining of two words to make

a new word "life-sick" (feorh =life, seoc = sick), which can be

translated as mortally wounded "Spear-Danes“ (gar = spear, Dena = Danes) meet the needs of the alliterative meter, as part

of a formula, or to make a new word Kennings: Kennings are a special form of

compounding that are metaphoric in meaning. "bone-house," refers to the humanbody "whale's road," refers to the sea "sky's candle," refers to the sun.

More Devices Variation: the restatement of a concept or

term using different words “Beowulf spoke, the son of Higlac” - here

the second half of the line provides a second identifier for Beowulf

not used as filler reminds the audience of important facts also allows the poet to present an event,

or image from multiple perspectives, each providing additional information or shedding new light on the events

More Devices Formulas: Beowulf makes use of stock phrases,

known as formulas ready-made phrases which fulfill the metrical

needs of a line or half-line standard tool of an oral poet lofty and highly traditional character

Litotes: an ironic understatement where an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite “not bad” = good "That [sword] was not useless / to the warrior

now." = "The warrior has a use for the sword now."

More Devices Alliteration: two or more words having

the same initial sound Caesura: a pause in a line of poetry

accentual verse, with four stresses per line Example:

“chosen champions cheerlessly grievedfor the loss of their lord, leader and defender.They called him of captains, kings of the known world,”

More Devices Metonymy: one thing is used to

designate something with which it is commonly associated Ex. Bottle instead of liquor

Synecdoche: a part of something is used to designate a whole Ex. Keel instead of ship

Themes Good vs. evil

Not moral but about fate and reputation Good will fight knowing that eventually

they will be defeated Identity

Boasting = resume Strength and skill

Highly valued even in enemies Skill slightly devious

More Themes Wealth

Glory and treasure - immortality Religion

Christianity vs. paganism Wyrd and providence

Violence Loyalty, vengeance and feud

Courage Fortitude and wisdom

More themes Mortality

Ubi Sunt Supernatural

Monsters Tradition and customs

Comitatus Wyrgild boasting

Annotations1. Question: ask a significant question about the text and

include an attempted answer (not one word and you can get help from me)

2. Characterization: indirect or direct? What does it tell us about character

3. Significant/favorite lines: favorite lines – explain why, reflect with personal opinions and experiences; significant lines – reflect on universal themes

4. Connections: relate something that is similar or different than the Odyssey. What does this tell us about the two cultures?

5. Unknown vocabulary word: include quote with word, definition and explain what it means in the context of the novel

Annotations6. Setting allusions: explain specific time period/place/

cultural detail – you may need to look up information to explain – why is this significant in relation to the plot?

7. Symbols: explain what the symbol represents and why it is important to the major concepts in the novel

8. Themes/motifs/concepts: explain theme/motif and how the lines relate to it in detail

9. Literary devices/imagery: list device, explain how it is present, and why it is effective in the context in detail

10. Tone/mood: explain how author’s attitude is expressed, or how the author creates a feeling; ex. through diction, setting, plot events, etc.

Annotations: Format and Guidelines

You must turn in 15 annotations per due date That’s one per annotation type Plus 2 in these categories: theme,

literary device, setting allusions, connections

then pick one of the above categories for the 5th (that means you will have three of one of those categories)

Annotations Guidelines

Each annotation must be in ink, and must be in this format:

Annotations: Points and due dates Annotations will each be worth 5 points each = 75

possible points 2 points for quote/text paraphrase 3 points for explanation/significance

You will earn 10 points each time you make a relevant comment during the oral quiz you can get an additional 5 points if you impress me with a

direct quote that is correctly used You will not be allowed to use your annotations on quiz so study You will be allowed to use your book

The oral quiz dates are: Tuesday, October 11th and Monday, October 17th