Introducing Anglo Saxon Poetry The Seafarer Earliest Poem in England

Stay very attentive, take notes because…

Stay very attentive, take notes because… You are assigned to compose a five line Anglo Saxon Style Poem.

Stay very attentive, take notes because… You are assigned to compose a five line Anglo Saxon Style Poem. A 25 point Project Grade

Stay very attentive, take notes because… You are assigned to compose a five line Anglo Saxon Style Poem. A 25 point Project Grade You must included the 3 major characteristics we cover today in your five line verse.

Due date: ___________ You only need a couple of days for this. 1. Hard Copy for in class reading and submission 2. Electronic copy to your section’s Wiki space. These will undergo an electronic plagiarism check!

Introducing Anglo Saxon Poetry

The Seafarer

Introducing Anglo Saxon Poetry The Seafarer Earliest Poem in England

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem What language is used to compose the poem?

Mæg ic be me sylfumsoðgied wrecan, siþas secgan,hu ic geswincdagum Earfoðhwileoft þrowade, bitre breostcearegebiden hæbbe, gecunnad in ceolecearselda fela, atol yþa gewealc,þær mec oft bigeat nearo nihtwacoæt nacan stefnan, þonne he be clifum cnossað.

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem What language is used to compose the poem? It is called Old English

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem Old English –This is the Old Germanic Tongue of the Angles & Saxons who immigrated from the Northern shores of Germany to Britain in 449 AD.

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem Old English –This is the Old Germanic Tongue of the Angles & Saxons who immigrated from the Northern shores of Germany to Britain in 449 AD. –When seen In England, we call this “Old English”.

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem Old English –This is the Old Germanic Tongue of the Angles & Saxons who immigrated from the Northern shores of Germany to Britain in 449 AD. –When seen In England, we call this “Old English”. –Obviously we must read it in translation.

German speakers to England 440 AD

Are all the Letters the same as in Modern English?

1. Mæg ic be me sylfum 2. soðgied wrecan, 3. siþas secgan, 4. hu ic geswincdagum 5. Earfoðhwile 6. oft þrowade, 7. bitre breostceare 8. gebiden hæbbe, 9. gecunnad in ceole 10, cearselda fela,

Are all the Letters the Same as in Modern English? No we note a number of odd characters.

1. Mæg ic be me sylfum 2. soðgied wrecan, 3. siþas secgan, 4. hu ic geswincdagum 5. Earfoðhwile 6. oft þrowade, 7. bitre breostceare 8. gebiden hæbbe, 9. gecunnad in ceole 10, cearselda fela,

Looking solely at the Old English… Is there any recognizable Poetic Device employed?

Verse Indeterminate Saxon1 Mæg ic be me sylfumsoðgied wrecan, siþas secgan,hu ic geswincdagum Earfoðhwileoft þrowade, bitre breostcearegebiden hæbbe, gecunnad in ceolecearselda fela, atol yþa gewealc,þær mec oft bigeat nearo nihtwacoæt nacan stefnan, þonne he be clifum cnossað.

Looking solely at the Old English… is there any recognizable Poetic Device employed? Yes! We note Alliteration! Find a few lines that shows it clearly.

Verse Indeterminate Saxon1 Mæg ic be me sylfumsoðgied wrecan, siþas secgan,hu ic geswincdagum Earfoðhwileoft þrowade, bitre breostcearegebiden hæbbe, gecunnad in ceolecearselda fela, atol yþa gewealc,þær mec oft bigeat nearo nihtwacoæt nacan stefnan, þonne he be clifum cnossað.

Let’s take a look at a true translation True is the tale I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes: Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I’ ve born on the deck of my boat. Is the Alliteration maintained?

Yes, very obviously we see Alliteration True is the tale I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes: Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Keep thinking Poetry… the prime element of poetry is also emphasized. Can you identify it? True is the tale I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes: Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Meter is the Prime element of Poetry! We note 4 strong beats per line! We can clap it this rhythm easily. True is the tale I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes: Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Do you also hear a Pause between beat 2 and 3? True is the tale I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes: Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Do you also hear a Pause between beat 2 and 3? True is the tale I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes: Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat. This is termed a Caesura.

You can also note the Meter and Caesura along with the Alliteration in the Old English. Mæg ic be me sylfumsoðgied wrecan, siþas secgan,hu ic geswincdagum Earfoðhwileoft þrowade, bitre breostcearegebiden hæbbe, gecunnad in ceolecearselda fela, atol yþa gewealc,þær mec oft bigeat nearo nihtwacoæt nacan stefnan, þonne he be clifum cnossað.

Major Characteristic of Anglo Saxon Style Poetry Meter: 4 heavy beats per line »Syllable count is irrelevant. Alliteration - usually on the accented beat Caesura – a slight pause midline. »Between the second and third beat

What is a Seafarer?

Why, it is one who goes to sea, of course.

How many different Seafarers will we hear from in the narration?

Our Fragment shows two voices: »The Old Sailor »The Youth

Will the voices differ in their view of life at sea?

Will the voices differ in their view? We’ll soon see.

Let’s Hear the Poem

Yes, that is Hear the Poem. Our Illiterate Saxons could not read.

Yes, that is Hear the Poem. Our Illiterate Saxons could not read. The Poem was performed by the travelling storytellers in the Mead Halls.

Let’s Hear the Poem

The Searfarer: Voice of the Old Sailor True is the tale that I tell of my travels, Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes; Hunger and hardship's heaviest burdens, Tempest and terrible toil of the deep, Daily I've borne on the deck of my boat. Fearful the welter of waves that encompassed me, Watching at night on the narrow bow, As she drove by the rocks, and drenched me with spray. Fast to the deck my feet were frozen, Gripped by the cold, while care's hot surges My heart o'erwhelmed, and hunger's pangs Sapped the strength of my sea-weary spirit.

The Old Sailor Little he knows whose lot is happy, Who lives at ease in the lap of the earth, How, sick at heart, o'er icy seas, Wretched I ranged the winter through, Bare of joys, and banished from friends, Hung with icicles, stung by hailstones. Nought I heard but the hollow boom Of wintry waves, or the wild swan's whoop. For singing I had the solan's scream; For peals of laughter, the yelp of the seal; The sea mew's cry, for the mirth of the mead hall.

The Old Sailor Shrill through the roar of the shrieking gale Lashing along the sea cliff's edge, Pierces the ice-plumed petrel's defiance, And the wet-winged eagle's answering scream. Little he dreams that drinks life's pleasure, By danger untouched in the shelter of towns, Insolent and wine-proud, how utterly weary Oft I wintered on open seas. Night fell black, from the north it snowed Harvest of hail.

The Youth Oh, wildly my heart Beats in my bosom and bids me to try The tumble and surge of seas tumultuous, Breeze and brine and the breakers' roar. Daily, hourly, drives me my spirit Outward to sail, far countries to see. Liveth no man so large in his soul, So gracious in giving, so gay in his youth, In deeds so daring, so dear to his lord, But frets his soul for his sea adventure, Fain to try what fortune shall send.

The Youth Harping he needs not, nor hoarding of treasure; Nor woman can win him, nor joys of the world. Nothing does please but the plunging billows; Ever he longs, who is lured by the sea. Woods are abloom, the wide world awakens, Gay are the mansions, the meadows most fair; These are abut warnings, that haste on his journey Him whose heart is hungry to taste The perils and pleasures of the pathless deep.

How was this literature presented to the Anglo Saxons?

How was this literature Presented to the Anglo Saxons? The Anglo Saxons listened to such stories and poems sung by the wandering storytellers of their day.

What is the name for the wandering storytellers of the Anglo-Saxons? ?

A Scop. You can schllurrr the “Sc” A Schkopp

How much Old English Poetry is Extant? i.e. How much is still Existing?

How much Old English Poetry is Extant? How much is Existing? Existing lines of Anglo Saxon Poetry = abt. 30,000

How much Old English Poetry is Extant? How much is Existing? Existing lines of Anglo Saxon Poetry = abt. 30,000 Beowulf = 3,182 lines.

How much Old English Poetry is Extant? How much is Existing? Existing lines of Anglo Saxon Poetry = abt. 30,000 Beowulf = 3,182 lines. Beowulf is about 10% of the existing body of Anglo Saxon Poetry.

The Seafarer Authorship?

The Seafarer Anonymous

Great Poetry Appeals to the Senses. Name the 5 senses:

Great Poetry Appeals to the Senses. The 5 senses: 1. Smell 2. Taste 3. Hear 4.Feel 5.See

Listen to the work, by rows, with each taking one of the senses and note how the Poet assails this sense. Through his imagery what do you… 1. Smell 2. Taste 3. Hear 4.Feel 5.See

Is this Good Poetry?

Is this Good Poetry? Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling. It connects to us.

Is this Good Poetry? Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling. It connects to us. This does connect.

Is this Good Poetry? Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling. It connects to us. This does connect. The devices of the Poet create play in the language that creates a mood. It happens without us consciously being aware.

Is this Good Poetry? Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling. It connects to us. This does connect. The devices of the Poet create play in the language that creates a mood. It happens without us consciously being aware. This poem connects with us at an unconscious level.

Which Voice is closer to your perspective on going to Sea? The Old SailorThe Youth

The Seafarer

The Seafarer Anglo-Saxon Anonymous

The Seafarer Anonymous

Really enjoyed The Seafarer, Dr. U. Can’t wait to star in you Presentation of Beowulf