Fall 2016 Anglo Saxon Poetry

Monday, August 8th, 2016 Bellwork: When you enter please get your composition notebooks out and print/turn in your Journals to the designated basket. Agenda Add to interactive notebooks Notes on Anglo-Saxon Culture and Poetry Investigate Anglo-Saxon Language through riddles HW: Read Ch. 5 from How to Read Literature Like a Professor and answer guided reading questions

Who Are the Anglo-Saxons? What comes to mind when you think about British Isles?

Lesson Objectives and Goals: Objective: Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a poem contribute to its overall meaning and aesthetic impact Goals: Define and give examples of caesura, kennings, alliteration, and assonance Analyze and solve Anglo-Saxon riddles Reflect on how art and literature were important parts of Anglo-Saxon life the branch of philosophy dealing with such notions as the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, the comic, etc., as applicable to the fine arts, with a view to establishing the meaning and validity of critical judgments concerning works of art, and the principles underlying or justifying such judgments.

Invasions Invaded and settled many times in its history and each has contributed to modern conceptions of “English” Iberians Celts Romans Angles and Saxons Vikings Normans

Characteristics of Anglo Saxon Culture Bravery in Battle Bards (or poets) were used to elevate heroes of the various tribes and were usually as important as the heroes themselves Faith in God to intervene positively with fate Influence of old Pagan religion

Characteristics of Anglo Saxon Culture Warfare of utmost importance Amassing fortune in battle Reverence for womanhood—precursor to chivalry—is expected

Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Culture Openhanded hospitality was expected Truth is highly cherished value Great love for personal freedom

Anglo-Saxon Society Loyal Dependency Wyrd—fate; the idea that you die when you Sacrifice of self for one’s king or leader Wergild- man’s price or brother’s fee Boasting – states names, heritage, parents, and parents’ parents, occupations, 3 accomplishments, and 1 future accomplishment

History of English The History of English The Norman Conquest

Old English Riddles Alliteration: repeated initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables Caesura: Pauses for breath in the middle of lines Kennings: two-word poetic renaming, like “whales’ home” for the sea Assonance: repeated initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables Kennings (to know or to recognize): Phrases that are elaborate and indirect way of naming person, things, or events helmberend – helmet bearer = warrior; “battle-light” = flashing sword; swan road = sea Alliteration: “Five miles meandering with mazy motion.” Assonance: The early bird gets the worm. The squeaky wheel gets the grease I never heard before of a ship so well furbished with battle tackle… …no wise man in hall or weathered veteran… …asleep from their feasting… …they wept to heaven… Caesura: Each line has a pause (caesura) after 2nd beat which divides the line in half “We hold these truths to be self-evident || that all men are created equal.”—Declaration of Independence, United States of America 1776 My country ’tis of thee || sweet land of liberty || of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died || land of the Pilgrim’s pride, From every mountainside || let freedom ring! —“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” by Samuel Francis Smith Hey Jude || don’t make it bad Take a sad song || and make it better —“Hey Jude” by The Beatles

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Lines do not rhyme Rhythm depends on the number of beats or accented syllables (each line has 4 beats) Reflects juxtaposition of Church and pagan world Tendency toward didacticism or instruction

Anglo-Saxon Ideals Love of glory was a ruling motive Allegiance to the king or lord is cherished and demanded Reverence for womanhood is expected Great love for personal freedom Open-handed hospitality is expected Truth is a highly cherished virtue Sentiments are usually suppressed Ideals - a standard of perfection; a principle to be aimed at.