British Literature Introduction

The British Isles Look at the maps on page 4 & 87 of your text. Look at the maps on page 4 & 87 of your text.

The Anglo-Saxon Period

Ancient World isolated isolated rain-drenched and often fogged in rain-drenched and often fogged in green green dotted with thatched cottages, quaint stone churches, and mysterious stone ruins dotted with thatched cottages, quaint stone churches, and mysterious stone ruins

British Influence on America Common law Common law Parliamentary Government Parliamentary Government Literature Literature Language Language

Celts Early inhabitants Early inhabitants Tall, blonde warriors Tall, blonde warriors Group within group: Brythons (sounds like….) Group within group: Brythons (sounds like….)

Celtic Religion Animism – from Latin word for “spirit” Animism – from Latin word for “spirit” Everything had spirits: rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, thunder Everything had spirits: rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, thunder Spirits had to be constantly satisfied Spirits had to be constantly satisfied Druids, priests, acted as intermediaries between gods and people Druids, priests, acted as intermediaries between gods and people Ritual dances, rites: Stonehenge? Ritual dances, rites: Stonehenge?

Celtic Mythology Arthur – legendary Celtic warrior; became embodiment of English values (Sir Thomas Malory, 15 th Century, Le Morte D’Arthur) Arthur – legendary Celtic warrior; became embodiment of English values (Sir Thomas Malory, 15 th Century, Le Morte D’Arthur) Different from Anglo-Saxon (which came later) Different from Anglo-Saxon (which came later) Full of strong women Full of strong women Enchanted lands where magic and imagination rule Enchanted lands where magic and imagination rule

Video break: 1 & 2 The Dark Ages The Dark Ages Roman Britain Roman Britain

Roman Invaders 55 B.C. Julius Caesar began invasions and claimed Britain for Rome 55 B.C. Julius Caesar began invasions and claimed Britain for Rome Claudius settled Britain in earnest about 100 years later Claudius settled Britain in earnest about 100 years later

Roman Contributions Armies to defend Britain against further invasions Armies to defend Britain against further invasions Network of roads (some still in use) Network of roads (some still in use) Defensive wall 73 miles long (Hadrian’s Wall) Defensive wall 73 miles long (Hadrian’s Wall) Public baths Public baths Brought Christianity and Celtic religion began to vanish Brought Christianity and Celtic religion began to vanish

Roman Evacuation Trouble at home (Italy) Trouble at home (Italy) Evacuated Britain, leaving fixtures but no central government Evacuated Britain, leaving fixtures but no central government Island weak, ripe for invasion Island weak, ripe for invasion

Video break: 3 The Anglo-Saxon Invasions of Britain The Anglo-Saxon Invasions of Britain

Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore 5 th Century 5 th Century Angles and Saxons from Germany Angles and Saxons from Germany Jutes from Denmark Jutes from Denmark Attack across the North Sea Attack across the North Sea Drove old Britons out before them Drove old Britons out before them “Germanic” Language became dominant in Engla land from the Angles “Germanic” Language became dominant in Engla land from the Angles

Anglo-Saxon Invasion Celts put up a fight, then retreated to Wales Celts put up a fight, then retreated to Wales Welsh chieftain: Arthur Welsh chieftain: Arthur

The Danes Invade Alfred the Great unified the independent principalities against the invading Danes (Vikings, pirates, from Denmark) Alfred the Great unified the independent principalities against the invading Danes (Vikings, pirates, from Denmark) Plundered and destroyed a path through the country before settling in northeast and central England Plundered and destroyed a path through the country before settling in northeast and central England Battle continued until 1066 (over 150 years), when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated them all Battle continued until 1066 (over 150 years), when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated them all

Video break: 4 & 6 Stowa Stowa Dark Ages: Three Elements that Join Dark Ages: Three Elements that Join

Anglo-Saxon Life NOT barbarians, though often depicted that way NOT barbarians, though often depicted that way Warfare was the order of the day Warfare was the order of the day Law and order was the responsibility of the leader Law and order was the responsibility of the leader

Anglo-Saxon Success Fame and success gained only through LOYALTY to the leader Fame and success gained only through LOYALTY to the leader Success measured in gifts from the leader Success measured in gifts from the leader

Anglo-Saxon Life Dominated by need to protect Dominated by need to protect People lived close to animals in single-family homesteads around common area or a warm, fire-lit chieftan’s hall People lived close to animals in single-family homesteads around common area or a warm, fire-lit chieftan’s hall Wooden stockade fence around all Wooden stockade fence around all Arrangement brought closeness to leader and followers Arrangement brought closeness to leader and followers Rule by consensus Rule by consensus

Anglo-Saxon Women Women inherited and held property Women inherited and held property Retained control of property even when married Retained control of property even when married Husband had to offer marriage gift Husband had to offer marriage gift Woman had personal control of gift Woman had personal control of gift Woman became Abbesses Woman became Abbesses Rights ended with Norman conquest Rights ended with Norman conquest

Anglo-Saxon Religion Religion persisted despite influx of Christianity Religion persisted despite influx of Christianity Dark, fatalistic religion from Germany Dark, fatalistic religion from Germany Like Norse/Scandinavian mythology Like Norse/Scandinavian mythology Odin: god of death, poetry, and magic; called Woden (Woden’s Day: Wednesday) Odin: god of death, poetry, and magic; called Woden (Woden’s Day: Wednesday) Dragon: significant figure; guardian of the grave, and “death the devourer” Dragon: significant figure; guardian of the grave, and “death the devourer”

Anglo-Saxon Religion More concerned with ethics than mysticism – with the earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship More concerned with ethics than mysticism – with the earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship

Video break: 7 The Spread of Christianity The Spread of Christianity

Christianity Irish and Continental missionaries converted Anglo-Saxon kings and the people followed Irish and Continental missionaries converted Anglo-Saxon kings and the people followed Provided a common faith and a common system of morality Provided a common faith and a common system of morality Linked England to Europe Linked England to Europe

Christian Monasteries Centers of learning Centers of learning Culturally and spiritually coexisted with the heroic ideals and traditions of the Anglo-Saxon religion Culturally and spiritually coexisted with the heroic ideals and traditions of the Anglo-Saxon religion Preserved some of the older traditions by recorded works of popular literature Preserved some of the older traditions by recorded works of popular literature

Monks Recorded works of oral tradition in the language of the people: Old English Recorded works of oral tradition in the language of the people: Old English Recorded principal works in Latin, the language of the Church Recorded principal works in Latin, the language of the Church Copied manuscripts by hand in scriptorium (a covered walkway); oiled paper or glass kept out some weather Copied manuscripts by hand in scriptorium (a covered walkway); oiled paper or glass kept out some weather

Language Latin remained the language of ‘serious’ study Latin remained the language of ‘serious’ study King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of England, helped English gain respect as a language of culture King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of England, helped English gain respect as a language of culture

Bards: Entertainers/Historians Scops Scops Skilled storytellers Skilled storytellers Equal in stature to warriors; creating poetry just as important as hunting, fishing, farming, or loving Equal in stature to warriors; creating poetry just as important as hunting, fishing, farming, or loving Strummed harp Strummed harp Told stories of heros Told stories of heros Fame in poetry: defense against death Fame in poetry: defense against death