The Anglo-Saxon Period Theme: Heroes and Heroism British Legends

Proto Indo European GermanicCelticBalto-SlavicLatin Greek Albanian Indo- Iranian RussianUkrainianCzechSlovak Serb- Croatian PersianKurdishHindiBengali IranianSanskrit RomanianFrenchSpanishPortugueseItalian SlavicBaltic WelshBretan Gælic LatvianLithuanian

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 landsuch 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 Britain Arbeia

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 Warrior early 7 th 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 9 th 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

Alfred the Great King of Wessex —resisted Danish intrusion and earned “the great” title –Saxons acknowledged Danish rule in East and North –Danes respected Saxon rule in South End of 10 th 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 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

Proto Indo European GermanicCelticBalto-SlavicLatin Greek Albanian Indo- Iranian RussianUkrainianCzechSlovak Serb- Croatian PersianKurdishHindiBengali IranianSanskrit RomanianFrenchSpanishPortugueseItalian SlavicBaltic WelshBretan Gælic LatvianLithuanian

1) Germanic Traditions of the Anglo-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 – 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 Elements Epic ElementDefinitionAs 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 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. 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 Hero Cycle