The Anglo- Saxon Period AD

History  Oldest known period of time that had a complex culture, stable government, art, and literature  Many advancements in each of these categories  The Anglo-Saxon period paved the way for future societies (set the foundation for art, literature, society, culture that we have today)  Extremely advanced culture for the time

History  The Angles were a Germanic tribe that occupied what is now Scleswig-Holstein, Germany  With the other ethnic groups, they formed the people that would be known as the English  The Saxons were Germanic people who appeared in the beginning of the Christian era  In 596, Paganism was the religion of choice  But then missionaries began to convert people from Paganism to Christianity  By 650 almost all of England had converted (at least in name) to Christianity

Religion Paganism  Often characterized by a reverence to nature  No concept of sin  Pagans are responsible for their own actions  Belief in fate & monsters  Lack of belief in a higher power Christianity  Sees life as linear  Bible and gospels are the guiding rules for Christians  Good vs. evil, right vs. wrong  Existence of God

Religion & Beowulf  The epic poem shows influences of both Paganism and Christianity, thus reflecting the changing times

The Anglo-Saxons  Common weapon was the spear  7 feet long with an iron head used to throw or jab  Shields were plain and round made of wood with an iron center  Simple, modest garments (robes gathered at the waist made of linen and wool, soft sandals)  Favorite pastimes: dice, board games (chess), complex riddles, hunting, juggling balls & knives

The Anglo-Saxons  Little writing was preserved as the written language was still being developed  Storytelling was the oral tradition  Scops: traveling minstrel who captivated audiences with long narrative poems

Types of English  Old English  Middle English  Modern English* (Increasingly distinguished between early modern and modern/present day English)

Old English   Anglo-Saxon English  Combination of Celtic, Norse, Germanic (Jutes, Angles, Saxons) and Latin  Most important surviving work is Beowulf Hwæt. We Gardena in gear-dagum.

Middle English  1100 to 1400  Softened some from its Germanic roots through the influence of the French  Introduced new words—Upper Class heavily influenced by the French language. Lower class less influence, and less literate.  Most important surviving work is The Canterbury Tales Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.

“Early” Modern English   Known as Shakespeare’s English  Different from Middle English through its pronunciation of vowels  EME was widespread with the advent of the printing press, more standardization of the language. It beggar'd all description.

“Present Day” Modern English  present  Different from EME by its spelling and pronouns (thou  you)  Still evolving…changing, growing, adapting Hear me! We've heard of Danish heroes.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Elegiac  Laments the deaths of loved ones and the loss of the past  “The Seafarer”  “The Wanderer”  “The Wife’s Lament” Heroic  Recounts the achievements of warriors  Beowulf

Aspects Aspects in Anglo-Saxon poetry  Lyric poetry: (heroic or elegiac) expresses thoughts and feelings of one speaker. Composed for easy recitation and memorization  Iambic tetrameter  Alliteration  Kenning  Caesura  Assonance  Patronymics  Epithets  Use of the number 3

Iambic Tetrameter  Meter in poetry consisting of four iambic feet  4 feet per line; line comprising four iambs u / u / u / u / Come live with me and be my love daDUMdaDUMdaDUMdaDUM

Alliteration  The repetition of initial consonant sounds in accented syllables

Assonance  The repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming (combine with alliteration and consonance to create verse)  Batter these ramparts  The crumbling thunder of seas

Kenning  A device for making associations without distracting attention from the initial statement  Two-word poetic renamings of people, places and things  Battle sweat = blood  Sky’s jewel = sun

Caesura  Rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, meant to allow the speaker to pause for breath I make this songabout me full sadly my own wayfaring.I a woman tell what griefs I hadsince I grew up New or oldnever more than now. Ever I knowthe dark of my exile. from “The Wife’s Lament”

Patr Patronymics  The practice of calling the son by the father’s name  son (daughter) of Gary

Epithets  Adjectives or phrases added to a word or name that are used to express the characteristic of the person, thing or idea  Aeneas the true  Tall-masted ship  Halpert the educator

Modern translations of Old English Texts:  Translations vary in quality and preservation of poetic qualities.  Some poetic devices may be lost in translation:  Rhythm, such as iambic tetrameter  Assonance or Alliteration  Caesura

Translators can attempt to preserve the author’s intent:  Using a comma in place of a caesura  Using punctuation or adjusting syntax for rhythmic effect.  Using alliteration or assonance in the translation, even if it is not identical to the original text.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry: Elegy  “The Seafarer”  “The Wanderer”  “The Wife’s Lament”  Directions: In your group, read the lyric poem and annotate the poem using different colors. Then, on the butcher paper, create a chart and identify (and cite) the literary aspects. Finally, write a thesis statement that answers the prompt: In lyric poetry, specific elements of literature are used to artistically communicate a story/theme. How do common elements of the Anglo-Saxon elegy use elements of literature to establish a theme? *Elegy: lyric poem that mourns the loss of someone or something.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry: Heroic  Lengthy narrative poem  Celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure  Captures the cultural and religious values of the people who created/retold them  Features of the heroic poem  The hero battles forces that threatens the order of his world  Story is told in a serious manner, often in elevated language  Epic hero

The Epic Hero  Larger-than-life (demi-god)  Introduced in the midst of a conflict  Speaks with eloquence and confidence  Possesses weapons of great size and power  Must undertake a journey no one else will that tests his strength, will, and cunningness  Faces adversaries that try to defeat him  The epic adversary is usually a (monster) “god despiser,” one who has more respect for his mental and physical self than for the power of the gods  Illustrates traits, performs deeds, and exemplifies morals (culturally and religiously) valued by society  Superhuman in that they are smarter, stronger, and braver than the average person