The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 Anno domini (In the year of our Lord) The following overview of major historical events relative to the Anglo-Saxon Period provides a context for which interpretative analysis of Beowulf and Grendel can develop.

Western Civilization and Western Thought Grew out of three ancient civilizations: Greeks – individual truth Romans – the state Hebrews – God above all

England Before the Anglo-Saxon Invasion Stonehenge

England Before the Anglo-Saxons Celtic speakers arrived in England in about 900 BC. 3 Groups: *The first group called themselves the Britons, and they inhabited what is now Britain. *The second group were the Picts, and they settled in present day Scotland. *The third group were the Gaels, and they settled in present day Ireland.

The Celts – 900 BC Celtic groups spoke their own languages, and these languages and cultures live on in modern times. Celtic languages are still the official languages of such countries as Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany. These were thriving cultures by most standards of the day. The Celts lived in closely tied clans, were skilled in agriculture and metalwork, and traded with their neighbors throughout the British Isles.

The Celts – 900 BC Their leaders were often Druids, who were priests; however, the druids also served as judges and counselors. The Celtic clans had a long-standing oral tradition by which to preserve their myths and legends. The Druids assisted with such preservation by reciting long, heroic poems.

The Romans = 55 BC – 407 AD The next group to invade England was the Romans. They ruled for some 300 years. They established roads and towns. They brought Christianity to the British Isles (England).

The Romans = 55 BC – 407 AD Their rule ended because Italy was under attack from northern invaders. Basically, the troops were called home. The last troops left in 407 AD, and the stage was set for Anglos and the Saxons. to invade.

The Anglo-Saxons = 449 - 1066 The Anglo-Saxon invasion of modern day England began in 449 AD but actually takes place over several decades. Three major groups: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. The Britons- perhaps led by a commander named Arthur- fought a series of legendary battles in an effort to stop the invasion.

The Anglo-Saxons = 449 - 1066 Efforts to stop the invasion failed, and the Germanic Anglo-Saxon tribes organized themselves into a confederation of seven kingdoms call the Heptarchy. In the early history of the Heptarchy, the Angles were dominate. Their settlement or kingdom became known as Angle-land or England, and its people came to be called English.

The Anglo-Saxons = 449 - 1066 Like all cultures, the Anglo-Saxons evolved over time. Early on, they were seafaring wanderers whose lives were bleak, violent, and short. Settling into their new land, the Anglo-Saxons became an agricultural people, less violent, and more civilized. Serving the island for centuries, the Anglo-Saxons established a basis for poetry and reestablished the acceptance of Christianity.

The Danish Invasions In the 790s a new group of invaders - the Danes, also known as the Vikings, began to devastate the flourishing culture. English King Alfred the Great was able to resist the first invasion. He was a strong proponent of learning and education. He oversaw the writing of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle which recorded early English life. He could not hold off subsequent invasions, however, and in an effort to protect his people, he was forced to agree to a truce.

The Norman Conquest By 1042, the Danes were out of power, and Edward the Confessor was on the throne. Edward died in 1066, and that year found the Normans overpower the Anglo-Saxons. This was their last defeat.

Anglo-Saxon Hierarchy 1. King = he was expected to be generous to his loyal subjects 2. Earls/Thanes/Free Warriors = claimed kinship to founder of tribes. Loyalty to the king was vital. The Witan = served as the King’s council, assisting in the decision process.

Anglo-Saxon Hierarchy 3. Freemen/Genlats = independent landowners 4. Churls = boundmen who trace ancestry to former captives of tribe; did the hard labor; worked for Earls; could move up to “freemen” with possessions & special royal favor

Anglo-Saxon Hierarchy 5. Slaves/Thralls *Women were a subclass. They were viewed as only important for domestic duties.

The Anglo-Saxons = What did they eat and drink? They ate what was around them like hare, rabbit, veal, fish and chicken. Many times this was made into a stew. Along with their meal, they would often have mead. Mead is a drink made by fermenting honey.

Anglo-Saxons = What did they admire in their warriors? Good sportsmanship Endurance Loyalty to king Athletic prowess Bravery Respect for each other Action and fighting

The Anglo-Saxons = Religion They came to Britain with their own pagan beliefs. They had a firm belief in fate (wyrd). They worshiped ancient Germanic gods like Tui, god of war and the sky; Woden, chief of the gods; and Fria, Woden’s wife and goddess of the home. Do the names sound a bit familiar?

Tiu, Woden, and Fria today Tuesday Wednesday Friday

Something to consider… According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, safety and shelter must be firmly established before more thoughtful ideas can take root. (A person cannot “skip” levels.) Therefore, religion was not important to the Anglo-Saxons until their primary needs were met.

The Anglo-Saxons = Religion Christianity had been introduced by the Romans, and the Celts were converted. Irish monks helped establish a strong Christian hold on the island. Scots were converted easily, and many monasteries were built in Scotland.

The Anglo-Saxons = Religion Roman cleric Saint Augustine arrives in 597. Saint Augustine was able to convert King Ethelbert of Kent; this led to the kingdom being converted.

The Anglo-Saxons = Religion The Church promoted peace, helping to unite the English people. The Church also brought education and a written literature. Monks often worked as scribes, recording and duplicating written work by hand.

The Anglo-Saxons = Religion Venerable Bede (673-735) = “The Father of English History” He wrote A History of the English Church and People – the clearest account of early Anglo-Saxon times.

Bede, A History of the English Church and People It is better never to begin a good work than, having begun it, to stop. Bede, A History of the English Church and People

Anglo-Saxon Literature Spread by scops who recited long epic poems. These poems were either heroic or literary. The verses were easy to memorize for many reasons 1 – They were lyrical. 2 – They had mid-line pauses (caesuras). 3 – They had alliterations, repeated sounds.

Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry Caesuras – a pause in a line Alliteration- repetition of initial consonant sounds Kennings – metaphorical phrases used to characterize a person or thing.

Reading Poetry – in general Don’t stop at the end of a line, stop at the punctuation mark. The end of the line has to do with the “beat” of the line; it has nothing to do with the “meaning” of the line. Reading to the punctuation mark is called enjambment.

Anglo-Saxon Literature Only about 30,000 lines of Anglo-Saxon verse still exist. These lines are either heroic (recount achievement of a warrior) or elegiac (sorrowful laments) poetry. Alfred the Great is credited for changing the course of British literature because he started having things written in English. (That would be Old English to us.)