The Anglo- Saxons

Why Study British History? America and many world democracies would not be what they are today without the legacy of English: Common Law Parliamentary Government Language Literature

Isolation and Invasion Great Britain (including modern day England, Scotland, and Wales) is isolated from the main European continent. Invaded and settled many times over centuries – Iberians – Celts (Britons, Picts, Gaels) – Romans – Anglo-Saxons – Vikings – Normans

The Centuries of Invasion: Romans Began with invasion by Julius Caesar, 55 B.C. Introduced cities, roads, written scholarship, and Christianity (missionaries) Provided organized leadership and military protection against invasion Evacuated in 409 A.D., leaving no centralized government and an island ripe for invasion

The Anglo-Saxons Invasion Begin around 449 A.D. Begin around 449 A.D. Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Germany and Denmark) Met resistance from Celts A-S settled main part of Britain (Angle-land) Anglo-Saxon culture – basis for English culture and language (Old English)

Began around 790s From Denmark & Norway Settled much of north and east Defeated by Anglo-Saxons in south – Clans unified by King Alfred the Great Viking Invasion

William, Duke of Normandy (French) challenges claim to throne Harold, appointed by nobles and church Face off at Battle of Hastings, 1066 Harold dies; William the Conqueror becomes king of England Ended Anglo-Saxon dominance; Norman privileged class emerges The Norman Conquest

The Anglo-Saxon Religion Early AS invaders were seafaring, pagan – Belief in wyrd – one’s fate in life – Immortality (known as lof) through heroic action Influenced by Scandinavian mythology of warrior gods: – Odin – god of death, poetry, and magic; associated with burial rites – Thunor/Thor – god of thunder and lightning The three key ethics of Anglo-Saxon society: – Loyalty – Bravery – Generosity

Anglo-Saxon Life Centered on warfare; not barbaric Communal, centered around the hall of the leader Had a system of law and order that involved responsibility of leaders to subjects, and loyalty and gift-giving to leaders. Loyalty and closeness meant survival and safety in times of war.

King/Leader’s Hall Everyone else lived closely centered around it

The Spread of Christianity Early invaders were seafaring, pagan – Belief in wyrd – one’s fate in life – Immortality (known as lof) through heroic action Spread aided by Roman missionaries Spreads to Ireland and Scotland, A.D. Missionaries convert A-S kings  convert subjects; common faith, morality, and connection to Europe

The Spread of Christianity (cont’d) Monasteries: places of learning, preserving great written works, preserved stories of the period Scriptorium: writing room – where monks copied manuscripts by hand during daylight hours Most written work was in Latin, serious language of study.

The Epic Tradition Mostly epic poetry – Praised deeds of heroic warriors – Reflected the reality of life (brutal) – Stressed fame in the afterlife achieved through bravery and good works in life – Topics of fate and religion Told by scops (bards) – Skilled storytellers who sang poems – Oral recitation; passed from generation to generation orally – Honored in society for keeping history and for instilling cultural pride, as as for entertaining Stories are eventually written by monks – Only a few manuscripts exist today – Christian influences present in manuscripts

Old English Poetics Transmitted through song, recited usually accompanied by harp Great emphasis placed the poem’s sound: Emphasis on stressed/unstressed syllables in a line (number of syllables not important) – Alliteration: repetition of consonant sounds at beginning of words, helps unify the lines – Caesura: rhythmical pause dividing a line – Kennings: (see next slide)

Kennings What is a kenning? A metaphorical compound word or phrase for a noun/nameExamples: – whale-paths = oceans – wave-rider = ______________ – ring-giver, folk-friend, or friend to the people = __________ Why use them? Poets created alliterative words by combining existing words Bards valued ready-made phrases to help memory Must have appealed to the audience

Beowulf in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) HWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum, þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon! oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas, syððanærest wearð feasceaft funden; he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þah, oð þæt him æghwylc ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan; þæt wæs god cyning! What does it sound like?

Beowulf & The Beowulf Poet Oldest surviving epic poem in English Poet who unified, recorded poem in writing is unknown – Written in Old English – Shows Christian influences Only one copy in existence

Beowulf: The Basics Setting - Scandinavia, 500s Characters - Danes (Denmark) and Geats (Sweden) Plot Beowulf, Geat warrior, crosses sea to Denmark to defeat Grendel Beowulf later returns to homeland to succeed his uncle as king Themes Celebrates warrior culture Celebrates deeds of great strength and courage