Anglo-Saxon Period

Great Britain (British Literature) England Scotland Wales United Kingdom also includes North Ireland

Invaders to Britain Iberians Celts Romans Angles Saxons Normans

What do we get from England English Common Law Language Literature Culture

Celts

Celts and Their Religion Animism Druids –Stonehenge Mother Goddess –Harmony is controlled by MG and Great Father

RomansRomans: Great Administrators From Julius Caesar (55 BC) to Emperor Claudius (1 st Century AD) –Organization that protected Britain several hundred years –Pushed war-like tribes to the north and west CHRISTIANITY—European Missionaries 410 AD: Problems in Rome and they just left (an infrastructure but no central government)

When the Romans left Angles Saxons Jutes

King Arthur to King Alfred Invaders after Romans abandoned Britain: –Angles and Saxons (Germany) –Jutes (peninsula of Jutland in Denmark) Great Struggles –Celts: King Arthur (retreated to Wales)

Anglo-Saxon England Independent Principalities

King Alfred Led against Danes UNIFIED ENGLAND

Anglo-Saxon Religion German origins –Norse/Scandinavian mythology Diety: Thunor --“Thor”—Thursday –Mother was god “Earth” Took many forms Childbearing and homemaking

Norse god —Odin: Overcame death to learn of great mysteries god of death, poetry, and magic assists humans communicate with spirits “Woden”--Wednesday

Ethics Main concern with Anglo-Saxon religion –Virtues of: Bravery Loyalty Generosity Friendship

The Danes (from Denmark) Vikings (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) Vikings 8 th and 9 th century NE & Central England Danish Law now in place ‘Danegeld’- payment in exchange for peace

William, Duke of Normandy Forced the Anglo- Saxons out in 1066 Battle of Hastings October 14, 1066

Reemergence of Christianity Christianity declined when the Romans left Irish and Continental Missionaries –St. Augustine converted King Ethelbert of Kent Not Immediately or Permanently Successful –Ex: King Readwald of East Anglia

Sutton Hoo Richest burial site ever discovered in Britain, an Anglo-Saxon ship containing the treasure of one of the earliest English Kings - Rædwald, King of East Anglia. Rich in Anglo-Saxon and Christian treasures.

Life in Anglo-Saxon England

VIP’s Venerable Bede King Alfred The Beowulf poet Caedmon

Law and Order Warfare was common occurrence Leaders in any group were responsible for safety –Family –Clan –Tribe –Kingdom

Fame, Success, and Survival were obtained through LOYALTY to the leaders

Beowulf Defeats monsters who attack King Hrothgar Loyal Dependence

Bards and Poets in Anglo -Saxon England Communal Hall –Offered shelter –Public meetings –Entertainment Bards (scops) were skilled story tellers –Considered very manly –Accompanied by a harp

Narratives Poems were many times improvisational –Traditional heroic tales –People under the threat of war, disease, old age –Stress the transience of life connected with the cold and darkness of winter Elegiac strain—mournful Bards gave hope that heroic deeds would be remembered in the collective memory

Monasteries and Anglo-Saxon Lit. Centers of faith and learning Provided cultural and spiritual influence Monks probably wrote down the bards tales –Tales: Old English –Learning: Latin

Venerable Bede Greatest Latin writer in Anglo-Saxon England Ecclesiastical History of the English People –731 –First major source of early English history

Old English Poetics Sung or recited aloud Harp provided a regular rhythm Old English poets are more concerned with time rather than number of syllables –Beowulf has 4 primary stresses in each line Uses alliteration frequently “Alliterative poetry”

Poetics, cont’d. Caesura—rhythmical pause in the middle of a line Kenning—descriptive compound words Ex: “sea-stallions” to mean ships Ready made formulas to describe certain events: greeting a stranger, voyaging on the seas, eating a feast, receiving riches