Old English Literature Period: 469AD – 1066 AD Or Anglo-Saxon Literature Anglo-Saxons Norman Conquest Caedmon’s Hymn Song of Beowulf

Your Job Each of you has a sheet of notes in front of you with important facts about the Old English period. But some of the facts are missing. You must pay attention and fill in the missing information.

England in the Middle Ages Replica of a 7th-century ceremonial helmet from the Kingdom of East Anglia, found at Sutton Hoo. Originally England was inhabited by the Celtic Britons. In the 1st century AD, it was conquered by the Romans. In the 4th and 5th centuries, Roman rule ended in Britain and troops began to withdraw from the island. This was the considered the beginning of what was described as the Dark Ages.

Anglo-Saxons in Britain WHO ARE THE ANGLO-SAXONS? After the Roman military left Britain, it was invaded by 4 pagan, seafaring warrior tribes from modern Denmark and Northern Germany: Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Frisians. WHY DO WE CARE? The English we speak today came from the Anglo- Saxons. Old English became Middle English around 1100 AD, which eventually became Modern English around 1500. Ex. Angleland->Englaland->England

Anglo-Saxons

England in the Middle Ages By the 7th century, about a dozen kingdoms had formed in England. And these kingdoms struggled for power through the 8th and 9th centuries. Alfred the Great’s Wessex emerged as the only surviving English Kingdom but attacks from Scandinavia and conflicts continued through the 10th century. Finally the kingdom was restored with Edward the Confessor in 1042.

The Norman Conquest After Edward the Confessor, a dispute over the successor led to the Norman Conquest. WHO ARE THE NORMANS? The Normans were originally from Scandinavia and had settled in Normandy in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. In 1066, Duke William of Normandy conquered England.

Norman Conquest WHY DO WE CARE? The English elite were replaced by a French-speaking aristocracy, which had a huge impact on the language. It marks the beginning of the transition from Old English to Middle English.

Old English Literature Old English Literature (also known as Anglo-Saxon Literature) includes literature written in Old English in Anglo-Saxon England from the 7th century to the decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Surviving works include Caemon’s Hymn, The Grave, Parker Chronicle, and Beowulf. Most literature from this period are sermons, biblical translations, translated Latin works, Anglo-Saxon history books, legal documents, and poetry.

Cædmon's Hymn This is the oldest example of Old English Poetry. Notice the pronunciation. Do you think it sounds like English today? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29v_adW9dn0

Beowulf The most famous work of Old English literature. Heroic epic poem dated between the 8th and early 11th century. Survives in a single manuscript known as the Nowell Codex. The author is anonymous.

The Story of Beowulf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSqO7n9U

Beowulf Plot The Main Story Line The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hroðgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother with a sword of a giant that he found in her lair. Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his kingdom terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his treasure in a burial mound. He attacks the dragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him along with Tinshaw. Beowulf finally slays (=kills) the dragon, but is mortally wounded. He is buried in a tumulus or burial mound, by the sea.

What did you learn? Please tell me one thing that you learned in today’s lesson. NEXT CLASS: We will read an excerpt from the story of Beowulf.

Beowulf Part II Here are some pictures of famous heroes and villains. Turn and Talk with your partner for 1 minute in English. What makes a hero a hero? What makes a villain a villain?

Beowulf Plot The Main Story Line The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hroðgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother with a sword of a giant that he found in her lair. Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his kingdom terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his treasure in a burial mound. He attacks the dragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him along with Tinshaw. Beowulf finally slays (=kills) the dragon, but is mortally wounded. He is buried in a tumulus or burial mound, by the sea.

Beowulf “Fully they knew the strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me When I came from the contest, when covered with gore Foes I escaped from, where five I had bound, The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying The Nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows, The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered) Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil.” What three words would you use to describe Beowulf?

Grendel “Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes, Misery knew not. The monster of evil Greedy and cruel tarried but little, He drags off thirty of them, and devours (eats) them Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed.” What three words would you use to describe Grendel?

Comic Strip Reading Activity We are going to read the part of the story where Beowulf and Grendel fight. You must draw a comic strip of what you have read. You need a picture and sentence. You will have time in class to work on it but the final product is DUE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH. We will do the first frame together.

Grendel enters Heorot hall to eat all the men. Comic Strip Activity Grendel enters Heorot hall to eat all the men.

Finish these sentences Beowulf is _____________. Grendel is ______________.