1. British Literature ThursdayJanuary 21, 2016 S2 - Day 12 ACTIVITIES: 1.Discuss Journal… 2.Introduction notes for Anglo-Saxon Period 3.A-S Riddles Activity 4.Last 10 - Silent reading (BRING A BOOK!) ACTIVITIES: 1.Discuss Journal… 2.Introduction notes for Anglo-Saxon Period 3.A-S Riddles Activity 4.Last 10 - Silent reading (BRING A BOOK!) SUMMARIZER: - What do I need to bring / do to be successful in this class? SUMMARIZER: - What do I need to bring / do to be successful in this class? ACTIVATOR: (4-6 sentences, S.E.E.D. format!) Did the novel have a happy ending? Why or why not? Explain and provide examples to support… ACTIVATOR: (4-6 sentences, S.E.E.D. format!) Did the novel have a happy ending? Why or why not? Explain and provide examples to support…

2. The Anglo Saxons and Beowulf

3. Great Britain – England – Scotland – Wales Ireland is NOT considered a part of Great Britain

4. The First People Britain first settled by Celts Celts came from continental Europe between 800-600 B.C. 2 tribes of Celts: –Britons (settled in what is now Great Britain) –Gaels (settled in what is now Ireland)

5. Celtic Religion Animism – from Latin word for “spirit” Everything had spirits: rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, thunder Spirits had to be constantly satisfied Druids, priests, acted as intermediaries between gods and people Ritual dances, rites: Stonehenge?

6. The Invasion In 43 A.D., Romans invaded and Britons were either forced northward or into slavery; introduced the concept of Christianity Eventually (449), the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invaded (these are Germanic tribes). They took over and called the island “Angle-land.” They enslaved the people who were there

7. The Invasion Angles, Saxons, and Jutes carved the land into tribal kingdoms, but they came to think of themselves as one people: the English (a.k.a. Anglo-Saxons) By 650, most of England was Christian (but held onto pagan beliefs, too)

8. Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore 5 th Century Angles / Saxons from Germany Jutes / Danes from Denmark Attack across the North Sea Drove old Britons out before them “Germanic” Language became dominant in England from the Angles (Angle-land)

9. There was no written tradition People were farmers and hunters Warfare was a way of life People believed in many different gods (polytheistic) Thunor (aid to warriors in battle) Tyr (god of glory and honor) Woden (protector of heroes)

10. Anglo-Saxon Life Dominated by need to protect People lived close to animals in single-family homesteads around common area or a warm, fire-lit chieftan’s hall Wooden stockade fence around all Arrangement brought closeness to leader and followers Rule by consensus

11. Anglo-Saxon Women Women inherited and held property Retained control of property even when married Husband had to offer marriage gift Woman had personal control of gift Woman became Abbesses Rights ended with Norman conquest

12. Anglo-Saxon Religion Religion persisted despite influx of Christianity Dark, fatalistic religion from Germany Like Norse/Scandinavian mythology Odin: god of death, poetry, and magic; called Woden (Woden’s Day: Wednesday) Dragon: significant figure; guardian of the grave, and “death the devourer”

13. Bards: Entertainers/Historians Scops Skilled storytellers Equal in stature to warriors; creating poetry just as important as hunting, fishing, farming, or loving Strummed harp Told stories of heros Fame in poetry: defense against death

14. A/S Kings In 878, Alfred, King of Wessex (Egbert’s grandson) defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington. Alfred went on to recapture most of England, as well as promote education and literacy among his people. He became known as “Alfred the Great.” Alfred’s son and grandson won back the rest of England and made peace with the Vikings.

15. A/S Kings The small kingdoms fought amongst each other until 829—King Egbert of Wessex won control of all A/S kingdoms. Unfortunately, by the end of Egbert’s reign, Vikings had captured much of the kingdom (Vikings were Scandinavian—called Norse because they had crossed the North Sea—predominantly Danes); Vikings had taken over much of France, and that area became known as Normandy.

16. Monks Recorded works of oral tradition in the language of the people: Old English Recorded principal works in Latin, the language of the Church Copied manuscripts by hand in scriptorium (a covered walkway); oiled paper or class kept out some weather

17. 1066 King Edward died William (the Duke of Normandy)** laid claim to the throne (Edward may have promised the throne to William) Instead, the English council of elders chose Harold II as king Duke William attacked, defeated the A/S and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings. He became King William I **Remember: France = Vikings

18. French culture comes to England 1.feudalism —land is divided among lords who are loyal to the king. The lords give land to vassals in exchange for military duty. 2.chivalry —knights are expected to be honorable, brave, generous, skillful in battle, respectful to women, and helpful to the weak.

19. 1066 marks the beginning of what we consider English culture. Old English: a combination of the languages spoken by the Anglo-Saxons. Today it looks like a foreign language. Beowulf written in OE Oral tradition: heroic themes of courage, goodness, loyalty, strength Stories passed down by a scop (traveling storyteller often accompanied by a harp) Heroism in stories gave people a model for living and a form of immortality (tales would be about them and their heroism, to be told for generations). Remember, most people couldn’t read or write. They learned through stories, songs, and poems. Monks could read and write; they focused on Christian themes and are responsible for recording most of the OE literature that survives today (they added a religious quality to the stories)

20. Old English Poetry 3 major types of OE poetry: 1.heroic verse—celebrates courage, honor, loyalty 2.elegy—mourns a loss 3.religious verse—focuses on Christian teachings and stories *****Beowulf contains all three.

21. Beowulf (the poem) Over 3200 lines Composed between 700-750 AD; set in 6th century Based on Celtic and Scandinavian folk legends Only manuscript to survive Henry VIII’s destruction of monastic libraries; manuscript dates from 1000 (but was composed before that); now in British Museum in London Deterioration of manuscript means that there are gaps scholars have to fill in by guesswork

23. Poem gives vital information about OE social life & politics society rigidly feudal, highly civilized, highly violent. The poem glorifies war, death, and fame (fame is the most precious thing a man can have because it is the only thing that survives). Male dominated society In this society, weapons had names but slaves did not—they valued warfare more than people Proven swords and helmets were passed down from fathers to sons In a warrior society, the most important relationship is between warrior (thane) and his lord: based less on subordination than on mutual trust and respect. Warrior who pledged his loyalty became a voluntary companion to his lord—took pride in defending his lord and fighting in his wars. In return, the lord was expected to take affectionate care of his thanes, to reward them richly. Relationship between kinsmen also very important: if one’s kinsman was slain it was one’s duty to kill the slayer or exact payment—each rank of society was ranked at a price; this price had to be paid to the family to avoid their vengeance, even if the killing was accidental.

24. Did he really exist? The tribe in southern Sweden did exist, but Beowulf himself is fictitious. There was a real man named Beowulf (may mean “bear”) who helped the Danes and Geats fend off pirate attacks; however, he was not king of the Geats nor a Danish hero (more of a regular guy) Higlac (king of Geats, Beowulf’s king) and Hrothgar (king of the Danes, whom Beowulf helps) both based on real kings Significance of battle: what makes a good fighter tick? God grants Beowulf’s victory, but the good fighter (hero) is the one who becomes famous, never gives up, doesn’t worry about the possible consequences of bravery

25. Typical Themes Contains typical themes of seafaring warriors, a society bound by military/tribal loyalties bravery of warriors and generosity of rulers highly valued combines pagan folklore (monsters) with Christian themes (good vs. evil) –ex: Grendel is a monster, described as an enemy of God and descendent of Cain (first murderer in the Bible)

26. Beowulf: OE Superhero Beowulf is an epic hero: courage, physical strength, wisdom in guiding others, loyalty to the king, and supreme self-confidence. He embodies the ideals of his people. Story of Beowulf is an epic poem—long narrative poem written in formal language that tells of the adventures of a larger-than-life hero. Beowulf is a folk epic: story rises from the people and is passed by word of mouth from generation to generation until it is ultimately written down (contrast with literary epic, like the Aeneid, which is the work of one author setting out to follow a literary form). Epic plots contain supernatural events, span long time periods, involve distant journeys, and life and death struggles of good vs. evil. –The hero always represents good –The forces that threaten the people always represent evil

27. Beowulf is set in a time when warriors gathered in mead/banquet halls (mead=fermented honey wine) for great feasts, told of their adventures (raiding, looting, burning settlements). Kings gave riches to their bravest warriors in exchange for loyalty. People believed in monsters and dragons.

28. Mead Hall

29. REMEMBER ** Beowulf is NOT set in England, and the characters are NOT English: it’s set in Scandinavia and involves the Geats of southern Sweden and the Danes of Denmark.

30. Caesura – A break, pause, or interruption in a line of a poem

31. Epithet – a word or phrase which describes a person’s character; in place of a name or title

32. Kenning metaphorical circumlocution (talking around something without using its specific name) signifying a person or thing by a characteristic or quality of that person or thing. “whale road” = the sea “Higlac’s follower” = Beowulf

33. A funeral song or lament for the dead; a mournful poem Elegy –

34. Language Latin remained the language of ‘serious’ study King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of England, helped English gain respect as a language of culture

35. Terms / Dates to know EPIC (Epic hero) KENNING CAESURA ALLITERATION 1066 449 Domesday book William of Normandy Celts Elegy Venerable Bede A-S chronicle

36. The Anglo Saxons and Beowulf