1. The Anglo-Saxon Period

2. Anglo-Saxon life Loyalty was key to the survival of your clan.
Comitatus
Thanes, or warriors, swore loyalty to their king.
A king was expected to be generous with gifts of treasure, land, and protection in exchange.
Life centered around the strength of the leader or chief in every tribe/community.
Homes were clustered around the chieftain's hall.
A large wall surrounded the group for protection.

3. Scops The communal hall also served as an entertainment hall.
The Anglo-Saxon story tellers were called ‘scops.’
The tales reflected people’s worries such as war, disease, and famine.
They often focused on a hero or heroic deed.
Stories provided an escape from their everyday strife.
They offered a sign of hope—hope of immortality through the stories.

4. The Celts The 1st British settlers The Britons were a sub-group
They had a strong belief in wyrd
Animism—the belief that everything has a spirit

5. Pagan [pey-guhn] noun
1. one of a people or community observing polytheistic religion 2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. 3. an irreligious or hedonistic person 4. a person deemed savage or uncivilized and morally deficient Synonyms: heathen; gentile; nonbeliever

6. A time of bloody conflicts, violence, and barbarism War was a norm
In the literature, winter prevails; there is rarely humor
Bleak existence—the only certainty was death
Widespread plague also marked the period

7. Appreciating Beauty in Anglo-Saxon culture
Excavated Objects & Artwork: ULFBERHT sword & the Sutton Hoo helmet Language & Literature: Kennings-a poetic phrase that substitutes for a noun, often evoking strong imagery and sometimes employing alliteration
Over 4000 garnets,
were used on objects
from Sutton Hoo—
some of them
in the helmet's eyebrows.

8. In your groups, try to figure out the equivalents of these modern kennings
Gas guzzler
The Dark Knight
Muffin top
Rug rat
Man of Steel
Eye Candy
Cancer Stick
Boob Tube
Couch Potato
Tramp stamp
Equivalents
A car with poor gas mileage
Batman
Love Handles
A mischievous child
Superman
A person/thing that has visual appeal, but lacks substance
Cigarette
Television
Someone who gets little exercise
A provocative tattoo placed “where the sun don’t shine”

9. In your groups, try to figure out these Anglo-Saxon kennings
Sky-candle
Swan-road
Battle sweat
Helmet bearers
Dwelling place
Storm of swords
Equivalents
The sun
The ocean
Blood
Warriors
Home
Battle

10. 2. Turn to your partner and tell them one thing you’ve learned so far.
1. Can you think of any other modern kennings that you know? If so, share them now.
2. Turn to your partner and tell them one thing you’ve learned so far.

11. Britain: The Early Years & Roman Influence
Julius Caesar attempted to conquer the Britons in 55 B.C. but failed
A century later, Britain became a province of the Roman Empire
Romans brought government, roads, and Christianity
The Romans withdrew by 410 A.D.

12. Angles & Saxons Angles and Saxons invade ~ 449 A.D.
Britons driven west and north
The main part of Britain took on a new name: Angle-land
The Anglo-Saxon language became the language known as Old English

13. Monasteries
Augustine (a Roman missionary) creates a monastery at Canterbury in 597 A.D.
Center of intellectual, literary, and artistic activity
Fostered education and learning
Preserved Anglo-Saxon stories on paper (including Beowulf & “The Wanderer”)

14. Share something you’ve learned with a different partner.

15. Vikings invade in the 790s from Denmark and Norway
They take control of the north and east.
Vikings plundered monasteries
Pagans sometimes worshipped their weapons (see Animism)

16. Alfred the Great, Edward the Confessor, Harold the…uh…Harold, and William the Conqueror
In the south, Alfred the Great defeats the Vikings in 878
Alfred established English as a ‘respected’ language
In 1042, Edward the Confessor, a deeply religious descendant of Alfred, takes the throne.
He allegedly promises the throne to his cousin William, but an English earl named Harold becomes king.

17. The Norman Conquest
William led an army from Normandy in the last successful invasion of Britain
Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and on Christmas Day, “William the Conqueror” was crowned king of England
Ended Anglo-Saxon dominance in England

18. Beowulf is likely composed ~750 A. D
Beowulf is likely composed ~750 A.D. and is set in the 6th century in Scandinavia
Fun Fact: This manuscript survived a fire in 1731
because it was thrown out of a library window.

19. Time to hammer in the knowledge you’ve gained.
Turn to one last partner and share something you’ve learned.

21. Sources
Anglo-Saxon Video. The Open University. Web. 31 Aug 2013.
Elements of Literature, Sixth Course: Literature of Britain with World Classics. Holt, Rinehart and Winston: New York,
Holt McDougal Literature, Grade 12. Orlando: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Print.
Huff, Dana. "Beowulf.” Penguin Group, Print.
Leneghan, Francis. "Beowulf." Great Writers Inspire. Oxford University. United Kingdom, Oxford. 07 Feb Lecture.
"pagan." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 31 Aug <Dictionary.com  pagan>.
"Sutton Hoo Helmet." BBC- A History of the World. BBC. Web. 31 Aug
The Norman Conquest Video. The Open University. Web. 31 Aug