1. Anglo-Saxons

2. What’s Going On? Great Britain was invaded by Angle and Saxon’s
Romans occupied Great Britain but evacuated troops due to troubles at home
Loss of this protection made Great Britain vulnerable
They had a strong warrior culture
They occupied the island for 6 centuries
They were originally divided into clans and later unified by King Alfred

3. What Developed
Great Britain was known for their warrior-king and his close-knit group of followers
Great Britain finally defended itself from the Danes (due to King Alfred)
This helped unify the Angle’s and Saxon’s: Anglo-Saxons
Christianity began to spread during this time

4. Important Date to Know 1066-The Norman Invasion/Battle of Hastings
William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) crosses the English Channel
William defeats Harold and the Anglo-Saxon army
French replaces English as the language of the ruling class

5. Literature of the Times
Anglo-Saxon’s introduced a Germanic ethos (spirit of a culture, what they value)
Celebrated the warrior and his exploits
Based primarily on oral poetry- recited stories and magic
Used alliteration heavily
Spoke in Old English

6. Culture Food and Drink Main meal was lunch Gathered wood in summer
Oats, barley, wheat etc were popular for pottage and beers
Wine was for the wealthy
Peas and beans
Vegetables and herbs
Meat: used the whole animal
Milk was used for mainly butter and cheese
Main meal was lunch
Gathered wood in summer
Used stoves
Boiling, stewing, grilling, and roasting were most common

7. Customs
Hard for kings to create new laws, most only upheld current laws
Kinship- family members were obliged to seek revenge on murdered family members
No juries, those being tried were responsible for gathering their own defense
Women had more rights now then in later time periods

8. Customs Continued….
When burying the dead, bodies were either put on a ship or buried beneath a mound

9. What’s an epic?
Long narrative poem about a quest, told in formal, elevated language
Larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular culture
Incredible plot involving large-scale events
Mix of myth, legend, and history that often includes gods and goddesses as characters

10. Why is it Important?
Epics represent a culture’s history, traditions, and values
Every culture has a story and wants everyone to know why their culture is “great”
Epics help humans bridge the gap between reality and divine (explain natural occurrences, etc)

11. First page of Beowulf

12. Beowulf The longest epic poem written in Old English
Written after fall of Roman Empire
The original manuscript of Beowulf dates back to 1000, however the poem is much older, dating back to 750.
Geographical descriptions and Christian elements, it’s assumed the writer may have been an Northumbria Monk (added Christian elements because fiction was not true, therefore a lie, which is a sin. They could get away with fiction if it contained Christian elements).
Does not take place in England

13. Summary England’s oldest surviving epic
Tells the story of Beowulf who comes to the aid of the Danes to defeat Grendel, who has been tormenting the Danes for 12 years.
He fights Grendel’s mother and returns to Geatland (his home) and becomes the ruler
Later, he faces one last threat, a dragon…his last battle?!

14. Setting Denmark---A loooooong time ago
This is where Beowulf goes to help Hrothgar and the Danes
Herot- the Mead Hall
Lake- swampy lake area, where Grendel and his mother live (yes, he lives with his mom!)
Sweden (where Beowulf is from)
Geatland-the town where Beowulf is from
Returns here and becomes ruler/leader…fights dragon here
Daneland=Denmark (Danes)
Geatland=Sweden (Geats)

15. Themes Central Idea in a work of literature
Possible themes to watch out for:
Importance of established identity
Heroic Codes vs. other value systems
Difference between a good warrior and a good king

16. Motifs
Reoccurring items, structures, and/or literary devices that help to inform the reader of the theme
Possible motifs:
Monsters
Mead Hall

17. Symbols
Person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for something beyond itself (ex-dove is a symbol for peace)
Possible symbols:
Golden Torque (collar or necklace)
The Banquet

18. Vocabulary
Epic Hero- has superhuman qualities. Either of noble birth or supernatural beings
Alliteration- repetition of consonant sounds
Kenning- A metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or even indirectly.
Scop (pronounced shop)-an Anglo-Saxon poet who told his tales through song/chants
Wyrd (pronounced weird)-the Anglo-Saxon word for fate
Page 21 Vocabulary: 6 words-define in your notes and use in a sentence (a different sentence than the one used in the book)