1. History & Literary Techniques
Anglo-Saxon Notes
History & Literary Techniques

2. Early History of England
The island, that we now call England, was originally inhabited by Celtic tribes from Central Asia.
In 43 AD Roman legions began the invasion that would lead to the conquest of low land Britain.
The Romans brought:
architecture
art
"civilization"
Christianity
literacy

3. The Romans founded the cities that are today London (then Londinium) and Wincester.
During the fall of the Roman Empire AD, the Romans left behind the Celtic tribes.
Because they were left alone, this left the natives open to attacks from:
The neighboring Picts (what is today Scotland)
Jutes (a Germanic tribe). 
The Celts called for help from the Angles and Saxons, tribes from the area that is the modern Germany - Denmark area.

4. The Angles and Saxons saved the Celts, but then turned against them and settled in England, becoming the Anglo-Saxons who lived in Angle-Land (England). 
In 879AD King Alfred the Great:
Soundly defeated the Danes
Went on to recapture London
Drove the Danes back to the northeastern part of England
United the south
During the next century, the kings of Wessex won back the rest of England.

5. The Anglo-Saxon Language and Literacy
The early Anglo – Saxons spoke various Germanic dialects, a mixture of which formed the basis of Old English.
These new invaders brought:
rich oral tradition of songs and stories
subjects include the valiant struggles of heroic warriors
With illiteracy widespread the oral traditions of songs and stories became entertainment for the Anglo- Saxons.

6. These stories and songs:
offered a model for living
served as a form of immortality
Unlike the Christian beliefs, the pagans did not believe in an afterlife.
The subject of a heroic tale would live on long after their mortal death.

7. Anglo-Saxon Poetry Poems are:
Representative of the Anglo-Saxon society
Heroic behavior is praised
Communities are bound by military and tribal loyalties
Bravery of warriors and generosity of rulers are highly valued.
There is almost no romantic love.
Overall effect:
To formalize and elevate language,
Often through the use of literary devices. 
(think of the techniques employed in your literary terms vocabulary words).

8. Beowulf contains all three styles.
Types of Poems
Heroic
Celebrates courage, honor, and loyalty
Elegiac
Mourns a death
Laments the fleeting nature of life’s joys
Religious
Focuses on Christian teachings and stories.
Beowulf contains all three styles.

9. The Anglo-Saxon Religion
Prior to the Roman invasion:
The people in what we now call England, were pagan.
The pagans:
worshiped their gods and goddesses for thousands of years before the coming of Christianity.
Their gods and goddesses were
part of, and ruled practically every aspect of their lives
such as birth, life, death
harvest, earth, sky
love, fertility
nature, weather and much more.

10. While the Romans brought Christianity to the land, it was not until around 650 AD that England was fully Christianized.
Unlike the Christian beliefs, the pagans did not believe in an afterlife.

11. Religion in Beowulf The epic, Beowulf:
blends monotheism (one ultimate being, God, as in Christianity)
paganism, hence, exposing the culture of the Anglo-Saxon times.
Whether it is the hideous monsters or "The Almighty," Beowulf unveils the different elements of each religion.
The pagan religion seems to embody the evil forces of the world.
The Christian aspects appear to favor human struggle for freedom.

12. The mixture of the Christian and Anglo-Saxon religions in the epic, Beowulf outlines the classic campaign between the forces of good defeating the forces of evil.
Religion is a complicated issue in Beowulf.
The story is told in late medieval Anglo-Saxon Britain, which has been Christianized.
However it concerns early medieval Scandinavia, which is pagan.

13. The narrator of the poem compromises:
by making constant references to God's decrees in general terms
but never discussing Jesus or the specific tenets of Christianity
Although the poet can't get away from the fact that his hero, Beowulf, would have been a pagan
he can suggest that Beowulf's trust in God translates easily into a Christian context.
The only specific references to Christian stories are some references to the Old Testament story of Cain and Abel.

14. Anglo-Saxon Life Warrior life (below are traits admired in warriors)
Courage
Strength
Generosity
Loyalty
Good sportsmanship
Endurance
Athletic prowess
Bravery
Respect for each other
Action & fighting

15. Anglo-Saxon Social Life
Mead Hall: the King’s gathering place. Men drank mead (mead- fermented liquor made from honey).
Functions as an important cultural institution:
Provides light, warmth, food, drink, singing and revelry
Traditions were preserved, loyalty was rewarded, stories were told, and reputations were spread.
Represented:
Safe haven for warriors returning from battle
Small zone of refuge within a dangerous world that was constantly under threat by attacking neighbors