1. History of the People of Great Britain
449 A.D A.D

2. Cultural/Linguistic Influences
Celts (Brythons and Gaels) up to 55 B.C.
Roman Conquest 55 B.C A.D.
Anglo-Saxon Period 407 A.D A.D.
Viking Invasions 787 A.D A.D.
Norman Conquest begins in 1066 A.D.

3. Early England Created by Three Invasions
2. Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions 410 – 1066 A.D.
1. Roman Occupation 55 B.C.-410 A.D.
GERMAN(IC)
3. The Norman Invasion (The Battle of Hastings) in 1066 A.D.
LATIN
FRENCH

4. Pre-Historical /Pre-Roman
The island we know as England was occupied by a race of people called the Celts. One of the tribes was called they Brythons or Britons (where we get the term Britain)
The Celts were Pagans and their religion was know as “animism” a Latin word for “spirit.” Celts saw spirits everywhere
Druids were their priests; their role was to go between the gods and the people

5. The Roman Invasion
55 B.C A.D.

6. The Romans 55 B.C. Julius Caesar invaded Britain
Built roads designed for military purposes (commerce, communication, civilizing)
Infrastructure
Government (fell apart when they left)
Walls, villas, public baths (some remains still exist)
Language and Writing
Latin was official language
Religion
Christianity

7. Anglo Saxon Period
407 A.D- 787 A.D.

8. The Anglo-Saxons In 449, three groups invaded Britain Angles Saxons
Jutes
Anglo-Saxons
Drove the natives from the eastern, central, and southern areas
Became known as “Angles Land” or England
Germanic language developed into “Angle-ish” or English

9. The Anglo-Saxons
Originally started out with several tribal units organized by a king.
Anglo Saxons were Pagans
Paganism= polytheistic religion
Fate vs. Personal Freedom
Christians believe that all individuals have the freedom to make their own choice
Early Anglo Saxons worshipped ancient gods of German mythology

10. The Anglo-Saxons Writing: primitive system, “runic”
Oral tradition of Literature:
narratives handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, usually sung.
Scop (shope)--Old English poet or bard

11. Anglo Saxon Society Kings Athelings--Princes Witans--Counselors
Thanes--Nobles
Peasants--Agricultural Laborers
Theows--Servants
Thralis--Slaves

12. Anglo-Saxon Living Conditions
most of the towns built by the Romans had fallen into ruins
A village was made up of small groups of houses built around a larger hall.

13. The Anglo-Saxon Man Athletic Strong Seafaring Adventurous
Strong belief in fair play

14. Anglo-Saxon Ideals Loyalty to Lord or King
Great love of personal freedom
Respect for women
Love for glory
Honored the truth

15. The Viking Invasion

16. The Vikings
The Vikings were sea-faring, explorers, traders and warriors, Scandinavians during the 8th-11th centuries.
Expeditions that plundered and ended in conquest and settlements of Britain.
King Alfred “the Great” in 871 was able to use the language to appeal the English and his efforts saved the language.

17. The Vikings Politically and Culturally
there was no central government or church
Linguistically (The English Language at its Earliest)
The English language is “born” during the first millennium and is known as Old English
Old English is mainly Germanic
LOTS of dialects of Old-English

18. The Norman Invasion
begins in 1066 A.D.

19. The Normans
In 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans (powerful Northern Frenchmen) defeated the English and started a centuries-long conquest of England
Two Most Important Effects:
French becomes official language of politics and power and exerts enormous influence on Old English
England begins unifying under a French political system, much of which is still with us (even in the U.S.) today

20. The Anglo-Saxon Period in Review
Pre-Anglo-Saxon (really “pre” historical)
Celtic Peoples (approx 1700/400 B.C. – 55 B.C.)
Roman Occupation (55 B.C.-410 A.D.)
Anglo-Saxon/Viking
Angles, Saxons, Frisian, and Jutes (
Viking Raids/Invasions begin 8th c. and end 10th c.
Norman Invasion/Occupation (really in the Middle Ages)
four centuries of French rule

21. The Society of the Middle Ages

22. The 3 Estates
The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age.
Clergy
Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul
Nobles
French chiefly spoken, those who fight, purpose was to protect—allow for all to work in peace—and provide justice
Commoners
English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them

23. Feudalism The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800-1100)
Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm.
In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits. Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord.
Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.

24. Chivalry
A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals
Restricted to nobility
The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to…
God
his lord
his lady
Chivalric ideals include...
benevolence
brotherly love
politeness

25. The Church Provided guidance through well known precepts..
Seven Deadly Sins
Pride
Greed
Wrath
Envy
Gluttony
Sloth
Lust

26. The Wheel of Fortune
The idea of Fortune and her wheel was one of the most pervasive ideas throughout the Middle Ages.
On the wheel are depicted four figures: one at the top, one at the bottom, one rising, and one falling.
It served to remind of the temporality of earthly things.

27. What is Old English?
Germanic language introduced to the British Isles in the 5th century A.D.
Spoken before the Norman Conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066 AD which introduced French as the language of the noble class.
This language is the ancestor of the Modern English spoken today

28. Literature During the Medieval Period
Three distinctive phases in language in which literature was composed.
Old English
Middle English
Modern English present

29. Anglo Saxon Literature
Mostly oral stories, especially riddles
Doesn’t Rhyme
Uses alliteration
Uses Kennings
Metaphor often hyphenated ex. Whales-path= sea
Symbolism with Seasons
Spring: Youth
Summer: Adult
Autumn: Old Age
Winter: Death

30. Characteristics of Medieval Literature
Heroism
from both Germanic and Christian traditions, sometimes mingled
Beowulf
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Presentations of idealized behavior
literature as moral lesson
loyalty to king
chivalry
use of kennings (especially in Beowulf)
A figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun. Example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle.

31. Use of Allegory
An allegory is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal.
Much of medieval literature relied on allegory to convey the morals the author had in mind while writing--representations of abstract qualities, events, and institutions are thick in much of the literature of this time.

32. The Ideal of Courtly Love
This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord.
The knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord.
She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission.

33. The Quest
A quest is a hero’s journey towards a goal. The objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and the overcoming of many obstacles.
The hero's must obtain something, or someone, by the quest and with this object return home.
the code of conduct observed by a knight errant who is wandering in search of deeds of chivalry. This knight is bound by a code of behavior - a set of conventional principles and expectations.

34. The Hero
Is often of divine descent endowed with great strength and ability" or "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities"
The hero faces his greatest fear
The hero “dies,” so he can be reborn
The hero gains new perception
This new perception may create a moment of clarity
The moment may be of great self-realization for the hero
It may also be an epiphany for the hero’s companions

35. The Structure
Usually, an inner and outer problem for the character is set.
The hero is introduced; audience identifies with them
The hero lacks something, has a tragic flaw, or a deep wound
The call often produces disorientation and discomfort for the hero
The call is often in the form of a dire warning

36. The Structure
Excuses are used to avoid the call
This hesitation illustrates the formidability of the challenge ahead
Resistance creates change and strength, allowing the hero to grow
A physical or metaphorical crossing is made
The crossing is an irrevocable leap of faith, from which there’s no turning back

37. Characteristics of Epic Literature
The hero is a figure of imposing stature
The setting is vast, covering great nations or worlds
Action consists of deeds of great valor or require super human strength
Supernatural forces are evident
A styled of sustained elevation and grand simplicity
The poet recounts deed of the hero with a measure of objectivity

38. Structure of Epic Literature
The poet opens by stating the theme
The poet then invokes a muse
Opens the narrative in media res (literally means “in the midst of things”)
Has extensive use of epic similes

39. Literary Terms

40. Epic
A long verse narrative in an elevated style, presenting characters of high position in adventures
Examples: The Iliad, The Odyssey,
Gilgamesh, and Beowulf
Epic Simile
an elaborated comparison. Differs from the ordinary simile by being more involved and ornate. A secondary object is developed into an independent aesthetic object

41. Folk Epic Kenning An epic without certain authorship
An elaborate metaphor used in Old English poetry as a synonym for a simple noun
Example: whale-road

42. Litotes
a form of understatement and a characteristic of Old English poetry
Example:
“Twas a weary while! twelve winter’s time”
In Medias Res
a literary technique of opening a story in the middle of the action through flashbacks and other devices in exposition

43. Elegy Epithets a formal poem mourning the death of someone
descriptive phrases that may be repeated over and over. Frequently, several epithets are used in the same sentence
Example: “Prince of the Danes, protector of Scyldings, Lord of nations, and leader of men,…

44. Alliteration Alliteration Repetition of the first sounds of words.
Used to help scops remember the poem and to create unity within a piece.

45. Language Changes to the Culture
Roman Alphabet was gradually adopted
Christianity gradually replaced Anglo Saxon beliefs
Literature gradually changed from oral to written

46. OLD ENGLISH 400- 1066 Beowulf Middle English 1066- 1485 Chaucer 1485-
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum  si þin nama gehalgod tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum  urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg  and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum  and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.
Middle English
1066-
1485
Chaucer
Oure fadir þat art in heuenes halwid be þi name;  þi reume or kyngdom come to be. Be þi wille don in herþe as it is doun in heuene.  yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred.  And foryeue to us oure dettis þat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris þat is to men þat han synned in us.  And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.
Early Modern English
1485-
1800
Shakes-peare
Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen.  Giue us this day our daily bread.  And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer us from euill. Amen.
Modern English
1800-
present
Austen .

47. The End