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Welcome to Literature 12! This presentation will go through the course outline and begin our exploration through The Anglo- Saxon and Medieval Period. Richard Redgrave, The Poor Teacher (1843)
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The Middle Ages 449-1485 The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Period Middle Ages—a time of great upheaval and change in England Movement from oral tradition of Beowulf to Caxton’s printed word
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Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 Germanic Invasions Britons, Celtic people conquered by Romans—left in 410 when Romans required to return home to protect capital Approx. 449—Jutes from Jutland in Denmark invaded Britain followed by Angles and Saxons brought a common language Celts driven into Wales fighting—Britain continued to be heavily divided and military until 1066 when the Normans conquered the Anglo- Saxons
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Anglo-Saxon Civilization Although heavily military and divided, had common language base and HEROIC IDEAL through set of traditional heroes Hero—men of great courage respected and deferred to— commanded loyalty Fate Passing away of all things Artistic skills and learning Saxon Soldiers
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Christianity 314 AD bishop of London attended church council at Arles in France Monastery at Canterbury by St. Augustine 597 664 Synod at Whitby-When should Easter be?? Brought Roman Christianity and English Church together Caedmon--first religious poet Venerable Bede documented Caedmon’s life and wrote A History of the English Church and People Christianity will have a large influence on much of the literature we will look at throughout this course
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Alfred the Great English king encouraged use of English language and began the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle—recording of historical events Began English schools Code of law out of which emerged the English Common law and later, the Magna Carta of 1215
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Literature Oral tradition historical significance Strong beat & alliteration SCOP=professional poet Heroic tradition=focuses on hero and battles Elegiac tradition=mourns passing of earlier better times Christian beliefs combined with pagan ones Venerable Bede (673-735) A History of English Church and People (731) Alfred the Great Anglo Saxon Chronicle— promoted use of English language.
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Review: Anglo-Saxon Period 1. Why is the Anglo-Saxon period usually dated from 449? 2. Who occupied the British Isles before the coming of the Anglo-Saxons? 3. Who is credited with the unification of England? 4. Who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury? 5. Why has so little of Anglo-Saxon poetry survived? 6. What function was performed by the scop? 7. What are the two major traditions of Anglo-Saxon poetry? 8. With what work is Bede associated? 9. What work was begun by King Alfred as a record of English history? 10. What event brought the Anglo-Saxon Period to an end?
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Review: continued
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Your Assignment Read pages 9-10 and write down notes for this section of text. By referring to the literary terms at the back of your text, write a definition for EPIC and KENNING in your personal lit terms booklet and write down your examples. Read “The Coming of Grendel” (11-14). Be prepared to read aloud next class Focus when reading: characterization, allusion, kenning, epic, conflict, Christianity and Paganism, heroic qualities
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