1. Introduction to Literture

2. A. What is literature 1. Definition: Literature is the art of language and words (letters). It is a very special language that says more and says it more powerfully and/or beautifully than ordinary language –Why do we read? To learn, to understand, and to eventually become wise. To become more fully human To “get the most” out of life

3. --Literature: the stories and writing from those who have experienced life and which were written to show us the power, the complexity, the wonder and the suffering of human experience. The universality of human experience across time and culture literature as art—form and content

4. B. The Three Levels of Literature 1. The surface level--

5. B. The Three Levels of Literature 1.The Surface Level 2. 3.The Thematic Level

6. B. The Three Levels of Literature 1.The surface Level 2. 3.The Thematic Level --the psychological --the social --the universal

7. B.The three levels of literature 1.The surface level 2. Techniques 3. Thematic level—psychological --social --universal

8. C. The Personality of England 1. Timeline of British Literature and Thought 449 1066 1492 1660 1790 1830 1914 1945 l____l_____l_____l___l___l___l___l___ Anglo- Medieval Rennais. Reason Rom. Victor. Mod. Anxiety Saxon

9. 2. Britain’s Island Personality Strongly independent nationally (isolated, proud) Individual freedom—Anglo-Saxon heritage (Western idea of the worth of the individual) Strongly traditional – class system (medieval), mistrust of the merchant class, still maintains a royal family into the 21 st century

10. Anglo Saxon Literature

11. I. Anglo Saxon Literature (449— 1066) A.Introduction—Historical and Philosophical Background 1. Germanic invasions (Britons [Celts] conquered by Romans—Romans leave—Germanic barbarians invade a. Angles b. Saxons c. Jutes

12. I.Anglo Saxon Literature 2.Primitive Heroic Ideal a. Ideal of Kingly behavior b. The Warrior ideals c. Goal—win enduring fame

13. 3.Christianity and Written Culture Arrive a. 597—Augustine (no, not that one) arrives in England and brings writing and a new morality --earlier Celts and Romans had been Christians 4.The Venerable Bede 5.Alfred, King of the West sAxons (871— 899)

14. 4.Old English Poetry a. written literature in England begins in 7 th century b. Before that—the scop c. Mead, mead halls, and mead hall lifestyle

20. d. The Spirit of Old English Poetry dark world; little humor; warrior life style (no “romantic” poetry) but—OE poetry had --extraordinary intensity --ironic understatement --subtle and intense depiction of the nature or reality—no sentimentality—wyrd (fate)

21. 5.Types of Anglo Saxon Literature a. heroic epic—long narrative whose main character is THE EPIC HERO --great bravery --super human ability --generosity

22. b. Elegiac lyrics—express thoughts and feelings—reflects the past (e.g. _______) c. Riddles—guessing games --shows Anglo Saxon love of

23. 6.Style of Literature—AS Literary Techniques alliteration kenning caesura rhythm

24. B. Beowulf 1.Introduction a. Great epic poem of the Anglo Saxon age b. English writing about their Germanic forebears c. originally oral (scops) but written down later (early 700s) by a Christian (the “Beowulf poet”)

25. d.Beowulf is a profound mixture of two sets of values 1. Anglo Saxon Heroic Ideal 2. Christian morality and God

26. 2. Meanings in Beowulf a.Surface level b. Not just about feuds but about a deeper sense of evil—what does Beowulf say about evil? --the symbolism of the monster

27. 2. Meanings in Beowulf (con’t.) C. What does Beowulf say about the Heroic Ideal? --bravery is the instrument by which the hero realizes himself --Hrothgar compared to Beowulf—shows what? --Beowulf meets his doom but not before he shows his ______________

28. 2. Meanings in Beowulf d.Philosophical level --what does Beowulf say about fate (wyrd)? --the chance universe --sense of doom, knowledge of death --bravery and courage

29. 2. Meanings in Beowulf e.Psychological / archetypal level 1. The hero’s journey (the monomyth) 2. What does Beowulf say about being human?

30. 3.Setting and Characters a.Herot— b.Hrothgar— c.Beowulf— d.Grendel

35. 3. Setting and Characters e.Grendel’s mother— e.Swamp-- f.Dragon— g.Wiglaf--

38. 4. Network of Symbols See Handout Sheet and discuss

39. 5. Conclusion The Anglo Saxon people, like all people, were much like us, dealing with— --a dangerous and seemingly uncaring world --what being human means --what living with bravery and honor means --battling the monsters that endanger us They were our grand—parents who lived in difficult times with pride and courage.