Literature lesson 3: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Battle of Hastings and Sir Gawain & the Green Knight

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

Beowulf (recap)

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Battle of Hastings

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

When was most of England under Roman rule?

1. from 55 AD to 450 AD
2. from 450 BC to 55 AD
3. from 55 BC to 450 AD
4. from 450 BC to 55 BC

In Beowulf the most important value is

1. loyalty
2. revenge
3. courage
4. honour

Old English means

1. the language spoken in Shakespeare's time
2. all English before 1900
3. the same as Anglo- Saxon
4. the English of the Middle Ages

Sutton Hoo

Who lies probably buried in Sutton Hoo?

slave

to eat

child

woman

wale

etan

freó

bearn

dragon

darkness

warriors

king

draca

sceadugenga

sceoten

cyning

The Beowulf manuscript was written in the

1. 6th century
2. 10th century
3. unknown
4. 9th century

King Alfred defeated the Vikings and

1. used Anglo Saxon in his chronicle
2. translated Latin texts in Old English
3. preferred French instead of Latin
4. stimulated writing in Anglo Saxon

another word for mother tongue or native language is .................(ONE WORD)

Beowulf is a poem because

1. there is alliteration and rhyme
2. there is rhythm and rhyme
3. there is alliteration and rhythm
4. none of these

Old English literature

• c.450 - 1066 AD 
• Anglo-Saxon literature i.e. Old English 
• epic poetry, sermons, Bible translations, legal words, chronicles, riddles, etc.
• Beowulf, Caedmon's Hymn

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

• What is a chronicle?
• What is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle? 
• Point of reference: page 10 in your reader

Battle of Hastings

• 14 October 1066 - English vs Normans   
• Crown of England - King Harold vs William Duke of Normandy
• Harold's well-trained troops (exhausted, depleted) vs William's cavalry & infantry
• Who won? What was the significance of this victory?

Consequences of the battle for the English language

- French became the official language (church = Latin, state = French)

- Until the 14th century English was only spoken and not written

- Literature: stories, romans, ballads from French origin

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 

Get to work!

1. Read the text about the poem in your reader page 14.

2. Then read the poem (passage 1) on page 15 and 16  (just read quickly - do not worry too much about the details)

2. Work in pairs and write a short summary about the poem.

3. Type your summary by going to LessonUp - see instructions in the next slide.

What's up with Sir Gawain
and the Green Knight?

Read aloud and decipher

We will read passage 2 on page 17 

What is this romance about?
Use short phrases/keywords.

Summary

- takes place during New Year's Eve at King Arthur's court

- Green Knight appears, challenges any bravehearts to a game

- King Arthur accepts the challenge, Sir Gawain leaps up and cuts off the knight's head

- something extraordinary happens! 

- there's a catch - the challenger must accept the same fate in return

Why is this piece significant for English language?

• one of the masterpieces of Middle English literature
• composed in the West Midlands region of Britain
• at the end of 14th century
• poem - alliteration, complicated form, derived largely from French Arthurian tales
• King Arthur - a legendary British king

Discuss questions about Beowulf in your reader page 8. You have to record your answers. Do this by following these steps:

a. scan the QR code 

b. key in the group code: b832d551

c. start recording your answers 

(you may go outside to record)