Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Monday, September 9th
1 / 29
next
Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 5

This lesson contains 29 slides, with text slides and 3 videos.

time-iconLesson duration is: 70 min

Items in this lesson

Monday, September 9th

Slide 1 - Slide

Programme
- Literature: Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
- CE 2024-I: Work on texts 4 - 6




-> Have you handed in your 1st essay through ELO Opdrachten yet?

Slide 2 - Slide

Beowulf

  • Read page 5 and the first 2 paragraphs of page 6

Slide 3 - Slide

Anglo-saxon kingdoms

Slide 4 - Slide

Slide 5 - Video

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð
feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad,
weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,
oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra
ofer hronrade hyran scolde,
gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning!

Listen! We of the Spear-Danes in the days of yore, of those clan-kings, heard of their glory,
how those nobles performed courageous deeds.
Often Scyld, Scef's son, from enemy hosts
from many peoples seized mead-benches;
and terrorised the fearsome Heruli after first he was found helpless and destitute, he then knew recompense for that,
he waxed under the clouds, throve in honours,
until to him each of the bordering tribes
beyond the whale-road had to submit,
and yield tribute. That was a good king!

Slide 6 - Slide

Alliteration (alliteratie)

Slide 7 - Slide

Slide 8 - Video

Riddles
The Anglo-Saxons loved riddles. They told each other riddles as well as listening to poems at their feasts. Some of the riddles were written down, so we are able to read them today.

Slide 9 - Slide

Riddle #1
Four dilly-dandies (teats on the udder)
Four stick standies (legs)
Two crookers (horns)
Two lookers (eyes)
And a wig wag (tail)

Slide 10 - Slide

Now it's your turn: Riddle #2
When I am alive I do not speak
Anyone who wants to take me captive and cuts off my head
They bite my bare body
I do no harm to anyone unless they cut me first
Then I soon make them cry

Slide 11 - Slide

Answer: an onion

Slide 12 - Slide

Riddle #3: A creature and its home
My home is not quiet but I am not loud.
The lord has meant us to journey together.
I am faster than he and sometimes stronger,
But he keeps on going for longer.
Sometimes I rest but he runs on.
For as long as I am alive I live in him.
If we part from one another
It is I who will die.

Slide 13 - Slide

Answer: a fish in a river

Slide 14 - Slide

Riddle #4: There are lots of these in the story of Beowulf.


I am all on my own, wounded by iron weapons and scarred by swords.
I often see battle. I am tired of fighting.
I do not expect to be allowed to retire from warfare
Before I am completely done for.
At the wall of the city, I am knocked about and bitten again and again.
Hard edged things made by the blacksmith's hammer attack me.
Each time I wait for something worse.
I have never been able to find a doctor who could make me better
Or give me medicine made from herbs.
Instead the sword gashes all over me grow bigger day and night.

Slide 15 - Slide

Answer: a shield

Slide 16 - Slide

Literature Reader 
The Early Middle Ages
p. 10 - 13

Slide 17 - Slide

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Slide 18 - Slide

Window on the period in English history
A window on this period in English history

Slide 19 - Slide

Chronicles were usually written by monks

Slide 20 - Slide

AD 1 - AD 1154

Slide 21 - Slide


Entries were not all about religious events

Slide 22 - Slide

1066 
The Battle of Hastings
Depicted on the Bayeux tapestry

Slide 23 - Slide

Slide 24 - Video

Consequences of the Battle of Hastings 
for the English language
  • French became the official language 
Language of the church: Latin 
Language of the state: French 
  • Until the 14th century English was only spoken and not written: 
- a lot of conjugations were lost, a complex language changed into a relatively simple language 
- many French words gradually entered the language. Now about 40% are loanwords from the French language 
  • Stories, romances, ballads from French origin were taken over in literature  

Slide 25 - Slide

Slide 26 - Slide

Chronicles
on the Battle of Hastings

Slide 27 - Slide

Get to work
- CE 2024-I: work on texts 4 - 6




- Have you finished and handed in your first essay?!
- Look for a book (deadline = next week!)



Slide 28 - Slide

Thursday
- Bring your Literature reader and CE 2024-I to class.
- CE 2024-I: finish texts 4 – 6
- Look for a book!

Slide 29 - Slide