Medieval Literature & Beowulf

Literature
Can be fun, really!
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 4

This lesson contains 40 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 4 videos.

Items in this lesson

Literature
Can be fun, really!

Slide 1 - Slide

Literature
1. Entertain: it is to be enjoyed, so approach with an open mind!
2. Learn about historical periods, looking through the eyes of the people who actually experienced that part of history rather than through the eyes of scholars writing about that same part of history a couple of centuries later.
3. Learn new words

Slide 2 - Slide

Expectations
- Listen carefully and take notes (bring an actual notebook and a folder).

- Step away from the conviction that literature can only be horrible.

- Courage!

Slide 3 - Slide

Exameneisen
Subdomein E1: Literaire ontwikkeling
7. De kandidaat kan beargumenteerd verslag uitbrengen van zijn leeservaringen met
ten minste drie literaire werken.
Subdomein E2: Literaire begrippen (alleen vwo)
8. De kandidaat kan literaire tekstsoorten herkennen en onderscheiden, en literaire
begrippen hanteren in de interpretatie van literaire teksten.
Subdomein E3: Literatuurgeschiedenis (alleen vwo)
9. De kandidaat kan een overzicht geven van de hoofdlijnen van de
literatuurgeschiedenis en de gelezen literaire werken plaatsen in dit historisch
perspectief.

Slide 4 - Slide

Medieval Literature: Old English

Slide 5 - Slide

Your favourite hero?

Slide 6 - Mind map

Why do people need heroes?

Slide 7 - Open question

Historical background Information

Slide 8 - Slide

Slide 9 - Slide

Roman Britain
- 50 BCE- 410 CE

- Romans bring Latin

- 410: Romans leave to defend homeland

Slide 10 - Slide

Anglo-Saxon Britain
- Different small kingdoms
- Wars between the kingdoms 
- Viking invasions and Danelaw --> Migration of the Peoples

- development of Old English also known as Anglo-Saxon English

Slide 11 - Slide

Slide 12 - Slide

Slide 13 - Video

Slide 14 - Slide

What modern language is closest to Old English (450-1066 CE)?
A
Modern English
B
Danish
C
Frisian
D
Dutch

Slide 15 - Quiz


Frisian is one of Europe’s least changed languages. 
English is one of Europe’s most changed languages. 
  


 Hoi, Aelfred is myn namme. Myn marse is fol fan Eels, buten Langh festjen is nin brae sperjen.

   Hwaet! Aelfred is min nama. Min bearwe is æla ful, ac an longe fæsten biergeþ nan hlaf.

   Hello, Alfred is my name. My basket is full of eels, but a long fast saves no bread.

Slide 16 - Slide

Slide 17 - Video

The end (of the Early Middle Ages)

Slide 18 - Slide

Answer the following questions about the old-English period.

Slide 19 - Slide

What is the English term for the historic period of 500-1066 ?

Slide 20 - Open question

Who tried to invade the British isles during the Anglo-Saxon period?

Slide 21 - Open question

Beowulf

Slide 22 - Slide

Beowulf
- Written around 850 CE
- Original in Old English
- First piece of literature (that we know of) written in Great Britain
- Epic hero story
- Over a thousands years old but still relevant today

Slide 23 - Slide

Why can't we call Beowulf the first English text ever written?

Slide 24 - Open question

Slide 25 - Slide

Slide 26 - Video

What are your first thoughts on this 'story'

Slide 27 - Open question

Epic poem
- Viking influences  because story takes place in Sweden
- Epic hero, great heroism and bravery
- The setting of the poem is vast and could include land, seas, oceans, the world, or even the whole universe.
- Supernatural or other worldly forces or beings such as Gods, angels, or demons
- written in a formal manner and they often use exaggeration.

Slide 28 - Slide

7 characteristics of an epic hero
- Noble birth
-  Super human capabilities
- Vast traveler
- Unmatched warrior
- Cultural legend
- Humility
- Battles superhuman foes 

Slide 29 - Slide

Epic Hero

Slide 30 - Mind map

Why is Beowulf an example of a classic epic poem?

Slide 31 - Open question

Questions?

Slide 32 - Mind map

The Middle English Period: 1066-1500

Slide 33 - Slide

Middle Ages

Slide 34 - Mind map

The Middle English Period
  • 1066-1485: (later) Medieval England
  • The Norman Conquest
  • Social change: the feudal system
  • A long war in France: the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)
  • A bloody war at home: the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485)
  • 1485: beginning of the Tudor Period
  • Linguistic change: a new language

Slide 35 - Slide

Norman Conquest

Slide 36 - Slide

Middle English (1) - History
  • 1066 - c. 1300: two languages side by side
  • Norman French: language of court, government, the law and trade
  • Old English: language of the common people (peasants, townspeople)
  • the two slowly merge into one language
  • c. 1300: Middle English
  • c. 1480: towards (Early) Modern English
  • Started with the battle of Hastings

Slide 37 - Slide

Slide 38 - Video

divine right

Slide 39 - Slide

feudal system

Slide 40 - Slide