Anglo-Saxon Life and Literature (and Beowulf, lots of Beowulf)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Anglo-Saxon Life and Literature (and Beowulf, lots of Beowulf)

Today's goals

- You can explain what you have to do in this literature module.

- You can discuss the importance of literature. 

- You can explain the basic structure of Anglo-Saxon society.

Why would you read literature?

Literature

1. Entertain. Literature is something to be enjoyed, so approach it with an open mind!
   
2. Educate. In this module we 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 it.
3. Empathy. By reading about other peoples lives, thoughts, actions, we can learn to better understand other people in real life. 

What do you know about
Early Medieval England?

Romain Britain ->

Anglo-Saxon England

• AD 410: last Roman legions leave Britain
• 445-450: first Germanic settlers invited to Britain to help defend the country
• c. 450-500:  Germanic tribes invade in large numbers
• c. 500: Anglo-Saxon settlement completed

Anglo-Saxon Britain

• c. 500-1066: Anglo-Saxon England
  
• until c. 900: present-day England divided into 7 seperate kingdoms
  
• c. 800: attacks and invasions by Danes (Vikings)
  
• Danes control much of modern England: Danelaw
  
• Anglo-Saxons unite: Alfred the Great (c. 875)
  
• An abrupt end: 1066, the Norman Conquest

When did the Romans successfully invade Britain?

1. 700 BC
2. 410
3. 43
4. 450

Which king united the Anglo-Saxons to defeat the Danes?

1. Julius Caesar
2. William the Conqueror
3. Aelfric the Great
4. Alfred the Great

What year did the Norman Conquest take place?

1. 450
2. 1066
3. 800
4. 55 BC

Slaves

King

Peasants

Earls

Thegns

• Kings were surrounded  by young warriors and   rewarded them for their loyalty.

• Central meeting point: Mead hall, to eat, drink and listen to stories and poems.

Converting the heathen Anglo-Saxons to Christianity

Christianity brought literacy. Churchmen started writing down the history of England, often in beautifully decorated manuscripts.

Important literature from this time

1. The Ecclesiastical History of the Anglo-Saxon People, Bede
2. Beowulf
3. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (illustration)
   

What modern language is closest to Old English (450-1066 CE)

1. Modern English
2. Danish
3. Frisian
4. Dutch

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.

That's it for today, folks!

Please add any relevant information you learned today to your mindmap. Include:

- The structure of Anglo-Saxon society

- The role religion played

- The evolution of the English language

Today's goals

- You can explain the importance of reading literature.

- You can define the different stages of the English language.

- You can describe what makes an epic hero and compare that to a modern day hero.

- You can explain the importance of Beowulf to English literature.

Beowulf

Anglo-Saxons brought language and oral traditions:

- tales (heroic deeds/warlike acts)

- passed orally or sung by scops

- half-rhyme/alliteration 

Beowulf

• Epic poem
• Surviving manuscript from c. 1000, original probably from the 8th century
• On of the first pieces of literature (that we know of) written in Great Britain
• Germanic virtues: courage in battle + obedience to king
• Strong belief in magic + demons

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

Beowulf

- first 'English' piece of literature

- Epic hero story

- Over a thousands years old but still relevant today

What are your first thoughts on this 'story'?

Epic poem

- Epic hero, great heroism and bravery

- The setting of the poem is vast and includes 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.

7 characteristics of an epic hero

- Noble birth

-  Super human capabilities

- Vast traveler

- Unmatched warrior

- Cultural legend

- Humility

- Battles superhuman foes

Epic Hero vs Modern day Hero

Read the following passages carefully. Explain in your own words what the piece of text is about.

Thro’ wan night striding,

came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept

whose hest was to guard the gabled hall, —

all save one. ‘Twas widely known

that against God’s will the ghostly ravager

him could not hurl to haunts of darkness;

wakeful, ready, with warrior’s wrath,

bold he bided the battle’s issue.

Thro’ wan night striding,

came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept

whose hest was to guard the gabled hall, —

all save one. ‘Twas widely known

that against God’s will the ghostly ravager

him could not hurl to haunts of darkness;

wakeful, ready, with warrior’s wrath,

bold he bided the battle’s issue.

THEN from the moorland, by misty crags,

with God’s wrath laden, Grendel came.

The monster was minded of mankind now

sundry to seize in the stately house.

Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,

gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,

flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,

that he the home of Hrothgar sought, —

yet ne’er in his life-day, late or early,

such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!

What happened in the passage?

Grendel

The end