5Aa beowulf + norman conquest

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

welcome

old english period

- Anglo-Saxon tribes (Jutes, Danes) start to settle in the North

- First only come by for trade, over time settle in --> the more settled in, the more influence on English

- many basic english words have Germanic origin (it is why Dutch/ German and English are so alike)

- not only influence language, but also culture and "literature"

Old English period

-  Tribes bring their own topics and story traditions

- over time, interwoven with English society

- often oral tradition: told and retold and retold untill someone would write it down

Beowulf

Beowulf

- one of the oldest surviving stories

- an "epic" : a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and
adventures of heroic or legendary
figures or the past history of a nation.

-

What is a Heorot?

1. a mead-hall
2. a weapon
3. a castle
4. a dance

Who is angered by the feasting and attacks the soldiers?

1. Hrothgar
2. Sheafson
3. Grendel
4. Beowulf

How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?

1. with a magic sword
2. by attacking it with an army
3. only with his muscles
4. he uses magical powers

Where does Beowulf finds the magic sword?

1. in a cave
2. under water
3. locked in a cabinet
4. in a stone

What kills Beowulf in the end?

1. a unicorn
2. a dragon
3. a demon
4. an underwater monster

How many battles are there in the story?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

How is Beowulf typical for this period?

Middle English period

1066 - 1450

The Norman conquest

- The French take power after battle of Hastings

- Government, aristocracy etc. now all French

- bring their own culture to England --> chivalry

- French becomes the language of those in power

- Bring literary traditions and themes --> courtly love and chivalry

Language

- "fancy" words may have French roots --> words for different meats (Beef from the French boeuf instead of cowmeat)

- peasants still spoke English --> not much language change

--> why English has French language influences but is still a germanic language

Literature

- 2 main types of works were written down:
 religious texts  and chivalric literature

-  chivalry main theme in stories: loyalty, honour and courtly love (you can flirt, but not kiss)

- Source of King Arthur and his knights of the round table

What do you know about King Arthur?

Bonus: King Arthur

- was he real? --> kind of

- probably originated in Wales--> celts

- mentions of an "Arthur" fighting
against Saxons

- his fame grew --> legendary 

homework

- read the story of Sir Gawain and the green knight

- Do the excercises