Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Monday, September 4th

Programme

- Literature: Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

- CE 2023-I: Work on texts 4 - 6

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

Beowulf

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

Why is Beowulf probably older than the late 10th century, do you think?

Anglo-saxon kingdoms

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!

Alliteration (alliteratie)

What examples of alliteration do you see on page 6?

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.

Riddle #1

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

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

Answer: an onion

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.

Answer: a fish in a river

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.

Answer: a shield

Literature Reader 

The Early Middle Ages

p. 10 - 13

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Window on the period in English history

A window on this period in English history

Chronicles were usually written by monks

AD 1 - AD 1154

Entries were not all about religious events

1066 

The Battle of Hastings

Depicted on the Bayeux tapestry

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  

Chronicles

on the Battle of Hastings

Get to work

- CE 2023-I: work on texts 4 - 6

- Have you finished and handed in your first essay?!

- Look for a book

(deadline = Thursday!)

Thursday

- Bring your Literature reader and CE 2023-I to class.
- CE 2023-I: finish texts 4 – 6
- Look for a book!