4H Lit - Norman Conquest

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

English Literature

NORMAN CONQUEST

This lesson

• Literature?? How / what
• How the land of the Celts became early modern England
  
• 43 AD to 1066 AD 
• Beowulf

Homework: Assignment 1+2 (workbook p. 1)

Literature??

• Lessons about the history of literature (1-2 per week)
• Survey
• Workbook & LessonUp
  

Before England

• From c. 700 BC: modern Britain inhabited by great number of Celtic tribes
• 55 BC: Julius Caesar tries to invade Britain but fails
• 43: the Romans successfully invade Britain (emperor Claudius) and start their conquest
• Britannia (Roman Britain)
• 410: last Roman legions leave Britain
• c. 450: Anglo-Saxon invasions begin

From Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England

• 410: last Roman legions leave

Britain

• 445-540: 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

The Old English Period

• 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
  

Anglo-Saxon England

• c. 500-800: period of the seven kingdoms, often at war with each other 
  
• from c. 800: a slow process of unification (under pressure from Danish invaders) 
  
• period of relative prosperity 
  
• gradual conversion to Christianity 
  
• monasteries important centres of learning
  

The Norman Conquest

• 1066
  
• The Battle of Hastings
  
• William of Normandy / William the Conqueror
• Great social, cultural and linguistic changes

Beowulf

• Epic poem
• Manuscript from c. 1000
• Germanic virtues: courage in battle + obedience to king
• Strong belief in magic + demons

Beowulf opening lines

Go to Survey (green booklet) p. 5

How should this be pronounced?

Which words remind you of Dutch?

Which words from Beowulf remind you of Dutch?

Who were the original
inhabitants of England?

When did the Romans successfully invade Britain?

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

What year did the Norman Conquest take place?

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

What is your favourite
word from Beowulf?

Next literature lesson

• Discuss assignment 1+2 (homework assignments)
  
• Reading > short stories + assignments
  

Assignment 1

Go to workbook p. 1

Find out where the place names originate from

Use the internet + discuss with each other

5m

Assignment 2

Go to workbook p. 1

How can the ancient story of Beowulf be interesting for a modern audience?

Discuss and write down your arguments

5m