ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND 449-1066

ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND

449-1066

ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND

449-1066

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• We start with a clan/tribe known as the Britons

THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE



–They lived in a time where people owed an allegiance to a lord in return for protection.

–This was a time of war, movement, and chaos

THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCEPRE-ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD: A. 800-600 BC - Britons battle Gaels and Celts (Greek for “Barbarian”) B. 43-410 - Britons battle the Romans

ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD: A. 410-449 Britain gets invaded from lots of tribes – Constant Upheaval! a. PICTS – keep pillaging b. SCOTS – Old English “raider,” from Ireland c. 442 – Britains invite SAXONS in alliance but are betrayed for the Scots. d. 449 – more GERMANIC invasions (Jutes, Frisians, Angles,

& Saxons) * e. 787 – Viking attacks start = pillage, loot, burn everything!



The Britons get invaded by

EVERYONE

I. 500 AD – historical King Arthur wins British victory

II. 597 - St. Augustine founds Christian monastery– First king of Anglo-Saxon England converted

to Christianity! (King Aethelbert I of Kent - Jute)

– Gradual Christianization by Roman and Irish missionaries - 7th century with persistent pagan customs as well *( Christianity flourished during the Roman

Empire, never left when it fell)

POINTS OF INTERESTPOINTS OF INTERESTQuickTime™ and a

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IV. 849-899 King Alfred, recognized as king of all England– Revival of learning… oral tradition turns to written

language for all

POINTS OF INTERESTPOINTS OF INTEREST



V. 1042-1066: Edward the Confessor (last Anglo Saxon king, deeply religious) beat up by William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings

OLD ENGLISH 1) NO WRITING: Writing went out of style with

collapse of Roman empire. Only the church had a few documents.

*Oral tradition / scops

2) Christian missionaries taught and wrote entirely in Latin, Old English was vulgar

3) Language is predominantly: Anglo-Saxon (German), Some Celtic/Gaelic words, Latin (450 words) Old Norse (50 words)



OLD ENGLISHOLD ENGLISH

OLD ENGLISH VERBS:

Cyssan – cyste – cyssed (kiss)Ridan – rad – ridden (ride)

Drincan – dranc – drunken (drink)Sprecan – sprac – sprecen (speak)

Fyllan – fylde – fylled (fill)Cnyttan – cnytte – cnytted (knit)

OLD ENGLISH VERBS:

Cyssan – cyste – cyssed (kiss)Ridan – rad – ridden (ride)

Drincan – dranc – drunken (drink)Sprecan – sprac – sprecen (speak)

Fyllan – fylde – fylled (fill)Cnyttan – cnytte – cnytted (knit)



CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM

CHRISTIAN– Spiritual culture - faith in

heavens and morality

– Loyalty to a God

– Bible

PAGAN- Warrior culture

- Loyalty to many gods Tell stories to teach lessons.

-COMITATUS: loyalty to lord, do anything for him (loyalty rewarded with fame/riches, mead hall),

- Exile worst punishment





PAGAN WORLD

The world is believed to be set up in different dimensions: – Gods (Asgard)

above– the underworld

(Hel) below– the Earth plane

(Midgard)



CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM

CHRISTIAN

PROVIDENCE: People followChristian qualities and obeycommandments in hopes of goingto a better after life.

You have the free will to live a good life. Suffering you endure will pay off in the glorious afterlife with God.

PAGANWYRD: You are powerless in life, with no real choice. It is a dangerous world ruled by FATE (predetermined)

You should have the courage to fight/die early. You live a a good life by achieving fame/glory through deeds, riches.

THINK ABOUT IT…THINK ABOUT IT…

What happens when you

die?

What happens when you

die?



THINK ABOUT IT…THINK ABOUT IT…

How do you PROVE you go to heaven for an afterlife?

How does the church convince so many people of the

time to buy into Christianity? Why might it sound appealing?

How do you PROVE you go to heaven for an afterlife?

How does the church convince so many people of the

time to buy into Christianity? Why might it sound appealing?



ANGLO-SAXON RECAPANGLO-SAXON RECAP

Warrior Culture: Britons lived in clans that owed allegiance to a lord in return for honor, fame, and gold. (comitatus)

Time of war, chaos, and transition. Everything is passed on through the oral tradition.

Old English is made up of Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Latin & Old Norse.

Revival of Education Pagan culture trying to be turned Christian by missionaries and

priests. Pagan views: many gods, WYRD, warrior culture Christian views: one god, PROVIDENCE, spiritual culture

Warrior Culture: Britons lived in clans that owed allegiance to a lord in return for honor, fame, and gold. (comitatus)

Time of war, chaos, and transition. Everything is passed on through the oral tradition.

Old English is made up of Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Latin & Old Norse.

Revival of Education Pagan culture trying to be turned Christian by missionaries and

priests. Pagan views: many gods, WYRD, warrior culture Christian views: one god, PROVIDENCE, spiritual culture

ANGLO-SAXON LITERATUREANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE

All passed down through an oral tradition until the mid 10th century (900s). It was caused by a church reform where monks were in charge of copying manuscripts.

All passed down through an oral tradition until the mid 10th century (900s). It was caused by a church reform where monks were in charge of copying manuscripts.

1) RIDDLES: entertainment/education

2) PROSE:Caedmon: “Hymn of Creation,” oldest vernacular work (Latin)Bede: “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” (Latin)

Used historians, other books, travelers, never left more than 75 miles!!

“Anglo-Saxon Chronicles” – begin writing down history in Old English so it was accessible to all

I am the lone wood in the warp of

battle, Wounded by iron, broken by blade,

Weary of war. Often I see

Battle-rush, rage, fierce fight flaring--

I hold no hope for help to come

Before I fall finally with warriors

Or feel the flame. The hard hammer-

leavings

Strike me; the bright-edged, battle-sharp Handiwork of

smiths bites in battle.

Always I must await the harder

encounter For I could never find in the world

any Of the race of

healers who heal hard wounds

With roots and herbs. So I suffer Sword-slash and death-wound day

and night.

A Shield-Wounded by iron, broken by blades-No comfort in herbal healing-handiwork of smiths-Sword slash and death wound day and night

Wob is my name twisted about-- I'm a strange

creature shaped for battle.

When I bend and the battle-sting

snakes Through my belly, I am primed to drive

off The death-stroke. When my lord and

tormentor Releases my limbs, I am long again,

As laced with slaughter, I spit out The death-blend I swallowed before. What whistles from my belly does not

easily pass, And the man who seizes this sudden

cup Pays with his life for the long, last

drink. Unwound I will not

obey any man; Bound tight, I

serve. Say what I am.

A bow!!!-Wob is my name twisted about

-I spit out the death-blend I swallowed before. - Unwound I will not obey any man; Bound tight, I serve.

LITERATURE: POETRYLITERATURE: POETRY

HEROIC: tales of warriors and battles Pagan/Warrior culture… FAME/WYRD Beowulf

ELEGAIC: lamenting the death/loss of loved ones,glory, or gold

Christian ideas, spirituality Happy past / desolate present “Seafarer” and “Wanderer”

HEROIC: tales of warriors and battles Pagan/Warrior culture… FAME/WYRD Beowulf

ELEGAIC: lamenting the death/loss of loved ones,glory, or gold

Christian ideas, spirituality Happy past / desolate present “Seafarer” and “Wanderer”

*POEMS COME FROM BOOK OF EXETER



POETRY TERMSPOETRY TERMS1) ORAL TRADITION originally 2) Typically narrative

3) Regular rhythm - Usually 4 strong beats, consistency for memorization and speaking

Ex. Now there are no rulers, no emperors

4) Kenning: metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun (embellished/figurative)

EX. Whale’s home = sea Rat’s nest = ? Sea-Steed = ? Brow Star = ?

1) ORAL TRADITION originally 2) Typically narrative

3) Regular rhythm - Usually 4 strong beats, consistency for memorization and speaking

Ex. Now there are no rulers, no emperors

4) Kenning: metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun (embellished/figurative)

EX. Whale’s home = sea Rat’s nest = ? Sea-Steed = ? Brow Star = ?

POETRY TERMSPOETRY TERMS

5) CAESURA: natural pause in a line of poetry Ex. With gift in the mead-hall and comfort for grief

5) CAESURA: natural pause in a line of poetry Ex. With gift in the mead-hall and comfort for grief



6) ALLITERATION: repetition of sounds in a sequence of words

(*Tongue twisters: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers)

POETRY TERMSPOETRY TERMS

7) PARAPHRASE: break down lengthy portions of text to find strictly meaning, put in your own words in a shorter manner

Advantage: understand meaning

Disadvantage: time consuming

7) PARAPHRASE: break down lengthy portions of text to find strictly meaning, put in your own words in a shorter manner

Advantage: understand meaning

Disadvantage: time consuming

I am a wonderful help to women,

The hope of something to come. I harm

No citizen except my slayer.

Rooted I stand on a high bed. I am shaggy

below. Sometimes the beautiful

Peasant's daughter, an eager-armed,

Proud woman grabs my body, Rushes my red skin, holds me

hard, Claims my head. The curly-haired

Woman who catches me fast

will feel Our meeting. Her eye will be wet.

An onion!-I harm no citizen

except my slayer

-I am shaggy below.

-Her eye will be wet.

-wonderful help to women

Suckled by the sea, sheltered near shore;

Cradled in the cold catch of

waves, Footless and fixed--often I

offered To the sea-

stream a stretch of mouth.

Now a man will strip my

bonelike skin From the sides of my body with a bright blade

And bolt my flesh, relish me

raw: A quick cuisine--

crack to jaw.

An oyster!!!- Suckled by the sea,

sheltered near shore - Footless- relish me raw

HEROHERO What does our generation/world define a hero as today?

What are his/her characteristics? Who are examples of

a hero?

What does our generation/world define a hero as today? What are his/her characteristics? Who are examples of

a hero?

HEROHERO DEFINITION: a man of distinguished

courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

NEED FOR A HERO: Changes with time depending on the

culture/climate We often look at major societal problems to create

or embellish who we should look up to

DEFINITION: a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

NEED FOR A HERO: Changes with time depending on the

culture/climate We often look at major societal problems to create

or embellish who we should look up to

HEROES vs. villainsHEROES vs. villains ANCIENT GREEK & ANGLO-SAXON:

Brave warriors fought for their country and lord/king against outside

Gladiator, 300, William Wallace

RENAISSANCE: Knights of the Round Table fought against people

who didn’t follow the law and to protect the king or ladies.

Robin Hood fought against the tyrants of the world.

WWII:

ANCIENT GREEK & ANGLO-SAXON: Brave warriors fought for their country and

lord/king against outside Gladiator, 300, William Wallace

RENAISSANCE: Knights of the Round Table fought against people

who didn’t follow the law and to protect the king or ladies.

Robin Hood fought against the tyrants of the world.

WWII:

How has the idea of a hero changed over time? Consider who he/she fought and what they stood for?

HEROES vs. villainsHEROES vs. villains

1930s - Creation of Batman, Superman, and early

Marvel Comics

1960s:

TODAY:

1930s - Creation of Batman, Superman, and early

Marvel Comics

1960s:

TODAY:

How has the idea of a hero changed over time? Consider who he/she fought and what they stood for?

Documents

ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND 449-1066