Anglo-Saxon England

449-1066 A.D.(What centuries?)

England

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Scotland

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Northern Ireland

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Wales =

United Kingdom or Great Britain

Flag of Scotland

Flag of Northern Ireland

Flag of England / Britain

Flag of Wales

It's a composite flag of England's St. George's Cross (the centered red cross bordered in white), St. Andrew's Cross of Scotland (the diagonal white cross on the blue field), and the Patron Saint of Ireland (diagonal x-shaped red saltire).

History of Great Britain

•Physically isolated from the continent – much more

susceptible to invaders

•English traditions and language “molded”

•Celts—first settlers (700 BC – 4th century)

•Introduced iron to Europe

•Religion - spirits of the land that controlled all aspects of life (animism)

•Druids—religious intermediaries for people to gods•Mythology of Celts influential to writers—King Arthur’s adventures by

Sir Thomas Malory

History of Great Britain, cont.•Roman general Julius Caesar tries to conquer British Isles in 55 B.C.

•Julius Caesar quickly claims a victory for Rome yet returns home, leaving Britons, Picts and Gaels alone.

•Claudius Caesar returns to British Isles 100 years later to lay claim to J. Caesar’s “conquered property” – becomes known as part of Roman Empire.

•Positive influence – developed cities (Hadrian’s Wall), roads and education and introduced Christianity – “Romanizing” British Isles and its people•Dependent upon Rome for everything, especially military.•After roughly 300 years, Romans return home to help salvage their mother land, leaving British Isles defenseless.

                                            

Hadrian’s Wall—built for protection by Romans

History of Great Britain, cont.

• Around 449 A.D., the Angles, the Saxons and many other Germanic tribes invade and fight the Britons.

• Britons are defeated and pushed to Cornwell, Wales, Scotland and Brittany, France.

• Main part of Britain settled by the Anglo-Saxons and renamed land “Angle-land” (England).• New culture and new language of the people of “Angle-land”: Old English

History of Great Britain, cont.

• Anglo-Saxons constantly on the defense, both foreign and local.

• In 790’s, the Vikings (Danes) invade and plunder – realize “Angle-land” is

much more pleasant than Denmark / Norway during the winter months –

establish settlements in the north and east of the country.

• Unity of the Anglo-Saxon people needed to protect their country – both Christianity and King Alfred the Great helped do just that.

• Alfred the Great – wonderful leader; pushed development in both culture and education (commissioned Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which recorded English history).

Anglo-Saxons: warfare was the order of the day

History of Great Britain, cont.

• In 1042, King Edward (Edward the Confessor) takes the throne, one of King Alfred’s descendants.

• Edward had no heirs to the throne – claims that he was to name his French cousin, William of Normandy, as successor.

• After Edward’s death, nobles and church officials wanted an Englishman to rule (Harold II) – in retribution, William of Normandy attacks and successfully invades Britain – Norman Conquest.

• Harold II killed at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066 and

William the Conqueror (a Frenchman) is crowned king of “Angle-land.”

• This event ends the Anglo-Saxon dominance in “Angle-land.”

• Form of artwork - Bayeux Tapestry (a thick piece of textile fabric embroidered with colorful images).

• Roughly 230 feet long, 1.6 feet tall – commissioned by William’s brother.

• Depicts the events (roughly 50 separate scenes) leading up to the Norman Conquest of England (including Battle of Hastings as the final scene).

• Accompanying the images are “captions” written in Latin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry

History of Great Britain, cont.

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.

• In the beginning, Anglo-Saxons were Pagans (a religion other than the mainstream).

• Strong belief in wyrd (O.E. for “fate or personal destiny”)

• Admiration given to heroic warriors who would prevail in battle.

• Introduction of Christianity – gave Anglo-Saxon people a more positive outlook on life – suffering on the world of man would “pay off” in the afterlife.

• By 300 A.D., large number of Christians inhabited England.

• By 690 A.D., all of England was ”Christian,” even though some still held on to some pagan traditions / beliefs.

• Christianity will continue as a “dominant cultural force for more than a thousand years to come” (British Literature 25).

Women in Anglo-Saxon Culture

•Women had rights: held property; was offered morgengifu, or “morning gift” from prospective husband.

•Joined religious communities—nunneries and monasteries (Abbesses)

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.

•Law and order were the responsibility of the leader

•Lived in homesteads clustered together—showed closeness of community to each other and leader

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.• Central location in typical Anglo-Saxon

community – communal hall (mead hall)

• Anglo-Saxon “community center”: meetings, celebrations, special occasions

• Scops or Bards – ancient storytellers who would tell stories and sing while playing a harp; oral art form – stories memorized and performed – commemorate heroic feats

• Stories were history, morality and motivation to

Anglo-Saxon people – glimpse of immortality

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.• Forms of Anglo-Saxon literature:

1. Epic poetry (long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies and reflects the values and realities of a particular society).

2. Lyric poetry (shorter poems that reflected more everyday reality of Anglo-Saxon life)

• Elements of Anglo-Saxon literature:

1. Wergild (amount paid to family of victim after death; created to stop feuds – amount of wergild differed depending on “value” of person killed)

2. Figurative language (alliteration, metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, stock epithets, kennings, etc.)

3. Archetypes (characters, situations and images that are recognizable in many times and cultures – e.g., epic hero, loyal servant, suitors’ contest, wicked temptress, ferocious

beast / creature)

• Poetry was as important as other “necessary” activities (i.e., farming, fighting, hunting).

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.

Typical conventions of an epic:

1. Setting is vast – usually includes more than one nation

2. Plot is complicated – supernatural elements and journeys through strange / foreign lands

3. Dialogue is evident – lengthy, formal speeches given by major characters

4. Themes are timeless – encompasses universal ideas

5. Style is sophisticated – very formal diction and very serious tone

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.

Quintessential hero of the time period:

1. Of noble birth or high position2. Typically of great historical or legendary

importance3. Embodies qualities that reflect values of society4. Performs “superhuman” deeds5. Performs actions that determine the fate of a nation

or group of people

Anglo-Saxon Culture, cont.

Beowulf

•As important to England as Iliad and Odyssey are to Greece.

•First great work of the English national literature (record of England’s formulating society).

•Author of Beowulf - Unknown (Anonymous).

•Scholars speculate that Beowulf was composed some time between the seventh century and the tenth century (more certain on the where based on subject matter).

•Only surviving manuscript dates from 1000; in British Museum in London, England.

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/englit/beowulf/

Terminology

•Kenning – “poetic synonyms,” a descriptive phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. “Shepard of Evil” = Grendel

•Caesura - A pause or break within a line of poetry, usually indicated by the natural rhythm of the language.

•Stock epithet – adjectives that point out special traits of particular people or things. “…greater, And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world…” = Beowulf

•Simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia (defined in textbook if need be)