Old English Literature of the Anglo-Saxon Period 449 – 1066 A.D.

Britain was later re-named Englaland, meaning Land of the Angles. Vocabulary of the Anglo-Saxons was limited and dealt mainly with everyday life and problems.

When the Romans abandoned Britain in 450 A.D., the Anglo-Saxons of Germany invaded and settled England, This period was known as the Dark Ages.

There were no Catholic priests remaining in England to teach

reading and writing to the people.

Most people were illiterate.

Much interest in the fine arts disappeared with the Romans.

Britain was cut off from Europe’s culture and trade.

There were no Roman legions keeping law and order.

Yet, stories and poems were being created!

Anglo-Saxon literature was originally composed in Old English, which is based on the Germanic language brought by the Anglo-Saxon invaders.

The stories and poems of an illiterate people had to be passed on

orally by designated story-tellers called scops.

These scops, and the poems and stories they created, defined the values of their society and culture.

Through their art, they showed men how they were expected to behave, and the consequences of failure.

Anglo-Saxon Themes and IssuesGlorified the warrior and seafaring culture. Courage and battle skills were honored.

Men gave absolute loyalty to chieftain. In return, the chieftain provided food, housing in his mead hall, shares of treasure, safety, and a sense of belonging.

Exile was the worst sorrow and punishment.

Men dominated society. Women were property with few or no rights.

At first, religion and beliefs were pagan. There was a grim belief in Fate – everything was

predetermined and beyond their control.

This changed after 600 A.D. when most Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity. Grim fatalism was replaced by belief in God/Heaven/mercy. Boasting was replaced by humility.

Much Anglo-Saxon literature shows a blend of pagan and Christian values.

Loyalty = security, belonging

Mead hall = home, safety

Were it not for the scops, Anglo-Saxon poetry would have been lost.

However, in 975 A.D., monks at a monastery in Exeter, England, translated the oral poetry into Latin and copied it into a book---

The Exeter Book The Exeter Book preserved the poetry for future generations.

Anglo-Saxon poetry takes two forms:

1. Heroic poetry

2. Elegiac poetry (the elegy)

1. Heroic Poetry: poems about heroes & warriors!

Beowulf is an Heroic Poem, the story of an heroic warrior.

The author is unknown. The story was passed on orally from 500-750 A.D.

It shows a blend of Christian and classical Roman religions (belief in Fate.)

It shows the values of a warrior society: bravery, loyalty, dignity, and skill in battle.

Original purpose: to provide a guide to “manly living”; to teach about loyalty and courage.

Why is Beowulf so important?It is “the national EPIC of England.”

It was the first English Epic.

It was written down in Old English in the 11th century and helped preserve that language.

It is our best picture of Anglo-Saxon life/culture/values/beliefs before there were written records.

What is an Epic?An Epic is a long heroic narrative poem that tells a story and celebrates the

deeds of an heroic figure.

Common features of the Epic:

1. A larger-than-life hero battles forces that threaten world order. (Good versus Evil)

2. Story is told in a serious way, using elevated language.

3. Hero upholds cultural values of his era. (Here, these values are loyalty, bravery, honor, and fighting skills)

2. Elegiac Poetry (the Elegy)An elegy is a form of lyric poetry.

An elegy is a solemn, formal, mournful lyric poem about death or irrevocable loss.

A lyric poem expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker. It does not tell a full story. It makes use of various

lyrical (musical) devices.

Look up and write definitions for these lyrical devices of Anglo-Saxon poetry:

1. Assonance

2. Alliteration

3. Caesura

4. Kenning