THE ANGLO-SAXON THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIODPERIOD

449---449---10661066

Three Major Periods in Three Major Periods in English LiteratureEnglish Literature

Old English--449-1066Old English--449-1066

Middle English--1066-1485Middle English--1066-1485

Modern English--1485+Modern English--1485+

Pre-Anglo-Saxon EnglandPre-Anglo-Saxon England

2000 B. C. inhabited by 2000 B. C. inhabited by Iberians

Iberians invaded by CeltsIberians invaded by Celts 55 B. C. Julius Caesar invaded55 B. C. Julius Caesar invaded 43 A. D. became a part of the 43 A. D. became a part of the

Roman Empire under ClaudiusEmpire under Claudius

By 300-400 A. D. Romans By 300-400 A. D. Romans withdraw from Britainwithdraw from Britain

449 A. D.--first Anglo-Saxon 449 A. D.--first Anglo-Saxon invasions

STONEHENGE

Hadrian’s Wall (Romans)

Anglo-Saxon SocietyAnglo-Saxon SocietyMajor tribes were the Angles, Major tribes were the Angles,

Saxons, and JutesSaxons, and JutesSocial unit was the “clan”Social unit was the “clan”Each member bore Each member bore

responsibility for any wrongs responsibility for any wrongs inflicted or suffered by his inflicted or suffered by his kinsmen--duty to seek kinsmen--duty to seek revengerevenge

wergyld--system of payment wergyld--system of payment or restitution (peaceful or restitution (peaceful settlement based on property settlement based on property or money)or money)

Anglo-Saxon society (cont.)Anglo-Saxon society (cont.)

Comitatus--feudal arrangement Comitatus--feudal arrangement whereby a youth would attach himself whereby a youth would attach himself to a strong leader in exchange for to a strong leader in exchange for economic and legal protection---also economic and legal protection---also gold, horses, armor, etc.gold, horses, armor, etc.

Believed in a strong sense of fate, doomBelieved in a strong sense of fate, doom wyrd--Anglo-Saxon term for fatewyrd--Anglo-Saxon term for fate mead hall--center of social lifemead hall--center of social life

A MeadHall

Anglo-SaxonBattleHelmet

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

Were pagan when they came to EnglandWere pagan when they came to England St. Augustine sent by Pope Gregory to St. Augustine sent by Pope Gregory to

England in 597England in 597 Landed at Canterbury, which became Landed at Canterbury, which became

the center of the English Church--the center of the English Church--remains so todayremains so today

Did not try to immediately stamp out old Did not try to immediately stamp out old pagan religionpagan religion

Anglo-Saxons easily convertedAnglo-Saxons easily converted

IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY

Had a civilizing effect on societyHad a civilizing effect on societyEncouraged scholarly learning--Encouraged scholarly learning--

monks could read and write--monks could read and write--though mostly in Latinthough mostly in Latin

Scholarly monks wrote down the Scholarly monks wrote down the literature, which had been literature, which had been communicated orallycommunicated orally

Page from theBeowulfManuscript

The Danish (Viking) The Danish (Viking) InvasionsInvasions

Began near the end of the Began near the end of the 8th century8th century

Began periodic raids on the Began periodic raids on the English coastEnglish coast

Ravaged Northhumbria and Ravaged Northhumbria and turned southward to Wessexturned southward to Wessex

Stopped by Alfred the GreatStopped by Alfred the Great

Danish Ship

Why Alfred Was Great!!!Why Alfred Was Great!!!

Turned back Viking invaders, who were Turned back Viking invaders, who were threatening the complete overthrow of threatening the complete overthrow of Anglo-Christian civilizationAnglo-Christian civilization

Promoted use of written Old English and Promoted use of written Old English and commissioned writing of commissioned writing of Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon ChroniclesChronicles

Encouraged scholarly endeavorEncouraged scholarly endeavor Began first public schoolsBegan first public schools Instituted the royal navyInstituted the royal navy

Characteristics of Anglo-Characteristics of Anglo-SaxonsSaxons

CourageousCourageous loyalloyal generousgenerous hospitablehospitable

Highly moralHighly moral fond of fond of

boasting and boasting and fightingfighting

Valued Valued treasure and treasure and worldly goodsworldly goods

Anglo-Saxon PoetryAnglo-Saxon Poetry

Anglo-Saxon poetry came Anglo-Saxon poetry came from an oral tradition.from an oral tradition.

It was recited/sung by a It was recited/sung by a scop,scop, who provided entertainment who provided entertainment in the mead hall.in the mead hall.

Features of Old English Features of Old English PoetryPoetry

Extensive use of alliterationExtensive use of alliteration Use of caesuraUse of caesura Four-beat lineFour-beat line Liberal use of kenningsLiberal use of kennings

((KenningKenning—a type of metaphorical —a type of metaphorical phrase or compound word used to phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, or thing.)name a person, place, or thing.)

Wine-hall of warriors gleaming with gold.

caesurakenning

alliteration

hemistich