The Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxon Period – Period – 449 A.D. – 1066 A.D.449 A.D. – 1066 A.D.

When Angles and When Angles and Saxons came hither Saxons came hither from the east, from the east,

Sought Britain over the Sought Britain over the broad-spreading sea,broad-spreading sea,

Haughty war-smiths Haughty war-smiths over came Britons, over came Britons,

Valiant earls got for Valiant earls got for themselves a homethemselves a home

Britain before the Anglo-Britain before the Anglo-SaxonsSaxons

• Celts = Brythons Celts = Brythons (Britons) and (Britons) and Gaels invaded Gaels invaded island between island between 800 and 600 BC.800 and 600 BC.– Celts were Celts were

farmers and farmers and hunters. Lived in hunters. Lived in tightly knit clans.tightly knit clans.

– Celts were led by Celts were led by druid priests druid priests (pagans)(pagans)

Roman Conquest in 55 B.C. Roman Conquest in 55 B.C. under Julius Caesarunder Julius Caesar

– Caesar came, saw, Caesar came, saw, conquered; then left conquered; then left for France to write his for France to write his memoirsmemoirs• No real control. No real control.

Conquered only in Conquered only in name.name.

– 100 years later, 100 years later, Claudius really Claudius really conquered the island.conquered the island.• Roman soldiers Roman soldiers

occupied towns. occupied towns. Soldiers constructed a Soldiers constructed a system of roadssystem of roads

• Romans bring Romans bring Christianity to Celtic Christianity to Celtic pagans.pagans.

Roman conquest, continuedRoman conquest, continued

– Roman rule lasted Roman rule lasted about 300 years.about 300 years.

– Romans leave Romans leave Britain in 407 AD, Britain in 407 AD, leaving much of leaving much of Britain undefended Britain undefended and in shambles.and in shambles.

– Britain becomes Britain becomes easy prey for easy prey for invaders from the invaders from the north.north.

– Christianity fades.Christianity fades.

Anglo-Saxon Invasion 449 Anglo-Saxon Invasion 449 A.D.A.D.

– Anglos and Saxons = Germanic invaders from Anglos and Saxons = Germanic invaders from Denmark and Germany. Deep sea fishermen Denmark and Germany. Deep sea fishermen and farmers.and farmers.

– Anglo-Saxon arrival signals the beginning of Anglo-Saxon arrival signals the beginning of the English language.the English language.

Anglo-Saxon beliefsAnglo-Saxon beliefs– Paganism – ancient Paganism – ancient

Germanic gods. Tiu, god Germanic gods. Tiu, god of war and Sky; Woden, of war and Sky; Woden, chief of the gods; Fria, chief of the gods; Fria, Woden’s wife and Woden’s wife and goddess of the home.goddess of the home.

– Wyrd – belief that every Wyrd – belief that every human life was in the human life was in the hands of fate.hands of fate.

• The dangers of death The dangers of death by accident or warfare by accident or warfare led these people to led these people to take a grim view of life.take a grim view of life.

Rebirth of Rebirth of ChristianityChristianity

– Late 500’s, Rome’s Late 500’s, Rome’s strength resurfaced in strength resurfaced in Britain. Christianity rises.Britain. Christianity rises.

– Many Anglo-Saxon kings Many Anglo-Saxon kings were converted; so too were converted; so too was populace.was populace.• Christianity soften Anglo-Christianity soften Anglo-

Saxon warriors, but not Saxon warriors, but not entirely.entirely.

• Clerics denounced Clerics denounced revenge and upheld the revenge and upheld the law.law.

– Christianity brought Christianity brought written literaturewritten literature• The Venerable Bede The Venerable Bede

(673- 735 AD)(673- 735 AD)

Danish InvasionDanish Invasion– 8th-12th centuries – 8th-12th centuries –

Danes started looking for Danes started looking for more farmland. Vikings more farmland. Vikings (Norse) attacked Britain, (Norse) attacked Britain, Scotland, and Ireland.Scotland, and Ireland.

– Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great• 871 AD, Alfred King of 871 AD, Alfred King of

Wessex held back the Wessex held back the DanesDanes

• He supported education He supported education for all people. First for all people. First formal schools created formal schools created by Alfred.by Alfred.

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

– Oral tradition – Oral tradition – Celtic druids Celtic druids memorized long, memorized long, heroic poems about heroic poems about Celtic leaders and Celtic leaders and their deeds.their deeds.

– Scops and gleemen Scops and gleemen – scops performed – scops performed the songs with the songs with harps; gleemen harps; gleemen assisted.assisted.

Anglo-Saxon literary Anglo-Saxon literary devicesdevices

• Caesura – mid-line Caesura – mid-line pause in line of pause in line of poetrypoetry

• Alliteration – Alliteration – repetition of sounds, repetition of sounds, especially initial especially initial consonant soundsconsonant sounds

• Kenning – a Kenning – a metaphorical phrase metaphorical phrase used to replace a used to replace a concrete noun.concrete noun.

• Lo we, spear-Danes // in Lo we, spear-Danes // in old (yore)-daysold (yore)-dayspeople - kings // brave people - kings // brave deeds have learneddeeds have learnedhow these thanes // valor how these thanes // valor framed.framed.

Types of Anglo-Saxon Types of Anglo-Saxon verseverse

• Heroic poetry – Heroic poetry – recounts the recounts the achievements of achievements of warriors involved warriors involved in great battlesin great battles

• Elegiac poetry – Elegiac poetry – sorrowful laments sorrowful laments that mourn the that mourn the deaths of loved deaths of loved ones and loss of ones and loss of the past.the past.