449-1066

The Anglo-Saxon Period

Anglo-Saxon lifeLoyalty was key to the survival of your clan.

Comitatus

Thanes, or warriors, swore loyalty to their king.

A king was expected to be generous with gifts of treasure, land, and protection in exchange.

Life centered around the strength of the leader or chief in every tribe/community.

Homes were clustered around the chieftain's hall.

A large wall surrounded the group for protection.

ScopsThe communal hall also served as an

entertainment hall.

The Anglo-Saxon story tellers were called ‘scops.’

The tales reflected people’s worries such as war, disease, and famine.

They often focused on a hero or heroic deed.

Stories provided an escape from their everyday strife.

They offered a sign of hope—hope of immortality through the stories.

The Celts

The 1st British settlers

The Britons were a sub-group

They had a strong belief in wyrdwyrd

Animism—the belief that everything has a spirit

Pagan [pey-guhn]noun

1. one of a people or community observing polytheistic religion

2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.

3. an irreligious or hedonistic person4. a person deemed savage or uncivilized

and morally deficient Synonyms: heathen; gentile;

nonbeliever

A time of bloody conflicts, violence, and barbarism

War was a normIn the literature, winter prevails; there is

rarely humorBleak existence—the only certainty was

deathWidespread plague also marked the period

Appreciating Beautyin Anglo-Saxon culture

Excavated Objects & Artwork: ULFBERHT sword & the Sutton Hoo helmet

Language & Literature:Kennings-a poetic phrase that substitutes for

a noun,often evoking strong imagery and sometimes employing alliteration

Over 4000 garnets,were used on objects

from Sutton Hoo—some of them

in the helmet's eyebrows.

In your groups, try to figure out the equivalents of these modern kenningsKennings1)Gas guzzler2)The Dark Knight3)Muffin top4)Rug rat5)Man of Steel6)Eye Candy7)Cancer Stick8)Boob Tube9)Couch Potato10)Tramp stamp

Equivalents1)A car with poor gas mileage

2)Batman3)Love Handles4)A mischievous child5)Superman6) A person/thing that has visual

appeal, but lacks substance

7)Cigarette8)Television9) Someone who gets little

exercise

10)A provocative tattoo placed “where the sun don’t shine”

In your groups, try to figure out these Anglo-Saxon kenningsKennings1)Sky-candle2)Swan-road3)Battle sweat4)Helmet bearers5)Dwelling place6)Storm of swords

Equivalents1)The sun2)The ocean3)Blood4)Warriors5)Home6)Battle

1. Can you think of any other modern kennings that you know? If so, share them now.2. Turn to your partner and tell them one thing you’ve learned so far.

Britain: The Early Years & Roman Influence

•Julius Caesar attempted to conquer the Britons in 55 B.C. but failed

• A century later, Britain became a province of the Roman Empire

• Romans brought government, roads, and Christianity

• The Romans withdrew by 410 A.D.

Angles & SaxonsAngles and Saxons invade ~ 449 A.D.Britons driven west and north The main part of Britain took on a new

name: Angle-landThe Anglo-Saxon language became the

language known as Old English

MonasteriesAugustine (a Roman missionary)

creates a monastery at Canterbury in 597 A.D.

Center of intellectual, literary, and artistic activity

Fostered education and learning

Preserved Anglo-Saxon stories on paper (including Beowulf & “The Wanderer”)

Share something you’ve learned with a different

partner.

Share something you’ve learned with a different

partner.

Vikings invade in the 790s from Denmark and Norway

They take control of the north and east.Vikings plundered monasteriesPagans, who sometimes worshipped their

weapons

http://video.pbs.org/video/2284159044/

Alfred the Great, Edward the Confessor, Harold the…uh…Harold, and William the Conqueror

In the south, Alfred the Great defeats the Vikings in 878

Alfred established English as a ‘respected’ language

In 1042, Edward the Confessor, a deeply religious descendant of Alfred, takes the throne.

He allegedly promises the throne to his cousin William, but an English earl named Harold becomes king.

The Norman ConquestWilliam led an army from

Normandy in the last successful invasion of Britain

Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and on Christmas Day, “William the Conqueror” was crowned king of England

Ended Anglo-Saxon dominance in England

Beowulf is likely composed ~750 A.D.

and is set in the 6th centuryin Scandinavia

Fun Fact: This manuscript survived a fire in 1731 because it was thrown out of a library window.

Time to hammer in the knowledge you’ve gained.Turn to one last partner and share something you’ve learned.

What Mr. Goraczko learned…

SourcesAnglo-Saxon. 2011. Video. The Open University. Web. 31 Aug

2013.Elements of Literature, Sixth Course: Literature of Britain with

World Classics. Holt, Rinehart and Winston: New York, 2000. 2-16.

Holt McDougal Literature, Grade 12. Orlando: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

Huff, Dana. "Beowulf.” Penguin Group, Print.Leneghan, Francis. "Beowulf." Great Writers Inspire. Oxford

University. United Kingdom, Oxford. 07 Feb 2012. Lecture.

"pagan." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 31 Aug. 2013. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pagan>.

"Sutton Hoo Helmet." BBC- A History of the World. BBC. Web. 31 Aug 2013.

The Norman Conquest. 2011. Video. The Open University. Web. 31 Aug 2013.