The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons 449-1066 A. D. 449-1066 A. D.

Welcome to the Anglo-SaxonWelcome to the Anglo-SaxonTime Period!Time Period!

This is truly the beginning of recorded This is truly the beginning of recorded British Literature.British Literature.

The Anglo-Saxons were fierce, pagan The Anglo-Saxons were fierce, pagan warriors who invaded Britain and took warriors who invaded Britain and took over Celtic Landover Celtic Land..

800-600BC

Celts in

vade

(Brit

ons and

Gaels)

55BC Juliu

s

Caesar -

Roman

prese

nces

begins

400AD Brit

on

trib

es p

ush

out the la

st

Romans 400AD a

nd

on – Anglo

-

Saxon

inva

sions

begin

WarriorWarrior Tribes Tribes

The four Germanic The four Germanic tribes which make uptribes which make upthe Anglo-Saxons are:the Anglo-Saxons are:

1) Angles1) Angles2) Saxons2) Saxons3) Jutes3) Jutes4) Frisians4) Frisians

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

The Anglo-Saxons The Anglo-Saxons were polytheistic were polytheistic and believed that and believed that their fate was their fate was controlled by the controlled by the gods.gods.

Example of gods Example of gods include Tui, include Tui, Woden, and Fria. Woden, and Fria.

Picture courtesy of Picture courtesy of

The Sutton Hoo RoomThe Sutton Hoo Room

However, when Christianity However, when Christianity

was introduced to the Anglo-Saxonswas introduced to the Anglo-Saxons

by the Romans, it softened them overby the Romans, it softened them over

time.time.(about mid-fifth century)(about mid-fifth century)

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

St. AugustineSt. Augustine

The gradual emergence of The gradual emergence of Christianity among the Anglo-Christianity among the Anglo-Saxons was also due to the work of Saxons was also due to the work of Irish and Continental missionariesIrish and Continental missionaries

The most important was probably St. The most important was probably St. AugustineAugustine..

St. Augustine’s St. Augustine’s AchievementsAchievements

*Converted King *Converted King

Ethelbert of KentEthelbert of Kent

A.D. 597.A.D. 597.

*Founded *Founded

Canterbury.Canterbury.

*Became the first*Became the first

archbishop ofarchbishop of

Canterbury.Canterbury.

Anglo-Saxon ChroniclesAnglo-Saxon Chronicles

The Anglo-SaxonThe Anglo-Saxon

ChroniclesChronicles is an is an important important historical historical document of the document of the Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon people.people.

Photo used with permissionPhoto used with permission History MagazineHistory Magazine

Anglo-Saxon RunesAnglo-Saxon Runes

RunesRunes are an are an alphabetic script alphabetic script used by the used by the Anglo-Saxons. Anglo-Saxons.

Image Courtesy of The Runic JourneyImage Courtesy of The Runic Journey

OLD ENGLISHOLD ENGLISH

Old English’ is the term we use to Old English’ is the term we use to describe the language spoken by the describe the language spoken by the Anglo-Saxon people. English is a Anglo-Saxon people. English is a Germanic language, so Old English Germanic language, so Old English sounds more ‘German’ than ‘English’ sounds more ‘German’ than ‘English’ to our ears. to our ears.

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Epic PoemEpic Poem

• A long narrative poem developed A long narrative poem developed orally.orally.

• Celebrates the deeds of a Celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure.legendary or heroic figure.

• Captures the cultural and religious Captures the cultural and religious values of the people.values of the people.

• Hero larger than lifeHero larger than life

Literary TechniquesLiterary Techniques

• Kenning – two word poetic renaming Kenning – two word poetic renaming of people, places and thingsof people, places and things

• Caesura – rhythmic breaks in the Caesura – rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, where the reciter middle of lines, where the reciter could pause for breath.could pause for breath.

• Alliteration – the repetition of initial Alliteration – the repetition of initial consonant sounds in accented consonant sounds in accented syllablessyllables

Anglo Saxon Warrior Anglo Saxon Warrior CharacteristicCharacteristic

1. Followers/warriors pledge service to a 1. Followers/warriors pledge service to a lord or leader. The home is directly tied to lord or leader. The home is directly tied to the leader, not the land on which they live.the leader, not the land on which they live.2. The lord or leader provides treasures of 2. The lord or leader provides treasures of gold, weapons, jewels, and celebrations in gold, weapons, jewels, and celebrations in the mead hall as reward for service to his the mead hall as reward for service to his warriors/followers.warriors/followers.3. The Anglo Saxon warrior values bravery, 3. The Anglo Saxon warrior values bravery, courage, and prowess in battle.courage, and prowess in battle.

……characteristicscharacteristics

4. The most honorable death is death in battle. 4. The most honorable death is death in battle. It is to be celebrated.It is to be celebrated.

5. Original Anglo-Saxons believed that fate 5. Original Anglo-Saxons believed that fate controlled their lives and accepted the outcome controlled their lives and accepted the outcome as inevitable. as inevitable.

6. After the Christian influence, the literature 6. After the Christian influence, the literature displayed a mixed belief of pagan influence displayed a mixed belief of pagan influence (fate) and God’s control over all aspects of life.(fate) and God’s control over all aspects of life.

7. Often retold battles in the form of songs sang 7. Often retold battles in the form of songs sang by scops.by scops.

Characteristics of BeowulfCharacteristics of Beowulf

• Aristocratic poem concerned with Aristocratic poem concerned with kings and kingship.kings and kingship.

• Strength and courage are basic Strength and courage are basic virtues for both the followed and the virtues for both the followed and the follower.follower.

• Glorification of war, death, and fameGlorification of war, death, and fame

• Highly value bravery, fame, prowessHighly value bravery, fame, prowess

• It was composed in a pagan era, but was It was composed in a pagan era, but was full of Christian influence.full of Christian influence.

• No specific date.No specific date.

• Monks recorded it.Monks recorded it.

• Beowulf, hero, fights three menaces – Beowulf, hero, fights three menaces – Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragonGrendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon

Beowulf Continued