Unit 1Unit 1Anglo SaxonAnglo Saxon

British LiteratureBritish Literature

Ms. CarrollMs. Carroll

Anglo-Saxon PeriodAnglo-Saxon Period Era of invasionEra of invasion

Violent conquestsViolent conquestsWarfare and battleWarfare and battleValue bravery and honorValue bravery and honor

66thth c. Augustine helped unite tribes c. Augustine helped unite tribes Influence of ChristianityInfluence of Christianity Warrior code later seen in code of ChivalryWarrior code later seen in code of Chivalry

Old English LiteratureOld English Literature c. 650-1100c. 650-1100 Old English refers to language of Anglo-Old English refers to language of Anglo-

SaxonsSaxons 2 types of poetry: 2 types of poetry:

heroic and Christianheroic and Christian Strong oral traditionStrong oral tradition

Scops: court poets, told tribal history and Scops: court poets, told tribal history and tradition, usually sung with lyre or harptradition, usually sung with lyre or harp

Characteristics Characteristics

AlliterationAlliteration CaesuraCaesura KenningKenning RepetitionRepetition CompoundingCompounding LitotesLitotes Developed orally to entertainDeveloped orally to entertain Wove Norse/Celtic beliefs with ChristianityWove Norse/Celtic beliefs with Christianity

EpicEpic

Long narrative giving the story of Long narrative giving the story of heroic deeds accomplished by a hero heroic deeds accomplished by a hero of above average strength and abilityof above average strength and ability

Hero undergoes perilous adventure for Hero undergoes perilous adventure for tribe or nationtribe or nation

Accomplishes goal usually with little Accomplishes goal usually with little aidaid

Classical epics involve friendly or Classical epics involve friendly or hostile godshostile gods

Presentation of EpicsPresentation of Epics

Rich and diverse oral traditionRich and diverse oral tradition Based on history, folklore, and sagas Based on history, folklore, and sagas

told and perfected over timetold and perfected over time Usually opens with invocation to Usually opens with invocation to

muse and statement of thememuse and statement of theme Then starts in medias resThen starts in medias res Uses flashbacks, epithets, hospitality Uses flashbacks, epithets, hospitality

codes, and epic boastscodes, and epic boasts

Epic HeroEpic Hero

Defeat evil against all oddsDefeat evil against all odds He may die, but group will be savedHe may die, but group will be saved HonorableHonorable StrengthStrength CourageCourage Larger than life characterLarger than life character Represents something greaterRepresents something greater Of significant birth (often doesn’t know it)Of significant birth (often doesn’t know it)

BeowulfBeowulf Shows early British cultureShows early British culture Concept of Anglo-Saxon heroConcept of Anglo-Saxon hero Follows many of classic epic characteristicsFollows many of classic epic characteristics Longest surviving British workLongest surviving British work

From before 10From before 10thth century, told prior century, told prior Oldest British epicOldest British epic

Unknown author(s)Unknown author(s)

BeowulfBeowulf Describes Scandinavian warrior of 6Describes Scandinavian warrior of 6thth c. c. Grendel, a monster, terrorizes King Hrothgar, Grendel, a monster, terrorizes King Hrothgar,

the Danish kingthe Danish king Beowulf, the young prince of the Geats, comes Beowulf, the young prince of the Geats, comes

to the rescueto the rescue

Map of AreaMap of AreaBeowulf / GeatBeowulf / Geat

Hrothgar/ DanesHrothgar/ Danes

Dave Barry, on Dave Barry, on BeowulfBeowulf:: "If my memory serves me correctly (and I "If my memory serves me correctly (and I

believe it does, because I am copying this believe it does, because I am copying this from the encyclopedia) from the encyclopedia) BeowulfBeowulf is an Old is an Old English epic poem concerning a hero who English epic poem concerning a hero who freed the court of the Danish king Hrothgar freed the court of the Danish king Hrothgar from the ravages of the ogre Grendel and from the ravages of the ogre Grendel and Grendel's mother and thus became king of Grendel's mother and thus became king of the Geats. This raises questions, including: the Geats. This raises questions, including: Why would anybody want to be king of the Why would anybody want to be king of the Geats? I mean, the word 'Geat' sounds like Geats? I mean, the word 'Geat' sounds like an insult, doesn't it? As in: 'Some stupid an insult, doesn't it? As in: 'Some stupid Geat put salami in the disk drive!' (Let me Geat put salami in the disk drive!' (Let me state, before I get a bunch of hate mail, that state, before I get a bunch of hate mail, that I myself am two-thirds Geatish.)"I myself am two-thirds Geatish.)"

As you read…As you read… Consider how Consider how BeowulfBeowulf is an epic and how is an epic and how

the character Beowulf is an epic herothe character Beowulf is an epic hero What does this epic reveal about the What does this epic reveal about the

culture of the time?culture of the time? What does it say about the nature of evil?What does it say about the nature of evil? Where do we see Christian influences? Where do we see Christian influences?

Where do we see pagan influence of wyrd Where do we see pagan influence of wyrd (fate)?(fate)?

Unit 1Unit 1

Medieval PeriodMedieval Period

British LiteratureBritish Literature

Ms. CarrollMs. Carroll

Medieval PeriodMedieval Period

Begins with Norman Conquest in 1066Begins with Norman Conquest in 1066

Development of feudal systemDevelopment of feudal system

Spread of Church influence (Crusades)Spread of Church influence (Crusades)

Chivalric codeChivalric code

Although seen as ‘Dark Years’, many Although seen as ‘Dark Years’, many new things emergednew things emerged

Medieval LiteratureMedieval Literature

Development of Middle EnglishDevelopment of Middle English

Use of rhymed verseUse of rhymed verse

Popularity of Miracle Plays that Popularity of Miracle Plays that eventually became Morality Plays (in eventually became Morality Plays (in 1515thth and 16 and 16thth c) c)

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales one of most famous one of most famous from this periodfrom this period

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer1343-14001343-1400

Wrote Wrote Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

From a middle-class familyFrom a middle-class family

Trained to work in King Edward III courtTrained to work in King Edward III court

Served in army and in governmentServed in army and in government

Strong knowledge of literature of timeStrong knowledge of literature of time

Canterbury TalesCanterbury TalesOne of first books printed by William Caxton,One of first books printed by William Caxton,

inventor of printing pressinventor of printing press

Tells the story of 30 people on pilgrimage to Tells the story of 30 people on pilgrimage to shrine of Thomas Becket (in Canterbury)shrine of Thomas Becket (in Canterbury)

Originally to have 120 tales, but only 22 Originally to have 120 tales, but only 22 were finishedwere finished

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales““General Prologue” describes each pilgrimGeneral Prologue” describes each pilgrim

Chaucer presented his observations as a Chaucer presented his observations as a companion pilgrim, satirizing and companion pilgrim, satirizing and commenting on people and problems of commenting on people and problems of his agehis age

The 30 pilgrims show the best and worst of The 30 pilgrims show the best and worst of human naturehuman nature

Canterbury TalesCanterbury TalesEach tale matches teller’s character, Each tale matches teller’s character,

experiences, interest, and purposeexperiences, interest, and purpose

We will study “Pardoner’s Tale” and “Wife We will study “Pardoner’s Tale” and “Wife of Bath’s Tale”of Bath’s Tale”

As you read…As you read…Pay attention to how Chaucer describes Pay attention to how Chaucer describes

each pilgrim and in what way (positive or each pilgrim and in what way (positive or negative) he presents them.negative) he presents them.

How do his views reflect the cultural values How do his views reflect the cultural values of the time? Are these still shared views of the time? Are these still shared views today?today?

What cultural values are revealed in the What cultural values are revealed in the Tales?Tales?

To what degree do the themes of the tales To what degree do the themes of the tales still resonate for us today?still resonate for us today?