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Anglo-Saxons. 449 BCE-1066 BCE. The Anglo Saxons and Beowulf. Great Britain. Great Britain England Scotland Wales. The First People. Britain first settled by Celts Celts came from continental Europe between 800-600 B.C. The Invasion.
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Anglo-Saxons 449 BCE-1066 BCE
Great Britain • Great Britain • England • Scotland • Wales
The First People • Britain first settled by Celts • Celts came from continental Europe between 800-600 B.C.
The Invasion • In 43 A.D., Romans invaded and Britons were either forced northward or into slavery; introduced the concept of Christianity
Churls • Bonded servants who worked the land in return for military protection • Responsible for hard labor • Agricultural work, hunting, fishing, metalworking, weaving • Bound to the earls unless they could earn possessions or special royal favor that would transform them into freemen
Thralls • Slaves • Military prisoners • People being punished
Qualities of a King • Brave • Strong • Generosity-expected to give gifts to his followers
Qualities of a Follower • Brave • Strong • Loyal to king and family • Does not complain about struggles • Felt small and insignificant, pitted against hostile elements • Warrior • Struggles with the forces of nature • Brags about deeds and boasts about future deeds • Once a promise is made it must be kept or he will die trying
Women • Unimportant • Domestic and child-bearing duties • Occasionally had some influence onThanes
How it Works • Battle determines worthiness • The most important people are the kings and warriors • Werguild-monetary payment for a wrong • If the werguild was not paid to the family, each member had to seek revenge for a wrong inflicted on a kinsmen.
Beowulf • Epic poem • Composed 740 CE • Danes and Geats • Denmark and Sweden • Author is unknown • The most important work in Old English
Poems • Recited for entertainment • Sometimes to celebrate a military victory • Poems were performed by Scops • Gleemen were their assistants
Features of Anglo Saxon poetry • Two part line • Each line separated by a pause (caesura) • The halves are linked by alliteration of two or three of the accented syllables • Usually has four accented syllables per line • Indefinite number of unaccented syllables • Kenning
Caesura • Pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry • Can draw attention to a word by placing it before or after a caesura • In Anglo-Saxon poetry it divides each four- stress line in half, and creates rhythm
Kenning • metaphorical circumlocution (talking around something without using its specific name) signifying a person or thing by a characteristic or quality of that person or thing. • “whale road” = the sea • “Higlac’s follower” = Beowulf
alliteration • The repetition of consonant sounds • Anglo Saxon poetry uses the alliteration of stressed syllables • Used to emphasize words • Creates a musical sound
Epic Poem • A long narrative poem in epic style presenting characters of high position in a series of adventures which form a whole through their relation to a central figure of heroic proportions and through their development of episodes important to the history of a nation or race of people.
Main Character • A hero is a figure of heroic stature, of national importance, and of great historical or legendary significance. • Represents national and cultural values
Struggles • Concerns human problems • Example: Good vs. evil
Style • Serious • Uses elevated language
There was no written tradition • People were farmers and hunters • Warfare was a way of life • People believed in many different gods (polytheistic) Tyr (god of glory and honor) Woden (protector of heroes) Thunor (aid to warriors in battle)
A/S Kings The small kingdoms fought amongst each other until 829—King Egbert of Wessex won control of all A/S kingdoms. Unfortunately, by the end of Egbert’s reign, Vikings had captured much of the kingdom (Vikings were Scandinavian—called Norse because they had crossed the North Sea—predominantly Danes); Vikings had taken over much of France, and that area became known as Normandy. In 878, Alfred, King of Wessex (Egbert’s grandson) defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington. Alfred went on to recapture most of England, as well as promote education and literacy among his people. He became known as “Alfred the Great.” Alfred’s son and grandson won back the rest of England and made peace with the Vikings.
1066 • King Edward died • William (the Duke of Normandy)** laid claim to the throne (Edward may have promised the throne to William) • Instead, the English council of elders chose Harold II as king • Duke William attacked, defeated the A/S and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings. He became King William I **Remember: France = Vikings
This brought French culture to England • feudalism—land is divided among lords who are loyal to the king. The lords give land to vassals in exchange for military duty. • chivalry—knights are expected to be honorable, brave, generous, skillful in battle, respectful to women, and helpful to the weak.
1066 marks the beginning of what we consider English culture. Old English: a combination of the languages spoken by the Anglo-Saxons. Today it looks like a foreign language. Beowulf written in OE Oral tradition: heroic themes of courage, goodness, loyalty, strength Stories passed down by a scop (traveling storyteller often accompanied by a harp) Heroism in stories gave people a model for living and a form of immortality (tales would be about them and their heroism, to be told for generations).Remember, most people couldn’t read or write. They learned through stories, songs, and poems. Monks could read and write; they focused on Christian themes and are responsible for recording most of the OE literature that survives today (they added a religious quality to the stories)
Old English Poetry 3 major types of OE poetry: • heroic verse—celebrates courage, honor, loyalty • elegy—mourns a loss • religious verse—focuses on Christian teachings and stories *****Beowulf contains all three.
Beowulf (the poem) • 3200 lines • Composed between 700-750 AD; set in the early 6th century • Based on early Celtic and Scandinavian folk legends • Only manuscript to survive Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries and destruction of monastic libraries; manuscript dates from 1000 (but was composed before that); now in British Museum in London • Deterioration of manuscript means that there are gaps scholars have to fill in by guesswork
Poem gives vital information about OE social life & politics • society rigidly feudal, highly civilized, highly violent. The poem glorifies war, death, and fame (fame is the most precious thing a man can have because it is the only thing that survives). • Male dominated society • In this society, weapons had names but slaves did not—they valued warfare more than people • Proven swords and helmets were passed down from fathers to sons • In a warrior society, the most important relationship is between warrior (thane) and his lord: based less on subordination than on mutual trust and respect. Warrior who pledged his loyalty became a voluntary companion to his lord—took pride in defending his lord and fighting in his wars. In return, the lord was expected to take affectionate care of his thanes, to reward them richly. • Relationship between kinsmen also very important: if one’s kinsman was slain it was one’s duty to kill the slayer or exact payment—each rank of society was ranked at a price; this price had to be paid to the family to avoid their vengeance, even if the killing was accidental.
Beowulf is set in a time when warriors gathered in mead/banquet halls (mead=fermented honey wine) for great feasts, told of their adventures (raiding, looting, burning settlements). Kings gave riches to their bravest warriors in exchange for loyalty. People believed in monsters and dragons.
REMEMBER **Beowulf is NOT set in England, and the characters are NOT English: it’s set in Scandinavia and involves the Geats of southern Sweden and the Danes of Denmark.
