British Literature

British Literature Ms. Eckman 12th Grade English

Elements of Literature, Sixth Course: Literature of Britain with World Classics • Pps.2 - 16 The Anglo-Saxons 449 - 1066

Angles, Saxons and Jutes invade Britain in 449 AD which forms the foundation for modern culture • King Arthur rules the Celtics in 516 AD until his death in 537 AD • Widespread plague reaches Britain (from Europe) in 547 AD • The monastery at Canterbury is created in 597AD….establishing Christianity's religious hold • Beowulf 1st recorded 700 AD • Vikings invade Britain 793 AD which lasted a century • Alfred the Great forces the Danes out of Wessex 878 AD • The Danes are then forced out of Ireland in 1014 AD by High King Brian Boru • The Normans defeat the Saxons making William the Conqueror the new English King in 1066 AD The Anglo-Saxons….Timeline

The 1st British settlers were the Celts…originally described as “tall blond warriors” by the Greeks. • A sub-group of the Celts were called the Brythons or Britons (from which modern Britain gets its name). • Animism was the religion of the Celts- the belief that everything has a spirit. • The Druids also followed Animism but also incorporated the use of sacrifice & religious rites following the solar and lunar cycles. Celtic Heroes and Heroines: A Magical World (p.6)

The beliefs and stories of the Celts have influenced English and Irish writers- the most famous being the legend of King Arthur written by Sir Thomas Mallory. • Celtic inspired stories tend to be female dominated whereas Anglo-Saxon stories (which are better known and studied) tended to be male dominated. • Celtic inspired stories also tend to focus more on magic and imagination and usually have a ‘happy’ ending.

Julius Caesar led the 1st Roman invasion of Britons in 55 BC and over 100 yrs later, they were finally conquered by Emperor Claudius. • The Romans brought formal government, the development of roads and Christianity to Britain. Their armies helped hold off many invaders to the island for hundreds of years. • With the introduction of Christianity, the Celtic religions began to die out. • The story of Boadicea (Boudica)…. • By 409 AD, the Romans left Britain due to problems closer to home. The only downfall- they left no formal government and open for invasion! The Romans (p.7)

Queen Boadicea ruled theIceni tribe with her husband King Prasutagus. • Prasutagus made the Roman Emperor Nero co-heir with his daughters to his kingdom and wealth. He hoped by doing so, to keep his kingdom from being attacked. • This didn’t happen! After his death, the Roman Governor took his land, had his wife publicly flogged and his daughters raped by Roman slaves. Queen Boadicea (Boudica)

Boadicea fought back! She rallied other Iceni Tribes and surrounding groups and led the first successful Briton raids on the Romans. • They went as far as burning down Roman strong holds and desecrating Roman cemeteries and tombstones. • The Romans did eventually defeat the Britons- in the last battle the Britons outnumbered the Romans (9 to 1) but the Romans out-powered them and only suffered appx.400 deaths to the over 80,000 deaths of the Britons.

Boadicea is remembered for her strong leadership and power to overcome. • She is thought to have said to all the Britons before her last battle: “Win the battle or perish: that is what I, a woman will do; you men can live on in slavery if that's what you want.” Source: http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/England-History/Boudica.htm

The Angles and Saxons came from Germany and the Jutes came from Denmark in the 5th century easily driving out the Britons (the north). • The language of the Anglo-Saxons became the dominant language and gave the island its name of Engla land or England. • Whereas the Britons were easily driven off, the Celts put up more of a fight- they eventually retreated in Wales (the far west). The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore (p.8)

The culture of the Celts can still be seen in modern Wales, especially in their language. • One of the most well known heroes of literature came from Wales/Celtic culture- Arthur, the ‘once and future king’. • Alfred the Great unified Britain with the fight against the Danes (Vikings)- the Danes did settle in some parts of northeast and central England. • Christianity eventually helped to solidify and unify the people of England- giving them a sense of national pride (also eventually uniting the Danes with the Anglo-Saxons). • The battles with the Danes lasted until 1066, when William the Conqueror (of Normandy) came in and defeated the weakened Anglo-Saxons and Danes.

Anglo-Saxon society developed through strong chiefs. • Agricultural society developed localized government and helped develop metalworking. • Christianity replaced Celtic religions which linked the developing England with European cultures. • Monasteries became a place of learning and helped preserve the oral traditions. • English gained respect as a written language. What does “Anglo-Saxon England” mean? (p.9)

Women had many rights in Anglo-Saxon society which were changed when William took control. • Women inherited and held property AND maintained control even after marriage. • A man had to offer a woman a morgengifu (‘morning gift’) of money and land in order to marry. • The woman- not her family or husband- had control over this gift and could do with it what she pleased. • Women were allowed to become powerful “abbesses”- women who were in charge of large double houses that included both a monastery and nunnery. Women in Anglo-Saxon Culture (p.10)

Warfare was the norm in Anglo-Saxon life. • Life centered around the strength of the leader or chief in every tribe/community. • Loyalty was key to the survival of your clan/tribe. • The majority of Anglo-Saxons lived close to their animals, in single-family wooden buildings. These buildings then clustered around a communal area and a Chieftan’s hall. • A large wall surrounded the group which helped protect the community and keep a close knit relationship between the chief and his people. Anglo-Saxon Life (p.10)

Despite the rise in Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons still clung to their dark warrior gods. • These gods were similar to the Norse gods like Odin- the god of death, poetry and magic. • Wodin was the Anglo-Saxon god like Odin. • Thunor was like the Norse god Thor- the god of thunder and lightening. They both share the symbol of the hammer and the swastika. • Another symbol that is found in Anglo-Saxon religion is that of the Dragon: a protector of treasure, ‘death the devourer’ and guardian of the grave mound. • On a whole- the Anglo-Saxons seemed to be more concerned with bravery, loyalty, generosity and friendship rather than mysticism. The Anglo-Saxon Religion: Gods for Warriors (p.12)

The communal hall not only was a place for meetings but also a place where everyone gathered for entertainment • The Anglo-Saxon story tellers were called ‘scops’ and were held in high regard. • Poetry was as important as hunting, warring, or farming. • Poetry was often sung and accompanied by a harp. The Bards: Singing of Gods and Heroes (p.13)

The storytellers and poets told tales that reflected on the people’s constant worries such as war, disease and famine. • They often focused on a hero or heroic deed. • For some, Christianity was a way for hope but for most, the stories were a way to escape their everyday strife and offered a sign of hope.

Ireland did not suffer the same way that Britain did. • Due to their isolation, the escaped many invaders. • In 432 AD, Celtic Ireland was converted to Christianity by a Romanized Briton named Patrick who was once a slave. • He escaped his captors, became a bishop and returned to convert those who enslaved him. • From 432 – 750, Ireland experienced it’s Golden Age: war was not an issue, and monasteries flourished and became sanctuaries of learning. A Light from Ireland (p.15)

Poets or scops offered hope to the Anglo-Saxons- hope of immortality through the stories. • Christianity offered hope of immortality through religion. • Monasteries not only encouraged education/learning but also helped to preserve the Anglo-Saxon stories on paper (including Beowulf). The Christian Monasteries: The Ink Froze (p.16)

The monks sat in a room called a scriptorium and spent their entire day (daylight) copying manuscripts by hand. • These rooms were actually covered walkways open to the court often with only a sheet of oiled paper or thin glass as walls. • Their ink often froze in the winter time, as did the monks who took a vow of silence! • Latin was the common language until the reign of King Alfred who established English as a ‘respected’ language throughout Europe .

British Literature