Anglo-Saxon Period

1. Anglo-Saxon Period • The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest recorded time period in English history. Stonehenge video Stonehenge dimensions and size

2. Anglo-Saxon Literature • Few people read • Oral tradition – stories performed and/or sung by a scop from memory in Old English. For thought: Why are there so many versions of stories from this time period? • Scops – poet/minstrels • (pronounced SHOPES) • Authors were unknown

3. Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village

6. Boat Sheds on Lindisfarne Island; similar to the Anglo-Saxon meadhalls

7. BEOWULF

8. THE STORY OF BEOWULF • Beowulf marks the beginning of English literature • Itis one of the earliest known pieces of literature in the English language; written in Old English

9. Beowulfwasn’t written down until about 700 AD by “The Beowulf Poet” who is unknown. He wrote down the poem which for many years had been only sung or spoken. • Scholars believe “The Beowulf Poet” was most likely a Christian monk, thus adding a Christian perspective.

10. There is only one original Beowulf manuscript existing today. It is in the British History Museum in London.

11. BEOWULF is an EPIC poem. • Epic– a long, narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society.

12. What are some other examples of other EPICS? • The Iliad and The Odyssey – Homer • Harry Potter- Rowling • The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien

13. In every epic is an EPIC HERO ! Epic Hero– must undertake a quest to achieve something of tremendous value to himself and his society

14. Traditional features of an epic: • Narrative poem form (a story in a poem) • Larger-than-life hero, often with super-human characteristics • Concerns eternal human problems like the struggle between good and evil • Tone is serious; author uses elevated (poetic) language • Hero represents widespread national, cultural, or religious values

15. Contains specific motifs Motifs –a recurring image or concept in a piece of literature that often relates to a theme • Biblical and Judeo-Christian Allusions • Pagan Customs • Social Customs • Traits of the Warrior • Beowulf’s Boasts

16. Pagan vs. Christian Beliefs Pagans existed before Christianity and became more and more sparsely populated when Christian beliefs became a government’s belief. (Romans introduced Christianity – see timeline) - polytheistic: each god oversaw different aspects of the world (water, sun, earth, etc) - believed in many evil monsters who fought to undo the gods and their human followers. - believed in wyrd (fate). Christianity focuses on a belief in God (note capital G) – one god who created Heaven and Earth - one evil being: Satan (former angel betrayed God) - do not believe in fate; instead believe that God rewards and punishes for human behavior.

17. This epic poem is often divided into 3 sections, each addressing the traditional battle between good & evil.

18. …the Battle with Grendel (Grendel represents evil.)

19. …the Battle with Grendel’s Mother (She also represents evil.)

20. …the Battle with the Dragon (It not only represents evil but also greed.)

21. Beowulf himself represents _____: • loyalty • valor • selflessness • sense of justice

22. Setting: Where does Beowulf take place? • Geatland and Denmark (Modern Denmark and Sweden)

23. Setting: The Scary, Horror Movie “Where” Beowulf takes place in a “once upon a time world” which taps into “three archetypal sites of fear.” For thought: Brainstorm places people typically fear.

24. I like to think of them this way:

25. Our bed on a stormy night when we are alone in the house (where we should feel safe.)

26. 1. The barricaded warrior house/ Mead Hall

27. A murky lake or a beach where Jaws takes place.

28. 2. The infested underwater lair

29. The dark recesses of the earth: a cave, or even your own dark basement!

30. The reptile-taunted rocks of a wilderness and cave

31. What is “mail”?

32. We read Beowulfbecause… • It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic masterpiece. • It gives us insight into the origins of the British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the world we currently live in. • It gives us insight into the origins of our language.

33. Why do we read it? • It gives us insight into the values, experiences, and emotions felt by all people everywhere and throughout time (time, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality – all of these things transcend English literature and matter to all people)

34. Danes – citizens of Denmark; their country is being attacked by Grendel Geats – citizens of Geatland (modern-day Sweden); home of Beowulf and his ancestors Herot– name of Danish warrior hall Hrothgar – King of the Danish people; (kenning – Healfdane’s son)

35. Beowulf – heroic Geat warrior, son of Edgetho Grendel – monster who attacks the Danes Grendel’s mother – monster who attacks the Danes out of revenge for son’s defeat Dragon – monster who attacks the Geats because a thief steals from its treasure Higlac – King of Geatland; Beowulf’s uncle Wiglaf – cousin of Beowulf; comes to Beowulf’s aid in battle with dragon

36. Anglo-Saxon Themes in Beowulf: • Triumph or failure in war and battle • Exploration and seafaring • Friendship and loyalty to men in battle - comitatus • Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and spoils of war • Acceptance of wyrd – fate (what will be will be – predestined) • Fatal doom concurrent with joyous celebration

37. Characteristic features of Anglo-Saxon Literature A-S lit typically features 3 specific literary techniques…can you identify any? • Alliteration– repetition of sounds at the start of words • Kennings – metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun • Caesura- a natural pause in the middle of a line of poetry.

38. Alliteration • The repetition of beginning consonant sounds in lines of poetry Ex: She sells sea shells on the sea shore.

39. Kenning • a metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun Ex: teacher = knowledge giver Ex: sea = whale’s home Ex: battle = spear play It is like a poetic riddle or play on words.

40. Caesura • 2 part line – each line is separated by a pause or break in the middle of the line; each part generally has 2 strong beats. (Put simply, it is a dramatic pause in the middle of a line.) Then the Scylding warrior savage and grim, Seized the ring-hilt and swung the sword Struck with fury despairing of life Thrust at the throat broke through the bone rings: The stout blade stabbed through her fated flesh.

41. Biblical references and archetypes in Beowulf • Beowulf as archetypal Christ figure (helping, sacrificing) • Herot Hall as Tower of Babel archetype (hall built to reach Heaven) • Beowulf's comitatus as disciples • Three days in underwater cave as symbol of three days in dead/hell • Return triumphant as symbol of resurrection • Grendel as descendant of Cain • Dragon- snake with legs- symbol of Satan • Good vs. Evil struggle

42. Genesis 4Cain and Abel • 1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.       Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. •  6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." •  8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

43. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"       "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" •  10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." •  13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. • 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." •  15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.