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British Legends. The Anglo-Saxon Period. 449-1066 Theme: Heroes and Heroism. Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?. Between 800 and 600 B.C. , two groups of Celts from southern Europe invaded the British Isles. Brythons (now spelled “Britons”) settled on the largest Island, Britain.
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British Legends The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 Theme: Heroes and Heroism
Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from? • Between 800 and 600 B.C., two groups of Celts from southern Europe invaded the British Isles. • Brythons (now spelled “Britons”) settled on the largest Island, Britain. • Gaels, settled on the second largest island, known to us as Ireland.
The Celts • farmers and hunters • organized themselves into clans • clans had fearsome loyalty to chieftains • looked to priests, known as Druids, to settle their disputes
Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from? • Roman conquest of Britain AD 43 • Britain annexed as a province in the Roman Empire, but it was Difficult to control such a large piece of land. • Brought Christianity to Britain around AD 300, so Pagan vs. Christian themes throughout; never fully indoctrinated at this time • The last Romans left around 407 A.D. because they Needed to defend against rebelling European countries; England left to its own devices
Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from? • 449AD 3 Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) invade. • Destruction of Roman influence, including Christianity • New land: “Angle-land” - small tribal kingdoms - no written language - supported themselves through farming and hunting
An Anglo-Saxon Farmstead West Stow: reconstructed village
Sutton Hoo • Burial site discovered in 1939 • Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf • Remains of a boat were discovered and large burial chamber containing numerous artifacts • Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element intermingled with pagan ritual.
The Reemergence of Christianity • 596AD: attempt to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity • 597AD: Saint Augustine • converted King Ethelbert of Kent to Christianity. • set up a monastery in Canterbury in Kent. • 650AD: most of England is Christian; some hold on to previous beliefs • The church provided counsel to quarreling rulers in efforts to unify the English people. • At this time, the British Isles were not unified and included separate kingdoms with separate rulers. They fought continuously over the fertile, green land
Constant Conflict • 9th Century: • Norway invaded Northumbria (Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northern and central England), Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. • The Danes of Denmark targeted eastern and southern England
Alfred the Great, His descendant & William, duke of normandy • Alfred the Great was the King of Wessex 871-899 • 866—resisted Danish intrusion and earned “the great” title • Saxons acknowledged Danish rule in East and North • Danes respected Saxon rule in South • End of 10th Century—Danes want to widen Danelaw • Forced Saxons to select Danish Kings • 1042—Kingship returned to Alfred the Great’s descendent Edward • Edward the Confessor died in 1066 and William, Duke of Normandy leads a conquering army against the united Britons. These events lead to the end of the Anglo-Saxon Period.
Literature of Anglo-Saxon Times • 2 major influences 1) Germanic Traditions of the Anglo-Saxons 2) Christian Traditions of the Roman Church
1) Germanic Traditions of theAnglo-Saxons • Germanic language – Mixture of various Germanic dialects + Old English – Old English (often looks like a foreign language)
Page of Beowulf manuscript in Old English Listen to me!
Heroic Ideals Dominate • Warrior culture – Poems and stories depict a society like the Anglo-Saxons • Military and tribal loyalties • Bravery of warriors • Generosity of rulers • Oral tradition – Songs and stories often sung and told about the valiant struggles of heroic warriors • More than just entertainment – provided a model for living and a form of immortality they could aspire to • Note: all of these provided the foundation for early written literature in Old English
Anglo-Saxon Literature cont. • Anglo-Saxon poetry falls mainly into two categories: • Heroic poetry – recounts the achievements of warriors • Elegiac poetry – laments the deaths of loved ones and the loss of the past • Beowulf is the most famous example of heroic poetry.
The Beowulf Poet Christian; reflects established tradition Allusions to the Old Testament Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin: Christ archetype: Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ The price of salvation is life itself
The Epic & Its Elements Beowulf: Unknown author The national epic of England (first work to be composed in English) A long heroic poem, about a great warrior renowned for his courage, strength, and dignity. The hero represents the ideals of the culture.
Epic Elements Most epics are serious in tone and lofty in style. This technique is meant to convey the importance of the events. Long speeches by the characters suggest an impressive formality. Uses kennings: A figure of speech, a metaphor, that substitutes for a noun [proper or common]; adds interest: whale-road = sea; sleep of the sword = death; ring-giver = king, etc.
Heroic Values in Beowulf Relationship between king and his warriors The king rewards his warriors with gifts If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the slayer or obtain payment (wergild) in compensation
Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values This tension is at the heart of the poem Pagan history and myth are made to point to a Christian moral Beowulf is poised between two value systems
The Epic Hero Defeats his enemies using Physical strength Skill as a warrior Nobility of character Quick wits Is not modest – boasting is a ritual Embodies the ideals and values of his people Is eager for fame Because the Germanic tribes believed death was inevitable, warriors sought fame to preserve the memory of their deeds after death A man of high social status whose fate affects the destiny of his people
