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Anglo-Saxons

Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf and the Epic Hero. The Big Picture. Here’s the way the history of English literature is labeled: The Anglo-Saxons 450-1066 The Middle Ages 1066-1485 The Renaissance 1485 – 1660 The Restoration and the 18 th Century 1660-1800 The Romantic Period 1798-1832

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Anglo-Saxons

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  1. Anglo-Saxons Beowulf and the Epic Hero

  2. The Big Picture • Here’s the way the history of English literature is labeled: • The Anglo-Saxons 450-1066 • The Middle Ages 1066-1485 • The Renaissance 1485 – 1660 • The Restoration and the 18th Century 1660-1800 • The Romantic Period 1798-1832 • The Victorian Period 1832-1901 • Twentieth Century/Modern 1901 – present

  3. A second way we divide English • Old English 450-1100 • Middle English 1100-1500 • Modern English 1500 - present

  4. Some background • Anglo-Saxon Period 449 B.C.-1066 A.D. • The Language is called Old English • It was derived from the Celts, who were in England, as well as the conquering Germanic tribes – the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.

  5. People of Anglo-Saxon England • Celts – 700 B.C. – 55 B.C. original inhabitants; oral langugage; Druid religion (Stonehenge) • 55 B.C. – Romans came and stayed until the early 5th century • Brought roads, aqueducts, villas, and Christianity • When the Romans left, the island was invaded by Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. (named after the Angles)

  6. History of Anglo-Saxon period • Lots of little kingdoms existed under various efforts to unify England • The warrior was the dominant position in society • The king was a warrior • Witan = king’s group of advisers • Women were unimportant in A-S society, and except for the queen, were regarded as valuable only for domestic duty

  7. Some maps

  8. Anglo-Saxon culture • Appreciated craftsmanship • Agricultural, semi-nomadic • Two classes of people – earls (upper class) and churls (lower class) • Great feasts were a crucial part of A-S life • Feats were held in Mead Halls (mead is a sweet alcoholic drink made from fermented honey) • A scop, or bard, was the entertainer/historian/poet • Would tell tales of the great heroes of the past • Tales were delivered in a rhythmic chant and alliterative verses

  9. Christianity and Paganisn • Christianity in England came by way of Rome • St. Augustine was sent in 597 to convert King Ethelbert of Kent • Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury • Christianity spread • Pagan ways still permeated – in literature and in practice – ex. Yule logs, days of week, books of remedies, mistletoe • We will see evidence of both Christianity and Paganism in Beowulf

  10. Beowulf • A poem of 3182 lines • Composed between 700 and 750 A.D., but concerns the Germanic people who lived around 500 A.D. • It is an EPIC

  11. The Epic • A long narrative poem • Hero is a figure of national importance • Actions consist of deeds of vallor • The setting is vast in scope (time and place) • Involves the fate of an entire group of people • Begins in the middle “in medias ras” • Has an elevated, grand style of language • Rich in imagery, metaphor, kennings, etc. • Supernatural forces are present • Told in objective manner

  12. The Epic continued • Hero has superhuman strength of body, character, or mind • Blends historical fact with legend • Simple plot • Theme involves universal human problems

  13. Theme topics in Beowulf • Courage and loyalty • Struggle against evil (good vs. evil) • Youth vs. age • Relationship between king and his subjects

  14. Literary Terms for Beowulf • Caesura • A pause or break near the middle of every line; helped the oral poets (scops) remember their lines • Alliteration • Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words • ex. Behaviour that’s admiredis the path to power among people everywhere.           (20–25) • Epithets • Identifying expressions used with or in place of names of people, places, or objects • Ex. Higlac’s follower

  15. Literary Terms • Kennings • Related to epithets, but more imaginative (usually) • Uses metaphoric compound words in place of simple nouns • Ex. Sea = the whale road • Ex. Sun = heaven’s candle • Apposition • A phrase set off by commas used to describe another noun • Ex. Beowulf, our hero, sailed across the ocean

  16. Literary Terms • Simile - • Personification - • Parody – imitates another, usually serious, work or type of literature, often adding a new insight to the original • We will read a section of a parody of Beowulf called Grendel

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