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Anglo-Saxon Period. 449-1066 A.D. Fall of Roman Empire (410). 3 Germanic tribes took over 1. Jutes 2. Angles 3. Saxons. ORAL TRADITION. Old English Mead Halls Scops Anglo-Saxon literature reflects their quality of life and gender roles Wergild. Influence of Christianity.
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Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 A.D.
Fall of Roman Empire (410) • 3 Germanic tribes took over 1. Jutes 2. Angles 3. Saxons
ORAL TRADITION • Old English • Mead Halls • Scops • Anglo-Saxon literature reflects their quality of life and gender roles • Wergild
Influence of Christianity • Monasteries • Addition of Christian references in stories • Latin--written language
Beowulf=Epic Poem Epics contain the following criteria: 1. Hero is of noble birth/social position 2. Hero reflects values of society 3. Hero’s actions are superhuman
4.Supernatural forces are often involved 5.Setting is vast 6.Timeless values and universal themes 7.Serious tone
Beowulf • Author: Unknown • Written down around 1000 A.D. but probably dates back to about 680 A.D. • Earliest surviving epic poem to be written in English (Old English)
Setting • Medieval Sweden (Geats) and Denmark (Danes) • Herot, a great mead hall
Characters • Hrothgar-King of the Danes—Herot is his mead hall • Grendel-monster • Beowulf-Hero of Geats
Anglo-Saxon Versification 1. No rhyme 2. Alliteration 3. Assonance 4. Plodding rhythm
5. Four heavy (accented) beats per line Ex. Grendel came creeping, accursed of God
6. A caesura, or pause, in the middle of each line Ex. Grim and greedy, // his grip made ready
7. Kennings--phrases or word groups that are often hyphenated and which are an elaborate, indirect way of naming persons, places, or events Wave-skimmer=ship Swan-road=sea Guardian of evil=Grendel