anglo saxon period and poetry
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Anglo-Saxon Period and Anglo-Saxon Period and PoetryPoetry
449 – 1066 A.D.449 – 1066 A.D.
BeowulfBeowulf
Written in old EnglishWritten in old English Oldest epic narrative in any modern Oldest epic narrative in any modern
European tongueEuropean tongue Unknown authorshipUnknown authorship Unsure of the precise date of Unsure of the precise date of
composition, but may date from the composition, but may date from the early 8early 8thth century century
Beowulf’s Beowulf’s CreationCreation
Composed in the oral poetic tradition , but Composed in the oral poetic tradition , but whether it was originally written or oral is whether it was originally written or oral is not knownnot known
Composed by a single Christian author for Composed by a single Christian author for a Christian audience in Anglo-Saxon a Christian audience in Anglo-Saxon EnglandEngland
Gives an excellent understanding of the Gives an excellent understanding of the spirit and embodiment of heroic epic spirit and embodiment of heroic epic traditiontradition
History of the PeriodHistory of the Period
Native Celts Native Celts originally inhabited originally inhabited the islandthe island
Romans inhabited Romans inhabited England for 300 England for 300 yearsyears
Made slow progress Made slow progress with roadswith roads
Celts and Romans Celts and Romans continued side by continued side by sideside
Celts had no Celts had no written languagewritten language
The first to write The first to write their tales were the their tales were the Anglo-SaxonsAnglo-Saxons
Romans withdrew Romans withdrew about 400 A.D.about 400 A.D.
Hadrian’s WallHadrian’s WallHadrian’s WallHadrian’s Wall
117km long
5m high
History of Period (cont’d)History of Period (cont’d)
Period begins when Period begins when first Jutes first Jutes (Denmark), the (Denmark), the Angles (hookmen), Angles (hookmen), and the Saxons and the Saxons (swordsmen) came (swordsmen) came in wavesin waves
Celts were driven Celts were driven to Wales and to Wales and IrelandIreland
Ends with the Ends with the Norman invasion in Norman invasion in 10661066
Anglo-Saxons were Anglo-Saxons were hardy and athletic, hardy and athletic, wandering and wandering and seafaring tribes, seafaring tribes, semi barbarous and semi barbarous and paganpagan
Also faithful, earnest, Also faithful, earnest, brave, and liked brave, and liked action and fightingaction and fighting
How Did Anglo-Saxons Live?How Did Anglo-Saxons Live?
After a hunt or After a hunt or battle, the battle, the followers of a followers of a chieftain or king chieftain or king would meet in the would meet in the mead hall or mead hall or banquet room of banquet room of the chieftain’s the chieftain’s living quartersliving quarters
Mead HallMead Hall
In many villages, this In many villages, this was the central place was the central place where the men would where the men would gather to argue the gather to argue the ways to meet a crisis ways to meet a crisis or deal with a or deal with a situation in the villagesituation in the village
Hrothgar’s was called Hrothgar’s was called Heorot or Hall of Heorot or Hall of HornsHorns
Mead Hall (cont’d)Mead Hall (cont’d)
Men would gather Men would gather at the tables to eat at the tables to eat and drink mead and drink mead (alcoholic beverage (alcoholic beverage made with malt made with malt and honey)and honey)
Chieftain and scop Chieftain and scop (village poet) sat at (village poet) sat at one end of the hallone end of the hall
Hall was a long hall, Hall was a long hall, possibly a whole possibly a whole building, with a long building, with a long trench down the trench down the middle in which middle in which fires were builtfires were built
Long tables were Long tables were set on either side of set on either side of the trenchthe trench
ScopsScops
Regaled warriors Regaled warriors with tales of deed with tales of deed of bravery and of bravery and heroism heroism accompanied accompanied usually by a small usually by a small hand-held harphand-held harp
GovernmentGovernment
Decisions for a Decisions for a village were usually village were usually done at “town done at “town meeting” or meeting” or “folkmoots”, where “folkmoots”, where every able-bodied every able-bodied man had a sayman had a say
Might elect a war Might elect a war chief, but even a chief, but even a King was elected by King was elected by the village malesthe village males
King was selected for King was selected for his family connections his family connections as well as his abilitiesas well as his abilities
He would gather He would gather followers about him followers about him (thanes) to whom he (thanes) to whom he gave protection and gave protection and allegianceallegiance
Thanes in turn Thanes in turn watched over watched over farmlands and farmlands and collected taxescollected taxes
Christianity
Christianity came to England in 597 when Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory to share the faith
Founded the 1st church in Canterbury
Became the 1st Archbishop of Canterbury
So what next . . .So what next . . .
We will read a poem about Beowulf, an We will read a poem about Beowulf, an epic English hero, and his struggles with epic English hero, and his struggles with 3 monsters: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, 3 monsters: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. and a fire-breathing dragon.