AngloSaxons 449 1066 Whats Going On Great Britain

Anglo-Saxons 449 -1066

What’s Going On? Great Britain was invaded by Angle and Saxon’s Romans occupied Great Britain but evacuated troops due to troubles at home Loss of this protection made Great Britain vulnerable They had a strong warrior culture They occupied the island for 6 centuries They were originally divided into clans and later unified by King Alfred

What Developed Great Britain was known for their warrior-king and his close-knit group of followers Great Britain finally defended itself from the Danes (due to King Alfred) This helped unify the Angle’s and Saxon’s: Anglo-Saxons Christianity began to spread during this time

Important Date to Know 1066 -The Norman Invasion/Battle of Hastings William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) crosses the English Channel William defeats Harold and the Anglo-Saxon army French replaces English as the language of the ruling class

Literature of the Times Anglo-Saxon’s introduced a Germanic ethos (spirit of a culture, what they value) Celebrated the warrior and his exploits Based primarily on oral poetry- recited stories and magic Used alliteration heavily Spoke in Old English

Culture Food and Drink Oats, barley, wheat etc were popular for pottage and beers Wine was for the wealthy Peas and beans Vegetables and herbs Meat: used the whole animal Milk was used for mainly butter and cheese Main meal was lunch Gathered wood in summer Used stoves Boiling, stewing, grilling, and roasting were most common

Customs Hard for kings to create new laws, most only upheld current laws Kinship- family members were obliged to seek revenge on murdered family members No juries, those being tried were responsible for gathering their own defense Women had more rights now then in later time periods

Customs Continued…. When burying the dead, bodies were either put on a ship or buried beneath a mound

What’s an epic? Long narrative poem about a quest, told in formal, elevated language Larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular culture Incredible plot involving large-scale events Mix of myth, legend, and history that often includes gods and goddesses as characters

Why is it Important? Epics represent a culture’s history, traditions, and values Every culture has a story and wants everyone to know why their culture is “great” Epics help humans bridge the gap between reality and divine (explain natural occurrences, etc)

First page of Beowulf

Beowulf The longest epic poem written in Old English Written after fall of Roman Empire The original manuscript of Beowulf dates back to 1000, however the poem is much older, dating back to 750. Geographical descriptions and Christian elements, it’s assumed the writer may have been an Northumbria Monk (added Christian elements because fiction was not true, therefore a lie, which is a sin. They could get away with fiction if it contained Christian elements). Does not take place in England

Summary England’s oldest surviving epic Tells the story of Beowulf who comes to the aid of the Danes to defeat Grendel, who has been tormenting the Danes for 12 years. He fights Grendel’s mother and returns to Geatland (his home) and becomes the ruler Later, he faces one last threat, a dragon…his last battle? !

Setting Denmark---A loooooong time ago This is where Beowulf goes to help Hrothgar and the Danes Herot- the Mead Hall Lake- swampy lake area, where Grendel and his mother live (yes, he lives with his mom!) Sweden (where Beowulf is from) Geatland-the town where Beowulf is from Returns here and becomes ruler/leader…fights dragon here Daneland=Denmark (Danes) Geatland=Sweden (Geats)

Themes Central Idea in a work of literature Possible themes to watch out for: 1. 2. 3. Importance of established identity Heroic Codes vs. other value systems Difference between a good warrior and a good king

Motifs Reoccurring items, structures, and/or literary devices that help to inform the reader of theme Possible motifs: 1. 2. Monsters Mead Hall

Symbols Person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for something beyond itself (ex-dove is a symbol for peace) Possible symbols: 1. 2. Golden Torque (collar or necklace) The Banquet

Vocabulary Epic Hero- has superhuman qualities. Either of noble birth or supernatural beings Alliteration- repetition of consonant sounds Kenning- A metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or even indirectly. Scop (pronounced shop)-an Anglo-Saxon poet who told his tales through song/chants Wyrd (pronounced weird)-the Anglo-Saxon word for fate Page 21 Vocabulary: 6 words-define in your notes and use in a sentence (a different sentence than the one used in