THE ANGLOSAXON PERIOD 449 1065 THE ANGLOSAXON PERIOD
- Slides: 29
THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD 449 -1065
THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD • Considered beginning of English history • Invasion of Angles, Saxons & Jutes (Germanic tribes) • Coming of Christianity • Missionaries converted most of England by 650 • Danish invaders • Danes & Norsemen attacked in 8 th & 9 th centuries • Fought off by Alfred the Great
LITERATURE OF THE TIME • People are reading/listening to: • Songs & Poems • Few could read – traveling minstrels & clergymen used great body of oral history to teach • Schools of Theology spread • Literary Trends • English was mostly spoken (rather than written) • Most works written in Latin • Educated English began speaking French • Eventually English became dominant language
LANGUAGE OF THE TIME • English became a language • Two major stages • Old English (450 -1150) – primary sources were Celtic and invading Germanic tribes • Middle English (1150 -1500) – Evolved into Modern English – became more standardized
EPIC & EPIC HERO • Epic • Long, narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero • Epic Hero • Usually a man of high social status and often important to the history of his people • Epic Flaw • Causes the downfall of the epic hero (pride, rage, etc. )
LITERARY TERMS • Oral Tradition – the passing on of tales by word of mouth, usually in poetic form • Foreshadowing – When an author drops hints or clues about what will happen later in a piece of literature; in epic literature may underscore the idea of FATE • Symbol – Person, thing or event that stands for something else, often an idea or concept
BEOWULF • In your journals: • Who are the people you think serve as heroes or role models in society today? Explain why. • Oldest known English literary work • Not set in England – set in Scandinavia • Involves Geats, a tribe from southern Sweden, Danes, a tribe from Denmark • How did it become English literary work? • Anglo-Saxons invaded & settled England, bringing legends and folktales with them
LITERARY DEVICES IN BEOWULF • Alliteration • Repetition of consonant sounds – usually at beginning of words & in stressed syllables • Caesura (sounds like seize) • Obvious pause in line of poetry; usually found near middle of line (can hear this when read aloud) • Kenning • Imaginative phrase that takes place of single noun • ie: whale-road (sea) or life-house (body)
BEOWULF • Invocation of the Muse • Calls to god/goddess to inspire the poet • “the harp’s rejoicing/Call and the poet’s clear songs, sung/Of the ancient beginnings of us all, recalling/The Almighty making the earth …” (4 -7) • Asks to speak through the poet • Begins “in medias res” • In the middle of things • Immediately introduced to the “powerful monster, living down/In the darkness …” (1 -2)
BEOWULF • Spread of Christianity • “The Almighty” • Likely added to the story later when missionaries spread Christianity throughout Europe, specifically England • Main characters • Hrothgar – King • Grendel – monster • Beowulf – Higlac’s follower, strongest of the Geats – greater and stronger than anyone in this world
BEOWULF • What is the setting? • Herot’s Hall – great hall of the Danes • What happens? • Grendel attacks the men while they’re asleep, slaughtering Hrothgar’s friends • Herot empty of celebration for 12 years • Grendel never touched Hrothgar’s throne • Why not? • Protected by God • Who does Grendel represent? • Satan - evil
BEOWULF • Beowulf – epic hero • Commanded boat to sail across the sea to help Hrothgar • Omens were good; encouraged Beowulf’s journey • Chose mightiest of Geats - 14 • Hrothgar’s lieutenant meets them • “Whose soldiers are you” (132) • Beowulf & Co. have come in friendship • Stern warning • “A soldier should know the difference between words/And deeds, and keep that knowledge clear/In his brain” (184 -186)
BEOWULF • The Battle with Grendel • Attacks Herot’s Hall again • Kills a Geat • Seized by Beowulf • Knew he had met his match – “Knew at once that nowhere on earth/Had he met a man whose hands were harder; /His mind was flooded with fear …” (310 -313)
BEOWULF • The Battle with Grendel’s Mother • Grendel’s mother goes to Herot to avenge her son’s death, killing Hrothgar’s closest friend and retrieving Grendel’s arm • Beowulf pursues Grendel’s mother • Superhuman powers of Beowulf • Swims for hours to bottom of lake • Epic battle ensues with other sea monsters coming to watch • His sword (Hrunting) could not hurt her
BEOWULF • Pride/Arrogance • Epic flaw – How is it shown for Beowulf? • “But Beowulf/Longed only for fame, leaped back/Into battle” (457 -459) • “If weapons were useless he’d use/His hands, the strength in his fingers. So fame/Comes to the men who mean to win it/And care about nothing else!” (461 -464)
BEOWULF • Summary • Comes to save Hrothgar & restore Herot to its glory • Kills Grendel with his bare hands • Hangs Grendel’s arm on the wall, causing Grendel’s mother to seek revenge • Swims to the bottom of the lake for hours to battle Grendel’s mother • Kills her with sword forged by monsters and swipes off Grendel’s head to bring it back to Hrothgar
GILGAMESH • Gilgamesh: The Death of Humbaba • Background • Written nearly 1500 years ago • Buried & rediscovered in 1840 s • Gilgamesh – ancient king lived between 28002500 BC in Mesopotamia
GILGAMESH • Ambition to build great walls & temples to glorify his name drives him to the forest • Gilgamesh & his friend (Enkidu) plan to chop down a cedar tree • Cedar tree is sacred – protected by gods & guarded by supernatural forces • Humbaba is greatest force • Giant; serves gods & protects woods with strength, magic • Gilgamesh asks sun god (Shamash) for protection in return for building Shamash a great temple
GILGAMESH • Symbolism • Humbaba’s appearance – like a water buffalo w/ huge & clumsy legs and arms flailing • Epic Warrior/Hero • Epic flaw • Feats of great strength • What would have happened had Gilgamesh spared Humbaba?
THE SEAFARER • Seafarer – one who travels the sea • Elegy • Solemn poems that lament (sorrowful reflection) the fleeting quality of life • Exeter Book • Rare collection of Old English poetry written by monks during the 900 s • Found/stored in Exeter Cathedral in 1050 • Author is unknown • Tone changes dramatically in line 65 • Scholars believe last sections written by monk to create more religious tone
THE SEAFARER • Rhythm • Pattern formed by alternation of stressed & unstressed syllables in poetry – pattern is known as an iamb • Narrative perspective – 1 st person • Told from whose perspective? The seafarer • What is the mood created by the poem? • Where is the sailor actually going? • Do you find the sea to be an effective symbol?
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY … • Venerable Bede • “father of English history” • Ecclesiastical – of the Church • Edwin – King of Northumbria discusses Christianity with wife’s religious advisor (Paulinus) • Convert the English people? • History – factual account • Allegory – story to illustrate a point
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY … • Coifi – chief priest advises Edwin to follow the new religion • Uses metaphor of a sparrow • What’s the meaning? • Fleeting life, safety inside Christianity • Coifi renounces Pagan gods – symbolic • Seminal moment in English history • King Edwin publicly accepts Christianity
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY … • Caedmon • 1 st poet to use Old English to discuss religion • Could not read/write • Composed poems orally & read them to monks • Analogy – literary work that represents an idea or teaches a lesson • God appeared to Caedmon in a dream - miracle • “Crowned his life with a happy end”
BALLADS • Crazy Game of Poker – by O. A. R. • What is the song about? • Can you think of any other songs like it? • In the Middle Ages, ballads were the poetry of the common people • • Passed down orally from generation to generation Derived from French – “old dancing song” Composed to be sung Feature simplicity & repetition
BALLADS • What is the subject of the traditional ballad? • • Domestic tragedy & false love True love Simply comic/entertaining – the absurdity of life Supernatural elements – pre-Christian ideas • Characterized by strong, simple beat • • Relatively uncomplicated Appeals to a general audience Later “literary ballads” were more sophisticated Sung to accompaniment of a lute (stringed instrument)
BALLADS • Folk ballads – rhymed verse that was recited or sung • Ballad stanza – quatrain, or four-line stanza; first & third lines have four stressed syllables while only second & fourth lines rhyme • Repetition of lines is a common feature • Narrative poem – poems telling a story • Theme – main idea of a story, poem, novel or play, which is sometimes expressed as a general statement about life
BALLADS • Think about your favorite songs. What makes them your favorite? • Down, Down • Sir Patrick Spens • One of best-known ballads, telling story of sailors sent on ill-fated voyage • May be based on true events • What is the subject? • Domestic tragedy
BALLADS • Bonny Barbara Allan • What is the subject? • • • Familiar & tragic story of disappointment in love Get Up and Bar the Door What is the subject? Comic ballad about married life Favorite subject of medieval humor
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