Post on 12-Jan-2016
The Anglo-Saxon Period
The Anglo-Saxon Period
Approximately 400-1066Approximately 400-1066
Germanic TribesGermanic Tribes 3 tribes
Jutes Angles Saxons
By 600 they were known as the Anglo-Saxons.
Crude, vigorous, tribal Harsh, guttural language
became known as Old English
3 tribes Jutes Angles Saxons
By 600 they were known as the Anglo-Saxons.
Crude, vigorous, tribal Harsh, guttural language
became known as Old English
Common Poetic Devices in Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Common Poetic Devices in Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Heather-stepper Whale-road Shield bearer
“A powerful monster/living down
“So Hrothgar’s men lived/ happy in his hall”
“The high hall rang…”
Heather-stepper Whale-road Shield bearer
“A powerful monster/living down
“So Hrothgar’s men lived/ happy in his hall”
“The high hall rang…”
Kenning--complicated metaphor
Caesura-- a pause near the middle of a line of poetry
Alliteration--the repetition of a beginning sound with a line or lines of poetry
10 syllable lines-general rule
Kenning--complicated metaphor
Caesura-- a pause near the middle of a line of poetry
Alliteration--the repetition of a beginning sound with a line or lines of poetry
10 syllable lines-general rule
Epic PoetryEpic Poetry Conventions
Hero Large Battle Supernatural element In “media res” Vast setting Invocation Epithets/description Long lists Long, formal, often boastful
speeches
Conventions Hero Large Battle Supernatural element In “media res” Vast setting Invocation Epithets/description Long lists Long, formal, often boastful
speeches
Anglo-Saxon “Literature”Anglo-Saxon “Literature”
Humorless Warring, fighting, struggle Women considered inferior Oral tradition Scop Mead hall Epic poetry Elegiac poetry Riddles Epithets
Humorless Warring, fighting, struggle Women considered inferior Oral tradition Scop Mead hall Epic poetry Elegiac poetry Riddles Epithets
MeAD HALL MeAD HALL A mead hall or feasting
hall was initially simply a large building with a single room. From the fifth century to early medieval times such a building was the residence of a lord and his retainers.
A scop would be hired to sing, story tell, and perform at gatherings in the mead hall.
A mead hall or feasting hall was initially simply a large building with a single room. From the fifth century to early medieval times such a building was the residence of a lord and his retainers.
A scop would be hired to sing, story tell, and perform at gatherings in the mead hall.
MeadMead
Fermented Honey Beverage much like beer
Common beverage of the Norse people
Fermented Honey Beverage much like beer
Common beverage of the Norse people
What is a scop?What is a scop?
Scop Professional singer
who was hired to entertain guests with stories, usually in poetry form, about the heroic adventures of tribal heroes.
Scop Professional singer
who was hired to entertain guests with stories, usually in poetry form, about the heroic adventures of tribal heroes.