Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon EnglandEngland

The Origins of BeowulfThe Origins of Beowulf

So Who Were the Anglo-So Who Were the Anglo-Saxons?Saxons?

• Germanic tribes from central Germanic tribes from central EuropeEurope– The Angles, the Saxons, and the The Angles, the Saxons, and the

JutesJutes–Moved east and eventually into Moved east and eventually into

England around 450 C.E.England around 450 C.E.–Conquered by 800 C.E. through Conquered by 800 C.E. through

fighting processfighting process• Successful groups absorbed the losersSuccessful groups absorbed the losers

Warrior CultureWarrior Culture• KinshipKinship– The individual ceases to exist, responsible The individual ceases to exist, responsible

for all behavior of family membersfor all behavior of family members

• LordshipLordship– The king is tied to everyoneThe king is tied to everyone• Pursues interest of all membersPursues interest of all members• Selfless- KinshipSelfless- Kinship

– Military relationshipMilitary relationship• King is tied to the nobles who provide the King is tied to the nobles who provide the

soldiers who fight for the kingsoldiers who fight for the king

Elements of the Warrior Elements of the Warrior CultureCulture

• Wergild = the man priceWergild = the man price– When you offend a family you must offer When you offend a family you must offer

compensationcompensation• Provides peace without causing a feudProvides peace without causing a feud

– If you murder a man outside of war, If you murder a man outside of war, usually there was an executionusually there was an execution

– Repairs evil done by deathRepairs evil done by death

Warrior Culture ContinuedWarrior Culture Continued

• Lof = esteem, reputationLof = esteem, reputation– Warrior wants story told over and over Warrior wants story told over and over

so legacy and fame will live onso legacy and fame will live on• Immortality in the eyes of men!Immortality in the eyes of men!

• Wyrd = fateWyrd = fate– Destiny of the warriorDestiny of the warrior

The Epic PoemThe Epic Poem• The Oral TraditionThe Oral Tradition– Stories passed down by telling themStories passed down by telling them– Usually told by a bard(scop) who singsUsually told by a bard(scop) who sings

• Long narrative with heroic themeLong narrative with heroic theme– Story of the heroStory of the hero’’s journeys journey– In the 3In the 3rdrd person person– Contains information about the culture that Contains information about the culture that

created themcreated them– Contains clues as to what people fearedContains clues as to what people feared– Examples: The Odyssey, The IliadExamples: The Odyssey, The Iliad

• Beowulf dates back to some time between Beowulf dates back to some time between 700- 1000 CE700- 1000 CE

The Language of The Language of BeowulfBeowulf

Old EnglishOld English

• This is the language of This is the language of BeowulfBeowulf, also , also known as Anglo-Saxonknown as Anglo-Saxon

• Many people confuse Shakespearean Many people confuse Shakespearean language as Old Englishlanguage as Old English– It is actually Modern EnglishIt is actually Modern English

• Shift to Modern English did not occur Shift to Modern English did not occur right awayright away– Took hundreds of yearsTook hundreds of years

Old English ContinuedOld English Continued

• Uses unfamiliar letters that come from Uses unfamiliar letters that come from runic alphabet of Germanic peoplesrunic alphabet of Germanic peoples

• Despite the fact that it looks so Despite the fact that it looks so different, once you know what the different, once you know what the sounds the letters make it sounds very sounds the letters make it sounds very similar to Englishsimilar to English

• For example:For example:– ““Pæt wæs god cyning!Pæt wæs god cyning!””

• The P makes a th soundThe P makes a th sound