BeowulfBeowulf The English Language,

The Anglo-Saxons, Beowulf and the Perilous

Journey

Ms. Scully

A A BriefBrief History of Britain up to the end of the History of Britain up to the end of the Medieval Period!!!Medieval Period!!!

Quick Question:Quick Question:What do the terms Britain, Great Britain, the British What do the terms Britain, Great Britain, the British

Isles and the United Kingdom refer to? Are they terms for Isles and the United Kingdom refer to? Are they terms for the same land and country?the same land and country?

The Origins of LanguageThe Origins of Language

7000 BP (before present): Indo 7000 BP (before present): Indo European Language (I.E.)European Language (I.E.)

Early British History:Early British History:

The first persons in England were the The first persons in England were the Druids and Celts. Druids and Celts.

Druids were a gathering of priests and Druids were a gathering of priests and are known for Stonehengeare known for Stonehenge

The Celts and Druids eventually merged.The Celts and Druids eventually merged. The Druids worshipped goddesses; The Druids worshipped goddesses;

conquering tribes did away with religion conquering tribes did away with religion and the goddesses.and the goddesses.

Early British History:Early British History:

I. 43-410 A.D. – Roman RuleI. 43-410 A.D. – Roman Rule A. Roman Empire is at its height – it is A. Roman Empire is at its height – it is

expanding around the European continent.expanding around the European continent. B. Britain is invaded by the Romans (Julius B. Britain is invaded by the Romans (Julius

Caesar)Caesar) Rome settles and builds in England, completely Rome settles and builds in England, completely

subduing the Celtssubduing the Celts C. Various Roman Governors rule Britain C. Various Roman Governors rule Britain D. The Romans introduce their language, D. The Romans introduce their language,

culture and law – roads, songs, literature, culture and law – roads, songs, literature, architecture, pastimes (Roman Baths)architecture, pastimes (Roman Baths)

II. 410-1066 – Anglo-Saxon and II. 410-1066 – Anglo-Saxon and Viking RuleViking Rule

A. Collapse of the Roman Empire – Romans A. Collapse of the Roman Empire – Romans abandon Britain, leaving the Celts without an abandon Britain, leaving the Celts without an army or way of defending themselves.army or way of defending themselves.

B. Britain is plunged into the “Dark Ages”B. Britain is plunged into the “Dark Ages” 1. No literacy or culture1. No literacy or culture C. 3 Germanic tribes invade BritainC. 3 Germanic tribes invade Britain 1. Angles1. Angles 2. Saxons2. Saxons

3. Jutes3. Jutes The Celts are pushed into Scotland, Ireland and The Celts are pushed into Scotland, Ireland and

WalesWales Latin becomes the language of the learnedLatin becomes the language of the learned

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons449-1066449-1066

Arrived when the Romans left.Arrived when the Romans left. Divided Britain into independent principalities Divided Britain into independent principalities

each with their own ruler.each with their own ruler. Christianity returned and linked Britain with Christianity returned and linked Britain with

Europe, which helped to unify the Anglo-Saxons, Europe, which helped to unify the Anglo-Saxons, although their pagan religion remained strong. although their pagan religion remained strong.

Fame, success and survival depended on the Fame, success and survival depended on the loyalty to the leader of the clan. loyalty to the leader of the clan.

A-S religion was more concerned with ethics than A-S religion was more concerned with ethics than mysticismmysticism

Bards (scops) were as important as Bards (scops) were as important as fighters, hunters, fishers, and farmers. fighters, hunters, fishers, and farmers. They were accompanied by glemons They were accompanied by glemons (musicians) who played on harps. (musicians) who played on harps.

Fame in the bard’s mournful poetry was Fame in the bard’s mournful poetry was a hero’s only consolation after death.a hero’s only consolation after death.

Christian monks preserved Anglo-Saxon Christian monks preserved Anglo-Saxon culture and literary traditions.culture and literary traditions.

““The Northmen”The Northmen” Comprised of Danes, Swedes and Comprised of Danes, Swedes and

NorwegiansNorwegians The Vikings were peasants and The Vikings were peasants and

nobles who sailed from their land to nobles who sailed from their land to attack and plunder villagesattack and plunder villages

Purpose: Gain more land and Purpose: Gain more land and propertyproperty

Alfred the Great:Alfred the Great:During this time period we have Alfred the Great.During this time period we have Alfred the Great. 871-899: Alfred the Great of Wessex became King of 871-899: Alfred the Great of Wessex became King of

England (parts of it) and was known for being a great England (parts of it) and was known for being a great scholar. scholar.

He defeated Vikings who had been attacking other He defeated Vikings who had been attacking other English kings and lands and he negotiated peace with English kings and lands and he negotiated peace with the Danish leaders. the Danish leaders.

He developed defendable plots of land called buroughs He developed defendable plots of land called buroughs as market places and spread literacy by having as market places and spread literacy by having important texts translated from Latin into Anglo-Saxon.important texts translated from Latin into Anglo-Saxon.

One such important text was the Anglo-Saxon One such important text was the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle which celebrated Alfred and the history of Chronicle which celebrated Alfred and the history of WessexWessex

Alfred’s legacy is the unification of the lands ruled by Alfred’s legacy is the unification of the lands ruled by other Anglo-Saxon kings into what would eventually other Anglo-Saxon kings into what would eventually become England.become England.

The Sutton Hoo Ship BurialThe Sutton Hoo Ship Burial

Remnants of an Anglo-Saxon royal Remnants of an Anglo-Saxon royal burial were found at the town of burial were found at the town of Sutton Hoo.Sutton Hoo.

Treasures were found in mounds Treasures were found in mounds scattered about the area, including an scattered about the area, including an undisturbed ship filled with artifacts. undisturbed ship filled with artifacts.

This discovery proved that the Anglo-This discovery proved that the Anglo-Saxons were civilized.Saxons were civilized.

III. 1066-1154 – Norman III. 1066-1154 – Norman RuleRule

A. King Edward I “The Confessor” dies leaving A. King Edward I “The Confessor” dies leaving England to his cousin William of Normandy (a England to his cousin William of Normandy (a bastard).bastard).

B. There are three claimants to the throne: B. There are three claimants to the throne: William of William of Normandy, Harold Hardrada Normandy, Harold Hardrada (Edward’s nephew) and Harold of Norway (Viking)(Edward’s nephew) and Harold of Norway (Viking)

C. Harold Hardrada defeats Harold of Norway in C. Harold Hardrada defeats Harold of Norway in battle.battle.

D. William launches an attack on England and D. William launches an attack on England and meets Harold Hardrada at Hastings, England.meets Harold Hardrada at Hastings, England.

The Battle of HastingsThe Battle of Hastings The two armies meet at the town of The two armies meet at the town of

Hastings, England.Hastings, England. Oct. 14, 1066 – Battle of HastingsOct. 14, 1066 – Battle of Hastings

Bloody battle – many dieBloody battle – many die Harold is killed by an arrow through his Harold is killed by an arrow through his

eye.eye.

The Bayeux TapestryThe Bayeux Tapestry

232 feet long; 20 inches high232 feet long; 20 inches high Embroidered panel of wool on linenEmbroidered panel of wool on linen Shows the Battle of Hastings.Shows the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry can be seen today in a The tapestry can be seen today in a

chapel in Bayeux, France.chapel in Bayeux, France.

The Bayeux TapestryThe Bayeux Tapestry

William the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror

William becomes king and is known William becomes king and is known as William the Conqueror.as William the Conqueror.

In order to command England, In order to command England, William builds castles at each of the William builds castles at each of the cities he stops at on his way to cities he stops at on his way to London.London.

The most famous of his castles is the The most famous of his castles is the White Tower in the Tower of London.White Tower in the Tower of London.

Results of the Norman Results of the Norman ConquestConquest

There was now a major division between There was now a major division between the nobles and the peasants.the nobles and the peasants. The nobles (William’s) spoke FrenchThe nobles (William’s) spoke French The English peasants spoke old EnglishThe English peasants spoke old English

French: beefFrench: beef English: cowEnglish: cow The Normans brought accentual syllabic poetry The Normans brought accentual syllabic poetry

(iambic pentameter etc…)(iambic pentameter etc…) *Monosyllabic words are mostly Anglo-Saxon: blood, *Monosyllabic words are mostly Anglo-Saxon: blood,

puff. They are more pictoral, concrete and sensory.puff. They are more pictoral, concrete and sensory.

The English LanguageThe English Language

The English that emerged after the Battle The English that emerged after the Battle of Hastings was drastically differentof Hastings was drastically different

449 to 1066: Old English449 to 1066: Old English 1066-~1485: Middle English (Chaucer)1066-~1485: Middle English (Chaucer)

Great Vowel Shift (vowels shift higher, or Great Vowel Shift (vowels shift higher, or pronounced higher in the mouth; ex: route) pronounced higher in the mouth; ex: route)

1485-2012: Modern English 1485-2012: Modern English (Shakespeare is considered middle/modern (Shakespeare is considered middle/modern

English)English)

Old EnglishOld EnglishA combination of influences!A combination of influences! Heavy Germanic influenceHeavy Germanic influence Nouns were either masculine, feminine or neuterNouns were either masculine, feminine or neuter Relied on word form rather than word orderRelied on word form rather than word order For special purposes, a different alphabet was used For special purposes, a different alphabet was used

(futhorc) which was composed of letters known as (futhorc) which was composed of letters known as runes.runes.

Mainly an oral language.Mainly an oral language. The Catholic Church influenced OE; missionaries The Catholic Church influenced OE; missionaries

brought words like paper, altar, candle and schoolbrought words like paper, altar, candle and school The Vikings also left many words in the English lang.The Vikings also left many words in the English lang.

Types of PoetryTypes of Poetry

Narrative

EpicMonologue

Lyric

PersonalHighly emotional

OdesElegiesSonnets

Dramatic

Theater

Old English PoetryOld English PoetryAlliterative VerseAlliterative Verse

1. Uses a lot of alliteration1. Uses a lot of alliteration 2. Caesura – there are spaces in the 2. Caesura – there are spaces in the

middle of the lines (poetic breaks in middle of the lines (poetic breaks in sound)sound)

3. 4 beats per line3. 4 beats per line 4. a a a _ (a = alliteration) – 4. a a a _ (a = alliteration) –

look at example textlook at example text

6 Themes common to 6 Themes common to Anglo-Saxon PoetryAnglo-Saxon Poetry

1. Loneliness and suffering1. Loneliness and suffering 2. Temporal matters are fleeting2. Temporal matters are fleeting 3. Northern winters are terrifying3. Northern winters are terrifying 4. The sea is immense, cruel and 4. The sea is immense, cruel and

unforgivingunforgiving 5. Loss of a retainer is catastrophic (a liege 5. Loss of a retainer is catastrophic (a liege

lord)lord) 6. Ubi Sunt: mourning for what has gone 6. Ubi Sunt: mourning for what has gone

before; mourning for the pastbefore; mourning for the past

Terms to Know for Terms to Know for BeowulfBeowulf:: 1. 1. ComitatusComitatus: Community. The bond between the lord and : Community. The bond between the lord and

his his warriors.warriors. 2. 2. ScopScop: A storyteller or poet: A storyteller or poet 3. 3. Kennings (Epithets)Kennings (Epithets): Metaphoric compound words. : Metaphoric compound words. Examples: Bone-house = rib cage or the bodyExamples: Bone-house = rib cage or the body Whale’s road = the seaWhale’s road = the sea Sky’s candle = the sun Sky’s candle = the sun 4. 4. Epic HeroEpic Hero: A larger than life figure from history or : A larger than life figure from history or

legend. Qualities: courage, loyalty, honorlegend. Qualities: courage, loyalty, honor 5. 5. In Media ResIn Media Res: “In the middle of things” The story begins : “In the middle of things” The story begins

in the in the middle of the action.middle of the action. 6. Mead: rich, thick wine; mead halls (gathering places)6. Mead: rich, thick wine; mead halls (gathering places)

History of History of Beowulf:Beowulf: I. Epic Poem:I. Epic Poem: a. Tells of the adventures of heroes (from history or a. Tells of the adventures of heroes (from history or

legend)legend) b. Epic Hero Traits (Anglo-Saxon) – courage, loyalty, b. Epic Hero Traits (Anglo-Saxon) – courage, loyalty,

honor, generosityhonor, generosity II. II. Beowulf:Beowulf: a. written between 700-1000 A.D.a. written between 700-1000 A.D. b. Composed in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and found, b. Composed in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and found,

along with “The Wanderer” in the Book of Exeter in 1020.along with “The Wanderer” in the Book of Exeter in 1020.d. They are elegiac – poems of mourningd. They are elegiac – poems of mourning

c. Earliest major work of English poetryc. Earliest major work of English poetry d. Takes place in Scandinavia (Denmark)d. Takes place in Scandinavia (Denmark) e Only 1 surviving copy left – British Library in e Only 1 surviving copy left – British Library in

LondonLondon f. Over 300 lines long, unrhymed, 4 beat alliterative f. Over 300 lines long, unrhymed, 4 beat alliterative

verse.verse.

Mothers are found to be greater, Mothers are found to be greater, more evil and powerful in epic stories more evil and powerful in epic stories (Grendal’s mother is much more (Grendal’s mother is much more terrifying than her son).terrifying than her son).

Anglo-Saxons valued mothers, Anglo-Saxons valued mothers, however a male hero always however a male hero always triumphs. triumphs.