BRITAIN FROM THE ANGLO BRITAIN FROM THE ANGLO SAXON ERA SAXON ERA

BEOWULFBEOWULF

Early BritainEarly Britain

The names "Saxons", The names "Saxons", "Anglo-Saxons", and "Anglo-Saxons", and "English" have been used "English" have been used interchangeably for the interchangeably for the early Germanic invaders of early Germanic invaders of England. In a famous England. In a famous passage towards the passage towards the beginning of his beginning of his HistoryHistory The The Venerable Bede states that Venerable Bede states that the invaders who arrived as the invaders who arrived as the Romans legions were the Romans legions were recalled came from three recalled came from three strong Germanic tribes, the strong Germanic tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes around 450 a.d. Jutes around 450 a.d.

The Anglo-Saxon ChroniclesThe Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

A.D. 509. This year St. A.D. 509. This year St. Benedict, the abbot, Benedict, the abbot, father of all the monks, father of all the monks, ascended to heaven. ascended to heaven.

A.D. 514. This year A.D. 514. This year came the West-Saxons came the West-Saxons into Britain, with three into Britain, with three ships, at the place that ships, at the place that is called Cerdic's-ore. is called Cerdic's-ore. And Stuff and Wihtgar And Stuff and Wihtgar fought with the Britons, fought with the Britons, and put them to flight. and put them to flight.

Anglo- Anglo- Saxon societySaxon society

These Germanic tribes These Germanic tribes considered the family considered the family the basic unit of the basic unit of society. society.

The Comitatus- was a The Comitatus- was a group of men bound by group of men bound by loyalty and bravery for loyalty and bravery for the mutual protection the mutual protection of their families. of their families. Warfare was a constant Warfare was a constant state of existence as state of existence as tribes battled one tribes battled one another throughout the another throughout the Germanic lands.Germanic lands.

The CyningThe Cyning

Though the Though the Comitatus structure Comitatus structure had a lord or King, had a lord or King, his role was to his role was to provide his provide his retainers with retainers with goods and treasure goods and treasure in exchange for in exchange for their services. The their services. The societal structure societal structure was communal.was communal.

Anglo Saxon CultureAnglo Saxon Culture

The Witan- was a The Witan- was a council of advisors to the council of advisors to the king from which some king from which some scholars date the scholars date the present day Parliament. present day Parliament. They made all decisions They made all decisions related to the comitatus related to the comitatus and their word was final. and their word was final. ( Moot)( Moot)

The Meade HallThe Meade Hall

A central hall or A central hall or communal court where communal court where victory celebrations were victory celebrations were held nightly and around held nightly and around which the comitatus built which the comitatus built their homes. their homes.

Meade- an alcoholic ale Meade- an alcoholic ale made with honey herbs made with honey herbs and water was served and water was served nightly as the men nightly as the men celebrated their celebrated their successes.successes.

The ScopThe Scop

The Poet or Bard’s sole The Poet or Bard’s sole job was to create songs job was to create songs of praise for deserving of praise for deserving members of the members of the comitatus and commit to comitatus and commit to memory the stories of memory the stories of the tribal society.the tribal society.

The Scop performed in The Scop performed in the Meade Hall and was the Meade Hall and was a highly respected a highly respected keeper of the communal keeper of the communal song.song.

Primary ValuesPrimary Values

LOYALTY- warriors were expected to fight to LOYALTY- warriors were expected to fight to the death to protect their Cyning, their the death to protect their Cyning, their community and their treasure.community and their treasure.

BRAVERY- they were loathe to show fear and BRAVERY- they were loathe to show fear and often boasted of their prowess in battle.often boasted of their prowess in battle.

TREASURE- a symbol of pride and respect. TREASURE- a symbol of pride and respect. ( the Anglo- Saxons were excellent goldsmiths ( the Anglo- Saxons were excellent goldsmiths and wore ornaments encrusted with jewels)and wore ornaments encrusted with jewels)

The WergildThe Wergild

““man-price-” because of the need for man-price-” because of the need for dependency on one another the ultimate dependency on one another the ultimate crime in Anglo-Saxon society was to kill a crime in Anglo-Saxon society was to kill a member of your own comitatus. If such a member of your own comitatus. If such a thing happened the Witan assessed a thing happened the Witan assessed a wergild- an amount of treasure owed to wergild- an amount of treasure owed to the family of the deceased.the family of the deceased.

Early Religious BeliefsEarly Religious Beliefs Norse Mythology- polytheisticNorse Mythology- polytheistic Wodin- Chief God in the Norse Wodin- Chief God in the Norse

Pantheon. God of Poetry and Pantheon. God of Poetry and Death ( from which we have Death ( from which we have woden’s day or Wednesday)woden’s day or Wednesday)

Thor-(Old Norse: Thor-(Old Norse: ÞórrÞórr) was a ) was a widely worshipped deity widely worshipped deity among the Viking peoples and among the Viking peoples and revered as the "God of revered as the "God of Thunder." or God of weather Thunder." or God of weather for whom we have Thors-day for whom we have Thors-day or Thursdayor Thursday

If a man was brave enough on If a man was brave enough on earth the god’s may give him earth the god’s may give him the honor of battling under the honor of battling under their own name in a form of their own name in a form of afterlifeafterlife

Wyrd- FateWyrd- Fate Anglo Saxons carried Anglo Saxons carried

their Norse heritage to their Norse heritage to Britain along with their Britain along with their understanding that understanding that man’s life was controlled man’s life was controlled by outside forces. There by outside forces. There was no after life unless was no after life unless attained through attained through bravery in battle. A bravery in battle. A man’s valor was man’s valor was acknowledged and sung acknowledged and sung forever in the poetry of forever in the poetry of the scop. the scop.

The Advent of ChristianityThe Advent of Christianity The conversion of the Anglo- Saxons began in 597 The conversion of the Anglo- Saxons began in 597

when Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine when Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine with instructions to proceed slowly with his with instructions to proceed slowly with his conversions. After St. Augustine converted Kent, conversions. After St. Augustine converted Kent, Canterbury was established as the center of the Canterbury was established as the center of the Roman church activity in England. Roman church activity in England.

Monasteries were established across the country Monasteries were established across the country which became centers of learning and of Latin which became centers of learning and of Latin and Greek scholarship. It is in these monasteries and Greek scholarship. It is in these monasteries that scribes copied and preserved the Epic poem that scribes copied and preserved the Epic poem of Beowulf as well as the elegiac poems such as of Beowulf as well as the elegiac poems such as “Deor,” “The Wanderer” and the “Seafarer.” “Deor,” “The Wanderer” and the “Seafarer.”

The Viking’s attack on Lindisfarne on Britain’s The Viking’s attack on Lindisfarne on Britain’s north eastern coast shocked and appalled the north eastern coast shocked and appalled the Anglo Saxons.Anglo Saxons.

Old English Poetic VerseOld English Poetic Verse Iambic Tetrameter- 4 primary Iambic Tetrameter- 4 primary

syllables are stressed per linesyllables are stressed per line

Alliteration- used heavily as a Alliteration- used heavily as a memory device for the Scop\memory device for the Scop\

(Reinforces the rhythmic effect- (Reinforces the rhythmic effect- binds lines togerther. Key binds lines togerther. Key syllable is the third stress)syllable is the third stress)

Caesura- each line is divided Caesura- each line is divided into two parts with an equal into two parts with an equal number of stresses on each number of stresses on each side of the break.side of the break.

Old English Verse con’t.Old English Verse con’t.

Kennings- familiar Kennings- familiar phrasings that form phrasings that form mental images through mental images through compound nounscompound nouns

Examples:Examples:Woman= peace weaverWoman= peace weaverStag= heath stepperStag= heath stepperWarrior= helmet bearerWarrior= helmet bearerShip= sea stallionShip= sea stallion( metonomy and ( metonomy and

synechdoche is common)synechdoche is common)

Old English Verse con’tOld English Verse con’t

Variation- multiple statements of the same idea. Variation- multiple statements of the same idea. ( ie. seven epithets for God)( ie. seven epithets for God)

Litotes- forms of understatementLitotes- forms of understatement End stopping of linesEnd stopping of lines An elevated, aristocratic toneAn elevated, aristocratic tone A rapid narrative styleA rapid narrative style Sochronous- the use of the harp as a musical Sochronous- the use of the harp as a musical

“rest” to insure the 4/8 time of the verse. ( 4/4 for “rest” to insure the 4/8 time of the verse. ( 4/4 for hypermetric lines)hypermetric lines)

Characteristics of the Epic HeroCharacteristics of the Epic Hero He represents the ideals He represents the ideals

and values of a group, and values of a group, nation or race.nation or race.

His courageous, even His courageous, even super-human actions super-human actions determine the fate of his determine the fate of his nation or peoplenation or people

He engages in He engages in interactions with interactions with supernatural beings and supernatural beings and eventsevents

The Epic PoemThe Epic Poem

The Hero is of noble birthThe Hero is of noble birth The settings are vast and often contain super- The settings are vast and often contain super-

natural elementsnatural elements The tone and diction are formalThe tone and diction are formal The plot involves a dangerous journeyThe plot involves a dangerous journey The themes reflect timeless values and The themes reflect timeless values and

universal themes such as good verses evil.universal themes such as good verses evil. The hero delivers long formal speechesThe hero delivers long formal speeches

The Epic of BeowulfThe Epic of Beowulf

SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF AND ENJOYSUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF AND ENJOY

THE ADVENTURES!THE ADVENTURES!