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.