The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

449-1066 AD449-1066 AD

The British LegacyThe British Legacy

Had been invaded and settled many times over Had been invaded and settled many times over and all contributed to what is now Great and all contributed to what is now Great BritainBritain CeltsCelts RomansRomans Angles and SaxonsAngles and Saxons VikingsVikings NormansNormans

The Spirit of the CeltsThe Spirit of the Celts

The Celts practiced Animism – saw spirits The Celts practiced Animism – saw spirits everywhere in rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire everywhere in rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire and thunderand thunder

Spirits (Gods) controlled all aspects of Spirits (Gods) controlled all aspects of existenceexistence

Priests (Druids) acted as intermediaries Priests (Druids) acted as intermediaries between the gods and the peoplebetween the gods and the people Ritual dances took place to please the gods along Ritual dances took place to please the gods along

with human sacrificeswith human sacrifices

Celtic Heroes and HeroinesCeltic Heroes and Heroines

Celts idolized tall, strong women for their Celts idolized tall, strong women for their heroic tales (unlike current day)heroic tales (unlike current day)

Celtic stories were full of magic and fantastic Celtic stories were full of magic and fantastic animals, passionate love affairs, and incredible animals, passionate love affairs, and incredible adventures in enchanted landsadventures in enchanted lands

The RomansThe Romans

When the Romans evacuated in 409 Ad, they When the Romans evacuated in 409 Ad, they left roads, walls, villas, and great public baths, left roads, walls, villas, and great public baths, but no central governmentbut no central government

This left Britain vulnerable for invasion from This left Britain vulnerable for invasion from the Germanic regions of continental Europethe Germanic regions of continental Europe

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

Angles and Saxons came from GermanyAngles and Saxons came from Germany Jutes came from DenmarkJutes came from Denmark The language of the Anglo-Saxons became the The language of the Anglo-Saxons became the

dominant language of the land which was dominant language of the land which was renamed Engla Land – Englandrenamed Engla Land – England

Alfred the Great and ChristianityAlfred the Great and Christianity871-899871-899

King Alfred of Wessex (aka Alfred the Great) King Alfred of Wessex (aka Alfred the Great) led the Anglo-Saxons against the Danes and led the Anglo-Saxons against the Danes and united Englandunited England

He was not defeated due to the gradual He was not defeated due to the gradual emergence of Christianityemergence of Christianity

It created a common faith and common system It created a common faith and common system of morality and right conductof morality and right conduct

Alfred was defeated in 1066 by William, Duke Alfred was defeated in 1066 by William, Duke of Normandyof Normandy

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

Gods for WarriorsGods for Warriors Odin – Norse god of death, poetry, and magicOdin – Norse god of death, poetry, and magic Thor – god of thunder and lightningThor – god of thunder and lightning Gods possessed special qualitiesGods possessed special qualities

BraveryBravery LoyaltyLoyalty GenerosityGenerosity FriendshipFriendship

The BardsThe Bards

The Bards (Scops – pronounced Shops) sang The Bards (Scops – pronounced Shops) sang the songs of the heroesthe songs of the heroes

Bards were not inferior to WarriorsBards were not inferior to Warriors Creating poetry was as important as hunting, Creating poetry was as important as hunting,

farming, or lovingfarming, or loving Non-Christian Anglo-Saxons did not believe Non-Christian Anglo-Saxons did not believe

in life after death so it was up to the bards to in life after death so it was up to the bards to make them immortal through versemake them immortal through verse

The MonksThe Monks

The Christian monks were the ones who wrote The Christian monks were the ones who wrote the stories into book formthe stories into book form

Preserved not only the Latin and Greek Preserved not only the Latin and Greek classics, but also some of the great works of classics, but also some of the great works of popular literature, such as popular literature, such as BeowulfBeowulf

The language of the church was Latin, but the The language of the church was Latin, but the Monks transcribed books in the language of Monks transcribed books in the language of the people - Englishthe people - English

BeowulfBeowulf

An epic poem written by an anonymous sourceAn epic poem written by an anonymous source It is believed that it was written by a monk due It is believed that it was written by a monk due

to its Christian influencesto its Christian influences The oldest manuscript to date is from 1000AD The oldest manuscript to date is from 1000AD

and is in the British Museum in Londonand is in the British Museum in London It survived the burning of the monastaries It survived the burning of the monastaries

(Henry VIII) and is in decent condition now (Henry VIII) and is in decent condition now with little burnswith little burns

Anglo-Saxon PoetryAnglo-Saxon Poetry

The following poetic devices are essential The following poetic devices are essential features of A/S poetry:features of A/S poetry: AlliterationAlliteration KenningsKennings

AlliterationAlliteration

The Repetition of consonant sounds in words The Repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close to one another. Alliteration may that are close to one another. Alliteration may occuroccur At the beginning or words, as in “bright blue” or At the beginning or words, as in “bright blue” or

“kind comment”“kind comment” Within words, as in “jacket pocket”Within words, as in “jacket pocket”

Alliterative Anglo-SaxonsAlliterative Anglo-Saxons

Instead of rhymes, Anglo-Saxon oral poets Instead of rhymes, Anglo-Saxon oral poets used alliteration along with carefully placed used alliteration along with carefully placed pauses to add music and rhythm to their poemspauses to add music and rhythm to their poems Lines of Anglo-Saxon verse often are divided into Lines of Anglo-Saxon verse often are divided into

two halves separated by a rhythmic pause, or two halves separated by a rhythmic pause, or caesuracaesura

KenningsKennings

A metaphorical phrase or compound word A metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectlyindirectly Kennings such as whale-road and battle-dew fill Kennings such as whale-road and battle-dew fill

Anglo-Saxon poetryAnglo-Saxon poetry Combining existing words from the relatively Combining existing words from the relatively

small Anglo-Saxon vocabulary helped poets to small Anglo-Saxon vocabulary helped poets to create alliterationcreate alliteration

Kennings were memorable, ready-made phrases Kennings were memorable, ready-made phrases that bards could reuse and pass on to othersthat bards could reuse and pass on to others

Kennings Then and NowKennings Then and Now

Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon KenningsKennings Mead-hallMead-hall Ring-giverRing-giver Heaven’s high archHeaven’s high arch Shapes of darknessShapes of darkness Shepherd of evilShepherd of evil

Modern-Day Modern-Day KenningsKennings Gas guzzlerGas guzzler Queen beeQueen bee HeadhunterHeadhunter King of the hillKing of the hill Snake in the grassSnake in the grass

The Use of Alliteration and The Use of Alliteration and KenningsKennings

Anglo-Saxon literature was part of an oral Anglo-Saxon literature was part of an oral tradition. Poems, songs, and stones were tradition. Poems, songs, and stones were passed from one generation to another orallypassed from one generation to another orally Anglo-Saxon poets and storytellers used Anglo-Saxon poets and storytellers used

alliteration and kennings because these devicesalliteration and kennings because these devices Aided memoryAided memory Created sound effectsCreated sound effects Pleased the audiencePleased the audience