Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon PeriodPeriod

449-1066 A.D.449-1066 A.D.

Fall of Roman Empire Fall of Roman Empire (410)(410)3 Germanic tribes 3 Germanic tribes took overtook over1. Jutes1. Jutes2. Angles2. Angles3. Saxons3. Saxons

ORAL TRADITIONORAL TRADITION Old English Old English Mead HallsMead Halls ScopsScops Anglo-Saxon literature Anglo-Saxon literature

reflects their quality of life reflects their quality of life and gender rolesand gender roles

WergildWergild

Influence of Influence of ChristianityChristianity MonasteriesMonasteries Addition of Christian Addition of Christian

references in storiesreferences in stories Latin--written languageLatin--written language

Beowulf=Epic PoemBeowulf=Epic PoemEpics contain the following Epics contain the following

criteria:criteria:1. Hero is of noble birth/social 1. Hero is of noble birth/social positionposition2. Hero reflects values of society2. Hero reflects values of society3. Hero’s actions are 3. Hero’s actions are

superhumansuperhuman

4.Supernatural forces are 4.Supernatural forces are often involvedoften involved

5.Setting is vast5.Setting is vast

6.Timeless values and 6.Timeless values and universal themesuniversal themes

7.Serious tone7.Serious tone

BeowulfBeowulf Author: UnknownAuthor: Unknown Written down around 1000 Written down around 1000

A.D. but probably dates back A.D. but probably dates back to about 680 A.D. to about 680 A.D.

Earliest surviving epic poem Earliest surviving epic poem to be written in English (Old to be written in English (Old English)English)

Setting Setting

Medieval Sweden Medieval Sweden (Geats) and Denmark (Geats) and Denmark (Danes)(Danes)

Herot, a great mead Herot, a great mead hallhall

CharactersCharacters

Hrothgar-King of the Hrothgar-King of the Danes—Herot is his mead Danes—Herot is his mead hallhall

Grendel-monster Grendel-monster Beowulf-Hero of GeatsBeowulf-Hero of Geats

Anglo-Saxon VersificationAnglo-Saxon Versification

1. No rhyme1. No rhyme

2. Alliteration2. Alliteration

3. Assonance3. Assonance

4. Plodding rhythm4. Plodding rhythm

55. . Four heavy (accented) Four heavy (accented) beats per linebeats per line

Ex. Ex. GrenGrendel came del came creepcreeping, acing, accursedcursed of of GodGod

6. A caesura, or pause, in 6. A caesura, or pause, in the middle of each linethe middle of each line

Ex. Grim and greedy, // his Ex. Grim and greedy, // his grip made readygrip made ready

7. Kennings--phrases or word 7. Kennings--phrases or word groups that are often groups that are often hyphenated and which are an hyphenated and which are an elaborate, indirect way of naming elaborate, indirect way of naming persons, places, or eventspersons, places, or events

Wave-skimmer=shipWave-skimmer=ship

Swan-road=seaSwan-road=sea

Guardian of evil=GrendelGuardian of evil=Grendel