Notes on Anglo-Saxon Culture Kinship and Lordship The role of revenge The Kings’ powers The role of religion The role of women Author of Beowulf Economy Burial Customs Arts and Language

Anglo-Saxon Life - kinship and lordship:

The strongest ties in Anglo-Saxon society were to kin and lord. The ties of loyalty were to the person of a lord, not to his station. There was no real concept of patriotism or loyalty to a cause. This explains why dynasties

waxed and waned so quickly. A kingdom was only as strong as its war-leader king. There was no underlying administration or bureaucracy to maintain any gains beyond the lifetime of a leader.

Think, Pair, Share:

Do you think people today are more loyal to a cause/ party or to a person? What matters most to you in this next election?

What would be some of the problems/ advantages to the Anglo Saxon system?

Wergilds. The ties of kinship meant that the relatives of a murdered person were obliged to exact vengeance for his or her death. This led to bloody and extensive feuds.

As a way out of this deadly and futile custom the system of wergilds was instituted. The wergild set a monetary value on each person's life according to their wealth and social status.

This value could also be used to set the fine payable if a person was injured or offended against. Robbing a thane called for a higher penalty than robbing a ceorl. On the other hand, a thane who thieved could pay a higher fine than a ceorl who did likewise.

The word of a thane counted for that of six ceorls. It was assumed that any person of good character would be able to find enough people to swear to his innocence that his case would prosper. 1thane=6ceorls

Think, pair, share

Do you see any vestiges of this system in place today? In other words, do you think wealthy people are treated differently than poor people in the current court system?

This emphasis on social standing led to an interesting court system. The courts did not attempt to discover the facts in a case; instead, in any dispute it was up to each party to get as many people as possible to swear to the rightness of their case.

The king and religion. Although the person of the king as a leader could be exalted, the office of kingship was not in any sense as powerful or as invested with authority as it was to become.

One of the tools kings used was to tie themselves closely to the new Christian church. The practice of having a church leader anoint and crown the king was part of this move to join God and king in peoples' minds.

The king's powers. Kings could not, except in exceptional circumstances, make new laws. Their role instead was to uphold and clarify previous custom.

The first act of a conquering king was often to assure his subjects that he would uphold their ancient privileges, laws, and customs.

Think, pair, share

Do you think it is an asset for politicians to align themselves with a religion today- or a liability?

The role of women. Anglo-Saxon society was decidedly patriarchal, but women were in some ways better off than they would be in later times. A woman could own property in her own right. She could, and did rule a kingdom if her husband died.

She could not be married without her consent and any personal goods, including lands, that she brought into a marriage remained her own property. If she were injured or abused in her marriage her relatives were expected to look after her interests.

The author of Beowulf:No one is sure who authored Beowulf. We do however know that only a single manuscript managed to survive Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, and destruction of the libraries. As this is a story which was originally told orally, we know that what we have today was probably somewhat influenced by those who helped translate it into English.

Economy: Feudalism was a system of

governing where an upper class (nobility) have certain well defined responsibilities to the king in return for the use of land (fiefs) exploited with the labor of a peasantry (serfs).

While early feudalism was developed mainly to allow monarchs to maintain large armies of mounted troops by giving them land in exchange for service, classic feudalism consisted of a more political relationship between a monarch and the nobility.

Think, pair, share

This system of a wealthy landlord caring for his tenants by providing security develops into noblisse oblige- nobles are expected to take care of their tenants. Do you think this concept still exists today? Are the wealthy still obligated to look after the less fortunate?

Anglo Saxon Burial Customs The burial deposit consists

of the signs of heroic prowess and wealth of a king or chieftain of the period, including this heavily decorated helmet. Also included in the grave were expensive and ornate armor and weaponry, often decorated with precious metals and stones, all laid out around where the body was.

Despite the early traditions of the Christian churches simple garments gave way to the ritual of dressing the dying in white to represent the putting on the "new clothing of incorruption."  Eventually this practice changed to putting on the dead person's finest raiment. 

Many of the ruling class were buried in splendid clothing and paraded through the streets of their township on a canopy or carriage.  The procession reached the church where the faithful prayed, often all night.

Anglo Saxon Art Dominated by metal

work Use of intricate

patterns Strongly two

dimensional Often incorporates

valuable material (gold and jewels) into portable art.

Anglo Saxon English Old English poetry was meant to be

declaimed aloud before an audience, the poet, or Scop, being both a creative and a performing artist. Accompanied by harp he would entertain the guests of his patron with tales of past deeds, battles of old and the prowess of his lord's ancestors. In this manner was history kept alive for the Anglo-Saxons.

Kennings: Kennings are Anglo Saxon poetic metaphors created by linking two words to create a new word, such as “swan road” for ocean.

Style of Anglo Saxon Literature: The sea is important in their lives and

literature. Celebration is accomplished through

feasting and song. The theme of life being a constant fight. There is a lack of emotion and humor. Most stories are about reputation and the

battle against “dark forces”. Heroes are courageous and yet melancholy.

Language http://fred.wheatonma.edu/wordpressmu/mdro

ut/category/lords-prayer-i/ http://www.beowulftranslations.net/beorefs/be

owulf-audio-0194a-0224a-benslade.mp3

The Essential Model From Bede's A History of the English Church and People,

Chapter 13: Edwin holds a council with his chief men about accepting the Faith of Christ. [This council took place in AD 627; Bede completed his History in AD 731.]

Another of the king's chief men signified his agreement with this prudent argument, and went on to say: "Your majesty, when we compare the present life of man with that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a lone sparrow through the banqueting-hall where you sit in the winter months to dine with your thanes and counsellors. Inside there is a comforting fire to warm the room; outside, the wintry storms of snow and rain are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms; but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the darkness whence he came. Similarly, man appears on earth for a little while, but we know nothing of what went before this life, and what follows. Therefore if this new teaching can reveal any more certain knowledge, it seems only right that we should follow it."

This model--the framing of life (individual, social, universal) by darkness--is established in the first 114 lines of Beowulf by three stories: that of Scyld, that of Heorot, and that of the world's creation.

http://www.pastperfect.org.uk/sites/yeavering/images/sparrowclip_c.html