The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 Anno domini (In the year of our Lord) The following overview of...

The Anglo-Saxon PeriodThe Anglo-Saxon Period449-1066 Anno domini 449-1066 Anno domini (In the year of our Lord)(In the year of our Lord)

The following overview of major The following overview of major historical events relative to the Anglo-historical events relative to the Anglo-

Saxon Period provides a context for Saxon Period provides a context for which interpretative analysis of which interpretative analysis of Beowulf Beowulf

and and GrendelGrendel can develop. can develop.

Western Civilization and Western Civilization and Western ThoughtWestern Thought

Grew out of three ancient Grew out of three ancient civilizations:civilizations:

1.1. Greeks – individual truthGreeks – individual truth

2.2. Romans – the stateRomans – the state

3.3. Hebrews – God above allHebrews – God above all

England Before the England Before the Anglo-Saxon InvasionAnglo-Saxon Invasion

StonehengeStonehenge

England Before the Anglo-England Before the Anglo-SaxonsSaxons

Celtic speakers arrived in Celtic speakers arrived in England in about 900 BC.England in about 900 BC.

3 Groups:3 Groups:

*The first group called *The first group called themselves the Britons, and themselves the Britons, and they inhabited what is now they inhabited what is now Britain.Britain.

*The second group were the *The second group were the Picts, and they settled in Picts, and they settled in present day Scotland.present day Scotland.

*The third group were the *The third group were the Gaels, and they settled in Gaels, and they settled in present day Ireland.present day Ireland.

The Celts – 900 BCThe Celts – 900 BC

Celtic groups spoke their own languages, Celtic groups spoke their own languages, and these languages and cultures live on in and these languages and cultures live on in modern times. Celtic languages are still the modern times. Celtic languages are still the official languages of such countries as official languages of such countries as Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany.Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany.

These were thriving cultures by most These were thriving cultures by most standards of the day. The Celts lived in standards of the day. The Celts lived in closely tied clans, were skilled in closely tied clans, were skilled in agriculture and metalwork, and traded with agriculture and metalwork, and traded with their neighbors throughout the British Isles. their neighbors throughout the British Isles.

The Celts – 900 BCThe Celts – 900 BC

Their leaders were often Druids, who Their leaders were often Druids, who were priests; however, the druids were priests; however, the druids also served as judges and also served as judges and counselors.counselors.

The Celtic clans had a long-standing The Celtic clans had a long-standing oral tradition by which to preserve oral tradition by which to preserve their myths and legends. The Druids their myths and legends. The Druids assisted with such preservation by assisted with such preservation by reciting long, heroic poems.reciting long, heroic poems.

The Romans = 55 BC – 407 The Romans = 55 BC – 407 ADAD

The next group to The next group to invade England was invade England was the Romans.the Romans.

They ruled for some They ruled for some 300 years.300 years.

They established They established roads and towns. roads and towns.

They brought They brought Christianity to the Christianity to the British Isles (England).British Isles (England).

The Romans = 55 BC – 407 The Romans = 55 BC – 407 ADAD

Their rule ended because Italy was Their rule ended because Italy was under attack from northern invaders. under attack from northern invaders. Basically, the troops were called Basically, the troops were called home.home.

The last troops left in 407 AD, and The last troops left in 407 AD, and the stage was set for Anglos and the the stage was set for Anglos and the Saxons. to invade.Saxons. to invade.

The Anglo-Saxons = 449 - The Anglo-Saxons = 449 - 10661066

The Anglo-Saxon invasion The Anglo-Saxon invasion of modern day England of modern day England began in 449 AD but began in 449 AD but actually takes place over actually takes place over several decades. several decades.

Three major groups: the Three major groups: the Angles, the Saxons, and Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes.the Jutes.

The Britons- perhaps led The Britons- perhaps led by a commander named by a commander named Arthur- fought a series of Arthur- fought a series of legendary battles in an legendary battles in an effort to stop the invasion.effort to stop the invasion.


Efforts to stop the Efforts to stop the invasion failed, and invasion failed, and the Germanic the Germanic Anglo-Saxon tribes Anglo-Saxon tribes organized organized themselves into a themselves into a confederation of confederation of seven kingdoms seven kingdoms call the call the Heptarchy.Heptarchy.

In the early history of In the early history of the Heptarchy, the the Heptarchy, the Angles were Angles were dominate.dominate.

Their settlement or Their settlement or kingdom became kingdom became known as Angle-land known as Angle-land or England, and its or England, and its people came to be people came to be called English.called English.


Like all cultures, the Anglo-Saxons evolved over Like all cultures, the Anglo-Saxons evolved over time.time.

Early on, they were seafaring wanderers whose Early on, they were seafaring wanderers whose lives were bleak, violent, and short.lives were bleak, violent, and short.

Settling into their new land, the Anglo-Saxons Settling into their new land, the Anglo-Saxons became an agricultural people, less violent, and became an agricultural people, less violent, and more civilized.more civilized.

Serving the island for centuries, the Anglo-Serving the island for centuries, the Anglo-Saxons established a basis for poetry and Saxons established a basis for poetry and reestablished the acceptance of Christianity.reestablished the acceptance of Christianity.

The Danish InvasionsThe Danish Invasions

In the 790s a new group of invaders - the Danes, In the 790s a new group of invaders - the Danes, also known as the Vikings, began to devastate the also known as the Vikings, began to devastate the flourishing culture.flourishing culture.

English King Alfred the Great was able to resist the English King Alfred the Great was able to resist the first invasion. He was a strong proponent of first invasion. He was a strong proponent of learning and education. He oversaw the writing of learning and education. He oversaw the writing of the the Anglo-Saxon ChronicleAnglo-Saxon Chronicle which recorded early which recorded early English life.English life.

He could not hold off subsequent invasions, He could not hold off subsequent invasions, however, and in an effort to protect his people, he however, and in an effort to protect his people, he was forced to agree to a truce.was forced to agree to a truce.

The Norman ConquestThe Norman Conquest

By 1042, the Danes were out of By 1042, the Danes were out of power, and Edward the Confessor power, and Edward the Confessor was on the throne.was on the throne.

Edward died in 1066, and that year Edward died in 1066, and that year found the Normans overpower the found the Normans overpower the Anglo-Saxons. This was their last Anglo-Saxons. This was their last defeat.defeat.

Anglo-Saxon HierarchyAnglo-Saxon Hierarchy

1. King = he was expected to be 1. King = he was expected to be generous to his loyal subjectsgenerous to his loyal subjects

2. Earls/Thanes/Free Warriors = 2. Earls/Thanes/Free Warriors = claimed kinship to founder of tribes. claimed kinship to founder of tribes. Loyalty to the king was vital.Loyalty to the king was vital.

The Witan = served as the King’s The Witan = served as the King’s council, assisting in the decision council, assisting in the decision process.process.


3. Freemen/Genlats = independent 3. Freemen/Genlats = independent landowners landowners

4. Churls = boundmen who trace 4. Churls = boundmen who trace ancestry to former captives of tribe; ancestry to former captives of tribe; did the hard labor; worked for Earls; did the hard labor; worked for Earls; could move up to “freemen” with could move up to “freemen” with possessions & special royal favorpossessions & special royal favor


5. Slaves/Thralls5. Slaves/Thralls

*Women were a subclass. They were *Women were a subclass. They were viewed as only important for viewed as only important for domestic duties.domestic duties.

The Anglo-Saxons = What did The Anglo-Saxons = What did they eat and drink?they eat and drink?

They ate what was around them like They ate what was around them like hare, rabbit, veal, fish and chicken. hare, rabbit, veal, fish and chicken. Many times this was made into a Many times this was made into a stew.stew.

Along with their meal, they would Along with their meal, they would often have often have mead.mead. Mead is a drink Mead is a drink made by fermenting honey.made by fermenting honey.

Anglo-Saxons = What did they Anglo-Saxons = What did they admire in their warriors?admire in their warriors?

1.1. Good sportsmanshipGood sportsmanship

2.2. EnduranceEndurance

3.3. Loyalty to kingLoyalty to king

4.4. Athletic prowessAthletic prowess

5.5. BraveryBravery

6.6. Respect for each otherRespect for each other

7.7. Action and fightingAction and fighting

The Anglo-Saxons = The Anglo-Saxons = ReligionReligion

They came to Britain with their own They came to Britain with their own pagan beliefs. pagan beliefs.

They had a firm belief in fate (wyrd).They had a firm belief in fate (wyrd). They worshiped ancient Germanic They worshiped ancient Germanic

gods like Tui, god of war and the sky; gods like Tui, god of war and the sky; Woden, chief of the gods; and Fria, Woden, chief of the gods; and Fria, Woden’s wife and goddess of the Woden’s wife and goddess of the home.home.

Do the names sound a bit familiar? Do the names sound a bit familiar?

Tiu, Woden, and Fria todayTiu, Woden, and Fria today

TuesdayTuesday WednesdayWednesday FridayFriday

Something to consider…Something to consider…

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, safety and shelter must be Needs, safety and shelter must be firmly established before more firmly established before more thoughtful ideas can take root. (A thoughtful ideas can take root. (A person cannot “skip” levels.) person cannot “skip” levels.) Therefore, religion was not important Therefore, religion was not important to the Anglo-Saxons until their to the Anglo-Saxons until their primary needs were met.primary needs were met.


Christianity had been introduced by the Christianity had been introduced by the Romans, and the Celts were converted.Romans, and the Celts were converted.

Irish monks helped establish a strong Irish monks helped establish a strong Christian hold on the island.Christian hold on the island.

Scots were converted easily, and many Scots were converted easily, and many monasteries were built in Scotland.monasteries were built in Scotland.


Roman cleric Saint Roman cleric Saint Augustine arrives in Augustine arrives in 597.597.

Saint Augustine was Saint Augustine was able to convert King able to convert King Ethelbert of Kent; Ethelbert of Kent; this led to the this led to the kingdom being kingdom being converted. converted.


The Church promoted peace, helping The Church promoted peace, helping to unite the English people.to unite the English people.

The Church also brought education The Church also brought education and a written literature.and a written literature.

Monks often worked as scribes, Monks often worked as scribes, recording and duplicating written recording and duplicating written work by hand.work by hand.


Venerable Bede Venerable Bede (673-735) = “The (673-735) = “The Father of English Father of English History”History”

He wrote He wrote A History A History of the English of the English Church and PeopleChurch and People – – the clearest account the clearest account of early Anglo-of early Anglo-Saxon times.Saxon times.

It is better never to begin a It is better never to begin a good work than, having good work than, having

begun it, to stop.begun it, to stop.

Bede, Bede, A History of the English A History of the English Church and PeopleChurch and People

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

Spread by scops who recited long epic Spread by scops who recited long epic poems. These poems were either heroic or poems. These poems were either heroic or literary.literary.

The verses were easy to memorize for The verses were easy to memorize for many reasonsmany reasons

1 – They were lyrical.1 – They were lyrical. 2 – They had mid-line pauses (caesuras).2 – They had mid-line pauses (caesuras). 3 – They had alliterations, repeated 3 – They had alliterations, repeated

sounds.sounds.

Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon PoetryPoetry

Caesuras – a pause in a lineCaesuras – a pause in a line Alliteration- repetition of initial Alliteration- repetition of initial

consonant soundsconsonant sounds Kennings – metaphorical phrases Kennings – metaphorical phrases

used to characterize a person or used to characterize a person or thing.thing.

Reading Poetry – in generalReading Poetry – in general

Don’t stop at the end of a line, stop Don’t stop at the end of a line, stop at the punctuation mark. The end of at the punctuation mark. The end of the line has to do with the “beat” of the line has to do with the “beat” of the line; it has nothing to do with the the line; it has nothing to do with the “meaning” of the line. Reading to “meaning” of the line. Reading to the punctuation mark is called the punctuation mark is called enjambment.enjambment.

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

Only about 30,000 lines of Anglo-Saxon Only about 30,000 lines of Anglo-Saxon verse still exist. These lines are either verse still exist. These lines are either heroic (recount achievement of a warrior) heroic (recount achievement of a warrior) or elegiac (sorrowful laments) poetry.or elegiac (sorrowful laments) poetry.

Alfred the Great is credited for changing Alfred the Great is credited for changing the course of British literature because he the course of British literature because he started having things written in English. started having things written in English. (That would be Old English to us.)(That would be Old English to us.)

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