The Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxon PeriodPeriod

449-1066449-1066

ObjectivesObjectivesThe student will:The student will:

recognize literary forms and major recognize literary forms and major literary techniques literary techniques

recognize the characteristics of the recognize the characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon period and the literary Anglo-Saxon period and the literary movements associated with this era movements associated with this era

Read pages 2-14 and take Read pages 2-14 and take notes using Cornell Notes notes using Cornell Notes

formatformat

Prior KnowledgePrior Knowledge

What have you learned about the What have you learned about the climate and physical environment of climate and physical environment of

Britain in social studies classes? Britain in social studies classes?

How have these factors influenced the How have these factors influenced the nation’s development?nation’s development?

What types of people are likely to deal What types of people are likely to deal well with conditions common to the well with conditions common to the

British Isles?British Isles?

Today’s AssignmentToday’s Assignment

Read pages 2-14 in your literature Read pages 2-14 in your literature book. book.

Complete Cornell Notes worksheet.Complete Cornell Notes worksheet. Please work quietly and independently. Please work quietly and independently.

This should take you approximately 45 This should take you approximately 45 minutes.minutes.

Stopwatch

Warriors from Denmark and Warriors from Denmark and Germany, the Angles and the Saxons, Germany, the Angles and the Saxons, attacked Britain during the 5attacked Britain during the 5thth centurycentury

signaled the beginning of the English signaled the beginning of the English languagelanguage

became known as “Angles’ land”became known as “Angles’ land” their Germanic languages developed their Germanic languages developed

into a new language called “Angle-into a new language called “Angle-ish”ish”

this language shaped the literature this language shaped the literature of Britainof Britain

Britain Before the Anglo-Britain Before the Anglo-SaxonsSaxons

Britons (Brythons)Britons (Brythons) settled on the largest island, Britainsettled on the largest island, Britain

GaelsGaels settled on the second largest island, Irelandsettled on the second largest island, Ireland

were farmers and hunterswere farmers and hunters tightly knit clanstightly knit clans Druids- priestsDruids- priests

settled disputessettled disputes Presided over religious ritualsPresided over religious rituals Memorized and recited long, heroic poemsMemorized and recited long, heroic poems

The Roman ConquestThe Roman Conquest

First invaded by Roman general Julius First invaded by Roman general Julius Caesar and later by Roman emperor Caesar and later by Roman emperor ClaudiusClaudius

Roman legions spread across the Roman legions spread across the island, establishing camps, which grew island, establishing camps, which grew into towns.into towns.

constructed a system of well-paved constructed a system of well-paved roads and highwaysroads and highways

brought their skills in the art of warfarebrought their skills in the art of warfare

The Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxon ConquestConquest

Tribal life:Tribal life: Each tribe was ruled by a king, who was Each tribe was ruled by a king, who was

chosen by a chosen by a witanwitan, council of elders, council of elders

Earls

Freeman

Churls

Thralls

The Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxon ConquestConquest

FateFate Worshipped ancient Germanic godsWorshipped ancient Germanic gods

TiuTiu: god of war and the sky: god of war and the sky WodenWoden: chief of the gods: chief of the gods FriaFria: Woden’s wife and goddess of : Woden’s wife and goddess of

the homethe home

Coming of ChristianityComing of Christianity

44thth century century In 563 a group of Irish In 563 a group of Irish

monks established a monks established a Christian monastery Christian monastery on the island of Ionaon the island of Iona

Columba and his Columba and his monks moved across monks moved across northern Britain northern Britain spreading their faithspreading their faith

Coming of ChristianityComing of Christianity 597- arrival of Saint Augustine597- arrival of Saint Augustine Effects of ChristianityEffects of Christianity

Softened the ferocity of the warrior Softened the ferocity of the warrior peoplepeople

Improved the conduct of the faithfulImproved the conduct of the faithful 2 Major Contributions2 Major Contributions

educationeducation written literaturewritten literature

Christianity and Christianity and LiteratureLiterature

established schools at Canterbury and established schools at Canterbury and YorkYork

In the monasteries, monks worked as In the monasteries, monks worked as scribes, recording and duplicating scribes, recording and duplicating manuscripts, manuscripts, books written by handbooks written by hand

Latin was the language of church Latin was the language of church scholarshipscholarship

Venerable Bede- “father of English Venerable Bede- “father of English history”history” A History of the English Church and PeopleA History of the English Church and People

The First Danish The First Danish InvasionInvasion The Vikings left Scandinavia and set The Vikings left Scandinavia and set

their sights on the British Islestheir sights on the British Isles Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great

King of WessexKing of Wessex Preserved the remnants of pre-Danish Preserved the remnants of pre-Danish

invasioninvasion Encouraged a rebirth of learning and Encouraged a rebirth of learning and

educationeducation Translated Bede’s Translated Bede’s History History

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

Scholars believe the Scholars believe the literature of the literature of the British Isles began British Isles began with Celtic Druidswith Celtic Druids

Anglo-Saxon PoetryAnglo-Saxon Poetry

scops: professional minstrelsscops: professional minstrels Responsible for history, culture, values, Responsible for history, culture, values,

entertainmententertainment gleeman: their assistantsgleeman: their assistants poems followed a set formula of compositionpoems followed a set formula of composition

caesura: mid-line pausecaesura: mid-line pause alliteration: repetition of initial consonant soundsalliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds

The most important poem is The most important poem is BeowulfBeowulf Epic: long heroic poemEpic: long heroic poem

Anglo-Saxon PoetryAnglo-Saxon Poetry Two great Christian poets: Caedmon & Two great Christian poets: Caedmon &

CynewulfCynewulf Early Christian poetry is often referred to Early Christian poetry is often referred to

as Caedmonian verseas Caedmonian verse Before the reign of Alfred the Great, all Before the reign of Alfred the Great, all

important prose was composed in Latinimportant prose was composed in Latin Monks regarded the vernacular, the language Monks regarded the vernacular, the language

of the common people, as a vulgar tongueof the common people, as a vulgar tongue After the Normans occupied England, After the Normans occupied England,

they transformed Old English into Middle they transformed Old English into Middle English.English.

Closing ActivityClosing Activity

On an index card, list 3 On an index card, list 3 important facts you learned important facts you learned about the early cultures and about the early cultures and

their influence on the their influence on the literature and culture of literature and culture of

Britain?Britain?