Transcript Anglo-Saxon Notes

Quote Journal: On a piece of notebook paper (keep the
holes in tact so you can keep it in your binder), write
today’s date, copy the quote and respond to the prompt
after it.

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and
time.”
-Leo Tolstoy
Would the Anglo-Saxons agree with this quote? Why or why
not?
Do you agree with the quote? Explain.
Quote journal expectations: Your response should be written in short paragraph
form: complete sentences, 4-5 sentences. Write your response under the quote
after you copy it.
Anglo-Saxon Notes

The Dark Ages (the Anglo-Saxon period) was a
time of bloody conflicts, ignorance, violence
and barbarism.

Life was difficult and the literature reflects
reality.

Winter prevails – conveys harshness, death
Many of the stories and poems
present a heroic tale - only the
strong survive.
These are known as EPICS – an
epic requires that a hero be seen
fighting in several battles
Usually has several locations
Hero usually has superhuman
strength
Hero embodies characteristics
held in high regard by his
society
Early Britain

History, culture, and literature of Britain weren’t molded by one particular group
of people but rather a series of invaders.

Picts and Gaels – present on the British Isles before the Anglo-Saxons. Lived to the
north and west of the Britons.

It is believed that the first person to ever write about England may have been the
great Roman general, Julius Caesar, who attempted to conquer the British Isles.


Britons/Celts – also lived in England before A-S.

The fierce Celtic warriors defeated Julius Caesar who attempted to conquer them in 55
BC.

Romans came back and conquered a century later and ruled for more than 300 yrs.

Introduced cities, roads, written scholarship, and Christianity.

After Romans left to defend empire, Britain was a target for invasion.
Anglo-Saxons

Angles, Saxons, Jutes – began arriving in England from northern
Europe around 449 AD.

Britain took on the new name: Angle-land or England.

Anglo-Saxon culture became the basis for English culture. Their
language (Anglish) became what we know as Old English.

The first Anglo-Saxons had a strong belief in fate (wyrd).

Anglo-Saxon life was dominated by warfare. Historical Celtic
King Arthur may have led the Britons in a series of battles
against the Anglo-Saxon invaders, but they were driven to the
west (Cornwall and Wales), the north (Scotland), and across the
English Channel.
Warriors Need Entertainment Too…

While the men were not at war they needed some
type of entertainment.
 Poets and storytellers who entertained the warriors
were called scops.

The scops would orally narrate epic poems. In order
to be considered epic, the hero must be seen
fighting several battles and meet other
requirements.

Warriors gathered in mead halls for feasts and
entertainment.
Vikings

Vikings – Next wave of invaders to England; fearsome
seafaring marauders from Denmark and Norway;
looted, killed, and burned down entire villages.

Pagan Religion – This old religion was the hardest to
give up.

Wyrd – means FATE; fatalistic view of life

The modern English word weird comes from the Old
English word for fate. The pagan religion was marked
by a strong belief in fate.
Alfred the Great

Alfred the Great DEFEATED the Danes (Vikings) in the
south and unified the English under his rule; learning and
culture flourished!

Anglo-Saxon Chronicles – a written record of English
history initiated by Alfred the Great
 Normans
– they were led by William the
Conqueror; the last successful invasion of the
British Island is the Norman Conquest at the
Battle of Hastings in 1066 and William was
crowned the King of England
 St.
Augustine – arrived in 597 as a Roman
missionary and established a monastery at
Canterbury.
 650
AD – Christians have converted these
pagans to Christianity. This was a very slow
process.
The Spread of Christianity
 St.
Patrick was responsible for bringing
Christianity to Ireland.
 Monasteries
became the center of education,
art, literary achievements
 Venerable
Bede – monk who wrote (scribe) A
History of the English Church and People, the
first original written work in Old English
 The
Book of Kells is an early Bible manuscript.
Literary Terms

Hyperbole – exaggeration for effect

Epic simile – lengthy comparison that does not always use
“like” or “as.” Ex: “Conspicuous as the evening star that
comes, amid the first in heaven, at fall of night, and stands
most lovely in the west, so shone the fine-pointed spear
Achilles poised in his right hand….” compares the point of
Achilles spear to the evening star at nightfall.

Epic – story about the actions of a hero

Epic hero – A larger than life hero who embodies the values of
his culture, has superhuman strength, and perhaps the favor of
the gods. Actions often determine fate of his people. Exs.
Beowulf, Achilles, Superman
Literary Terms CONT…

Kenning – poetic synonym substituted for noun or name.
Ex. “mankind’s enemy” in place of “Grendel.”

Litotes – understatement

Mood – atmosphere of the selection

Simile – comparison of two unlike items using “like” or
“as”
Literary Terms CONT…

Stock epithets – adjectives that point out specific traits of a
particular character. Ex. “swift-footed” to describe Achilles.

Tone – writer’s attitude toward their work

Alliteration – repetition of sounds at the beginning of several
words. Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Caesura – poetic pause

Universal theme – recurring themes present in many works from
different cultures and time periods.