Transcript Unit 1 * Lesson 1 Introduction to the Early Middle Ages

Based on pages 8-9 of Elements of Literature by Holt,
Rinehart, and Winston.
 In 55 B.C., Julius Caesar invaded England.
 The Romans stayed there for about 500 years.
 While there, they did the following:
 Built a network of roads.
 Built Hadrian’s Wall (A defensive wall 73 miles long).
 Introduced Christianity.
 In 409 A.D., the Romans left due to troubles at home,
leaving the Britons defenseless.
 This left England open for invasion from various
Germanic peoples from the mainland.
 Many Celtic myths focus on rebellion against the
overwhelming Roman forces:
 King Arthur – In some myths, takes on all of Rome. In
others, he takes on the Anglo-Saxons, instead.
 Queen Boadicea – As mentioned previously, led a small
rebellion against the Romans for murdering her husband.
Her monument still stands in Britain.
 In Roman History, Dio
Cassius described Boedicea
like this: “She was very tall,
the glance of her eye most
fierce; her voice harsh. A
great mass of the reddest
hair fell down to her hips.
Around her neck was a large
golden necklace, and she
always wore a tunic of many
colors over which she
fastened a thick cloak with a
broach. Her appearance was
terrifying.”
 An epic hero is someone who embodies the values of a
given society.
 What might the Celts value in a hero, given their
history? What might they find important?
 How does your response to the previous question line
up with their heroes, Arthur, Queen Connacht, and
Queen Boadicea, who, according to myth, fought
against the Romans?
 For many peoples, an epic hero protects his people. Such is
true with the epic heroes of the Celts. They were
threatened many times over the ages (by the Romans and
soon, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes).
 When the Romans leave and the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes
invade, we will see a hero that represents Anglo-Saxon
culture.
 All epic heroes bear certain similarities (making what we
call an archetype).
 However, as each culture is different and epic heroes reflect
a culture’s values, how do you predict an Anglo-Saxon epic
hero will be different from a Celtic epic hero?
 At this time, you will receive a blank sheet of paper.
 Art supplies can be found at the front of the room.
 Using the knowledge you’ve obtained from the past




two days, draw a scene from the Roman invasion.
Your drawing must include at least one Roman soldier
and at least one Celt.
Use whatever other elements you feel appropriate from
what you’ve learned about both cultures and the war.
Remember class appropriateness.
At the end of class, we will share our drawings.