Anglo-Saxon Time Period ( ) A Presentation to Enjoy by Mr. Dominick

Before the ASTP Britain-invaded by Vikings and Normans; people constantly fighting for territory Britain-invaded by Vikings and Normans; people constantly fighting for territory The Celts provided a religious basis: 1) believed in gods for everything, 2) practiced animism- spirits everywhere in nature, 3) Druids worked as intermediaries between gods and people The Celts provided a religious basis: 1) believed in gods for everything, 2) practiced animism- spirits everywhere in nature, 3) Druids worked as intermediaries between gods and people Celtic legends full of strong women Celtic legends full of strong women Celtic lit influenced English and Irish writers today Celtic lit influenced English and Irish writers today

ASTP (5 th Century) Invaders crossed the North Sea (Angles and Saxons from Germany, Jutes from Denmark) Invaders crossed the North Sea (Angles and Saxons from Germany, Jutes from Denmark) Drove out the old Britons and settled the greater part of Britain Drove out the old Britons and settled the greater part of Britain

AS Life and Beliefs Heroes = gods Heroes = gods No afterlife No afterlife Story hall-mead hall like in Herot Story hall-mead hall like in Herot Bard-storyteller to tell and sing stories of gods and heroes Bard-storyteller to tell and sing stories of gods and heroes Mead hall-people would meet, hold meetings and hear stories and poetry Mead hall-people would meet, hold meetings and hear stories and poetry

AS Life and Beliefs (cont’d.) With no belief in an afterlife, what people did in life was extremely important because it would live on in the stories and poetry in the community hall. With no belief in an afterlife, what people did in life was extremely important because it would live on in the stories and poetry in the community hall. Creating poetry seen as an endeavor nearly equal to being a warrior, hunter, or farmer Creating poetry seen as an endeavor nearly equal to being a warrior, hunter, or farmer Women held and inherited property, made financial decisions, supervised the making of mead, and acted as beekeepers. Women held and inherited property, made financial decisions, supervised the making of mead, and acted as beekeepers.

Enemies AS life dominated by the need to protect the clan against enemies, especially the Vikings (called Danes) AS life dominated by the need to protect the clan against enemies, especially the Vikings (called Danes) Dragons were the living embodiment of evil and death because Viking ships would have prows carved in their shape Dragons were the living embodiment of evil and death because Viking ships would have prows carved in their shape

The Epic Hero

The Epic Hero (cont’d.) Beowulf is an example of an epic hero Beowulf is an example of an epic hero 4 characteristics: 1) superior physical strength, 2) supremely ethical, 3) must make a quest to defeat monsters and dark, destructive powers, and 4) at the end of the quest, the epic hero is glorified by those that he has saved 4 characteristics: 1) superior physical strength, 2) supremely ethical, 3) must make a quest to defeat monsters and dark, destructive powers, and 4) at the end of the quest, the epic hero is glorified by those that he has saved Which leads us to the five elements of an epic... Which leads us to the five elements of an epic...

Epic Characteristics 1) hero = great leader and strongly identified with a particular people 1) hero = great leader and strongly identified with a particular people 2) setting includes upper and lower world 2) setting includes upper and lower world 3) hero does great deeds, undertakes an incredible journey 3) hero does great deeds, undertakes an incredible journey 4) sometimes the gods, supernatural, or fantastic take part in the story 4) sometimes the gods, supernatural, or fantastic take part in the story 5) story is told in heightened language 5) story is told in heightened language