1. Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods
10/22/2017
Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods
Mrs. Gugel
English IV

2. Introduction Beowulf was written in the Anglo-Saxon era.
Around the year 525.
Literature was transmitted orally instead of in writing.
Runic alphabet did exist - only used for inscriptions.
Beowulf was result of storytelling

3. Topics of Discussion
Brief history of the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods.
Literary History
Development of language

4. Pre-Historical/Pre-Roman
The island we know as England - occupied by a race of people called the Celts.
One of the tribes was called Brythons or Britons (where we get the term Britain).

5. Pre-historical/Pre-Roman (con’t)
Celts were pagans - believed in “animism,” from the Latin word spirits
Druids were their priests
Role: Go between the gods and the people

6. Important Results from Roman Occupation
Military - Strong armed forces (“legions”)
Pushed the Celts into Wales and Ireland
Prevented the Vikings from raiding for several hundred years
Infrastructure - Government fell apart when they left
Language and Writing - Latin official language
This is why English language is strongly based in Latin
Religion - Mainly Christianity

8. Important Events in the First Anglo-Saxon Period
Angles and Saxons invade from Baltic shores of Germany
Nine Anglo-Saxon kingdoms eventually became the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy

9. Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy
Heptarchy = Seven Kingdoms
Kent
Essex
Sussex
East Anglia
Northumbria
Mercia
Wessex

10. Viking Invasions ( )
Were sea-faring (explorers, traders, warriors)
Viking raids began around 787
Led to many cultural changes...

11. Important Results from Vikings
Politically/Culturally - still unstable - no central government or church
Linguistically -
The English language is “born” and is known as Old English
Lots of dialects of the language due to the seven kingdoms

13. Norman Invasion (1066)
Battle of Hastings - the Normans (powerful Norman Frenchmen) defeated the English and started a conquest of England
Two most important effects:
French becomes official language of politics and power; thus, enormous influence on Old English
England begins unifying under a French political system, much of which is still with us today

18. Beowulf Main Characters
Protagonist
Fights Grendel
Strongest warrior around
Proves to be an effective ruler
King Hrothgar
Danish King
Terrorized by Grendel
Father-figure to Beowulf
Role model ruler

19. The Monster Grendel Demon from the bloodline of Cain
Attacks Hrothgar’s warriors
Evil because of what he inherited from Cain
Miserable existence is result of punishment from God because of what Cain did to Abel.
Lives for vengeance