1. Introduction to the Anglo Saxons (449-1066 A.D.)

2. There were 7 groups of peoples who invaded and settled in Great Britain throughout its history:
Iberians (Spain)
Celts (indigenous people from British Isles)
Romans (Italy))
Angles (Germany)
Saxons ( northern Germany & the Netherlands)
Vikings (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark)
Normans (northern France)

3. The Spirit of the Celts
When Greek travelers visited modern Great Britain in 4 B.C., the group of warriors they found there were called…
Celts
Brythons - Britons

4. The Spirit of the Celts The Celts followed a religion known as
Animism or “spirit”
- They saw spirits in all natural things
--ponds, trees,
fire, & thunder
These spirits controlled all aspects of existence & had to be constantly
satisfied.

5. The Spirit of the Celts Celtic priests were called Druids
Intermediaries between the gods & people
Druids memorized the history of their people & the secrets of their faith
Ritualistic dances and human sacrifices were also used.

6. The Spirit of the Celts
Some think a strange, stone-like structure on the Salisbury Plain known as Stonehenge was used by the Druids for religious rites.
Some say it is an ancient clock.

7. The Celtic Heroes and Heroines
Sir Thomas Malory was greatly influenced by the legends of Celtic heroes
Example: Le Morte D’arthur – based on a Celtic warrior named Arthur
Celtic legends are full of strong women fantastic animals, incredible adventures, and magic.

8. Celtic Warriors
Used a blue dye known as woad to give them such a terrifying appearance in battle.
They were very tall and athletically built
Fought naked
Carried long spears
Used a fierce battle cry to intimidate their opponents
Fought to show how brave they were, not to gain land or riches

9. The Romans: The Great Administrators
Julius Caesar led the invasion of Briton in 55 B.C.
Introduced two architectural additions to Briton
Roads
Defensive wall – Hadrian’s Wall
Approximately 70 mile long wall was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to keep the 'barbarian' Picts from Scotland out of Roman Britain.

10. The Romans: The Great Administrators
Christianity became a unifying force in Britain which caused the “old ways” of the Celts to vanish
Romans evacuated Britain in 409 A.D., without leaving a central government there
Britain became a country of separate clans or tribes
This made Britain so weak after the Roman invasion that it was susceptible to pagan invasions.

11. The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore
In the middle of the 5th century Britain was attacked by:
Angles (Germany)
Saxons (northern Germany & Netherlands)
Jutes (Denmark)
-Anglo-Saxon became the dominant language after these invasions
The new name of Britain after these invasions
Engla land or England

12. The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore
The Celts retreated west to Wales as a result of the invasions from the north
Arthur – a Welsh chieftain – developed in legend as Britain’s “once and future king”
Name of novel about Arthur’s life by T.H. White

13. Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity
King Alfred of Wessex was the Anglo-Saxon king who led his people to victory against the invading Danes & established England as one nation.

14. Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity
The Irish and continental missionaries were responsible for converting the Anglo-Saxon people to Christianity.
They used established pagan holidays to partner with Christian holidays to make the conversion easier.

15. Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity
Three things Christianity provided for the Anglo-Saxon people:
A common faith
A common system of morality/ right conduct
A connection to England and Europe

16. Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity
William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the Danes in Britain in 1066 – Battle of Hastings
Also known as William the Conqueror
He is the only English monarch to be accorded the epithet "the Great".[

17. What Does Anglo-Saxon Mean?
Anglo Saxon society developed from kinship groups led by a strong chief
People farmed, maintained local government, and created fine crafts especially metalwork.
Christianity eventually replaced old warrior religion, linking England & continental Europe.
Monasteries were centers fro learning & preserved works from the older, oral tradition.
English – not just the Church’s Latin- gained respect a as a written language.

18. Anglo-Saxon Life as Described by the findings at Sutton Hoo
Warfare was a dominant influence on daily life
Law and order was the responsibility of the leader of a group- family, clan, tribe, or kingdom.
Fame and survival only came from loyalty to the leader
Loyalty grew out of a need to protect the group from the enemy

19. Role of Women in Anglo-Saxon Culture
They had rights
Could inherit & own property.
Christian women could join religious communities (convents) & even became powerful abbesses.

20. Anglo-Saxon Religion: Gods for Warriors
Warrior god
Dark
Fatalistic
Believed the greatest honor was to die in battle and go to Valhalla – warrior heaven
Important virtues- bravery, loyalty, generosity, & friendship

21. Anglo-Saxon Religion: Gods for Warriors
Odin (pronounced Woden) was the most important Norse god
He represented death, poetry, and magic
Thor or Thunor was the god of thunder
His symbols- hammer and swastika

22. Anglo-Saxon Religion: Gods for Warriors
Dragon (firedrake)– Significant figure in Anglo-Saxon mythology personifies “death the devourer”
Guards the greave mound of warriors’ ashes and treasure

23. The Bards: Singing of Gods and Heroes
Scops or bards told stories of Anglo-Saxon history and heroes through
oral tradition – memorizing stories &
passing them along by word of mouth
Scops were very important in Anglo-Saxon culture
The only thing that could help an Anglo-Saxon’s memory live on after death was to have his story retold in poetry.

24. A Light from Ireland
Patricus (Patrick) was the man responsible for converting all of Celtic Ireland to Christianity in 432 A.D.
Taught pagans the concept of the Trinity using a shamrock (3-leaf clover)
Three petals or leaves but one plant
God, the Father
God, the Son
God, the Holy Spirit
Known to us as Saint Patrick

25. A Light from Ireland Golden Age in Ireland-
Irish monks founded monasteries that became sanctuaries for learning for refugees
Monasteries served as centers for learning during the time period

26. The Rise of the English Language
King Alfred had a chronicle written of England’s history from its earliest days until 1154 A.D.
Anglo Saxon Chronicle
As a result, English began to gain respect as a language of culture
Only then did the Old English stories & poetry preserved by the monks come to be recognized as great works of literature.

27. Beowulf
Unknown author
Unknown time
Old English poem
Historical references
Christian influences
Folktales/Legends
Paganism
J.R.R. Tolkien
Social Conduct
Motives
Henry the VIII made his own religion = Church of England
Disposed of the majority of monasteries in England
That meant books too
Circumstances saved Beowulf
It is written in an arcane language so translations are flawed.
Beowulf appears to be composed between the 5th and 10th centuries in either Northumbria or East Anglia.

28. Beowulf The story is about events that happened 200 years in the past.
Unknown author
Unknown time
Old English poem
Historical references
Christian influences
Folktales/Legends
Paganism
J.R.R. Tolkien
Social Conduct
Motives
The story is about events that happened 200 years in the past.
Based on the grammar, vocabulary, verse, cultural ideals
specifically the attitude towards the Danes and the heroic tradition
Henry the VIII made his own religion = Church of England
Disposed of the majority of monasteries in England
That meant books too
Circumstances saved Beowulf
It is written in an arcane language so translations are flawed.
Beowulf is created during a time when the popularity of heroic poems were on the decline and religious poems were emerging.
The poet is believed to have been a scop who made use of alliteration, kennings and similes (5) and elevated language

29. Beowulf The story is about events that happened 200 years in the past.
Unknown author
Unknown time
Old English poem
Historical references
Christian influences
Folktales/Legends
Paganism
J.R.R. Tolkien
Social Conduct
Motives
J.R.R. Tolkien would
not have produced
his body of work
without the
influence of
Beowulf.
Beowulf interpreted by
J.R.R. Tolkien
Henry the VIII made his own religion = Church of England
Disposed of the majority of monasteries in England
That meant books too
Circumstances saved Beowulf
It is written in an arcane language so translations are flawed.
The story is about events that happened 200 years in the past.
Based on the grammar, vocabulary, verse, cultural ideals
specifically the attitude towards the Danes and the heroic tradition
Beowulf is created during a time when the popularity of heroic poems were on the decline and religious poems were emerging.
The poet is believed to have been a scop who made use of alliteration, kennings and similes (5) and elevated language

30. Recap

31. Beowulf
Today we will listen to Beowulf in Old English: Prepare to take notes: Prologue As you read the text audio make a list of words you are unfamiliar with.

32. Open the lit book to page 42 As you read the text or listen to the audio make a list of words you are unfamiliar with We will popcorn read to a desk number. Desks are numbered 1-20 Read when your number is called. We will read until 10 minutes before the bell and then you will have time to complete the holes in your notes.