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ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND

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Presentation on theme: "ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND"— Presentation transcript:

1 ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND 449-1066

2 THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE
We start with a clan/tribe known as the Britons They lived in a time where people owed an allegiance to a lord in return for protection. This was a time of war, movement, and chaos

3 THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE
PRE-ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD: A BC - Britons battle Gaels and Celts (Greek for “Barbarian”) B Britons battle the Romans ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD: A Britain gets invaded from lots of tribes – Constant Upheaval! a. PICTS – keep pillaging b. SCOTS – Old English “raider,” from Ireland c. 442 – Britains invite SAXONS in alliance but are betrayed for the Scots. d. 449 – more GERMANIC invasions (Jutes, Frisians, Angles, & Saxons) * e. 787 – Viking attacks start = pillage, loot, burn everything!

4 The Britons get invaded by EVERYONE
 The Britons get invaded by EVERYONE

5 POINTS OF INTEREST I. 500 AD – historical King Arthur
wins British victory II St. Augustine founds Christian monastery First king of Anglo-Saxon England converted to Christianity! (King Aethelbert I of Kent - Jute) Gradual Christianization by Roman and Irish missionaries - 7th century with persistent pagan customs as well *( Christianity flourished during the Roman Empire, never left when it fell)

6 POINTS OF INTEREST IV King Alfred, recognized as king of all England Revival of learning… oral tradition turns to written language for all V : Edward the Confessor (last Anglo Saxon king, deeply religious) beat up by William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings

7 OLD ENGLISH NO WRITING: Writing went out of style with collapse of Roman empire. Only the church had a few documents. *Oral tradition / scops 2) Christian missionaries taught and wrote entirely in Latin, Old English was vulgar 3) Language is predominantly: Anglo-Saxon (German), Some Celtic/Gaelic words, Latin (450 words) Old Norse (50 words)

8 OLD ENGLISH OLD ENGLISH VERBS: Cyssan – cyste – cyssed (kiss)
Ridan – rad – ridden (ride) Drincan – dranc – drunken (drink) Sprecan – sprac – sprecen (speak) Fyllan – fylde – fylled (fill) Cnyttan – cnytte – cnytted (knit)

9 CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM
- Warrior culture - Loyalty to many gods Tell stories to teach lessons. COMITATUS: loyalty to lord, do anything for him (loyalty rewarded with fame/riches, mead hall), - Exile worst punishment CHRISTIAN Spiritual culture - faith in heavens and morality Loyalty to a God Bible

10 PAGAN WORLD The world is believed to be set up in different dimensions: Gods (Asgard) above the underworld (Hel) below the Earth plane (Midgard)

11 CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM
WYRD: You are powerless in life, with no real choice. It is a dangerous world ruled by FATE (predetermined) You should have the courage to fight/die early. You live a a good life by achieving fame/glory through deeds, riches. CHRISTIAN PROVIDENCE: People follow Christian qualities and obey commandments in hopes of going to a better after life. You have the free will to live a good life. Suffering you endure will pay off in the glorious afterlife with God.

12 What happens when you die?
THINK ABOUT IT… What happens when you die?

13 THINK ABOUT IT… How do you PROVE you go to heaven for an afterlife?
How does the church convince so many people of the time to buy into Christianity? Why might it sound appealing?

14 ANGLO-SAXON RECAP Warrior Culture: Britons lived in clans that owed allegiance to a lord in return for honor, fame, and gold. (comitatus) Time of war, chaos, and transition. Everything is passed on through the oral tradition. Old English is made up of Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Latin & Old Norse. Revival of Education Pagan culture trying to be turned Christian by missionaries and priests. Pagan views: many gods, WYRD, warrior culture Christian views: one god, PROVIDENCE, spiritual culture

15 ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE
All passed down through an oral tradition until the mid 10th century (900s). It was caused by a church reform where monks were in charge of copying manuscripts. 1) RIDDLES: entertainment/education 2) PROSE: Caedmon: “Hymn of Creation,” oldest vernacular work (Latin) Bede: “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” (Latin) Used historians, other books, travelers, never left more than 75 miles!! “Anglo-Saxon Chronicles” – begin writing down history in Old English so it was accessible to all

16 Strike me; the bright-edged, battle-sharp
Handiwork of smiths bites in battle. Always I must await the harder encounter For I could never find in the world any Of the race of healers who heal hard wounds With roots and herbs. So I suffer Sword-slash and death-wound day and night. I am the lone wood in the warp of battle, Wounded by iron, broken by blade, Weary of war. Often I see Battle-rush, rage, fierce fight flaring-- I hold no hope for help to come Before I fall finally with warriors Or feel the flame. The hard hammer-leavings

17 A Shield Exeter Riddle Answer: Wounded by iron, broken by blades
No comfort in herbal healing handiwork of smiths Sword slash and death wound day and night

18 As laced with slaughter, I spit out
The death-blend I swallowed before. What whistles from my belly does not easily pass, And the man who seizes this sudden cup Pays with his life for the long, last drink. Unwound I will not obey any man; Bound tight, I serve. Say what I am. Wob is my name twisted about-- I'm a strange creature shaped for battle. When I bend and the battle-sting snakes Through my belly, I am primed to drive off The death-stroke. When my lord and tormentor Releases my limbs, I am long again,

19 A bow!!! Exeter Riddle Answer: Wob is my name twisted about
I spit out the death-blend I swallowed before. Unwound I will not obey any man; Bound tight, I serve.

20 LITERATURE: POETRY HEROIC: tales of warriors and battles
Pagan/Warrior culture… FAME/WYRD Beowulf ELEGAIC: lamenting the death/loss of loved ones,glory, or gold Christian ideas, spirituality Happy past / desolate present “Seafarer” and “Wanderer” *POEMS COME FROM BOOK OF EXETER

21 POETRY TERMS 1) ORAL TRADITION originally 2) Typically narrative
3) Regular rhythm - Usually 4 strong beats, consistency for memorization and speaking Ex. Now there are no rulers, no emperors Kenning: metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun (embellished/figurative) EX. Whale’s home = sea Rat’s nest = ? Sea-Steed = ? Brow Star = ?

22 POETRY TERMS 5) CAESURA: natural pause in a line of poetry
Ex. With gift in the mead-hall and comfort for grief ALLITERATION: repetition of sounds in a sequence of words (*Tongue twisters: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers)

23 POETRY TERMS PARAPHRASE: break down lengthy portions of text to find strictly meaning, put in your own words in a shorter manner Advantage: understand meaning Disadvantage: time consuming

24 I am a wonderful help to women, The hope of something to come. I harm
No citizen except my slayer. Rooted I stand on a high bed. I am shaggy below. Sometimes the beautiful Peasant's daughter, an eager-armed, Proud woman grabs my body, Rushes my red skin, holds me hard, Claims my head. The curly-haired Woman who catches me fast will feel Our meeting. Her eye will be wet.

25 An onion! _____ _____ _____ I harm no citizen except my slayer
_____ _____ _____ An onion! I harm no citizen except my slayer I am shaggy below. Her eye will be wet. wonderful help to women

26 Now a man will strip my bonelike skin
From the sides of my body with a bright blade And bolt my flesh, relish me raw: A quick cuisine--crack to jaw. Suckled by the sea, sheltered near shore; Cradled in the cold catch of waves, Footless and fixed--often I offered To the sea-stream a stretch of mouth.

27 An oyster!!! _____ _____ _____ Suckled by the sea,
_____ _____ _____ An oyster!!! Suckled by the sea, sheltered near shore Footless relish me raw

28 HERO What does our generation/world define a hero as today? What are his/her characteristics? Who are examples of a hero?

29 HERO DEFINITION: a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. NEED FOR A HERO: Changes with time depending on the culture/climate We often look at major societal problems to create or embellish who we should look up to

30 HEROES vs. villains ANCIENT GREEK & ANGLO-SAXON: RENAISSANCE: WWII:
How has the idea of a hero changed over time? Consider who he/she fought and what they stood for? ANCIENT GREEK & ANGLO-SAXON: Brave warriors fought for their country and lord/king against outside Gladiator, 300, William Wallace RENAISSANCE: Knights of the Round Table fought against people who didn’t follow the law and to protect the king or ladies. Robin Hood fought against the tyrants of the world. WWII:

31 HEROES vs. villains 1930s - 1960s: TODAY:
How has the idea of a hero changed over time? Consider who he/she fought and what they stood for? 1930s - Creation of Batman, Superman, and early Marvel Comics 1960s: TODAY:


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