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Anglo-Saxon
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Anglo-Saxon 449-1066 Period of Conquest
Anglo Saxons defeated the Celts & Britons Anglo Saxons were primarily farmers and fishermen Lived in tribes ruled by kings (beginning of feudal system) Period ended with Norman Conquest of 1066
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Anglo-Saxon 449-1066 Period ended with Norman Conquest of 1066
Duke William II of Normandy William the Conqueror Invades England with Norman, Breton, and French soldiers
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Anglo-Saxon Houses Most were square, rectangular, or round with a fireplace in the center Homes were modestly furnished (wooden table, bench, stools) No windows only a door Constructed of timber for the walls and crossbeams Some walls were plastered with a mixture of mud and straw Generally had a thatched roof Floors were pounded sod although some were stone or wood
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Anglo-Saxon House
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The Mead Hall Mead: Alcoholic beverage – fermented honey and water
Gathering place – lord and his followers would eat, drink, listen to oral ballads, sing, share tales of heroism Often crowded, noisy, and smoky Men sat on benches along the walls, opposite the lord, his lady, and finest warriors Trestle tables – removed when meals were over
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The Hall
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Inside the hall
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Inside the hall
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Anglo-Saxon Women Culture of AS was patriarchal (Men were the leaders)
Woman Rights She could own property or a business, make contracts and wills If husband died - She became responsible for the land, the home, and raising the children She could not be married without her consent Marriages were not arranged Husband gave her gifts prior to marriage (land & money) These were her sole possessions Gave the woman independent wealth incase of the husband’s death or abuse Life Expectancy was in 30’s – but many died earlier
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Anglo-Saxon Literature…
Beginning of the English Language Oral Genre Oral Ballads with Alliteration and Rhythmic Patterns Ballads strung together to become Epic Poetry Examples Beowulf – Earliest known epic poem The Wanderer The Seafarer
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Scop Pronounced “shop”
Would sing or chant tales of past deeds and battles usually accompanied by the harp had to be a master of his art, being able to recite thousands of lines from memory. (Beowulf has 3128 lines) Audience was probably already familiar with the story Preformed at court or on the road Was paid for his talents
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The most important values were courage, loyalty and reputation
Code of Comitatus Comitatus: Germanic code of loyalty - the honor system that existed in Scandinavian countries in the 5th and 6th centuries between a king, or feudal lord, and his warriors or thanes. Thane: warrior – swears loyalty to the king for whom they fought and whom they protected Kings: generous, protected thanes Reputation: thanes were expected to be loyal, brave, courageous; kings were expected to be generous and hospitable The most important values were courage, loyalty and reputation
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Wergild “man-payment” a fee paid to the family of a slain man to atone for his murder and to prevent the family from seeking revenge. Based upon social or political station. Was a way for the family to satisfy their grief
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Wyrd “All lives are connected by a web of fate.”
the pagan idea of fate…ones fate is rigid, predetermined, and unknown Literally means that everything in the universe is connected by a weave of intricate strands Said to be controlled by three sisters known as the Norns Anglo Saxons believed that our Wyrd shaped who we are, where we are, and what we are doing today because every choice we make builds on previous choices and together these choices we make shapes our destiny and that of generations to come.
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Beowulf Anonymous
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Beowulf
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Beowulf is an Epic Poem
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Beowulf written down by a literate scop (story teller, singing poet, entertainer) or by a scribe in a Christian monastery was created in the oral tradition, developing over a period of time with roots in folk tales and traditional stories. the SCOP (shop) would sing or chant the poem, usually accompanied by the harp. the audience was probably already familiar with the story. Beowulf appealed to a wide audience and constituted a public form of entertainment
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Beowulf English Epic Poem About serious subjects
Compared to Greek Epics such as The Illiad or The Odyssey Celebrate virtues of importance National, military, cultural, political, or historical Usually have a hero and emphasize heroic actions About serious subjects Heroes perform heroic deeds that exemplify values important to the culture Boasting and bragging considered admirable Journeys cover large areas of land
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What makes a hero an Epic Hero?
The Epic Hero! What makes a hero an Epic Hero?
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The Epic Hero! He is glorified and of high social status.
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The Epic Hero! Hero is generally male as women were thought of as being subordinate.
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The Epic Hero! He is on a quest which forces him to engage in supernatural events
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The Epic Hero! He often boasts of his superhuman strength, intelligence, courage, or victories.
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The Epic Hero! He is ethical and does the right thing
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The Epic Hero! His fate affects the destiny of many people
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The Epic Hero! He is a strong and responsible leader
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The Epic Hero! He is brave and faces life & death struggles
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The Epic Hero! His actions reflect the ideals of his society
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Main Characters Beowulf (Geat) – Our epic hero (protagonist)
Hrothgar (Dane) – King of the Danes Unferth (Dane) – Jealous of Beowulf Wiglaf (Geat) – Beowulf’s loyal and faithful friend Grendel – The monster (main antagonist) Grendel’s Mother – The monster’s momma The Dragon – The second main antagonist
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King Hrothgar Period of great prosperity
Battle and conquest were a way of life for the Anglo- Saxons Mead Hall (Heorot) was always full of Hrothgar’s men Grendel hates sounds of celebration and singing Grendel drives men out of Heorot The men suffer relentlessly – and pray for relief - for 12 years! Beowulf hears of the their strife and comes to their rescue…
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Christian References Christianization began about 100 years before the writing of Beowulf. The scribe was probably Christian and very familiar with the Bible. There are many Christian references, allusions, and themes juxtaposed with other pagan elements.
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Setting although written in Old English, the setting for the action is NOT in England. Set in what is now Sweden, where a tribe called the Geats lived. Takes place as early as 400 or 500 AD
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Plot, setting, and characters…
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Beowulf uses two literary devices common during Anglo-Saxon era…
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Poetic Elements Alliteration Metaphors / Kennings
Christian & Pagan Influences Good vs. Evil Heroic Ideal
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Kennings
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Kennings
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Kennings
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Kennings
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Kennings
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Vocabulary foresaken bowers woeful mortified unrelenting catastrophic
raving insatiable resounding keen mortally purging valiant gabled moors accursed malevolently forged
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Answers: 1. A 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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Criteria for your Boast!
The boast should be of lines Must show your understanding of Anglo-Saxon poetry by following the Anglo-Saxon poetic format: No end-rhyme Heavy alliteration in each line Three original kennings
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