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British Literature Introduction

British Literature Introduction. Mrs. Leach and Mr. Haynes. British Literature Introduction Mrs. Leach and Ms. Dale. HISTORY Middle Ages 449-1485. The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 The Medieval Period 1066-1485. The Middle Ages 449-1485. Characteristics of the period.

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British Literature Introduction

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  1. British Literature Introduction • Mrs. Leach and Mr. Haynes British Literature Introduction Mrs. Leach and Ms. Dale

  2. HISTORY Middle Ages 449-1485 • The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 • The Medieval Period 1066-1485

  3. The Middle Ages 449-1485 Characteristics of the period • Enormous upheaval and change in England • Reigns of some of the most famous and infamous kings • Time of disastrous wars, both internal and external • Time of foreign invasion • Time of painful reconsolidation and emergence of England as nation

  4. Anglo-Saxon Period “Anglo-Saxon England was born of warfare, remained forever a military society, and came to its end in battle.” - J. R. Lander In a society dominated by aggression, what would you expect to be the Anglo-Saxon attitude toward family life, the role of women, art, literature, ethics and work?

  5. Druids thought that the soul was immortal, passing in death from death from one person to another. Considered mistletoe and oak trees sacred and generally held their rites in old oak forests. Turn in your book to page 3 for the INVASION MAP!! Celtic Invasions • Around 500 BC three groups of Celts invaded British Isles Brythons (Britons) settled island of Britain Gaels settled on Ireland Picts (tattooed people) settled in Scotland Organized into clans; loyal to chieftain • King Arthur was actually a Celtic chieftan • Religion – WORSHIP of NATURE. animism (from Latin for “spirit”) (see BRAVE) Believed spirits controlled every aspect of life Druids – priests who settled arguments, presided over religious rituals, and memorized and recited poems about past • Conquered by Romans in the first century A.D. and became part of the Roman Empire.

  6. Celtic Warrior Garb

  7. Roman Invasions • 55 BC Julius Caesar invaded Britain • Began to Christianize the Celts; Celtic religion vanished • Controlled world from Hadrian’s Wall to Arabia Roman Helmet

  8. Roman garb during Britain invasion

  9. Hadrians Wall 73 miles coast to coast. Think of it not as a FENCE but as the SPINE of the Roman Empire VIDEO

  10. Roman Invasions: What legacy did the Romans leave? • System of roads/highways –one could travel where previously not possible. • Beauty and culture (Bath) • an organized society keeping invaders out • 407 AD end of Roman rule in Britain

  11. Here they come!!! – 449AD Angles/Saxons from Germany Jutes from Denmark • Angles, Saxons, and Jutes Deep sea fishermen and farmers • Language Common language now known as Old English (similar to Dutch and German) • Religion – pagan – similar to Norse mythology • HORRIBLE HISTORIES

  12. Anglo Saxon men and women

  13. Germanic Invasions - 449 • Created the Anglo-Saxon England (“Angle land”) • Divided into separate kingdoms • United themselves in last two centuries to resist invasions from Vikings, or Norsemen (whom they called Danes). Seven kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Period: Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, East Anglia, Essex, Sussex, and Kent

  14. Conversion • Honorius (in 597 AD) vows to Christianize Anglo-Saxons turning them from their pagan ways.

  15. Monks in Action • The Venerable Bede (673-735 AD) was a monk who wrote “The Ecclesiastical History of the English People” p. 83 in textbook • “The Exeter Book” was a collection of manuscripts compiled by monks that blended Christian and pagan ideas about the after life. Synod of Whitby decides to calculate the EXACT date of Easter and observe dates according to Roman custom.

  16. Viking Invasions 8th-12th Centuries • Invaders from Norway and Denmark • Anglo-Saxons unprepared for ferocity of Vikings • HORRIBLE HISTORIES Viking Ship, known as the Oseberg Ship, dates 825 AD.

  17. Vikings ready to raid.

  18. Protection from Vikings • Vikings destroyed monasteries and sacred objects • Slaughtered everyone in settlements that couldn’t pay enough to them • King Alfred “The Great”of Wessex (871 AD) forced Vikings to northern England

  19. The Norman Conquest

  20. The Battle of Hastings 1066 AD • VIDEO The Normans win and begin to rule ENGLAND

  21. Final Influence of the Invaders • Celts- culture involved literature. • Romans- enjoyed feasts and built walls to protect. • Anglo-Saxons- rigid and had gloomy outlook on the world. • Vikings- hostile and aggressive • Normans- established judicial system ALL TOGETHER = ENGLISH CULTURE

  22. TIMELINE • Gather all of the dates that you have compiled with your notes and create a timeline of British History from 500 BC-1066 AD. You need to include: • 9 events in order • 5 descriptions of events • 5 pictures

  23. Let’s focus on just the ANGLO-SAXONS!!Video

  24. Uncovering Sutton Hoo • Website • Valuable Anglo-Saxon artifacts were excavated here.

  25. Anglo-Saxon Social Structure • Tribal units led by CHIEFTANS (kings, lords) earned their respect from their THANES (warriors) • The relationship between them was called COMITATUS. • CHIEFTANS were known for displaying the HEROIC IDEAL (courage in war and boasting).

  26. Anglo-Saxon Social Structure • The CHIEFTAN also dished out the SPOILS OF WAR. This was very important to their culture. • Naming and designing of swords. • WITANS were WISEMEN. Who counseled the ruler. • EORLS were nobility that ruled territories. (EARLS)

  27. The MEAD HALL

  28. Characteristics of the Mead Hall • VIDEO • The Anglo Saxon society centered around the Mead Hall (mead was honey beer) • Throne room • Barrack • Banquet Hall • Food, drink, and fellowship

  29. Anglo-Saxon Civilization • Weapons and treasure IMPORTANT! • Ruler generous to those who remain loyal • AVENGING the death of a beloved was a MUST. • Alternatives to death? 1. paying a WEREGILD or 2. arranging a MARRIAGE • Women were known as CUP-BEARERS and PEACE-WEAVERS (you should recognize these as what?) • The word “wyrd” was an Anglo Saxon word for FATE.

  30. Anglo-Saxon Literature • Oral tradition – poems and song committed to memory and performed by scops, bards, gleemen • 597 AD St. Augustine sent to convert Anglo-Saxons. Latin works translated into Old English. • Edwin, the King of Northumbria converted to Christianity in 627 AD • Churchmen were anxious to eliminate pagan stories so Beowulf is quite unusual.

  31. Anglo-Saxon Literature • Beowulf – one of few pieces that survived. Priests and monks were the only ones who could write; stories survival depended upon them. The church was not too eager to preserve literature that was pagan in nature, so historians believe they either ignored it or changed it. This may account for the mixture of Christian and pagan elements in Beowulf.

  32. Those that told the stories Scop- Anglo Saxon poet who recites songs and sings poetry. Gleeman- strolling minstrel We get our SYNTAX from the Anglo-Saxons. The poetic structure was based on accent and alliteration NOT rhyme and meter.

  33. Old English Poetics • Alliteration – repetition of consonant and vowel sounds at the beginning of words • Caesura – a natural pause or break in the middle of the line of poetry and joined by the use of a repeated vowel or consonant sound Out of the marsh // from the foot of misty Hills and bogs // bearing God’s hatred Grendel came // hoping to kill Anyone he could trap // on this trip to high Herot

  34. Old English Poetics • Kennings – a metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun. Ready made descriptive compound words that evoke vivid images • Kennings are formed by prepositional phrases possessive phrases compound words Preposition phrase – Giver of knowledge Possessive phrase – mankind’s enemy Compound word – sea path

  35. Kennings • Review the “Alliteration and Kennings” worksheet • Review the “Simple Kennings” worksheet • Complete “Kenning Chart”

  36. “The Wanderer” p. 26 in textbook • An Old English poem from the 10th century, preserved in “The Exeter Book.” The date of the composition is unknown but most certainly predates 1070AD, as it was probably part of an earlier, oral literary tradition. • It is an ELEGY or mournful poem. • It is written in Alliterative meter. • Look for Alliteration, Kenning, and Caesura as you read. • Complete worksheet #4 “The Wanderer” • If time, complete #5 “Alliteration and Kennings in the Wanderer”

  37. “The Seafarer” p. 21 in textbook • Just like “The Wanderer,” this was found in “The Exeter Book.” • Imagine what life would be like if there was no television. Writings like “The Seafarer” and “The Wanderer” capture the nature of entertainment during the Anglo-Saxon period. People turned to traveling storytellers (known as _______) to mesmerize them with stories.

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