Agenda – Academic 12/13

Homework: • Write a prediction as to how Book 1 will end. • Native Son Context and poems • Flocab list 1 – paragraph about the story • Study Affix list 3 (the most recent) Agenda – Academic 12/13 Bellringer: Converse using at least the first list of flocabulary you had for homework. Realism/Naturalism PP – what’s that?(25) Native Son PP Write: Nature Vs. Nurture & Fear – Also, find in text. Context/Read – as a class, groups, partners, individually, listen. Closure: Predictions? Why? Think naturalism.

Agenda-Honors 12/13 • Bellringer: How can you make orations memorable? If you had to tell a long heroic poem about a legendary figure who uses strength, cunning, and help from the gods to survive perilous trials – and you have to use elevated, solemn language throughout, how would you do it? (5) • Finish Presentations ASAP (50 • Epics? (10) • Beowulf background/reading (25) • Closure: What are devices used for? Qualities of epics? • Homework: • Characteristics of a hero (2) Good vs. Evil (2) Temptation vs. Responsibility (2) Anglo-Saxon Ideology(2) Paganism vs. Christianity (2) • Study 9 & 10

The Formation of the English Language and background to Ms. Sloop English 10

“The making of English is the story of three invasions and a cultural revolution.” • The language in its simplest form was brought to Britain by Germanic tribes: the Angles, Saxons, Frisians, and Jutes • The language was influenced by Latin and Greek when St. Augustine and his followers converted England to Christianity • The language was subtly enriched by the Danes after their invasion • The language was transformed by the French-speaking Normans after their invasion

Before all of this… • The Celts (called Britons) inhabited the British Isles. • The Celtic Britons had the misfortune to inhabit an island that was highly desirable both for its agriculture and minerals. • People started to invade…

The Romans invade… • In 55 B.C., Julius Caesar and his legions invaded Britain. • In A.D. 410, the Roman Empire collapsed and the Roman troops left Britain. • Other people began to turn their attention to Britain.

Invasion #1: Anglo-Saxons • In 449 A.D., the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes sailed across the North Sea from Denmark and Germany. • Native tribes (led perhaps by King Arthur) fought against the Germanic tribes • Eventually, the Germanic tribes were driven westward by the Anglo-Saxon warriors.

Anglo-Saxon influence on language • When the Anglo-Saxons landed on the shores of Britain, they introduced the island to the English language. • We refer to this language as Old English.

Anglo-Saxon influence on language, continued… • Anglo-Saxons settled down and began farming: • Sheep, shepherd, ox, earth, plough, swine, dog, wood, field, and work are words of Anglo-Saxon origin • The 100 most common words in modern English are of Anglo-Saxon origin. • The, is, you, etc. • Because Anglo-Saxons were the dominant tribe in the land, it was called Angle-land (now England).

A-S attitude towards language • Anglo-Saxons relied on speech because theirs was an oral culture. • They loved riddles, ambiguity, word-play, etc.

Can you figure out this Anglo-Saxon riddle? • I’m told a certain object grows in the corner, rises and expands, throws up a crust. A proud wife carried off that boneless wonder, the daughter of a King covered that swollen thing with a cloth. • Answer…

DOUGH

A Cultural Revolution: Christianity • In A.D. 597, St. Augustine and his followers traveled to Britain to convert the Anglo-Saxons • Though the Anglo-Saxons were known to be savage, the conversion was peaceful…no bloodshed, no martyrs • The Anglo-Saxons built churches and monasteries

Christianity influenced the English language… • With the conversion, Anglo-Saxons were introduced to more than 400 new words (Latin and Greek in origin) • Many are still here today: • angel, disciple, litany, mass, relic, etc.

Invasion #2: The Danish “Vikings” • Between A.D. 750 and 1050, Scandinavian people moved all over Europe, plundering, conquering, and settling different lands. • In A.D. 793, they came to Britain…

Viking Invasion, cont. • The Vikings gained much control of North and Eastern England. By the middle of the ninth century, almost half the country was in Viking hands. • The Vikings went after the jewel of the island…Southern England (Wessex).

Viking invasion, cont. • The king of Wessex, a young man named Alfred, successfully maintained control of one part of Britain. • When he saved Wessex, he saved the English language.

Alfred the Great • King Alfred worked to restore his kingdom. • He forced the Vikings to a truce and to accept Christianity. • He rebuilt monasteries and schools. • He used English as a basis for education.

Influence of the Viking invasion on the English language… • Since Danes and Saxons lived side by side, their languages fused so they could communicate (Beowulf demonstrates this change). • During this time period, the language was simplified also for the purpose of communication.

Invasion #3: The Normans • In 1066, the Normans invaded Britain, changing English forever. • Normans seized control over everything, churches, court, etc. • French was spoken everywhere • Thus began what is known as The Medieval Period

Norman Invasion, continued… • Although French was spoken at court, in law, etc., the English people kept their own language alive orally. • English survived because… • It was well established • Normans began to marry the English • There were more English than Normans

Influence of the Norman Invasion on English… • The Normans increased the Anglo-Saxon vocabulary. Many synonyms began to appear. • The Normans gave the Anglo-Saxons the opportunity to make distinctions and adjust meaning through language.

Beowulf • Based on Celtic and Scandinavian folk legends • Contains Christian as well as pagan elements. • First great work in the English language, presumably written around 700-750 A.D. • Page from 1000 A.D. manuscript

Focal Points for Beowulf • Characteristics of a hero (2) • Good vs. Evil (2) • Temptation vs. Responsibility (2) • Anglo-Saxon Ideology(2) • Paganism vs. Christianity (2)

Agenda – Academic 12/13