Anglo Saxon Literature

1. By: BreeAnna Berry, Jeremy Levy, Dana Harris, Daeja Colquitt Anglo Saxon Literature

2. History of the Anglo-Saxon Period

3. Defining Anglo-Saxon • The term Anglo-Saxon is a relatively modern term. It refers to settlers from the German regions of Angeln and Saxony, who made their way over to Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire around AD 410.

4. History • The Anglo Saxon period lasted for 600, between 410 and 1066. • Anglo-Saxon rule came to an end soon after the death of Edward the Confessor andHarold Godwinson was crowned king immediately after Edward died, but he failed in his attempt to defend his crown, when William and an invading army crossed the Channel from France to claim it for himself. Harold was defeated by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, and a new era was brought in.

5. Location of the Anglo-Saxons The early settlers kept to small tribal groups, forming kingdoms and sub-kingdoms. By the ninth century, the country was divided into four kingdoms : Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex

7. Bede • Category: • Monk • Date of birth: 673 • Date of death: May 26, 735 • Profession: Writer, Physician • Nationality: English • Place of birth:Jarrow

8. Bede (c. 673 – 735 ) • Bede was the earliest English historian and one of the first important prose writer. • Bede was one of the first know people to began using B.C and A.D to describe dates, which is now a method that has been used for centuries. • Bede’s title of “venerable” was added to his name in recognition of his status and reputation for his wisdom, humility, and scholarship. • Bede was a monk known in his day as a person of great scholarship and learning.

9. Bede’s Writing Styles Bedes main writings consisted of grammar handbooks, biographies, commentaries on books of the bible, homilies, and verses.

10. Bedes Works • The Age of Bede • The Ecclesiastical History of the English People/ The Greater Chronicle/ Bede's Letter to Egbert • On Genesis: BEDE

12. Beowulf • Beowulf was a very important contribution to Old English literature . • It was composed in the early eighth century and printed in 1815, but the first recorded writing was not until nearly three hundred years later. • Beowulf is an epic poem that tells the tale of a hero who goes through many challenges as he becomes king.

13. Grendel Attacks One night, after a beer party,the Danes settled in the hallfor sleep; they knew no sorrows.The evil creature, grim and hungry,grabbed thirty warriorsand went home laughing. At dawn, when the Danes learned of Grendel's strength, there was great weeping. The old king sat sadly, crying for his men. Bloody footprints were found. That was bad enough,but the following nightGrendel killed more--blinded by sin, he felt no remorse.(You can bet the survivorsstarted sleeping elsewhere.)So Grendel ruled,fighting right,one against many,and the greatest hallin all the earthstood empty at night.

14. Beowulf Archetypes • Beowulf is a Hero as a warrior. • Battle between good and evil: When the hero, Beowulf, fights against Grendel, Grendal’s mother and the dragon. • Beowulf is special or one of a kind because he is the only person with the strength and skills to defeat the enemies. • The hero struggles for something important : Beowulf struggles to defeat Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon. • Grendel and his mother are considered The Outcast characters.

16. The Poem • This picture is a part of the sole surviving manuscript of Beowulf • It was found in the year 1000

17. Caedmon • Caedmon worked as a herdsman who soon discovered his ability to create beautiful songs and poems. Most of his poetry and songs were about religion. After his death only one piece of his work survived.

18. Caedmon's hymn Now let me praise the keeper of Heaven's kingdom,  the might of the Creator, and his thought,  the work of the Father of glory, how each of wonders   the Eternal Lord established in the beginning. He first created for the sons of men     Heaven as a roof, the holy Creator,    then Middle-earth the keeper of mankind,    the Eternal Lord, afterwards made,    the earth for men, the Almighty Lord.

19. Anglo-Saxon Poetry • The dominant mood of Anglo-Saxon poetry is elegiac, meaning mournful. • “the seafarer”, “the Wife’s Lament”, and “The Wanderer” are all elegies. • They have common themes which include exile, a long journey, and a loss of someone or something. • The light tone of Anglo-Saxon riddles show that they liked to be entertained as much as people today.

20. The Exeter Book • The Exeter Book is the largest of four important collections of Anglo-Saxon poetry that have survived to the present time. • The Exeter Book contains thirty poems and ninety riddles. • Bishop Leofric gave the text the cathedral at Exeter in the eleventh century. • No one knows where the document came from. • Some of the pages were damaged by fire and the readability was affected. • Today its “songs” are our primary source of Anglo-Saxon poetry.

21. The SeaFarer This tale is true, and mine. It tells How the sea took me, swept me back And forth in sorrow and fear and pain Showed me suffering in a hundred ships, In a thousand ports, and in me. It tells Of smashing surf when I sweated in the cold Of an anxious watch, perched in the bow As it dashed under cliffs. My feet were cast In icy bands, bound with frost, With frozen chains, and hardship groaned Around my heart. Hunger tore At my sea-weary soul. No man sheltered On the quiet fairness of earth can feel How wretched I was, drifting through winter On an ice-cold sea, whirled in sorrow, Alone...

22. Works Cited • Breeden, David. "Grendel attacks." unknown. Beowulf. 1815. • Inhar. EncyclopaediaMetallum . 1 June 2008. 30 August 2010 <http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/2/9/3/129354_logo.jpg>. • Sealtiel, Jennifer. Instances of Fate in Beowulf. 28 February 2008. 26 August 2010 <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/631731/instances_of_fate_in_beowulf.html?cat=38>. • Stoddart, Adam. The Linguistic and Literary Contexts of Beowulf:Overview. 2010. 26 August 2010 <http://school.nettrekker.com/goExternal?np=/external.ftl&pp=/error.ftl&evlCode=365994&productName=school&HOMEPAGE=H>. • Winston, H. R. (2011). Elements of British Literature. Austin, TX: Holt Rhinehart and Winston. • BBC. Ancient History in Depth. 1 September 2010 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/saxons.shtml>.