English is a melting pot of indo-european languages

1. English is a melting pot of indo-european languages Celtic Latin German French

2. Quick History of English Language • Old English (OE) dates from approximately* 400 A.D. to 1066 • Middle English (ME) dates from approximately 1066-1485 • They are quite different to the eye and ear. Old English is nearly impossible to read or understand without studying it much like and English speaker today would study French, Latin, or Chinese

3. Old english • Old English also known as SAXON • The principle invading Germanic Tribes were the ANGLES, SAXONS, JUTES, and FRISIANS • Anglo- Saxon dialects developed into Old English • The most commonly used words today derive from those early Anglo- Saxon roots • Later the language was influenced by the French speaking NORMAN INVADERS

4. Anglo-Saxon Alphabet

5. pronunciations • sc is pronounced as the “sh” sound, as in "ship“ • The Old English word for a ship is scip • The Old English word for fish is fisc • c can be rendered either a soft consonant pair as in “child” • The Old English word for child is cild

6. pronunciations • The Old English word for king is cyning • The sound is largely determined by the word itself and the vowels adjoining it in that word • In modern editions, a soft “c”, with a sound like the modern “ch”, will be indicated with a dot above the c

7. Overview of Periods of Early English HistoryPre-History—1066 A. D. • Pre-Roman/Pre-Historical  up to 55 B. C. • Roman Occupation  55 B. C. – 410 A. D. • Anglo-Saxon Period  410 – 1066 A.D. • Norman -French Invasion  1066 AD

8. Pre-Historical / Pre-Roman

9. Theories of first Inhabitants • Iberians--came from the Iberian peninsula of portugal and Spain • Celts called “Brythons” hence Britain 300’s BC

10. Roman Occupation

11. The Conquest of Briton • Between 800 – 600 B.C.: Celts • 55 B.C.: Romans • About 407 A. D.: Anglo-Saxons/ Jutes

12. Celts Fourth century b.c. Loved nature Peace loving within their tribes Skilled craftsmen iron Religion - Animism “spirit” in rivers, rocks War-like • Druids - Priests • Demanded total dedication • Mistletoe (sacred) and oak • Voluntary human sacrifice • Use of stones in worship • Stone Henge - used in worship, astrology

13. CELTIC LEGENDS • King Arthur- celtic warrior • Filled with strong women • Tall, fierce, beautiful • Bloody • magical

14. 55 BC Julius Caesar 43 AD Emperor Claudius romans

15. Picts Painted people Wore blue dye (berry juice) Screeched when they attacked Frightened the Romans according to historians and Julius Ceasar’s description

16. Celts were pushed to Scotland, Wales , and Ireland by Romans

17. Conquered celts Established cities Organized law Roadways Roman baths Romans

18. Hadrian’s Wall 73 miles long Wide enough for two people side by side To keep out Celts and Picts Romans Brought Christianity Patrick brought missionaries to Ireland bringing Christianity

20. 61 ad queen Boadecia • Queen of a briton Tribe • Killed 70,000 Romans

21. 409 Romans withdrew from Britain leaving no central government

22. BEDE THE VENERABLE673-737 • A monk and scholar recorded knowledge of England before the 8th century

23. ANGLO-SAXON Background • 449-1066AD

25. Angles • Angles • Germanic • Migrated from Germany 5th Century • That land was later called Engla-lond now known as England

26. saxons • large and powerful Germanic people from northwestern German and the eastern Netherlands • invaded Britain in the early Middle Ages, giving their names to the kingdoms of Essex, Sussex and Wessex

27. JUTES • from Jutland in modern Denmark • less well known than the Angles and Saxons

28. Anglo-saxons

29. 7 KINGDOMS OF THE ANGLO SAXONS

30. Anglo-Saxons • Blond-haired, blue-eyed • Fair, sturdy • Loved nature and the sea • Sense of honor • Generous: Love to eat and drink • Loved glory of battle • braggarts

31. Anglo-Saxon Society • King’s home in center of all others • Mead hall (communal hall) • Mead - potent drink made from honey • Women not allowed except for serving • Scops told stories/riddles in the halls • King received power from gods (Woden) • Somewhat democratic • Eye for eye justice - immediate • Pagan religion / mixed with Christianity later

32. Mead hall

33. Pagan gods • Woden - Wednesday • Fria - Friday; goddess of love • Tui - Tuesday; god of war • Thor - Thursday; god of thunder • Eostre - goddess of dawn and new life • Wyrd - god of fate

34. Hierarchal system

35. THANES • LIKE MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS • SWORN TO PROTECT KING • FOUGHT FOR GLORY, FAME, & HONOR

36. WERGILD (WIERGILD) • “MANPRICE” • VICTIM’S RELATIVES WOULD SEEK REVENGE IN FORM OF WERGILD. FAILURE TO DO SO WOULD KEEP FAMILY FROM EVER BEING ABLE TO SATISFY THEIR GRIEF

37. wiergild • Under the wiergild system, every Anglo-Saxon, in common with other Germanic and Scandinavian peoples, knew the exact value of his life, and that depended on his rank.The life of a churl was worth two hundred shillings; that of a thane ... six times as much, and the price to be paid for injury, like the loss of a hand or a leg, was calculated in proportion."

38. treasures

39. scops • Old English poetry was meant to be read/sung aloud before an audience. • the Scop, would entertain with tales of past deeds, battles of old and history was kept alive for the Anglo-Saxons. • The scop had to be a master of his art, being able to recite thousands of lines from memory (the epic Beowulf has 3182 lines) • Some more experienced scops would add to the stories as they were told

40. Christianity • first arrived in Britain in the 6th Century - St. Augustine • gradually converted population until 9th Century when most Britons were Christian • Latin introduced to Anglo Saxons who integrated Old English with Latin Vocabulary • Centers for learning • Preservation of manuscripts

41. 871 alfred the Great unified tribes • 1066 norman french invasion • King Harold vs william, the conqueror

42. The site of sutton hoo • 1930’S the site of the grave was on the land of Edith pretty. She was convinced the site contained treasure. She had a dream in which she saw an ancient funeral procession

43. The graves of a warrior and his horse were found in one of the smaller mounds

44. Dig Site

46. Anglo-saxon literature • Oral Tradition • Beowulf • Epic • latin

47. Characteristics of anglo-saxon poetry • Love of freedom • Responsiveness to nature • Devotion to glory as ruling motive in warriors’ lives • Brooding melancholy

48. The epic • Is narrative poem • Gives “biography” of great hero • Is based in myth and tradition • Was sung by minstrels

49. epic • Long, majestic narrative poem • legendary or historical events • ideals of an entire nation at critical point of its history; gratifies national pride

50. epic • ideals of a great cultural or religious movement