Anglo-Saxons: Beowulf and the Beliefs of the Time

1. Unit 1 Anglo Saxons

2. Beowulf Anticipation Guide For each statement, decide if you agree (A) or disagree (D) and give a brief explanation WHY. Stronger people should stand up and look out for weaker people. Stronger countries should fight to help weak countries. Sometimes war is necessary. If our country was invaded, I would be willing to fight. I would fight to protect my family. One does not need the love of his people to be a great leader. Knowing the right people is the best way to get respect. Men have a duty to protect women. If you walk away from a fight, it shows you are less manly than someone who stands up and fights. Good always triumphs over evil.

3. Stronger people should stand up and look out for weaker people. Stronger countries should fight to help weak countries. Sometimes war is necessary. If our country was invaded, I would be willing to fight. I would fight to protect my family. One does not need the love of his people to be a great leader. Knowing the right people is the best way to get respect. Men have a duty to protect women. If you walk away from a fight, it shows you are less manly than someone who stands up and fights. Good always triumphs over evil. • Now… • Pick one statement that you feel most strongly about. • Write an ACES paragraph proving why your opinion on this statement is the RIGHT opinion. Be prepared to defend it. • Take 2 • You have 2 minutes to convince someone you are right. Then switch roles and let the other person convince you…

4. The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066

5. Essential Questions for the Unit • What makes a true hero? • Does Fate control our lives? • How do we make our mark in the world? • What skills are needed to survive? • What will be our legacy?

6. Anglo Saxons Literature • Key Term: Archetype • is an original model that sets a pattern for other things; prototype; • Consider: • Who had the first idea for the superhero? The villain? Portraying a wolf as evil? • What are other type cast characters?

7. Contains specific Motifs • Motifs – a motif is a recurring theme or image in a work of literature • Biblical and Christian Allusions • Pagan Customs • Social Customs • Traits of the Warrior • Beowulf Boasts

8. “The Dark Ages” • Characterized by successive waves of invaders • Bloody conflicts • Violence and barbarism • Harsh, difficult life • Serious-minded people

9. Belief System • Pagan • Belief in wyrd (fate) • Fatalism • Life is hard • survive as best as possible • death claims everyone “Fame after death is the noblest of goals” (Granner and Stern 24).

10. Earliest Recorded Invasion • Julius Caesar (55 BC) attempted to conquer the British Isles • Roman forces were held off by fierce Celtic warriors • Caesar claimed a victory for Rome anyway and left • ≈ 100 years later, the Roman army returned and backed up Caesar’s claim with true victory

11. Successive Invasions • In 449, Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Germanic tribes) began arriving with the intention to conquer • Led by Celtic chieftain Arthur, the Britons fought valiantly but were eventually driven North and West into Scotland and Wales • Arthur was made famous in the tales of the knights of the round table, Merlin, and Camelot in the Middle Ages

12. Vikings Bring More Invasions • Vikings invaded from Denmark and Norway beginning in the 790s • Fierce warriors- raided villages, where they looted, killed, and burned entire villages • “Hit and run” at first, attacking and leaving • They later stayed during the winters-they found England more hospitable than their homelands • They gained control of much of the North and East • In the South, the Anglo-Saxon king Alfred defeated the Vikings (Danes)

13. Alfred the Great • Unified England • Learning and culture flourished • Commissioned the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (a record of English history)

14. The Last Successful Invasion • Known as the Norman Conquest • Key players: William- Duke of Normandy Edward the Confessor- Alfred’s descendant Harold- English earl

15. The Norman Conquest William claims that Edward had promised to make him heir. After Edward’s death, an English council of noblemen choose Harold instead. Harold is crowned King of England. William and his forces defeat Harold at The Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Battle of Hastings signals the end of Anglo-Saxon dominance and brings to a close the period of time we now call the Anglo-Saxon Period.

16. Where Does Christianity Fit in with the Anglo-Saxon Period? • The date when the earliest Christians arrived is unknown, but by 300 AD, there were a significant number of Christians in in Britain. • Over the next two centuries, Christianity spread wildly: “By 690 all of Britain was at least nominally Christian, though many held on to some pagan traditions and beliefs” (Allen et al. 21).

18. Angles and Saxons Join Forces • Country known as “Angle-land” would later become known as “England”

20. Anglo-Saxon Rule • Feudalism • Warrior Society • Culture • Religion • Literature

21. Warrior Society • Status of Warriors • Allegiance to the King • Weaponry • Glory through death

22. Anglo-Saxon Language • Gutteral language known as Old English

23. Small communities of thatched-roof huts Community centered around the communal (mead) hall Agriculture, crafts, metal-working “Community discussion and rule by consensus”(Probst et al. 11). Warrior mentality Anglo-Saxon Life

24. The Mead Hall

25. Anglo Saxons & Mead Hall • All social and governmental events began and ended at Mead Hall • Mead: Fermented beverages made from honey (Think of beer made from honey) • The hall was built by the local lord or king for the entertainment of the Thanes • Thanes: warriors and soldiers loyal to the local lord or king

26. Beowulf : The Epic Poem •An EPIC is a long narrative poem which follows a hero’s struggle against universal issues. •The epic will contain 3 elements: A larger-than life hero The Supernatural Elevated language style

27. An epic hero must face challenges and opponents that the ordinary person could not handle. HOWEVER... There is often a character flaw or other weakness which brings problems to the epic hero.

28. How did Beowulf Survive? • Oral tradition • Manuscripts written down centuries later by scribes in monasteries • Only one copy of Beowulf survives from ≈1000 AD • Monks combined pagan and Christian elements when writing down Anglo-Saxon stories by hand

29. Many epics were not originally written down by their authors. Instead, they were memorized and retold or sung by wandering entertainers.

30. The Scop • Provided entertainment and more through songs and poems • Generally related tales of courage, high drama, and tragedy • Performed for hours at a time • Scop (pronounced shop) in Anglo-Saxon lands • Troubadours in France • Minnesingers in Germany

31. Purpose of Scop’s Songs and Poems • History lesson • Moral sermon • Pep talk • Instilling cultural pride • Reminder of wyrd (people were helpless to avoid it) and eventual death • Teaching how a true hero should behave • Had power to make subjects immortal

32. The Storytellers These entertainers also served to bring news from other areas. Often, if a heroic deed had occurred in the area, it might be blended into the stories he told.

33. Changing Stories… •Other influences also played a part in changing the epics. •The text of Beowulf shows both Norse pagan belief and Christianity, often in the same line. •This may have evolved as the storytellers encountered villages with different beliefs.

34. Writing it Down… When these stories which had been orally passed on were finally written down, they were also subject to many changes. --Mistakes in translations --Misunderstanding out- of-date slang --Political correctness --or even intentional changes in the text

35. Selective Editing… It all depended on who did the writing and their feelings about the texts.

36. "Christianizing" the old text… Some parts of Beowulf seem not to match the style of the rest of the text. Other areas seem to be as if a narrator feels the need to stop and make a comment. Much of these areas involve various comments and concepts of Christianity. It is likely that some monks, while copying texts, put in their own views about their work.

37. Immortality An Anglo-Saxon warrior could only attain immortality through the words a scop sang or recited in an epic poem. Beowulf says, “Fame after death is the noblest of goals” (Granner and Stern 24). He knows that in the words of a scop, he will live forever.

38. Anglo- Saxon Values • Law and order • Fame/success/ glory • Leadership • Loyalty • Bravery • Generosity • Friendship/kinship • Respect for women • Honored the truth • Physical strength • Commitment to warfare • Acceptance of violence • Determination • Appreciation of beauty • Great love of personal freedom

39. The Anglo Saxon Man • Athletic • Strong • Seafaring • Adventurous • Strong belief in fair play

41. Why Study Beowulf? 1. Beowulf is the oldest poem in the English language, so everything written since Beowulf stems from it in some way 2. The story of Beowulf encompasses common themes that we still see in English literature today 3. It’s a great story

42. Beowulf’s Provenance What we don’t know: • who wrote it • when exactly it was written • how much, exactly, is based on historical truth

43. Beowulf’s Provenance What we do know: • Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem. It’s written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), which is the basis for the language we speak today. • Some of the characters in the poem actually existed. • The only copy of the manuscript was written sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000’s), however…

44. Setting: Beowulf’s time andplace Although Beowulf was written in English, it is set in what is now Sweden, where a tribe called the Geats lived. The story may take place as early as 400 or 500 A.D.

45. The Language of Beowulf (*poetic style) •Kennings(two-word phrase for a common word)ex: world-candle for sun or whale-road for ocean •Symbolism: the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. •Highly descriptive passages (imagery) • Alliteration (repetition of initial sound) “In darkness dwells the dragon.” • Caesura (a complete pause in poetry) “He took what he wanted, all the treasures.”

46. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for Kennings For instance: hronade literally means “whale-road,” but can be translated as “sea”

47. Kenning • Kenning – a metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun (like a mini-riddle) • sea = whale’s home • battle = spear play • “mail-shirt” = armor • “dwelling place” = residence • “mail armor” = helmet • “helmet bearers” = warriors • “earth-hall” = burial mound

48. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for A few more kennings from Beowulf: banhus = “bone-house” = body beaga brytta = “ring-giver” = lord beadoleoma = “flashing light” = sword

50. Caesura • – a natural pause in the middle of a line of poetry. • 2 part line – each line is separated by a pause or break in the middle of the line; each part generally has 2 strong beats. • (Put simply, it is a dramatic pause in the middle of a line.)