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British Literature

British Literature. Introduction. The British Isles. The Anglo-Saxon Period. 449-1066. Ancient World. isolated rain-drenched and often fogged in green dotted with thatched cottages, quaint stone churches, and mysterious stone ruins. Celts. Early inhabitants Tall, blonde warriors

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British Literature

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  1. British Literature Introduction

  2. The British Isles

  3. The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066

  4. Ancient World • isolated • rain-drenched and often fogged in • green • dotted with thatched cottages, quaint stone churches, and mysterious stone ruins

  5. Celts • Early inhabitants • Tall, blonde warriors • Group within group: Brythons (sounds like….)

  6. Celtic Religion • Animism – from Latin word for “spirit” • Everything had spirits: rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, thunder • Spirits had to be constantly satisfied • Druids, priests, acted as intermediaries between gods and people • Ritual dances, rites: Stonehenge?

  7. Celtic Mythology • Arthur – legendary Celtic warrior; became embodiment of English values (Sir Thomas Malory wrote a text on it hundreds of years later:LeMorteD’Arthur) • Different from Anglo-Saxon (which came later) • Full of strong women • Enchanted lands where magic and imagination rule

  8. Video break • The Celts: • http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/video/lifestyle/hold-ye-front-page/3786558/Ancient-World-The-Celts.html

  9. Roman Invaders • 55 B.C. Julius Caesar began invasions and claimed Britain for Rome • Claudius settled Britain in earnest about 100 years later

  10. Roman Contributions • Armies to defend Britain against further invasions • Network of roads (some still in use) • Defensive wall 73 miles long (Hadrian’s Wall) • Public baths • Brought Christianity and Celtic religion began to vanish

  11. Roman Evacuation • Trouble at home (Italy) • Evacuated Britain, leaving fixtures but no central government • Island weak, ripe for invasion

  12. Warriors Sweep Ashore • 5th Century • Saxons from Germany • Jutes from Denmark • Attack across the North Sea • Drove old Britons out before them • “Germanic” Language became dominant in Angla-land from the Angles (sounds like?)

  13. The Vikings Invade • Alfred the Great unified the independent principalities against the invading Danes (Vikings, pirates, from Denmark) • Plundered and destroyed a path through the country before settling in northeast and central England • Battle continued until 1066 (over 150 years), when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated them all

  14. Video break • Who were the Vikings? • http://www.history.com/topics/vikings/videos#who-were-the-vikings • Life of the Vikings • http://www.history.com/topics/vikings/videos#life-of-a-viking

  15. Anglo-Saxon Life • NOT barbarians, though often depicted that way • Warfare was the order of the day • Law and order was the responsibility of the leader

  16. Anglo-Saxon Success • Fame and success gained only through LOYALTY to the leader • Success measured in gifts from the leader

  17. Anglo-Saxon Life • Dominated by need to protect • People lived close to animals in single-family homesteads around common area or a warm, fire-lit chieftan’s hall • Wooden stockade fence around all • Arrangement brought closeness to leader and followers • Rule by consensus

  18. Anglo-Saxon Women • Women inherited and held property • Retained control of property even when married • Husband had to offer marriage gift • Woman had personal control of gift • Woman became Abbesses • Rights ended with Norman conquest

  19. Anglo-Saxon Religion • Pagan religion persisted despite influx of Christianity • Dark, fatalistic religion from Germany • Like Norse/Scandinavian mythology • Odin: god of death, poetry, and magic; called Woden (Woden’s Day: Wednesday) • Dragon: significant figure; guardian of the grave, and “death the devourer”

  20. Anglo-Saxon Religion • More concerned with ethics than mysticism – with the earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship

  21. Video break: 7 • The Spread of Christianity

  22. Christianity • Irish and Continental missionaries converted Anglo-Saxon leaders and the people followed • Provided a common faith and a common system of morality • Linked England to Europe

  23. Christian Monasteries • Centers of learning • Culturally and spiritually coexisted with the heroic ideals and traditions of the Anglo-Saxon religion • Preserved some of the older traditions by recorded works of popular literature

  24. Monks • Recorded works of oral tradition in the language of the people: Old English • Recorded principal works in Latin, the language of the Church • Copied manuscripts by hand in scriptorium (a covered walkway); oiled paper or glass kept out some weather

  25. Language • Latin remained the language of ‘serious’ study • King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of England, helped English gain respect as a language of culture

  26. Bards: Entertainers/Historians • Scops • Skilled storytellers • Equal in stature to warriors; creating poetry just as important as hunting, fishing, farming, or loving • Strummed harp • Told stories of heros • Fame in poetry: defense against death

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