1 / 25

Exploring Old British Books: Legends, Poets, and History

Discover the fascinating world of old British books, from legends like King Arthur to poets like Shakespeare. Learn about Stonehenge, Robin Hood, and the Industrial Revolution. Explore the rich history of the United Kingdom and its influential figures. Uncover the origins of British literature and its impact on English language and culture.

bernadettea
Download Presentation

Exploring Old British Books: Legends, Poets, and History

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Why study old British books?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-YSti9Ri5k • Legends • Poets • Stonehenge • Robin Hood • Shakespeare • James Bond • American Idol • Kate Middleton • The Beatles • Adele • Theory of Gravity • Radar • Penicillin • Industrial Revolution • Jane Austin • Disney • The Bible • The United States

  2. The United Kingdom • This small Island was invaded and settled many times. • Celts • Romans • Angles • Saxons • Vikings • Normans (1066) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Tfbeqyu2U\

  3. Celts • Animism • Believed there were spirits (Gods) in everything: • Rocks, water, grass, etc. • Druids • Intermediary priests that assisted in satisfying the Gods. • Rituals, Rites, Sacrifices • Stonehenge • Built before the Druids, but many believe it was used for rituals.

  4. Romans • Julius Caesar • 55 BC • Protection until Romans called home. • 409 AD • Infrastructure • Roads, villas, bath houses (Roman Society) • Hadrian’s wall – 73 miles long • Christianity

  5. Angles, Saxons, and Jutes(Anglo-Saxons) • Germany, Denmark • 449 • Engla Land  England • Celts fought back • Went to Wales, then to Ireland • King Alfred of Wessex • Alfred the Great  King Arthur, possibly • 871-899 • Christianity • Unified Anglo-Saxons

  6. Vikings • Danish • Norway/Denmark • 790 • Sea-faring marauders • Raiders, took over northern coast • Looted, killed, and burned entire villages • Dragons • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WC9o4Zz-7A • Defeated by Alfred the Great • Remember King Arthur …

  7. Anglo-Saxon Life • Warfare • Dominated lifestyle, survival of the fittest • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-T_Z5OW_Q • Leader • Tribes • Responsible for law and order • Must have loyalty to survive/protection from invaders • Success in life was measured in gifts from the leader • Village • Thatched huts surrounded the Chieftain’s Hall • Meetings, Story-tellers • Bards, Scops • Fence around “village” for protection

  8. “Religion” • Norse Gods • Odin (Woden) • God of death, poetry, and magic • Woden’s day  Wednesday • Thunor (Thor) • God of thunder and lightning • Hammar • Thor’s day  Thursday • After-life • They did not believe in an after-life, therefore fame was the only way to have immortality. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtFw9i31Qdo • Ethics • Ethics were more important than spirituality or mysticism. • Hero’s display strong ethical behavior. • Christianity came later.

  9. Beowulf • Why Beowulf? • English History

  10. 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. Beowulf is simply good writing.

  11. 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…

  12. Beowulf’s Provenance So what’s happened to the manuscript since the 11th century? Eventually, it ended up in the library of this guy. Robert Cotton (1571-1631)

  13. 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.

  14. Setting: Beowulf’s time and place Insert: Time of Beowulf Europe today

  15. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for 1. Alliterative verse • Repetition of initial sounds of words (occurs in every line) b. Generally, four feet/beats per line c. No rhyme

  16. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for Alliterative verse – an example from Beowulf: Oft ScyldScefingsceapenapraetum, Monegummaegpummeodo-setlaofteah; EgsodeEorle, syddanaerestweard.

  17. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. The terror of the hall-troops had come far.

  18. Some terms you’ll want to know scop A bard or story-teller. The scop was responsible for praising deeds of past heroes, for recording history, and for providing entertainment • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_or3MKiU8Rw • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzmmPRG4smU

  19. Some terms you’ll want to know thane A warrior mead-hall The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc.

  20. Some terms you’ll want to know wyrd Fate. This idea crops up a lot in the poem, while at the same time there are Christian references to God’s will.

  21. Some terms you’ll want to know epic • Beowulf is an epic poem. • Epic heroes represent the finest values of civilization; ethical • Face extraordinary obstacles • Seem to be superhuman but they’re mortal • Perform brave deeds • Quest or journey with followers • Name their horses/swords

  22. Motifs and Important Aspects • Good vs. Evil • Religion: Christian and Pagan influences • The importance of wealth and treasure • The importance of the sea and sailing • The sanctity of the home • Fate • Loyalty and allegiance • Heroism and heroic deeds

  23. Next Step • Desk 3, please get a cup with colored sticks. • Make sure everyone in your group has a stick. • Make sure all of the sticks are assigned, even if you do not have 6 people in your group.

  24. Team Role • Red = Scop • You will present your group’s story in modern language. • Orange = Story Teller • You will assist your group by summarizing the story as you read. • Yellow = Vocabulator • You will look up words that are unfamiliar to your group. You will record the words and the meanings. • Green = Inquisitor • You will generate 5 questions for each page. You will record your questions and the answers. • Blue = Manuscript Writer • You will record the story as it is being discussed. • Purple = Illustrator • You will draw images for your group’s section of the story as it progresses, to share with the class.

  25. Assignments • Alpha • Grendel = pages 38-41 • Bravo • Beowulf = pages 42-45 • Charlie • The Battle with Grendel = pages 46-50 • Delta • Grendel’s Mother = pages 51-52 • Mourning Beowulf = page 66 • Echo • The Battle with Grendel’s Mother = pages 53-57 • Foxtrot • Beowulf’s Last Battle = pages 58-61

More Related