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Why study British literature?

Why study British literature?. British culture has helped influence America Personal rights and freedom Government Literature Language. Anglo-Saxons. Order of Invaders. Celts Romans Angles Saxons Jutes. Celts. First British settlers Their mythology has influenced British writers

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Why study British literature?

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  1. Why study British literature? • British culture has helped influence America • Personal rights and freedom • Government • Literature • Language

  2. Anglo-Saxons

  3. Order of Invaders • Celts • Romans • Angles • Saxons • Jutes

  4. Celts • First British settlers • Their mythology has influenced British writers • Religion was a form of animism – seeing spirits everywhere • Celtic mythology- influenced Arthurian legends/poets • Celtic stories- full of strong women, magical animals, love affairs, adventures

  5. Romans • Caesar begins an invasion that would take 100 years to conquer Britain • Build roads, baths, Hadrian’s Wall • Bring Christianity to Britain- Celtic religion died • After 400 years (approximately) Romans leave • This leaves Britain susceptible to other invaders

  6. Three groups that invade Britain after the Romans leave • Angles (Germany) • Saxons (Germany) • Jutes (Denmark)

  7. Anglo-Saxons • Becomes the dominant language • Angle Land • Engla Land • England • Celts settle in Wales • Christianity helps to unify the country • Came from Germany and Denmark via the North Sea • Brought their language “Engla Land”

  8. Anglo-Saxon Life • Based on strong loyalty to the leader • Farmers, Craftsmen, and Maintained Government • Monasteries were centers of learning • Women held many rights- could inherit property from husbands/fathers, some became abbesses-ran convents and were educated. • Not Barbarians

  9. Anglo-Saxon Life • Warfare was necessary for protection • Religion was concerned with ethics over mysticism • Valued bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship

  10. The Sutton Hoo Treasure- (found in 1939) Suffolk England • What was it?- A Viking treasure ship/grave filled with gold, silver, and bronze artwork and jewelry from the Anglo-Saxons. • Treasures show artistry of the A/S culture. • Warlike society/Values included: law and order,loyalty to a clan leader, success-judged via gifts from a leader, and community discussion/consensus.

  11. Anglo Saxon Religion Dragon-Protector of treasure, guardian of the grave mound. Values: Bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship • Dark, fatalistic • Warrior gods-Norse mythology: Odin-death, poetry, and magic- “Woden” • Thor-Thunder, lightning, hammer or swastikam “Thor’s Day”

  12. Bard • Skilled storytellers that sang about gods and heroes • They were also known as Scops • Creating poetry was held in high esteem • Scops were equal to great warriors • The only way to have life after death in A/S religion was in poetry

  13. Monasteries • Christian monks preserved the tradition of the Anglo-Saxons • Interjected Christian beliefs into the A/S writings • Centers of learning-Scriptorium=writing room where monks worked • Monks wrote in the vernacular, later Latin • EX: Beowulf

  14. Beowulf

  15. Literary Terms • Alliteration • Caesura • Epic (Poem) • Epic Hero • Imagery • Kenning

  16. Epic • Hero is usually a great leader • Broad setting (upper and lower worlds) • Hero completes great deeds or goes on an extraordinary journey • Supernatural forces or gods are usually involved • Story is told in heightened language

  17. The Epic Hero Cycle • A change • A test • Various mythical, human, or animal helpers • Main antagonist, usually supernatural • Magical unreal world that the hero can visit but normal humans cannot • An escape from the quest • Resurrection • Restoration • What modern stories also fit this cycle? There are a few. Hint: ‘Luke, I am your father’

  18. Beowulf • Anglo-Saxon Period (450 –1066) • Originates as oral tradition • No author • Composed around 8th Century

  19. An Old English Sample • im ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwilefelahror feran on frean wære.Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe,swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd,þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga;leof landfruma lange ahte.

  20. Beowulf • Christian ideals are included • Most Old English literature was copied by monks • Epic hero travels from Scandinavia to help the Danes

  21. Characters

  22. Beowulf • Hero of the poem • Nephew of the King of the Geats (Higlac)

  23. Brecca • Beowulf’s friend

  24. Hrothgar • King of the Danes • Friend of Beowulf’s father

  25. Grendel • Man-eating monster

  26. Herot • A lavish mead hall built by Hrothgar

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