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Anglo-Saxon Background 449-1066

Anglo-Saxon Background 449-1066. a.k.a The Old English Period The Heroic Age. Ancient Tribes in England…. Celts (800-600 B.C.) - Brythons (Britons) -Gaels (Ireland) Romans (55 B.C.) Anglo-Saxons (from Germany approx. 400 A.D.) Norse and Danes (Vikings 9 th Century).

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Anglo-Saxon Background 449-1066

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  1. Anglo-Saxon Background449-1066 a.k.a The Old English Period The Heroic Age

  2. Ancient Tribes in England… • Celts (800-600 B.C.) -Brythons (Britons) -Gaels (Ireland) • Romans (55 B.C.) • Anglo-Saxons (from Germany approx. 400 A.D.) • Norse and Danes (Vikings 9th Century)

  3. Anglo-Saxon Migration…

  4. Anglo-Saxons • War-like people • Deep-sea fishermen and farmers • Enjoyed the pleasures of eating and drinking (feasts) • Regarded women as mysterious, magical beings to be worshipped • Fierce love of individual freedom • Simple language • Honor in burials

  5. Anglo-Saxon Warrior Culture • Warrior culture • Heroic Code: warrior/lord relationship • Engravings on helmets, swords, and shields • Importance of reputation/identity • Honor (funerals/celebrations)

  6. Swords Typical Anglo-Saxon Sword Silver Inlayed Iron Pommel and Grip

  7. Helmets

  8. Anglo-Saxon Warrior Sheilds…

  9. Paganism/Christianity • Around A.D. 400 • Christian monks settle in Britain • Christianity & Anglo-Saxon culture co-exist • By A.D. 699 • British pagan religions are replaced by Christianity

  10. Court singer Historian Genealogist Teacher Composer Critic Warrior Reporter The Scop (long “o”) • “The Anglo-Saxon scop was a professional or semi-professional tribal poet who celebrated cultural values by singing epics on occasions of great ceremony and festivity…. He was a man of repute, the equal of thanes.”

  11. Exeter Book Major collection of Old English Poetry—no illustrations. Author unknown Depicts Anglo-Saxon culture “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” “The Wife’s Lament” Written between 950-990 A.D. Housed at Exeter Library in Exeter, England.

  12. When English books were rare all the "literature" in a particular part of the country might be all put together in one book. The great book we know as the "Exeter Book" was given to the library of Exeter Cathedral by the first bishop of Exeter, Leofric, who died in 1072. The Exeter book contains many riddles referring to things like a ‘thief-guest who was no wiser for having swallowed words’ (a bookworm)

  13. Anglo-Saxon Literature • Began as oral tradition (scop) • Verse • Heroic: Recounting the achievements of warriors • Elegiac: Lamenting the death of loved ones and lost of the past. An elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.

  14. Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry… The lines do not rhyme Reflect the contrast between Christianity and paganism Each line contains two halves, separated by a Caesura The use of kennings The use of alliteration Instruct a moral lesson

  15. Types of Anglo-Saxon Poetry Exeter Book “Beowulf” The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles Anglo-Saxon riddles (Exeter Book)

  16. Anglo-Saxon Poetry • Lyrical in Form: • Expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker. • Two types: • Heroic: Detailing the deeds of a hero. • Elegy: Mourning the loss of someone or something.

  17. Anglo-Saxon Poetic Devices… • Kenning: two-word metaphorical name for something • “whale’s home”=sea • “bird’s nest”=messy hair • Caesura: sound break in the middle of a line of poetry, indicating a pause for breath in the reading

  18. Anglo-Saxon words… Wergild (eye for an eye; death price) Wyrd (fate) Word-hoard (well-reasoned boast; eloquence) Comitatus (code of honor in battle; brotherhood)

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