1 / 29

British Literature

British Literature. Introduction. The British Isles. Look at the maps on page 4 & 87 of your text. 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.

camden-wright
Download Presentation

British Literature

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. British Literature Introduction

  2. The British Isles • Look at the maps on page 4 & 87 of your text.

  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. British Influence on America • Common law • Parliamentary Government • Literature • Language

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

  7. 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?

  8. Celtic Mythology • Arthur – legendary Celtic warrior; became embodiment of English values (Sir Thomas Malory, 15th Century, Le Morte D’Arthur) • Different from Anglo-Saxon (which came later) • Full of strong women • Enchanted lands where magic and imagination rule

  9. Video break: 1 & 2 • The Dark Ages • Roman Britain

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

  11. 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

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

  13. Video break: 3 • The Anglo-Saxon Invasions of Britain

  14. Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore • 5th Century • Angles and Saxons from Germany • Jutes from Denmark • Attack across the North Sea • Drove old Britons out before them • “Germanic” Language became dominant in Engla land from the Angles

  15. Anglo-Saxon Invasion • Celts put up a fight, then retreated to Wales • Welsh chieftain: Arthur

  16. The Danes 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

  17. Video break: 4 & 6 • Stowa • Dark Ages: Three Elements that Join

  18. 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

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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. Anglo-Saxon Religion • 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”

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

  24. Video break: 7 • The Spread of Christianity

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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

More Related