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The Anglo-Saxons (449-1066)

The Anglo-Saxons (449-1066). Elegiac poetry- “The Seafarer” Heroic poetry- Beowulf Epic Epic hero Literary terms Background on the time period (~roughly 600 years). Anglo-Saxon Literature. Anglo-Saxon literature began not with books, but with spoken verse and incantations

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The Anglo-Saxons (449-1066)

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  1. The Anglo-Saxons (449-1066) • Elegiac poetry- “The Seafarer” • Heroic poetry- Beowulf • Epic • Epic hero • Literary terms • Background on the time period • (~roughly 600 years)

  2. Anglo-Saxon Literature • Anglo-Saxon literature began not with books, but with spoken verse and incantations • Minstrels called scopsrecited these poems long before they were ever written down

  3. The Epic • Epic- long narrative poem, sometimes developed orally; celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure An epic contains: • Epic hero- larger than life character that usually represents widespread national, cultural or religious values, and eternal human problems such as good vs. evil An epic is presented in a serious manner, often though the use of elevated language

  4. Literary Terms Early verse falls into 2 categories: • Elegiac poetry- sorrowful laments that mourn the death of loved ones and the loss of the past • Heroic poetry- recounts the achievements of warriors involved in great battles

  5. Literary Terms • Caesura- mid-line pause • Alliteration- repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds. For example, She sells seashells by the seashore • Kenning- a colorful, indirect way of naming something; a metaphorical phrase in place of a noun. (Grendel is described as shepherd of evil, guardian of crime, infamous killer) • Comitatus- describes the tribal structure of the Anglo-Saxons and other Germanic tribes, in which groups of men would swear loyalty to a lord in exchange for food, mead, and the loan of fine armor and weaponry. The men who swore such an oath were called thegns (roughly akin to modern Scottish "thane"), and they vowed to fight for their lord in battle

  6. Beowulf • Composed by an unknown poet more than 1200 years ago • Marks the beginning of English literature • The story takes place in 6th century Scandinavia • Recited originally in Old English

  7. Beowulf • Based on the legends and chronicles of the various Northern Europeans who migrated to England • Embodies the highest ideals of Beowulf’s time and place: loyalty, valor, selflessness, a sense of justice • Blend of Christian ethics and pagan morality • Often associated with pagan morality is the idea of fate or wyrd

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