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British Literature

British Literature. Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxons 449-1066. Celtic Britain . Britain first mentioned by ancient Greeks Legendary: remote and mysterious Island originally occupied by Celtic Britons Conquered by the Romans in the first c entury

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British Literature

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  1. British Literature Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxons 449-1066

  2. Celtic Britain • Britain first mentioned by ancient Greeks • Legendary: remote and mysterious • Island originally occupied by Celtic Britons • Conquered by the Romans in the first century • Around 410, Romans left the Celtic people to find their own means of defense

  3. Rise of the Anglo-Saxons • In 449, the Jutes (from the Jutland in Denmark) were the first of the Germanic invaders • In600-850, the Angles and Saxons, wealthy independent lords and kings, invaded as well

  4. Fall of the Celtic • But the Celtics did not retreat without a fight • Celtics experienced brief military success under leadership of King Arthur, Medieval legend • Celtic British culture collapsed by 600- Celts driven into Wales

  5. Tribes and Language • These Germanic tribes brought Old English, Anglo-Saxon • Together they created Anglo- Saxon England • Old English is a branch of West German, related to modern German and Dutch • Modern English evolved from the language of Germanic Invaders

  6. Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

  7. Fall of Anglo-Saxons • 871-899 Viking Norsemen (“Danes”) began to attack and were defeated • In 1066, the Normans invaded from across the English Channel instituted their own culture, bringing an end to the Anglo-Saxons

  8. Anglo-Saxon Culture • Well developed society organized around the family, the clan, the tribe, and the kingdom • 2 classes: The eorls, ruling class The ceorls, bondsmen, ancestors were former slaves • King relied on witan, wise men

  9. Anglo-Saxon Social Life • Center of social life was the mead hall • Professional singers, scops, entertained served as poets and chroniclers kept stories alive • Until end of 6th century, worshipped pagan gods---associated with Norse mythology now

  10. Rise of Christianity • At first, Christianity had little impact • Until Saint Augustine, a famous missionary, who came in 597, became the first Archbishop of Canterbury • Within 2 generations, Christianity spread throughout England • Missionaries brought education and culture • Christianity influenced literature, as monks recorded poetry that had been oral • Yet Anglo-Saxons still clung to pagan superstitions and customs

  11. Anglo-Saxon Values • Men of courage were admired • Loyalty to the leader & the tribe were essential • Persons of rank were respected • The ruler was expected to be generous • Everyone was aware life was transitory • Impersonal fate ,“wyrd”, ruled life

  12. Anglo Saxon Literature • Anglo-Saxons brought literary traditions from the continent • Brought oral literature steeped in pagan beliefs • Focused on the brave and heroic deeds of warriors possessing valued attributes • Only surviving full length epic in Old English (from this tradition) is Beowulf

  13. Anglo Saxon Poetry • The lyric and the riddle • The lyric is personal and emotional • The riddle describes person or object • Both reveal • love of language • terror of northern winter • awareness of death • reverence & fear of the sea

  14. Audio Clip

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