The Anglo Saxons

1. The Anglo Saxons The ENGLISH BEFORE THEY WERE ENGLISH

2. Stages of Anglo-Saxon History • The Migration 500-600 • The Conversion 600-700 • The Golden Age 700-800 • The Vikings 800- 900 • The Restoration 900-1000 • The Norman Conquest - 1066

3. The Migration • At the time of the migration, Britons and Celts lived on the Island. • Many were Romanized as Caesar “conquered” the area in ____ B.C. • 3 Groups – The Angles, The Saxon, and The Jutes come from present-day Denmark • Two theories – The invitation and The flood

4. The Conversion • Championed by Pope Gregory • Led by Augustine, the first archbishop of Canterbury • Founded Monasteries – later disassemble by Henry the VIII • Established a tradition of learning both in Latin and Vernacular English • Caedmon – The first anglo-saxon poet • The Ecclestical History of England by the Venerable Bede

5. Golden Age • Widespread literary in Anglo-Saxon • Exeter Book – religious poems, personal poems, riddles, elegies • Most famous poems – The Wanderer, The Seafarer, The Wife’s Lament • UbiSunt – Where are they who have gone before us? • Epics also date to this period

6. The Vikings • Yearly raids turned into colonization. • King Alfred levied resistance. The story of the cakes • Ends with the establishment of the Dane Law

7. The Restoration • Kind Alfred reestablishes Anglo-Saxon rule • Establishes a strong tradition of reading and writing anglo-saxon • Increases literacy • The anglo-saxon world comes crashing down in 1066

8. Anglo-Saxon Throughout History • Jefferson loved the Anglo-Saxons • Victorians were fascinated by it. • The Nazi’s coopted it • Tolkein restored our interest in it. • Contemporary Film celebrates it.

9. Beowulf • Why Beowulf? • Provenance • Setting • Poetic devices • Terms • Themes

10. Why Study Beowulf? 1. Beowulf is the oldest poem in the English language, so everything written since Beowulf stems from it in some way 2. The story of Beowulf encompasses common themes that we still see in English literature today 3. Beowulf is simply good writing

11. Why Study Beowulf? 4. In some ways, it doesn’t matter what you read, but how you read it, so…since Beowulf came first, you might as well start there. 5. Studying Old English improves your understanding of modern English 6. It’s a great story

12. Beowulf’s Provenance What we don’t know: • who wrote it • when exactly it was written • how much, exactly, is based on historical truth

13. Beowulf’s Provenance What we do know: • Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem. It’s written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), which is the basis for the language we speak today. • Some of the characters in the poem actually existed. • The only copy of the manuscript was written sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000’s), however…

14. The actual poem probably dates from the 8th century (700’s) or so, and… • The story may be set even earlier, around 500 A.D. • There are a lot of Christian references in the poem, but the characters and setting are Pagan…this means a monk probably translated it.

15. Beowulf’s Provenance So why wasn’t it written down in the first place? This story was probably passed down orally for centuries before it was first written down. It wasn’t until after the Norman Invasion (1066) that writing stories down became common in this part of the world.

16. Beowulf’s Provenance So what’s happened to the manuscript since the 11th century? Eventually, it ended up in the library of this guy. Robert Cotton (1571-1631)

17. Beowulf’s Provenance Unfortunately, Cotton’s library burned in 1731. Many manuscripts were entirely destroyed. Beowulf was partially damaged. The manuscript is now preserved and carefully cared for in the British Museum.

18. Setting: Beowulf’s time andplace Although Beowulf was written in English, it is set in what is now Sweden, where a tribe called the Geats lived. The story may take place as early as 400 or 500 A.D.

19. Setting: Beowulf’s time and place Insert: Time of Beowulf Europe today

20. How we date Beowulf Some Important Dates: 521 A.D. – death of Hygelac, who is mentioned in the poem 680 A.D. – appearance of alliterative verse 835 A.D. – the Danish started raiding other areas; after this, few poets would consider them heroes SO: This version was likely composed between 680 and 835, though it may be set earlier

21. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for 1. Alliterative verse • Repetition of initial sounds of words (occurs in every line) b. Generally, four feet/beats per line c. A caesura, or pause, between beats two and four d. No rhyme

22. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for Alliterative verse – an example from Beowulf: Oft ScyldScefingsceapenapraetum, Monegummaegpummeodo-setlaofteah; EgsodeEorle, syddanaerestweard.

23. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. The terror of the hall-troops had come far.

24. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for 2. Kennings a. Compound metaphor (usually two words) b. Most were probably used over and over For instance: hronade literally means “whale-road,” but can be translated as “sea”

25. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for Other kennings from Beowulf: banhus = “bone-house” = body goldwine gumena = “gold-friend of men” = generous prince beaga brytta = “ring-giver” = lord beadoleoma = “flashing light” = sword

26. The Poetry in Beowulf A few things to watch out for 3. Litotes • A negative expression; usually an understatement • Example: Hildeburh had no cause to praise the Jutes In this example, Hildeburh’s brother has just been killed by the Jutes. This is a poetic way of telling us she hated the Jutes absolutely.

27. Some terms you’ll want to know scop A bard or story-teller. The scop was responsible for praising deeds of past heroes, for recording history, and for providing entertainment

28. Some terms you’ll want to know comitatus Literally, this means “escort” or “comrade” This term identifies the concept of warriors and lords mutually pledging their loyalty to one another

29. Some terms you’ll want to know thane A warrior mead-hall The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc.

30. Some terms you’ll want to know wyrd Fate. This idea crops up a lot in the poem, while at the same time there are Christian references to God’s will.

31. Some terms you’ll want to know epic Beowulf is an epic poem. This means it has a larger-than life hero and the conflict is of universal importance. There’s a certain serious that accompanies most epics.

32. Some terms you’ll want to know elegy An elegy is a poem that is sad or mournful. The adjective is elegiac. homily A homily is a written sermon or section of the poem that gives direct advice.

33. Themes and Important Aspects Good vs. Evil Religion: Christian and Pagan influences The importance of wealth and treasure The importance of the sea and sailing The sanctity of the home Fate Loyalty and allegiance Heroism and heroic deeds

34. Beowulf Text and Context

35. Background • Composed around 700 A.D. • The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written. • The action of the poem takes place around 500 AD • Poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values and pagan values of ancient Germanic oral poetry • The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, the Danes and the Geats • Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo-Saxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire • It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R> Tolkien published a paper on the poem that is became popular.

36. The Beowulf Poet • The poet is Christian • The poem reflects established Christian tradition • Allusions to the Old Testament • Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin • The price of salvation is life itself • Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ

37. Heroic Values in Beowulf • Relationship between king and his warriors • The king rewards his warriors with gifts • If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in compensation

38. Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values • This tension is at the heart of the poem • Pagan history and myth are made to point to a Christian moral • Beowulf is poised between two value systems

39. The Character of Beowulf • He fights for personal honor, but is committed to service to his own people and humanity. • A superhuman who remains recognizable • Contrast old and young Beowulf • Beowulf as savior

40. Themes • Good vs. Evil • Fate • The Importance of Establishing Identity • Tension between Heroic Code and Christianity • Significance of artifacts • The past

41. Important Elements of the Poem • Elegaic tone • Heroic poem • Contrasts • Christian and pagan • Youth and old age • Rise and fall of nations • Joy and sorrow • Fate and God’s will Violence Irony

42. Sutton Hoo • Burial site discovered in 1939 • Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf • Remains of a boat were discovered and large burial chamber containing numerous artifacts • Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element intermingled with pagan ritual. • Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible archaeological violence to add creditability to the blend of customs in the text.

43. Sutton Hook Images

44. Suggested Further Reading • Beowulf, A Verse Translatioin. Trans. Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel Donaghue. Norton Critical Edition. 2002. • Norton bibliography on Beowulf , p. 2902. • Websites on Beowulf, Old English poetry, and Sutton Hoo.