ANGLO-SAXON POETRY

1. ANGLO-SAXON POETRY

2. LYRIC POETRY Short poems, sometimes sung, which develop and/or express deep-felt emotion rather than tell a story.

3. Conventions of Anglo Saxon Lyric Poetry • Use of caesura or pause mid-line • Use of alliteration to connect the two parts • Typically, four stressed syllables • Use of kennings: two word metaphors • Didactic in nature: teach and entertain • Combination of Christian & Pagan imagery

4. EPIC POETRY Long narrative poems that tell a history of a people or culture

5. Classic Definition • A longnarrative poem in elevated style presenting characters of high position in adventures forming an organic whole through their relation to a central heroic figure and through their development of episodesimportant to the history of a nation or race.

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPIC POEM • The hero is a figure of imposing stature, of national or historical importance. • The setting is vast, covering great nations in the world or universe. • The action consists of deeds of great valor or superhuman courage

7. CHARACTERISTICS (Cont.) • Antagonists & protagonists are supernatural forces; gods, angels,& demons interest themselves in the action. • Style is one of sustained elevation. • The epic poet recounts the deeds with a tone of objectivity.

8. KING ARTHUR: an epic example • A mythic product of the Anglo-Saxon invasion • Historical, Artorius is a brave Celt who fights the invasion • A shared dialect grows among the people • The story of Arthur helps develop nationalism among the people

9. Hero Setting Action Supernatural forces Style Tone What epic characteristics are shownin Arthurian tales?