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Chapter One The Anglo --- Saxon Period

Chapter One The Anglo --- Saxon Period. 1. Historical background. in the north, in the 7th century. 2. Northumbrian School and Wessex Literature. in the south, in the 9th century. 3. Anglo --- Saxon Poetry. branch. Celts --- earliest settlers of the British Isles.

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Chapter One The Anglo --- Saxon Period

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  1. Chapter One The Anglo --- Saxon Period • 1. Historical background in the north, in the 7th century • 2. Northumbrian School and • Wessex Literature in the south, in the 9th century • 3. Anglo --- Saxon Poetry

  2. branch • Celts --- earliest settlers of the British Isles in the upper Rhineland to the British Isles about 600B.C. name the isles Britain (400 to 300 B.C.) Culture of the Celts:an early stage of the Iron Age Beliefs:little knows Religious ceremonies:May Day the cult of mistletoe

  3. The Roman Empire --- from 55 B.C. to 407 A.D. defeated Celts London was founded. Form of society :slave society, but with high level of civilization The first Roman general:Julius Caesar The contributions:build temples, roads, walls, military camps; make little influence on the cultural life of the Celts Walled towns: a name ending in “chester” or “caster” knowledge of the Roman Britain fort ----- De Bello Gallico ---- Germania

  4. tribal society The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes ---- about 450 A.D. master of the British Isles Settled in England ancestors of the present English people Drove the Celts into Wales, Scotland and Ireland Germanic tribes angul a hook lived by sea The Saxon words fishing seax sword hardy fighters

  5. the kingdom of Wessex ----- around 500 A.D. feudal society Celtic King Arthur a legendary figure The Knights of the Round Table At the close of the 6th century there were 7 prominent Saxon kingdoms in England. the bravest of his fellowers King Alfred, the Great of Wessex --- in the south the second half of the 9th century It was not until the reign of his great grandson Edgar that England was united under one king.

  6. The Duke of Normandy ----- 1066 In the early 11th century --- Danes for 23 years the end of Anglo – Saxon period from Normandy in northern France English throne promise the last Saxon king William Norman Conquest Religion: be Christianized heathens Heathen mythology Christian religion Churches were built, and monks became the most learned in the country.

  7. two highlights in the development of the Anglo - Saxon literature Northumbrian School Wessex

  8. Center: monasteries and abbeys Leader: 1. Caedmon in the 7th century his contribution: Paraphrase turned the stories in the Bible into verse form the first Anglo --- Saxon poet 2. Bede The Ecclesiastical History of the English People Father of English History

  9. In the 7th and 8th centuries the center of learning in the north the reign of King Alfred with King Alfred as the guiding spirit In the 9th and 10th centuries the center of learning in the south * Latin to his own language His contribution: history book * The Anglo --- Saxon Chronicle literary work * A style of Anglo --- Saxon prose

  10. 30,000 lines of Anglo --- Saxon poetry have survived. elegies epic poetry heroic poems religious poems the earliest heroic poetry Beowulf the most important poem now preserved

  11. oral form existed in the 6th Cen. Beowulf probably written down in the 8th Cen. the manuscript of poem in the 10th Cen. based on partly historical and legendary materials 3,183 lines The first page of the Beowulf manuscript.

  12. a splendid hall Danish King monster build Heorot Hrothgar Grendel holds the parties comes out of the lair goes to the hall devour warriors helps fights nephew to king Hygelac of the Geats for 12 years rewards Beowulf dies Part 1 the fight against Grendel

  13. Part 2 the fight against Grendel’s mother---sea monster. rewards Hrothgar Grendel Beowulf fights kills avenge Grendel’s mother be chosen dies the Geats be killed Hygelac his son fights and wounded dies People lamented Beowulf’s death and praised him as a great and good king. a dragon Part 3 the fight against dragon: aged king and died

  14. Themes: high spiritual qualities resolution to serve the country and kinsfolk true courage courteous conduct love of honour Characteristics: Beowulf is strong, courageous, selfless, ready to risk his life.

  15. artistic features \ technical structure caesura alliteration kenning repetition and variation

  16. caesura every line consists of two clearly separated half lines between which is a pause, called caesura Grendel stalking; God’s brand was on him. …… the gold-hall of men, the mead-drinking place nailed with gold plates. That was not the first visit

  17. Alliteration • It is a form of initial rhyme, or head rhyme. • It is the repetition of the same sound or sounds at the beginning of two or more words that are next to or close to each other. He came on under the clouds, clearly saw at last Rage-inflamed, wreckage-bent, be ripped open

  18. Kenning a figurative language in order to add beauty to ordinary objects. It is a metaphor usually composed of two works, which becomes the formula for a special object. Helmet bearer___ warrior Swan road___ the sea The world candle___ the sun

  19. repetition and variation Grendel /The spoiler / warlike creature/ the foe/ horrible monster A host of young soldiers/ a company of kinsmen/ a whole warrior-band

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