Anglo-Saxons

449 BCE-1066 BCE

The Anglo Saxons and Beowulf

Great Britain
Great Britain
England
Scotland Wales

The First People

Britain first settled

by Celts Celts came from continental Europe between 800-600 B.C.

The Invasion
In 43 A.D., Romans

invaded and Britons were either forced northward or into slavery; introduced the concept of Christianity

Society

Churls
Bonded servants who worked the land in return for

military protection
Responsible for hard labor

Agricultural work, hunting, fishing, metalworking,

weaving
Bound to the earls unless they could earn possessions or

special royal favor that would transform them into freemen

Thralls (one who is intellectually and morally enslave)

Slaves

Military prisoners
People being punished

King

Qualities of a King
Brave
Strong Generosity-expected to give gifts to his followers

Qualities of a Follower
Brave
Strong Loyal to king and family Does not complain about struggles Felt small and insignificant, pitted against hostile elements Warrior Struggles with the forces of nature

Brags about deeds and boasts about future deeds

Once a promise is made it must be kept or he will die trying

Women
Unimportant
Domestic and child-bearing duties Occasionally had some influence on

Thanes

Life

Civilized yet violent the sea is a part of life Glorification of war and death Fame-attain glory, be brave Slavery Male dominated

Weapons are important and handed down Swords may have names Wyrd-fate Battle is a way of life

How it Works
Battle determines worthiness
The most important people are the kings and warriors Werguild-monetary payment for a wrong If the werguild was not paid to the family, each member

had to seek revenge for a wrong inflicted on a kinsmen.

Beowulf
Epic poem

Composed 740 CE
Danes and Geats Denmark and Sweden Author is unknown The most important

work in Old English

Poems
Recited for

entertainment Sometimes to celebrate a military victory Poems were performed by Scops Gleemen were their assistants

Pagan and Christian Beliefs

Features of Anglo Saxon poetry

Two part line
Each line separated by a pause Usually has four accented

(caesura) The halves are linked by alliteration of two or three of the accented syllables

syllables per line Indefinite number of unaccented syllables Kenning

alliteration
The repetition of

consonant sounds Anglo Saxon poetry uses the alliteration of stressed syllables Used to emphasize words Creates a musical sound

Epic Poem
A long narrative poem in epic style presenting characters

of high position in a series of adventures which form a whole through their relation to a central figure of heroic proportions and through their development of episodes important to the history of a nation or race of people.

Main Character
A hero is a figure of

heroic stature, of national importance, and of great historical or legendary significance. Represents national and cultural values

Setting

Style
Serious
Uses elevated language

There was no written tradition People were farmers and hunters Warfare was a way of life People believed in many different gods (polytheistic)

Woden (protector of heroes)

Tyr (god of glory and honor)

Thunor

(aid to warriors in battle)

A/S Kings
The small kingdoms fought amongst each other until 829King Egbert of Wessex won control of all A/S kingdoms. Unfortunately, by the end of Egberts reign, Vikings had captured much of the kingdom (Vikings were Scandinaviancalled Norse because they had crossed the North Seapredominantly Danes); Vikings had taken over much of France, and that area became known as Normandy. In 878, Alfred, King of Wessex (Egberts grandson) defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington. Alfred went on to recapture most of England, as well as promote education and literacy among his people. He became known as Alfred the Great. Alfreds son and grandson won back the rest of England and made peace with the Vikings.

1066
King Edward died William (the Duke of

Normandy)** laid claim to the throne (Edward may have promised the throne to William) Instead, the English council of elders chose Harold II as king Duke William attacked, defeated the A/S and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings. He became King William I
**Remember: France = Vikings

This brought French culture to England

1.

feudalismland is divided among lords who are loyal to the king. The lords give land to vassals in exchange for military duty.

2.

chivalryknights are expected to be honorable, brave, generous, skillful in battle, respectful to women, and helpful to the weak.

Old English Poetry

3 major types of OE poetry:
1. 2. 3.

heroic versecelebrates courage, honor, loyalty elegymourns a loss religious versefocuses on Christian teachings and stories

*****Beowulf contains all three.

Beowulf (the poem)

3200 lines Composed between 700-750 AD; set in the early 6th century Based on early Celtic and Scandinavian folk legends Only manuscript to survive Henry VIIIs dissolution of the monasteries and destruction of monastic libraries; manuscript dates from 1000 (but was composed before that); now in British Museum in London

Deterioration of manuscript means that there are gaps scholars have to fill in by guesswork

Poem gives vital information about OE social life & politics

society rigidly feudal, highly civilized, highly violent. The poem

glorifies war, death, and fame (fame is the most precious thing a man can have because it is the only thing that survives).

Male dominated society In this society, weapons had names but slaves did notthey valued

warfare more than people

Proven swords and helmets were passed down from fathers to sons
In a warrior society, the most important relationship is between warrior

(thane) and his lord: based less on subordination than on mutual trust and respect. Warrior who pledged his loyalty became a voluntary companion to his lordtook pride in defending his lord and fighting in his wars. In return, the lord was expected to take affectionate care of his thanes, to reward them richly. was slain it was ones duty to kill the slayer or exact paymenteach rank of society was ranked at a price; this price had to be paid to the family to avoid their vengeance, even if the killing was accidental.

Relationship between kinsmen also very important: if ones kinsman

Did he really exist?

Typical Themes

Beowulf: OE Superhero

Beowulf is set in a time when warriors gathered in mead/banquet halls (mead=fermented honey wine) for great feasts, told of their adventures (raiding, looting, burning settlements). Kings gave riches to their bravest warriors in exchange for loyalty. People believed in monsters and dragons.

Mead Hall

REMEMBER
**Beowulf is NOT set in England, and the characters are NOT English: its set in Scandinavia and involves the Geats of southern Sweden and the Danes of Denmark.