AngloSaxon Period 460 1066 AD

1
Anglo-Saxon Period 460 - 1066 AD

• England is a small island which includes Scotland
  and Wales
• Characteristics isolation, rain-drenched, foggy,
  green, mysterious ruins, place of legends,
  mystery, inspiration for poets

2
1st settlers

• BRITONS were Celtic-like warriors discovered here
  in the 4th century BC

3
Invasions

• The island was invaded many times in ancient
  civilizations
• Invaders included the Romans, the Celts and the
  Normans

4
4 Invaders during 1st millenium AD

• Angles
• Saxons
• Jutes
• Danes
• These 4 culures blended to create a new culture
  called ANGLO SAXON

5
Roman Emperor Claudius

• Conquered the Britons in 1st century AD
• Christianity begins to take hold in England with
  the Roman occupation

6
Roman evacuation

• By 410, Rome evacuates
• Britain has no government
• Many separate warring clans
• Leads to weakness and susceptibility to more
  invasions by German tribes

7
Alfred the Great (871-899)

• Led the Anglo Saxons against the invading Danes
• England becomes a TRUE nation under this victory
• Begins the reign of the WESSEX kings

8
Anglo Saxon Chronicle

• Alfred is also noted for beginning the
  Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 890's and had many
  copies made.
• written in Anglo-Saxon, rather than the usual
  Latin.
• Alfred decreed that these copies be placed in
  monasteries and churches and frequently updated.
• some of the original copies still survive to the
  present day
• It remains one of the few literary sources we
  possess for English history from the departure of
  the Romans to the Norman conquest.

9
Celtic Relgion

• A pagan religion based on animism (latin for
  spirit)
• Belief that spirits were everywhere

10
Pagan religion of the Germanic tribes example

• Thor -Germanic thunder god.
• The hammer is associated with the thunderbolt.
  Painting by Mårten Eskil Winge, ca. 1872.

11
DRUIDS

• PRIESTLY INTERMEDIARIES BETWEENTHE GODS AND
  PEOPLE
• PERFORMED RITUAL DANCES
• HUMAN SACRIFICES

12
STONEHENGE

• USED FOR RELGIOUS RITES (LUNAR AND SOLAR CYLCES)

13
Stonehenge an earth mystery

14
Literature of the AS period

• reflects a mixture of Christian and pagan
  beliefs
• Stories that were handed down through the oral
  tradition were from the pagan past, but the monks
  who wrote down the stories probably wrote in
  their own Christian elements

15
Bedes Story of Caedmon

• In ðeosse abbudissan mynstre wæs sum broðor
  syndriglice mid godcundre gife gemæred ond
  geweorðad, forþon he gewunade gerisenlice leoð
  wyrcan, þa ðe to æfestnisse ond to arfæstnisse
  belumpon , swa ðætte swa hwæt swa he of

• In this abbess's monastery was a certain brother
  particularly glorified and honoured with a divine
  gift, in that he fittingly was accustomed to make
  songs, which pertained to religion and virtue, so
  that whatever thus he he learned of

16
Beowulf

• considered most important piece from this period
  (3182 lines)
• Ideal example of Germanic heroic culture
• Good vs evil Christian symbolism

17
Beowulf manuscript
18
Anglos Saxon Poetry

• .Themes are Didactic (teaches a lesson)
• Uses a unique verse form involving half-lines,
  alliteration, 4beat rhythm, kennings throughout
• Tone is predominantly elegiac (somber)

• Poetry was the dominant genre of Anglo Saxon
  literature
• Epic topics

19
A-S lit extols the virtues of it cultural and
societal heroes

• Heroic Attributes from A-S times included
• strength
• ability to lead
• fairness
• protector

• courage in the face of death,
• loyalty/ faithfulness
• goal-oriented,
• works for right over wrong