The Anglo-Saxon Period

1
The Anglo-Saxon Period

• Important Dates 449-1066 A.D.

2
The term Anglo-Saxon comes from

• Three Germanic tribes that began invading Britain
• These three tribes were known as the
• Jutes
• Angles
• Saxons

3
Most familiar type of poetry

• Heroic Epic Poetry- is a long narrative
• poem whose central character is a hero.

4
Qualities of an epic hero

• Superhuman qualities
• List some characteristics of what you think an
  epic hero possesses

5
What is the most famous of these epic poems?

• Beowulf
• The poem was written by a Christian poet whose
  name is unknown
• Written sometime in between the 8th and 11th
  centuries
• Beowulf is written in Old English
• Manuscript was partially charred in a fire
• Original copy is now located in The British
  Museum where each page is encased in plastic

6
Literary Terms

• Kennings, Exaggeration and Alliteration are three
  devices that together allow the reader to
  experience this poem which is quite different
  than most other poetry.
• The epic poem has 3,182 lines

7
What is a kenning?

• A compound word that represents something else.
• Example Body bone house
• Sea Whale road

8
What is exaggeration?

• Makes the character in the story more
  interesting, exciting and dramatic.
• Example Beowulfs bravery is exaggerated when he
  jumps into a swamp with heavy armor and a broken
  sword to fight a dangerous monster.

9
What is alliteration?

• Repeating the same sound, usually a consonant at
  the beginning of words
• Example
• The Hall of Heart
• His pledge and promise
• Dragging the dead men home to his den
• Fitted and Furnished
• This device adds creativity and rhythm to the
  poem

10
Why is it important to read Beowulf and other
classic pieces of literature?

• Kennings, exaggerations and alliteration all help
  in developing vivid descriptions and imagery to
  entertain and beautifully tell the story of
  Beowulf.