Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Saxons and BeowulfBeowulf

449-1066 AD449-1066 AD

A Brief(ish) History of A Brief(ish) History of EnglandEngland

► Though we don’t often consciously think of Though we don’t often consciously think of it, The United States of America is a it, The United States of America is a conquered land taken from an indigenous conquered land taken from an indigenous peoplepeople

►Much of England’s earliest history is Much of England’s earliest history is shrouded in mystery, but like the Native shrouded in mystery, but like the Native Americans, England had natives, tooAmericans, England had natives, too

► Just as Europe came and “civilized” Just as Europe came and “civilized” America (by destroying its native culture), America (by destroying its native culture), England was “civilized” by the powerful England was “civilized” by the powerful Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Timeline Timeline

► 387 BC – Brennus successfully invades 387 BC – Brennus successfully invades RomeRome

► 55 AD – Romans invade the island55 AD – Romans invade the island. This . This is considered the “official” starting point of is considered the “official” starting point of English HistoryEnglish History

► 43 AD – Romans firmly establish control 43 AD – Romans firmly establish control over island and stay until 410 ADover island and stay until 410 AD 367 years to influence the culture of the people 367 years to influence the culture of the people

who lived therewho lived there 169 years (time between first British Colony and 169 years (time between first British Colony and

the end of the American Revolution)the end of the American Revolution)

TimelineTimeline► 432 AD – St. Patrick introduces 432 AD – St. Patrick introduces

Christianity to the islandChristianity to the island► 449 AD – In Rome’s absence, the island 449 AD – In Rome’s absence, the island

is invaded by many Germanic tribes, is invaded by many Germanic tribes, including the Saxons and the Angles including the Saxons and the Angles (Angle-land)(Angle-land) The legend of King Arthur is based off a real king The legend of King Arthur is based off a real king

that appeared at this time, attempting to defend that appeared at this time, attempting to defend the island from invadersthe island from invaders

Gave the Angles and Saxons a very tough fight, Gave the Angles and Saxons a very tough fight, but eventually he was overwhelmed and but eventually he was overwhelmed and retreated to the far west (Wales)retreated to the far west (Wales)

An Anglo-Saxon landAn Anglo-Saxon land

► Anglo-Saxon became the primary language Anglo-Saxon became the primary language of the island (Germanic influence)…of the island (Germanic influence)…

►……though the language merged with traces though the language merged with traces of the Romans’ language (Latin influence)of the Romans’ language (Latin influence)

► The language of Anglo-Saxon is a.k.a. The language of Anglo-Saxon is a.k.a. Old Old EnglishEnglish

►Not really a unified “nation” until…Not really a unified “nation” until…► 793 AD793 AD—…the island was being invaded —…the island was being invaded

again by the Vikings (Danes)again by the Vikings (Danes)► The Danes would raid, rape, pillage, and The Danes would raid, rape, pillage, and

then leave, until one day they decided to then leave, until one day they decided to staystay

An Anglo-Saxon landAn Anglo-Saxon land

►The Danes settled in the area around the The Danes settled in the area around the Anglo-Saxon’s three most important citiesAnglo-Saxon’s three most important cities

►Oxford, Cambridge, and LondonOxford, Cambridge, and London►Fortunately, the Anglo-Saxons and other Fortunately, the Anglo-Saxons and other

residents of the island had a new force to residents of the island had a new force to hold them together: Christianityhold them together: Christianity

►Gave them a cultural identity, a sense of Gave them a cultural identity, a sense of unity, and they were able to hold together unity, and they were able to hold together as a nation…for a whileas a nation…for a while

Inflections:Inflections:

► Thanks to the Vikings, the language Old Thanks to the Vikings, the language Old English lost many complex inflections, English lost many complex inflections, such as those that exist in Latinsuch as those that exist in Latin

►MordMordetet can canisis hom homineminem (The dig bites the (The dig bites the man)man)

►MordMordetet can canemem hom homoo (The man bites the (The man bites the dog)dog)

► Rather than having to drastically change Rather than having to drastically change the way we spell words, we have a simpler the way we spell words, we have a simpler system (thanks to the Vikings!)system (thanks to the Vikings!)

► Yay vikings! Yay vikings!

The end of Anglo-Saxon The end of Anglo-Saxon EnglandEngland

► Though they were surrounded by Vikings, the Though they were surrounded by Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons were finally unified and had Anglo-Saxons were finally unified and had grown a sense of national pride…grown a sense of national pride…

►……when the Normans invaded the island, when the Normans invaded the island, conquering both the Anglo-Saxons and the conquering both the Anglo-Saxons and the DanesDanes

► The merging of Norman (French) dialect and The merging of Norman (French) dialect and the Anglo-Saxon (Germanic/Norse/Latin) one the Anglo-Saxon (Germanic/Norse/Latin) one formed formed Middle EnglishMiddle English, a language that—, a language that—while very different from contemporary Englishwhile very different from contemporary English—you’d be able to understand if you opened a —you’d be able to understand if you opened a book and red it todaybook and red it today

BeowulfBeowulf

►Oldest surviving Anglo-Saxon story; Oldest surviving Anglo-Saxon story; therefore, oldest work of English literaturetherefore, oldest work of English literature

►Written in Old EnglishWritten in Old English► Some believe it existed for hundreds of Some believe it existed for hundreds of

years as years as Oral TraditionOral Tradition, passed from one , passed from one scopscop (a bard, singing poet, storyteller) to (a bard, singing poet, storyteller) to anotheranother

►Others believe it was composed by a single, Others believe it was composed by a single, Christian poet between the 8Christian poet between the 8thth and 10 and 10thth centuriescenturies

BeowulfBeowulf

►Written in England, but set in ScandinaviaWritten in England, but set in Scandinavia►Has clear Christian influence, but hints of Has clear Christian influence, but hints of

pre-Christian values (warrior gods, animism)pre-Christian values (warrior gods, animism)►Many kings, tribes, battles, and locations it Many kings, tribes, battles, and locations it

describes have been proven to be describes have been proven to be historically accuratehistorically accurate

► Considered to be an Considered to be an EpicEpic like Homer’s like Homer’s IliadIliad and and OdysseyOdyssey

► If it was oral tradition, it was written down If it was oral tradition, it was written down just in time to be saved, as the invading just in time to be saved, as the invading Normans might have easily ended itNormans might have easily ended it

BeowulfBeowulf►Kenning—Kenning—a stylistic device in which a stylistic device in which

a noun (sword) is replaced with a a noun (sword) is replaced with a poetic compound (wound-hoe)poetic compound (wound-hoe)

►Whale-roadWhale-road::►OceanOcean►Wave-horseWave-horse::►ShipShip►Feeder of ravensFeeder of ravens::►WarriorWarrior