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Anglo-Saxon Period450-1066 A.D.
Historical and Literary Background Notes
Source: Pfordresher, John, Gladys V. Veidemanis, and Helen McDonnell eds. “The Anglo-Saxons 450-1066.” & “Beowulf.” England in Literature. Scott, Foresman and Co. Glenview, IL: 1989. 3-7, 10-35.
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Shaped by InvadersThe Anglo-Saxon culture was shaped by the different peoples who invaded the island of Britain
2000 B.C.E. - Invaders from Iberian Peninsula 600 B.C.E. - Celts43 A.D. - Romans
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Anglo-Saxon England450-1066 A.D.
440 A.D. - Tribes from north west Germany invaded
AnglesSaxonsJutes
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Anglo-Saxon Society
Tribal society, ruled by warrior kings
Warred with each other
Thanes pledged to defend warrior kings and were rewarded with treasure
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What qualities make
someone a hero?
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Epic Hero
Usually protected by or even descended from gods
Performs superhuman exploits, often founding or saving a nation
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Epic Hero
Hero must be able to perform outstanding deeds and have super-human courage
Warriors frequently boast before fighting
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What qualities make
someone a villain?
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DraugrA monster in Old Norse Literature who is an animated corpse
People who had grievances after death could become draugar
Wander at night, wreaking aimless vengeance
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DraugrSupernaturally strong – can’t be killed
A draugr often has a mother called a ketta (“she-cat”) more monstrous than he
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Epic
A long narrative poem celebrating the great deeds of one or more
legendary heroes, in a grand, ceremonious style
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Epic Characteristics
Setting is typically vast, usually encompassing stories about great nations or even the universe
Use of elevated language (i.e., epithet, metaphor)
Supernatural forces are typically evident
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Scop (or bard)
Chanted traditional
poems & composed
new ones for feasts
and ceremonialoccasions
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List characteristics of stories that are primarily recited from memory instead of read from a book.
What are some examples of these kinds of stories?
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Alliteration
Repetition of consonant
sounds at the beginning ofwords
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AlliterationExample:“Grendel . . . made his home in a
hellNot hell but earth. He was
spawned in that slime . . .”
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Epithet An adjective or adjectival
phrase used to define a characteristic, quality, or attribute of some person
or thing
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EpithetExamples:
Shild described as: “Lord of all life, Ruler of glory”
Grendel described as: “Shepherd of evil, guardian of crime”
Beowulf described as: “mighty protector of men”