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The Anglo-Saxons and Beowulf

A presentation by Katelyn Wood ED 205-16

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Table of Contents
Anglo-Saxon Era: Timeline Anglo-Saxon society Pagan vs. Christianity Anglo-Saxon Literature Beowulf Resources Authors slide Concept Map
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The Anglo-Saxon Era: Timeline


43CE Romans invade Britain.
Encountered the Celts. Romans build roads, villas, huge buildings, and forts. Introduced Christianity.

420CE Romans leave. Link to video of life after the Romans


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Timeline Continued
450CE Jutes from Denmark, and the Angles and Saxons from Northern Germany invade England.
Germanic tribes. Anglo-Saxons push out Celts Link to video of The Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain

597CE Anglo-Saxons become Christian


Link to video of The Spread of Christianity
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Timeline Continued
787CE Viking raids begin 871-899CE King Alfred the Great becomes King of England.
Established education systems, rebuilt monasteries. Fought Danes and forced them from Wessex. Unified Anglo-Saxons under one king to resist the Viking invasions. Danes ruled in the North, Anglo-Saxons in the South.

1066CE Norman Conquest by William the Conqueror.


From Norman French. Defeated Danes and Anglo-Saxons. Officially ended Anglo-Saxon era and brought about the beginning of the Medieval Period.
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Anglo-Saxon Society
Anglo-Saxon society.
Lived in tribal groups with a high class of warriors. Kings emerged as society developed.

Spoke Old English. This was the language that Beowulf was written in. Became Christian but still valued heroic ideals and traditional heroes. Their culture valued human contact, family, virtue, and a good story. They feared humiliation and loneliness in their lives. In addition, the Anglo-Saxons desired richness, power, and appreciated heroic actions of warriors.
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Pagan vs. Christianity in Beowulf


The Anglo-Saxons mixed both pagan and Christian traditions. Beowulf contains traces of both beliefs.

Pagan Strong nature presence Strength of the warrior

Christianity God is mentioned by two of the main characters in the poem: Beowulf and Hrothgar. Grendel as Lucifer
Both are outcasts Perform a task for God Grendel is described as a son or descendant of Cain, a clear Biblical reference.

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Anglo-Saxon Literature
Anglo-Saxon literature began as an oral tradition. Stories, poems, and songs were all told aloud and passed from generation to generation orally through minstrels (also called scops). Poems traditionally had a strong beat, alliteration, and no rhyme. Caesura: a cutting. A break in a line of poetry, used in Old English to depict a half line. We use a comma for a modern effect. i.e. Da com of more under mistheleopum Out from the marsh, from the foot of the hills. Kenning: derived from the Norse word kenna which means to know, to recognize. It is a compact metaphor that functions as a name.
i.e. helmberend: Helm bearer or warrior

Old English example


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The Epic!
Beowulf is the most well-known Anglo-Saxon poem, and is a form of poetry called the epic. Such other examples are Homers The Iliad and The Odessey. Long narrative that celebrates a heros long journeys and heroic deeds.
J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Ring series and George Lucas Stars Wars could be called modern epics.

Characteristics include a noble hero whose character traits reflect their societys ideals. The hero performs brave acts and appears superhuman.

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Heroic Code
The epic poem Beowulf strengthens the Heroic Code. This code was derived from the AngloSaxons Germanic roots, and called for strength, courage, and loyalty in warriors. It also required kings to be hospitable, generous, and have great political skills. This code was a basis for Anglo-Saxon honor.
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Common Themes Of an Epic Poem


Universal themes of epic poetry
Good vs. evil
Beowulf vs. Grendel

Isolation Courage and honor


Beowulf is fearless and brave while fighting the monsters.

Gods or semi-divine creatures


Grendel, Grendels mother, the dragon

Tale involves the fate of an entire race


Beowulf saves Hrothgars village from Grendel.
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Beowulf
Most famous of early Germanic poems Written anywhere between 4001000, but most likely after the 500s. The author is unknown, but likely to be Christian. It is likely that a few different authors elaborated on the tale. Takes place in Sweden, Denmark, and Frisia.
The Norse were at this time attacking Britain, thus allowing knowledge of places, people, and ancestors to be available.
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Characters
Beowulf: main character, a hero featuring all the qualities of an epic hero. He has superhuman strength and is fearless and brave in battler. Hrothgar: the king of the village that Beowulf saves from Grendel. Grendel: a monster terrorizing Hrothgars village. Grendels mother: a monster set out to avenge her sons death.
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The Plot
in six sentences.

Beowulf travels to Hrothgars village to save them from Grendel, a terrifying monster eating their warriors. An epic battle ensues with Beowulf is the winner. Of course, Grendels mother comes seeking vengeance for her sons death. Again, Beowulf is called upon to save them all, and he fights heroically and defeats the evil monster. After being vastly rewarded and refusing an offer from Hrothgar to be his heir, Beowulf makes the long trek back to his homeland where he becomes a mighty and generous king for many years. He fights a massive dragon who is threatening his people. He and the dragon both die in the struggle, but he is heroic until the end.
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Resources
The Anglo-Saxon Invasions of Britain and The Spread of Christianity http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=1A5DF869F81A-463A-8E03-495F774C68EF&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Life After the Romans http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=BD1245FC89CF-4423-A217-E0EBC8FF62A6&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Old English sample http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/fajardo/teaching/eng520/langsamples-small.jpg Information of the Anglo-Saxon period and of Beowulf
Anderson, Rachel. Medieval Context: Beowulf. ENG 220 British Literature I. Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI. 10 Jan. 2008. Schneider, Daniel. English Literature: Anglo-Saxon Era and Beowulf. Honors English Literature. Linden High School, Linden, MI. 30 Aug. 2005.

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Authors Slide
I am Katelyn Wood, a student at Grand Valley State University currently majoring in Secondary Education for English and History. I enjoy learning about the Anglo-Saxon era and medieval England, which also explains my love for J.R.R. Tolkiens works and spending entirely too much time reading many other good books. I spend my summers in CO enjoying peaches and the mountains, and I hope to live there permanently one day. You can email me at woodka@student.gvsu.edu
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Concept Map

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Old English Example


Old English circa 500CE-1100CE

Cyning means king, so Cyningas must mean kings. What other words look familiar to todays language? Quit

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