British LiteratureBritish Literature

IntroductionIntroduction

The British IslesThe British Isles

Look at the maps on page 4 & 87 of your Look at the maps on page 4 & 87 of your text.text.

The Anglo-Saxon PeriodThe Anglo-Saxon Period

449-1066449-1066

Ancient WorldAncient World

isolatedisolatedrain-drenched and often fogged rain-drenched and often fogged

iningreengreendotted with thatched cottages, dotted with thatched cottages,

quaint stone churches, and quaint stone churches, and mysterious stone ruinsmysterious stone ruins

British Influence on AmericaBritish Influence on America

Common lawCommon lawParliamentary GovernmentParliamentary GovernmentLiteratureLiteratureLanguageLanguage

CeltsCelts

Early inhabitantsEarly inhabitantsTall, blonde warriorsTall, blonde warriorsGroup within group: Brythons Group within group: Brythons

(sounds like….)(sounds like….)

Celtic ReligionCeltic Religion

Animism – from Latin word for “spirit”Animism – from Latin word for “spirit” Everything had spirits: rivers, trees, stones, Everything had spirits: rivers, trees, stones,

ponds, fire, thunderponds, fire, thunder Spirits had to be constantly satisfiedSpirits had to be constantly satisfied Druids, priests, acted as intermediaries Druids, priests, acted as intermediaries

between gods and peoplebetween gods and people Ritual dances, rites: Stonehenge?Ritual dances, rites: Stonehenge?

Celtic MythologyCeltic Mythology

Arthur – legendary Celtic warrior; became Arthur – legendary Celtic warrior; became embodiment of English values (Sir Thomas embodiment of English values (Sir Thomas Malory, 15Malory, 15thth Century, Century, Le Morte D’ArthurLe Morte D’Arthur))

Different from Anglo-Saxon (which came Different from Anglo-Saxon (which came later)later)

Full of strong womenFull of strong women Enchanted lands where magic and Enchanted lands where magic and

imagination ruleimagination rule

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The Dark AgesThe Dark AgesRoman BritainRoman Britain

Roman InvadersRoman Invaders

55 B.C. Julius 55 B.C. Julius Caesar began Caesar began invasions and invasions and claimed Britain for claimed Britain for RomeRome

Claudius settled Claudius settled Britain in earnest Britain in earnest about 100 years about 100 years laterlater

Roman ContributionsRoman Contributions

Armies to defend Britain against Armies to defend Britain against further invasionsfurther invasions

Network of roads (some still in use)Network of roads (some still in use)Defensive wall 73 miles long Defensive wall 73 miles long

(Hadrian’s Wall)(Hadrian’s Wall)Public bathsPublic bathsBrought Christianity and Celtic Brought Christianity and Celtic

religion began to vanishreligion began to vanish

Roman EvacuationRoman Evacuation

Trouble at home Trouble at home (Italy)(Italy)

Evacuated Britain, Evacuated Britain, leaving fixtures but leaving fixtures but no central no central governmentgovernment

Island weak, ripe Island weak, ripe for invasionfor invasion

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The Anglo-Saxon Invasions of BritainThe Anglo-Saxon Invasions of Britain

Anglo-Saxons Sweep AshoreAnglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore

55thth Century CenturyAngles and Saxons from GermanyAngles and Saxons from Germany Jutes from DenmarkJutes from DenmarkAttack across the North SeaAttack across the North SeaDrove old Britons out before themDrove old Britons out before them““Germanic” Language became Germanic” Language became

dominant in Engla land from the dominant in Engla land from the AnglesAngles

Anglo-Saxon InvasionAnglo-Saxon Invasion

Celts put up a fight, then Celts put up a fight, then retreated to Walesretreated to Wales

Welsh chieftain: ArthurWelsh chieftain: Arthur

The Danes InvadeThe Danes Invade

Alfred the Great unified the independent Alfred the Great unified the independent principalities against the invading Danes principalities against the invading Danes (Vikings, pirates, from Denmark)(Vikings, pirates, from Denmark)

Plundered and destroyed a path through Plundered and destroyed a path through the country before settling in northeast the country before settling in northeast and central Englandand central England

Battle continued until 1066 (over 150 Battle continued until 1066 (over 150 years), when William, Duke of Normandy, years), when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated them alldefeated them all

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StowaStowaDark Ages: Three Elements that JoinDark Ages: Three Elements that Join

Anglo-Saxon LifeAnglo-Saxon Life

NOT barbarians, though NOT barbarians, though often depicted that wayoften depicted that way

Warfare was the order Warfare was the order of the dayof the day

Law and order was the Law and order was the responsibility of the responsibility of the leaderleader

Anglo-Saxon SuccessAnglo-Saxon Success

Fame and success gained Fame and success gained only through LOYALTY to only through LOYALTY to the leaderthe leader

Success measured in gifts Success measured in gifts from the leaderfrom the leader

Anglo-Saxon LifeAnglo-Saxon Life

Dominated by need to protectDominated by need to protect People lived close to animals in single-People lived close to animals in single-

family homesteads around common area family homesteads around common area or a warm, fire-lit chieftan’s hallor a warm, fire-lit chieftan’s hall

Wooden stockade fence around allWooden stockade fence around all Arrangement brought closeness to leader Arrangement brought closeness to leader

and followersand followers Rule by consensus Rule by consensus

Anglo-Saxon WomenAnglo-Saxon Women

Women inherited and held propertyWomen inherited and held propertyRetained control of property even Retained control of property even

when marriedwhen marriedHusband had to offer marriage giftHusband had to offer marriage giftWoman had personal control of giftWoman had personal control of giftWoman became AbbessesWoman became AbbessesRights ended with Norman conquestRights ended with Norman conquest

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

Religion persisted despite influx of Religion persisted despite influx of ChristianityChristianity

Dark, fatalistic religion from GermanyDark, fatalistic religion from Germany Like Norse/Scandinavian mythologyLike Norse/Scandinavian mythology Odin: god of death, poetry, and magic; Odin: god of death, poetry, and magic;

called Woden (Woden’s Day: Wednesday)called Woden (Woden’s Day: Wednesday) Dragon: significant figure; guardian of the Dragon: significant figure; guardian of the

grave, and “death the devourer”grave, and “death the devourer”

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

More concerned with ethics than mysticism More concerned with ethics than mysticism – with the earthly virtues of bravery, – with the earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendshiployalty, generosity, and friendship

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The Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of Christianity

ChristianityChristianity

Irish and Continental Irish and Continental missionaries converted Anglo-missionaries converted Anglo-Saxon kings and the people Saxon kings and the people followedfollowed

Provided a common faith and a Provided a common faith and a common system of moralitycommon system of morality

Linked England to EuropeLinked England to Europe

Christian MonasteriesChristian Monasteries

Centers of learningCenters of learning Culturally and spiritually coexisted with Culturally and spiritually coexisted with

the heroic ideals and traditions of the the heroic ideals and traditions of the Anglo-Saxon religionAnglo-Saxon religion

Preserved some of the older traditions by Preserved some of the older traditions by recorded works of popular literaturerecorded works of popular literature

MonksMonks

Recorded works of oral tradition in the Recorded works of oral tradition in the language of the people: Old Englishlanguage of the people: Old English

Recorded principal works in Latin, the Recorded principal works in Latin, the language of the Churchlanguage of the Church

Copied manuscripts by hand in Copied manuscripts by hand in scriptorium (a covered walkway); oiled scriptorium (a covered walkway); oiled paper or glass kept out some weatherpaper or glass kept out some weather

LanguageLanguage

Latin remained the language of ‘serious’ Latin remained the language of ‘serious’ studystudy

King Alfred’s King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon ChronicleAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, a , a history of England, helped English gain history of England, helped English gain respect as a language of culturerespect as a language of culture

Bards: Entertainers/HistoriansBards: Entertainers/Historians

ScopsScops Skilled storytellersSkilled storytellers Equal in stature to warriors; creating Equal in stature to warriors; creating

poetry just as important as hunting, poetry just as important as hunting, fishing, farming, or lovingfishing, farming, or loving

Strummed harpStrummed harp Told stories of herosTold stories of heros Fame in poetry: defense against deathFame in poetry: defense against death