History of the People of Great Britain
449 A.D.-1066 A.D449 A.D.-1066 A.D
Celts (Brythons and Gaels) up to 55 B.C.
Roman Conquest 55 B.C. - 407 A.D.
Anglo-Saxon Period 407 A.D. - 787 A.D.
Viking Invasions 787 A.D. - 1066 A.D.
Norman Conquest begins in 1066 A.D.
Cultural/Linguistic Influences
Early England Created by Early England Created by Three InvasionsThree Invasions
1. Roman Occupation 55 B.C.-410 A.D.
2. Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions 410 – 1066 A.D.
3. The Norman Invasion (The Battle of Hastings) in 1066 A.D.
LATINLATIN
GERMAN(IC)GERMAN(IC)
FRENCHFRENCH
The island we know as England was occupied by a race of people called the Celts. One of the tribes was called they Brythons or Britons (where we get the term Britain)
The Celts were Pagans and their religion was know as “animism” a Latin word for “spirit.” Celts saw spirits everywhere
Druids were their priests; their role was to go between the gods and the people
Pre-Historical /Pre-Roman
The Roman InvasionThe Roman Invasion
55 B.C. - 407 A.D.
The RomansThe Romans
55 B.C. Julius Caesar invaded Britain
Built roads designed for military purposes (commerce, communication, civilizing)
Infrastructure– Government (fell apart when they left)– Walls, villas, public baths (some remains still exist)
Language and Writing– Latin was official language–
Religion– Christianity
Anglo Saxon PeriodAnglo Saxon Period
407 A.D- 787 A.D.
In 449, three groups invaded BritainIn 449, three groups invaded Britain– AnglesAngles– SaxonsSaxons– JutesJutes
Anglo-Saxons– Drove the natives from the eastern, central, and
southern areas– Became known as “Angles Land” or England– Germanic language developed into “Angle-ish”
or English
The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons
Originally started out with several tribal units organized by a king.
Anglo Saxons were Anglo Saxons were PagansPagans Paganism= polytheistic religionPaganism= polytheistic religion
Fate vs. Personal FreedomFate vs. Personal Freedom Christians believe that all individuals have the Christians believe that all individuals have the
freedom to make their own choicefreedom to make their own choice Early Anglo Saxons Early Anglo Saxons worshipped ancient gods of worshipped ancient gods of
German mythologyGerman mythology
The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons
Writing:Writing:
primitive system, “runic”primitive system, “runic” Oral traditionOral tradition of Literature: of Literature:
narratives handed down from narratives handed down from generation to generation by word generation to generation by word of mouth, usually sung.of mouth, usually sung.
Scop (shope)--Old English poet or Scop (shope)--Old English poet or bardbard
The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons
Anglo Saxon SocietyAnglo Saxon Society
KingsKings Athelings--PrincesAthelings--Princes Witans--CounselorsWitans--Counselors Thanes--NoblesThanes--Nobles Peasants--Peasants--
Agricultural Agricultural LaborersLaborers
Theows--ServantsTheows--Servants Thralis--SlavesThralis--Slaves
Anglo-Saxon Living Anglo-Saxon Living ConditionsConditions
most of the towns built by the Romans had fallen into ruins
A village was made up of small groups of houses built around a larger hall.
Athletic
Strong
Seafaring
Adventurous
Strong belief in fair play
The Anglo-Saxon ManThe Anglo-Saxon Man
Loyalty to Lord or KingLoyalty to Lord or King
Great love of personal freedomGreat love of personal freedom
Respect for womenRespect for women
Love for gloryLove for glory
Honored the truthHonored the truth
Anglo-Saxon IdealsAnglo-Saxon Ideals
The Viking InvasionThe Viking Invasion
787-1066
The Vikings were sea-faring, explorers, traders and warriors, Scandinavians during the 8th-11th centuries.
Expeditions that plundered and ended in conquest and settlements of Britain.
King Alfred “the Great” in 871 was able to use the language to appeal the English and his efforts saved the language.
The VikingsThe Vikings
Politically and Culturally– there was no central government or church
Linguistically (The English Language at its Earliest)– The English language is “born” during the first
millennium and is known as Old English
– Old English is mainly Germanic
– LOTS of dialects of Old-English
The VikingsThe Vikings
The Norman InvasionThe Norman Invasion
begins in 1066 A.D.
In 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans (powerful Northern Frenchmen) defeated the English and started a centuries-long conquest of England
Two Most Important Effects:– French becomes official language of politics
and power and exerts enormous influence on Old English
– England begins unifying under a French political system, much of which is still with us (even in the U.S.) today
The NormansThe Normans
The Anglo-Saxon Period in The Anglo-Saxon Period in ReviewReview
Pre-Anglo-Saxon (really “pre” historical)– Celtic Peoples (approx 1700/400 B.C. – 55 B.C.)
– Roman Occupation (55 B.C.-410 A.D.)
Anglo-Saxon/Viking– Angles, Saxons, Frisian, and Jutes (410-787– Viking Raids/Invasions begin 8th c. and end 10th c.
Norman Invasion/Occupation (really in the Middle Ages)– four centuries of French rule
The Society of the Middle Ages
The 3 Estates
The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age.– Clergy
Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul
– Nobles French chiefly spoken, those who fight,
purpose was to protect—allow for all to work in peace—and provide justice
– Commoners English spoken, those who work, purpose
was to feed and clothe all above them
Feudalism
The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800-1100)
Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm.
In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits.
Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord.
Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.
A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals– Restricted to nobility
The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to…– God– his lord– his lady
Chivalric ideals include...– benevolence– brotherly love– politeness
Chivalry
Provided guidance through well known precepts..– Seven Deadly Sins
Pride Greed Wrath Envy Gluttony Sloth Lust
The Church
The idea of Fortune and her wheel was one of the most pervasive ideas throughout the Middle Ages.
On the wheel are depicted four figures: one at the top, one at the bottom, one rising, and one falling.
It served to remind of the It served to remind of the temporality of temporality of earthly thingsearthly things. .
The Wheel of Fortune
•Germanic language introduced to the British Isles in the 5th century A.D.
• Spoken before the Norman Conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066 AD which introduced French as the language of the noble class.
•This language is the ancestor of the Modern English spoken today
Literature During the Medieval Period
Three distinctive phases in language in which literature was composed.Old English 449-1066
Middle English 1066- 1485
Modern English 1485-present
Anglo Saxon Literature
Mostly Mostly oral storiesoral stories, especially riddles, especially riddles Doesn’t RhymeDoesn’t Rhyme Uses alliterationUses alliteration Uses KenningsUses Kennings
– Metaphor often hyphenated ex. Whales-Metaphor often hyphenated ex. Whales-path= seapath= sea
– Symbolism with SeasonsSymbolism with Seasons Spring: YouthSpring: Youth Summer: AdultSummer: Adult Autumn: Old AgeAutumn: Old Age Winter: DeathWinter: Death
Characteristics of Medieval Literature Heroism
– from both Germanic and Christian traditions, sometimes mingled Beowulf Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Presentations of idealized behavior– literature as moral lesson
loyalty to king chivalry
use of kennings (especially in Beowulf)– A figurative, usually compound expression used
in place of a name or noun. Example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle.
Use of Allegory
An allegory is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal.
Much of medieval literature relied on allegory to convey the morals the author had in mind while writing--representations of abstract qualities, events, and institutions are thick in much of the literature of this time.
This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord.
The knight serves his courtly lady with the same
obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord.
She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission.
The Ideal of Courtly Love
A quest is a hero’s journey towards a goal. The objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and the overcoming of many obstacles.
The hero's must obtain something, or someone, by the quest and with this object return home.
the code of conduct observed by a knight errant who is wandering in search of deeds of chivalry. This knight is bound by a code of behavior - a set of conventional principles and expectations.
The Quest
Is often of divine descent endowed with great strength and ability" or "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities"
The hero faces his greatest fear
The hero “dies,” so he can be reborn
The hero gains new perception
This new perception may create a moment of clarity The moment may be of great self-realization for the hero It may also be an epiphany for the hero’s companions
The Hero
Usually, an inner and outer problem for the character is set.
The hero is introduced; audience identifies with them
The hero lacks something, has a tragic flaw, or a deep wound
The call often produces disorientation and discomfort for the hero
The call is often in the form of a dire warning
The Structure
Excuses are used to avoid the call
This hesitation illustrates the formidability of the challenge ahead
Resistance creates change and strength, allowing the hero to grow
A physical or metaphorical crossing is made
The crossing is an irrevocable leap of faith, from which there’s no turning back
The Structure
The hero is a figure of imposing stature
The setting is vast, covering great nations or worlds
Action consists of deeds of great valor or require super human strength
Supernatural forces are evident
A styled of sustained elevation and grand simplicity
The poet recounts deed of the hero with a measure of objectivity
Characteristics of Epic Literature
The poet opens by stating the theme
The poet then invokes a muse
Opens the narrative in media res (literally means “in the midst of things”)
Has extensive use of epic similes
Structure of Epic Literature
Literary TermsLiterary Terms
EpicEpic
A long verse narrative in an elevated style, presenting characters of high position in adventuresExamples: The Iliad, The Odyssey, Gilgamesh, and Beowulf
Epic SimileEpic Simile
an elaborated comparison. Differs from the ordinary simile by being more involved and ornate. A secondary object is developed into an independent aesthetic object
Folk EpicFolk Epic
An epic without certain authorship
KenningKenning
An elaborate metaphor used in Old English poetry as a synonym for a simple nounExample: whale-road
LitotesLitotes
a form of understatement and a characteristic of Old English poetryExample:“Twas a weary while! twelve winter’s time”
In Medias ResIn Medias Res
a literary technique of opening a story in the middle of the action through flashbacks and other devices in exposition
ElegyElegy
a formal poem mourning the death of someone
EpithetsEpithets
descriptive phrases that may be repeated over and over. Frequently, several epithets are used in the same sentenceExample: “Prince of the Danes, protector of Scyldings, Lord of nations, and leader of men,…
AlliterationAlliteration
Repetition of the first sounds of words.
Used to help scops remember the poem and to create unity within a piece.
AlliterationAlliteration
Language Changes to the Culture
Roman Alphabet was gradually adopted
Christianity gradually replaced Anglo Saxon beliefs
Literature gradually changed from oral to written
OLD ENGLISH
400-1066
Beowulf
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum si þin nama gehalgod tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.
Middle English
1066-1485
Chaucer
Oure fadir þat art in heuenes halwid be þi name; þi reume or kyngdom come to be. Be þi wille don in herþe as it is doun in heuene. yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred. And foryeue to us oure dettis þat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris þat is to men þat han synned in us. And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.
Early Modern
English
1485-1800
Shakes-peare
Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen. Giue us this day our daily bread. And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters. And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer us from euill. Amen.
Modern English
1800-present
Austen .
The End