Welcome to Literature 12!

This presentation will go through the course outline and begin our exploration through The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Period.

Richard Redgrave, The Poor Teacher (1843)

The Middle Ages 449-1485

The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Period

Middle Ages—a time of great upheaval and change in England

Movement from oral tradition of Beowulf to Caxton’s printed word

Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066Germanic Invasions Britons, Celtic people conquered by Romans—left

in 410 when Romans required to return home to protect capital

Approx. 449—Jutes from Jutland in Denmark invaded Britain followed by Angles and Saxons brought a common language

Celts driven into Wales fighting—Britain continued to be heavily divided and military until 1066 when the Normans conquered the Anglo-Saxons

Anglo-Saxon Civilization Although heavily military and

divided, had common language base and HEROIC IDEAL through set of traditional heroes

Hero—men of great courage respected and deferred to—commanded loyalty

Fate Passing away of all things Artistic skills and learning

Saxon Soldiers

Christianity 314 AD bishop of London attended church council

at Arles in France Monastery at Canterbury by St. Augustine 597 664 Synod at Whitby-When should Easter be?? Brought Roman Christianity and English Church

together Caedmon--first religious poet Venerable Bede documented Caedmon’s life and

wrote A History of the English Church and People Christianity will have a large influence on much of

the literature we will look at throughout this course

Alfred the Great

English king encouraged use of English language and began the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle—recording of historical events

Began English schools Code of law out of which emerged the

English Common law and later, the Magna Carta of 1215

Literature Oral tradition historical significance Strong beat & alliteration SCOP=professional poet Heroic tradition=focuses on hero and battles Elegiac tradition=mourns passing of earlier better

times Christian beliefs combined with pagan ones Venerable Bede (673-735) A History of English

Church and People (731) Alfred the Great Anglo Saxon Chronicle—promoted

use of English language.

Review:Anglo-Saxon Period1. Why is the Anglo-Saxon period usually dated from 449?2. Who occupied the British Isles before the coming of the

Anglo-Saxons?3. Who is credited with the unification of England?4. Who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury?5. Why has so little of Anglo-Saxon poetry survived?6. What function was performed by the scop?7. What are the two major traditions of Anglo-Saxon poetry?8. With what work is Bede associated?9. What work was begun by King Alfred as a record of

English history?10. What event brought the Anglo-Saxon Period to an end?

Review: continued

Your Assignment Read pages 9-10 and write down notes for this

section of text. By referring to the literary terms at the back of

your text, write a definition for EPIC and KENNING in your personal lit terms booklet and write down your examples.

Read “The Coming of Grendel” (11-14). Be prepared to read aloud next class

Focus when reading: characterization, allusion, kenning, epic, conflict, Christianity and Paganism, heroic qualities