Upload
breena
View
156
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Why study British literature?. British culture has helped influence America Personal rights and freedom Government Literature Language. Anglo-Saxons. Order of Invaders. Celts Romans Angles Saxons Jutes. Celts. First British settlers Their mythology has influenced British writers - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Why study British literature?British culture has helped influence
AmericaPersonal rights and freedomGovernmentLiteratureLanguage
Anglo-Saxons
Order of InvadersCeltsRomansAnglesSaxonsJutes
CeltsFirst British settlersTheir mythology has
influenced British writersReligion was a form of
animism – seeing spirits everywhere
Celtic mythology- influenced Arthurian legends/poets
Celtic stories- full of strong women, magical animals, love affairs, adventures
RomansCaesar begins an
invasion that would take 100 years to conquer Britain
Build roads, baths, Hadrian’s Wall
Bring Christianity to Britain- Celtic religion diedAfter 400 years (approximately) Romans leave
This leaves Britain susceptible to other invaders
Three groups that invade Britain after the Romans leaveAngles (Germany)Saxons (Germany)Jutes (Denmark)
Anglo-Saxons Becomes the dominant languageAngle LandEngla LandEnglandCelts settle in WalesChristianity helps to unify the countryCame from Germany and Denmark via the
North SeaBrought their language “Engla Land”
Anglo-Saxon LifeBased on strong loyalty to the leaderFarmers, Craftsmen, and Maintained
GovernmentMonasteries were centers of learningWomen held many rights- could inherit
property from husbands/fathers, some became abbesses-ran convents and were educated.
Not Barbarians
Anglo-Saxon LifeWarfare was necessary for protectionReligion was concerned with ethics over
mysticismValued bravery, loyalty, generosity, and
friendship
The Sutton Hoo Treasure- (found in 1939) Suffolk EnglandWhat was it?- A Viking treasure ship/grave
filled with gold, silver, and bronze artwork and jewelry from the Anglo-Saxons.
Treasures show artistry of the A/S culture.Warlike society/Values included: law and
order,loyalty to a clan leader, success-judged via gifts from a leader, and community discussion/consensus.
Anglo Saxon ReligionDark, fatalisticWarrior gods-
Norse mythology: Odin-death, poetry, and magic- “Woden”
Thor-Thunder, lightning, hammer or swastikam “Thor’s Day”
Dragon-Protector of treasure, guardian of the grave mound.Values: Bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship
BardSkilled storytellers that sang about gods
and heroesThey were also known as ScopsCreating poetry was held in high esteemScops were equal to great warriorsThe only way to have life after death in A/S
religion was in poetry
MonasteriesChristian monks preserved the tradition of
the Anglo-SaxonsInterjected Christian beliefs into the A/S
writingsCenters of learning-Scriptorium=writing
room where monks workedMonks wrote in the vernacular, later LatinEX: Beowulf
Beowulf
Literary TermsAlliterationCaesuraEpic (Poem)Epic HeroImageryKenning
EpicHero is usually a great leaderBroad setting (upper and lower worlds)Hero completes great deeds or goes on an
extraordinary journeySupernatural forces or gods are usually
involvedStory is told in heightened language
The Epic Hero CycleA changeA testVarious mythical, human, or animal helpersMain antagonist, usually supernaturalMagical unreal world that the hero can visit but
normal humans cannotAn escape from the questResurrectionRestoration
What modern stories also fit this cycle? There are a few. Hint: ‘Luke, I am your father’
BeowulfAnglo-Saxon Period (450 –1066)Originates as oral traditionNo authorComposed around 8th Century
An Old English Sampleim ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile
felahror feran on frean wære.Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe,swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd,þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga;leof landfruma lange ahte.
BeowulfChristian ideals are includedMost Old English literature was copied by
monksEpic hero travels from Scandinavia to help
the Danes
Characters
BeowulfHero of the poemNephew of the King of the Geats (Higlac)
BreccaBeowulf’s friend
HrothgarKing of the DanesFriend of Beowulf’s father
GrendelMan-eating monster
HerotA lavish mead hall built by Hrothgar