Assignments
The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods 449-1485
Stonehenge, a circular arrangement of large prehistoric stones on Salisbury Plain in southern England. The exact purpose of Stonehenge has not been definitively established, but many scholars believe it may have been used for religious ceremonies.
Historical Context: Britain’s early years were dominated by successive waves of invaders. Among them were the Anglo-Saxons - a people who gave us the first masterpieces of English literature.
Centuries of Invasion:
* The Dark Ages, as the Anglo-Saxon period is often called, was a time of bloody conflicts, ignorance, violence, and barbarism and the literature of this time period reflects that reality. People were more serious and there is scarce humor in the literature.
* Early Britain, Julius Caesar attempted to conquer the British Isles in 55 B.C.,
and may be the first person to ever write about England. Put off by fierce Celtic warriors, Caesar hastily claimed victory for Rome and returned to Europe.
A century later, the Roman army returned in force and made good on Caesar’s claim. The Romans introduced cities, roads, written scholarship, and Christianity. Their rule lasted 300 years. Urbanized the “Britons” lived in villas, frequenting public baths, and became dependent on the Roman military for protection. However, the Romans were called home to defend their own empire against invaders. Without protection, Britain became a target.
* Anglo-Saxons - The Angles and Saxons, and other Germanic tribes began arriving from northern Europe around 449 A.D. The Britons fought a series of battles against the invaders, but they were driven to the West (Cornwall and Wales) and the north (Scotland).
Settled by the Anglo-Saxons, the main part of Britain took on a new name: Angle-land or England. The Anglo-Saxon culture became the basis for English culture, and their guttural vigorous language became the spoken language now known as Old English.
* Vikings - The 790s brought the next wave of invaders, a fearsome group of seafaring marauders from the Rocky, windswept coasts of Denmark and Norway. Viking raiders looted, killed, and burned down entire villages. They found England a more pleasant spot to spend the winter than their icy homeland. The Danes were then defeated at the hands of a powerful Anglo-Saxon king known as Alfred the Great.
* Norman Conquest - In 1042, a descendant of Alfred’s took the throne. Edward the Confessor had no children, was deeply religious and he had once sworn an oath making his French cousin William, duke of Normandy, his heir. When Edward dies, an English earl named Harold was chosen to succeed him. Infuriated, William led his Norman army in what was to be the last successful invasion of the island of Britain - the Norman Conquest. Harold was killed and William the Conqueror was crowned king of England.
The Norman Conquest ended Anglo-Saxon dominance in England. Losing their land to the conquerors, noble families sank into peasantry, and a new class of privileged Normans took their place.
Cultural Influences
Early Anglo-Saxon literature reflected a fatalistic worldview, while later words were influenced by rapidly spreading Christianity.
Anglo-Saxon culture changed over time. Early invaders were seafaring wanderers whose lives were bleak, violent, and short. Their pagan religion was marked by strong belief in wyrd, or fate, and they saved their admiration for heroic warriors who were successful in battle. Christianity opened up a bright new possibility: that the suffering of this world was merely a prelude to the eternal happiness of heaven.
Christianity takes hold - The exact date of the first Christian missionaries arriving in Britain is not known, but by 300 A.D. the number of Christians on the island was significant. Over the next two centuries, Christianity spread to Ireland and Scotland. In 597, a Roman missionary named Augustine arrived in the kingdom of Kent and established a monastery at Canterbury. By 690 all of Britain was at least nominally Christian, but many held on to some pagan traditions and beliefs.
Monasteries - became centers of intellectual, literary, artistic, and social activity. At a time when schools and libraries were completely unknown, monasteries offered the opportunity for education. Most works were written in Latin and later in Old English. The earliest recorded history of the English people came from the clergy at the monasteries. The greatest of these monks was the Venerable Bede (author of A History of the English Church and People). When the Vikings invaded, they plundered monasteries and threatened to obliterate all traces of cultural refinement. However, Christianity continued as a dominant cultural force for more than a thousand years to come.
Literature of the Times
Anglo-Saxon literature often focused on great heroes such as Beowulf, though sometimes it addressed everyday concerns.
The Epic tradition
Epic Poems
Ø Praised deeds of heroic warriors and reflected the brutal time
Ø Poem were recited by scops (professional poets) in mead halls (gathering place to celebrate special occasions)
Ø Poems instilled cultural price
Common Life
Ø Lyric poems reflected everyday reality
Ø Exeter Book contains surviving lyrics
Ø Writing moved from Latin to English
Ø Medieval literature also explored everyday concerns
Centuries of Invasion:
* The Dark Ages, as the Anglo-Saxon period is often called, was a time of bloody conflicts, ignorance, violence, and barbarism and the literature of this time period reflects that reality. People were more serious and there is scarce humor in the literature.
* Early Britain, Julius Caesar attempted to conquer the British Isles in 55 B.C.,
and may be the first person to ever write about England. Put off by fierce Celtic warriors, Caesar hastily claimed victory for Rome and returned to Europe.
A century later, the Roman army returned in force and made good on Caesar’s claim. The Romans introduced cities, roads, written scholarship, and Christianity. Their rule lasted 300 years. Urbanized the “Britons” lived in villas, frequenting public baths, and became dependent on the Roman military for protection. However, the Romans were called home to defend their own empire against invaders. Without protection, Britain became a target.
* Anglo-Saxons - The Angles and Saxons, and other Germanic tribes began arriving from northern Europe around 449 A.D. The Britons fought a series of battles against the invaders, but they were driven to the West (Cornwall and Wales) and the north (Scotland).
Settled by the Anglo-Saxons, the main part of Britain took on a new name: Angle-land or England. The Anglo-Saxon culture became the basis for English culture, and their guttural vigorous language became the spoken language now known as Old English.
* Vikings - The 790s brought the next wave of invaders, a fearsome group of seafaring marauders from the Rocky, windswept coasts of Denmark and Norway. Viking raiders looted, killed, and burned down entire villages. They found England a more pleasant spot to spend the winter than their icy homeland. The Danes were then defeated at the hands of a powerful Anglo-Saxon king known as Alfred the Great.
* Norman Conquest - In 1042, a descendant of Alfred’s took the throne. Edward the Confessor had no children, was deeply religious and he had once sworn an oath making his French cousin William, duke of Normandy, his heir. When Edward dies, an English earl named Harold was chosen to succeed him. Infuriated, William led his Norman army in what was to be the last successful invasion of the island of Britain - the Norman Conquest. Harold was killed and William the Conqueror was crowned king of England.
The Norman Conquest ended Anglo-Saxon dominance in England. Losing their land to the conquerors, noble families sank into peasantry, and a new class of privileged Normans took their place.
Cultural Influences
Early Anglo-Saxon literature reflected a fatalistic worldview, while later words were influenced by rapidly spreading Christianity.
Anglo-Saxon culture changed over time. Early invaders were seafaring wanderers whose lives were bleak, violent, and short. Their pagan religion was marked by strong belief in wyrd, or fate, and they saved their admiration for heroic warriors who were successful in battle. Christianity opened up a bright new possibility: that the suffering of this world was merely a prelude to the eternal happiness of heaven.
Christianity takes hold - The exact date of the first Christian missionaries arriving in Britain is not known, but by 300 A.D. the number of Christians on the island was significant. Over the next two centuries, Christianity spread to Ireland and Scotland. In 597, a Roman missionary named Augustine arrived in the kingdom of Kent and established a monastery at Canterbury. By 690 all of Britain was at least nominally Christian, but many held on to some pagan traditions and beliefs.
Monasteries - became centers of intellectual, literary, artistic, and social activity. At a time when schools and libraries were completely unknown, monasteries offered the opportunity for education. Most works were written in Latin and later in Old English. The earliest recorded history of the English people came from the clergy at the monasteries. The greatest of these monks was the Venerable Bede (author of A History of the English Church and People). When the Vikings invaded, they plundered monasteries and threatened to obliterate all traces of cultural refinement. However, Christianity continued as a dominant cultural force for more than a thousand years to come.
Literature of the Times
Anglo-Saxon literature often focused on great heroes such as Beowulf, though sometimes it addressed everyday concerns.
The Epic tradition
Epic Poems
Ø Praised deeds of heroic warriors and reflected the brutal time
Ø Poem were recited by scops (professional poets) in mead halls (gathering place to celebrate special occasions)
Ø Poems instilled cultural price
Common Life
Ø Lyric poems reflected everyday reality
Ø Exeter Book contains surviving lyrics
Ø Writing moved from Latin to English
Ø Medieval literature also explored everyday concerns