Introduction to Beowulf

Anglo Saxons period 449-1066

Before the Anglo Saxons

• Roman emperor Claudius ordered the conquest of Britain in AD 43
• Britain considered a province in the large Roman Empire
• Many parts of Britain were full of warring tribes. It was difficult to control such a large piece of land
• Roman soldiers and traders brought Christianity to Britain around AD 300

Roman Empire in AD 117

The Beginning of English History

• Believed to have begun in 449 with the invasion of 3 Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes)
• Destruction of Roman influence, including Christianity
• "Angle-land" formed
• No written language
• Supported themselves through farming and hunting

Anglo Saxon Home

Arrival of Christianity

• In AD 596, attempt to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity
• By 650, most of England is Christian
• Although many Anglo-Saxons convert, pagan beliefs and traditions also remain

Old English

• Anglo Saxon spoke Old English
• What did that sound like?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfaEGU45lKA

Old English Continued

• When the Roman Empire collapses, those native to Briton go back to using their regional dialects
• In the 400s each group of people living in what was now England had their own language, but but with easy to understand dialects
• Many Old Norse words entered into English, like ‘they’ and ‘them’

Beowulf

• Old English secular poem by anonymous author
• Set in Denmark
• Only surviving manuscript of its time period (approximately AD 1010).

Pagan vs. Christianity in Beowulf

• Pagan- strong nature presence, strength of warrior
• Christianity- Christian elements included in poem, Grendel is a descendant of Cain

Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Began as an oral tradition.
• Stories, poems and songs were told aloud and passed from generation to general orally through minstrels
• Poems had a strong beat, alliteration and no rhyme schem

The Epic

• Beowulf is an epic poem. Other examples of epics are Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey
• Celebrates a hero's long journeys and supernatureal heroic deeds
• Include a noble hero whose character traits reflect their society's ideals.

Heroic Code

• Derived from Germanic roots of Anglo-Saxons
• Warriors must have strength, courage and loyalty
• Kings must be hospitable, generous and have great political skills
• Basis for Anglo-Saxon honor

Common Motifs of Epic Poetry

• Good vs. Evil
• Isolation
• Courage and honor
• Gods or semi-divine creatures
• Tale that involves fate of entire race

THE BIG IDEA

• History, language and culture affect ART
• Epic poetry is a form of art.

THE BIG IDEA CONT.

• Today's art would be just as confusing and foreign to the Anglo-Saxons as Beowulf is to us.