The Anglo-Saxon Era
449-1066 A.D.
What is English Lit?

Really __________ Lit (United Kingdom): Literature of Scotland, Ireland, Wales,
and England.

England is divided into different kingdoms: Kent, Wessex, Nourthumbria, etc.
Pre-Anglo-Saxon

The earliest known people of Britain are known as the ____________. They date
back as early as __________ B.C.

55 B.C.: Julius ________________, continuing his conquering ways, invaded Britain.
Encountering the Celts, he called them “_____________.”
o Caesar conquered Britain. The Romans were much more ____________
than the Celts.
o The Romans stayed for over ____________ years, until the empire started
to fall and they were forced to move back into Rome.

Roman Influence
o The Romans left a lot behind, and helped bring _______________ to the
Celtic tribes.
o The Romans:

Were skilled _______________

Built __________, villas, huge buildings, etc.

Brought Christianity
Another Invasion

After Rome left, the Jutes (from ____________) and the Saxons and _____________
(Northern Germany) invaded England. They are called Germanic ___________.

King Arthur (a Christian King), was a leader amongst the ___________ who fought
bravely. However, they were eventually pushed out by these tribes.

The Roman Civilization was, for the most part, _______________.
“Anglo-Saxon” is born

The Angles and _____________were the dominant of the tribes now in England.
Hence, the name.

They introduced a _____________ society

They brought their own language, which is an early form of today’s _____________.

The _____________gave the language a name—”Angle-ish,” as well as the
country—”Angle-land.”
Anglo Saxons

____________ ideals; traditional heroes

Admired ____________, valor, _____________, courtesy

Believed in _____________, or wyrd

Were an adaptable people

Gathered in ___________ halls, where feasting and drinking were popular.
Anglo-Saxon Literature

Began as _______________ stories, songs, poems.

Passed down orally through generations, usually through _____________, or scops.

Characteristics of poems: strong beat, _____________, no ________________.
Viking Invasions

Circa 793, war-like Danes, or ______________, invaded Britain.

The Vikings raided _____________ and destroyed important documents. They raped
and pillaged.
England Fights Back

_____________ the _______________ became the king of England in 871.

Established a system of _______________ and rebuilt monasteries.

Gave us the first notable literature: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.

Led a successful campaign when he forced the Danes from Wessex.

Unified Anglo-Saxons

Saxons ruled the ____________. Danes ruled the north. For the first time, they
respected each other.
The Norman Conquest

Fighting continued between the Danes and the Anglo-Saxons until both were defeated
by _____________ the Conqueror in _________. This date marks the end of the
Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of _________________ times.
The Birth of Beowulf
Beowulf is

The most famous of the early Germanic ____________

Written sometime between the 8th and _________ century
Religion in Beowulf

Since it was after the Anglo/Saxon conversion to Christianity, you will find ________
and ____________ references in the poem
Pagan vs. Christian Ideals

Pagan code—honor is gained ____________ life through deeds

Christian—glory lies in the _________________

Pagan—______________ culture dictates retaliation

Christian—doctrine advocates a peaceful ______________ toward enemies
Beowulf is considered

To be an ____________ Poem-a long _____________ poem that celebrates a hero’s
long journeys and heroic deeds.
Characteristics of the Epic

The hero is generally of ____________ birth

The hero’s character traits reflect important ideals of _____________

The hero performs _______________-sometimes superhuman-acts

The setting is __________ in scope

Major characters deliver long, _____________ speeches
Beowulf and Epic Poems

Universal Themes explored:
o a. good and ___________
o b. isolation
o c. courage and honor
o d. ____________ or semi-divine creatures come to the aid of the hero.
o e. involves fate of an entire ____________
Much of Beowulf is devoted to illustrating the Germanic Heroic Code:
The Epic is not deadThe epic spirit is seen today in J.R.R.Tolkien’s
____________________ and the famous Star Wars Trilogy.