Tobin 1
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British Literature, Fall 2012
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Unit 1
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20 September 2012
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Topic: Anglo-Saxon and Viking Culture
Objective: After this class you will be able to explain in writing what it meant to be human in AngloSaxon times.
You will do so by:
1) explaining the differences/similarities in spelling and pronunciation between Modern and Old English
2) identifying kennings, caesuras, alliteration in Anglo-Saxon poetry and orally recite 5 lines as a Scop
3) debating the values of Anglo-Saxon warrior culture as seen in Beowulf using textual evidence.
EXPECTATIONS
1. Place proper materials on your desk 
2. Fill in MLA heading
3. Sit at SLANT
4. Silently and immediately begin the “Do Now”
ON YOUR DESK
1. Your English binder
2. Two sharpened writing utensils
3. This Packet
Do Now
Make one statement about Anglo-Saxon culture (the people in Britain in 1000 AD) based on reading
Beowulf.
Your Statement (premise) :______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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I say this because… (evidence from Beowulf) : _______________________________________________
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Experiencing Anglo-Saxon Culture
An Epic poem like Beowulf deserves an epic lesson to wrap up our reading. So today we are going to
move in 3 groups from station to station to “experience” the poem and the Anglo-Saxon culture that
created it.
First read the description of Anglo-Saxons on the next page and study the map. Underline important
parts:
Tobin 2
The Anglo-Saxons were tribes (Angles, Jutes, Saxons) that settled in England in 550 from Scandinavia
(now Denmark, Sweden, Norway). They were a seafaring culture of warriors and Vikings seeking
freedom from Christianity—they were mostly pagans. Yet missionaries soon came and converted some
to Christianity. They lived and died by the sea and built small seaside villages with central halls where
men and women gathered to tell stories and drink mead, a honey-wine. They spoke Old English, the first
version of our language, which has given us many of the most basic words we still use like “night” (niht),
“bed” (bed), “rain” (regn), and “winter” (wintar).
Norway & Sweden
Scotland,
England, Wales
Great
Denmark
Britain
Ireland
France
Rules of Stations:
Follow the 5 rules from all classes
Stay on task at all times (failure to do so will result in referral)
Like warriors, follow directions of your tribe’s “King”
I will now divide you into “Tribes” and assign you to your first station. You will rotate when you
hear the sound of the Golden Horn (an Anglo Saxon artifact)
Horn sound : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6hOBVaMGFI
Tobin 3
Station 1 – Old English
King reads all directions aloud.
DIRECTIONS: Below is the Prologue of Beowulf, which was not included in our textbook. First, 1 warrior
in the tribe should try saying the first 5 lines in the Old English. Choose warrior and have them try it out
now….
DIRECTIONS: Next, use the laptop to listen to the Old English, the first three sections (up to line 11). Do
so now….
DIRECTIONS: Now as a tribe, try to master reciting Beowulf (lines 1-11) in Old English like the audio
recording. Use the pronunciation guide at the bottom to help you. Try it out in unison now...
Old English
Modern Translation
Hwæt! Wé Gárdena
þéodcyninga
in géardagum
Listen! We --of the Spear-Danes
þrym gefrúnon·
of those clan-kings--
heard of their glory.
hú ðá æþelingas
ellen fremedon.
how those nobles
Oft Scyld Scéfing
sceaþena þréatum
Often Scyld, Scef's son,
monegum maégþum
egsode Eorle
meodosetla oftéah·
syððan aérest wearð
féasceaft funden
hé þæs frófre gebád·
wéox under wolcnum·
þáh
weorðmyndum
oð þæt him aéghwylc
þára ymbsittendra
ofer hronráde
gomban gyldan·
hýran scolde,
þæt wæs gód cyning.
5
from many peoples
in the days of yore,
performed courageous deeds.
from enemy hosts
seized mead-benches;
and terrorised the fearsome Heruli
found helpless and destitute,
he waxed under the clouds,
until to him each
he then knew recompense for that:throve in honours,
of the bordering tribes
10 beyond the whale-road
and yield tribute:-
after first he was
had to submit,
that was a good king!
Pronunciation Guide
Hwat We Gardena
in yardagoom
Bade-siningah
Brim ga-froonon
Hoo sah ehberlinga
enden fremedon
Oeft Sooold Shaving
shalba brey-et-oom
Monegoom Meg-thoom
meadow setlah ofe tay-ah
Eh-soo-day air-lah
sittun airest where
Fair shalt foondun
he thess froofree ga bod
Wake-soonder woolk-noom where-fun-doom tha
Aw thet himay wilch
thera imb-sit-endra
Over hroon-rodeh
hearen shouldeh
Gome baan gee-yildan bat wat good kinning
http://faculty.virginia.edu/OldEnglish/Beowulf.Readings/Prologue.html
Tobin 4
Station 2 – Storytelling with Scops in Herot Hall
King reads all directions aloud.
DIRECTIONS: Welcome to Herot hall. Before we start our celebration, below are definitions of a
kenning, caesura (seh-sure-ah), and alliteration, all devices used in Anglo-Saxon poetry to help the Scop
(shope) or story-teller memorize and recite the poem. 1 warrior should read the definitions aloud now…
Alliteration: the repetition of beginning consonant sounds
Caesura: rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, where the Scop (shope) could pause for breath. It is often
indicated with a comma or space in the middle of each line.
Kenning: two-word renaming of people, places, and things such as the kenning whale’s home renames
the sea.
DIRECTIONS: We’ll now use the highlighters to work as a tribe and identify at least one example of each
(kenning, caesura, and alliteration) in this passage from Beowulf’s speech before he fought the dragon…
“I’d use no sword no weapon, if this beast
Could be killed without it, crushed to death
670 Like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn
Limb from limb. But his breath will be burning
Battle-sweat will pour from his tongue.
I feel no shame, with shield and sword
And armor, against this monster: When he comes to me
675 I mean to stand, not run from his shooting
Flames,
DIRECTIONS: Now let warriors take turns at being the Scop, trying to tell the story with drama and
passion. This is a story-telling contest and the Scop that uses caesuras for breaths, and tells the story
with the most passion wins a cup of mead (honey-wine that they Anglo-Saxons drank to celebrate) and
an extra credit point. Don’t worry this mead is tasty and has no alcohol.
Winner of the Scop Contest: ___________________________
Tobin 5
Station 3 – Lively Debate
King reads all directions aloud.
DIRECTIONS: Anglo-Saxon warriors like us had a few common values. One was bragging about their
success, much like almost all rappers today have a song (or many) talking about their money and fame.
Another value was their quest for immortality, or being remembered after they died. We’re about to
have a debate on whether these values are acceptable or not.
DIRECTIONS: Everyone should write each warrior’s name down on their Learning Ladder in the chart
below. Record how many times other warriors speak during the debate. You will only get credit if you
speak.
DIRECTIONS: Using the same rules as Socratic seminars, we will now debate. Here are the questions.
Take 1 minute to think and jot ideas down…..
1. Was Beowulf arrogant or was it an accepted part of his culture to
boast of success?
2. Can immortality really be achieved through being a great warrior
(or soldier today)?
DIRECTIONS: Whoever volunteers may begin the debate.
Name
Tally Marks for Comments/Questions during Debate