Beowulf
Enter
Your
training
willthe
consist
ofwarriors.
four
tasks:
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you
complete
these
tasks,
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be
granted
learning
the history
ofrecruit
our
culture,
studying
theways
not expect
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unskilled
civilians!
But you
responsibility
train
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Grab
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and
we’ll
begin!
the
title
of
Anglo-Saxon
Warrior!
various
conquests
willAnglo-Saxons.
have
to do… of Britain, learning about our
the
writings and songs, and creating a personal shield.
Tasks: Complete in Order
1. History / Notes
2. Maps
You will fill in your outline You will complete this task
with historical facts.
while completing Task 1.
3. Anglo-Saxon
Writings
You will become familiar
with out writings.
4. Personal Shield
History / Notes
As youMake
go through
sure you
the
are
following
filling inslides,
your historical
newbie, make
sure you
haveand
thewriting
volumedown
turned
on. Yourashistory
outline
questions
they
guidecome
will give
additional
explanations
the lesson.
to you.
We always
give ourto
rookies
tests!
Early Britain was filled
with numerous Celtic
tribes, known as the
Britons. They were
illiterate semi-nomadic
farmers, hunters, and
fisherman. They
worshipped thousands
of woodland spirits.
Their priests, known as
Druids, were also their
doctors, teachers, and
prophets.
• Julius Caesar began raids on Britain in 55 B.C.
It wasn’t until A.D. 43 that Rome established
permanent rule. Roman occupation lasted
until the year 410.
• In The Dark Ages, Rome, who had already
conquered the country, attempted to
“Romanize” the Britons, introducing towns,
villas, roads and forts, as well as Hadrian’s
Wall, designed to keep out the Picts.
Hadrian’s Wall
• During Roman inhabitance, Britain was being
plundered and raided by Germanic tribes, the
Angles , Saxons, and Jutes.
• These Germanic tribes made war the main
object of their existence and were very fierce
in battle. When not fighting, they were heavy
eaters and drinkers. They seem to have been
the victims of dark melancholy; therefore,
light, happy moods do not exist in their poetry
and songs.
• Britons, perhaps led by a Celtic chieftain named Arthur,
fought against these invaders, but were driven away.
See map of conquest.
• Generally, it is agreed that by A.D. 449, these Germanic
tribes had completely infiltrated the country. Thus, the
main part of Britain became known as Angle-land, or
England.
• The country was then divided up into seven kingdoms.
• The Anglo-Saxon culture became the basis of the
English culture, and their Germanic language became
the language of Angle-land now known as Old English.
Map 1: Map of
Conquests in
500 A.D.
Use this time
to complete
Task 3. Copy
this map unto
your blank one.
Map 1: Map of
the Seven
Kingdoms
Use this time to
complete Task 3.
Copy the seven
kingdoms on this
map unto your
blank one.
• About the end of the eighth century, Vikings
from Denmark, referred to as the Danes,
attacked and eventually settled in Angle-land
as well.
• In 1066, William, duke of Normandy, France,
led the last successful invasion on the island of
Britain, the Norman Conquest, which ended
Anglo-Saxon dominance.
Map 2: Overview of all the
conquests throughout the
history of Britain.
Use this time to complete Task
3. Copy the conquests from this
map unto your blank one.
Irish
(450 A.D.)
French (1066 A.D.)
General Outline of Conquests
Pre A.D. 43 Celts inhabited Britain
A.D. 43
Romans establish dominance
A.D. 410 Romans leave
A.D. 449 Germanic peoples settle in Britain
A.D. 994 Danes invade and Canute becomes
king
A.D. 1066 William of Normandy invades and
becomes king
You have just received training on the
Youvery
learngeneral
quickly!
This isofgood.
We need
overview
the history
of ourwith
language
our people.
warriors
greatand
intelligence!
Keep this in mind as you begin
studying our writings. You may
continue with your tasks, rookie.
Maps
During
your
first task,
have
If you are
finished
withyou
theshould
geography
completed
twolesson,
different
maps.
You
must
session of our
move
on to
Task
3.
know about the territory in which we live
if you wish to defend it.
Anglo-Saxon Writings
In order to fight with us, you must understand
our culture. This includes our style of writing.
Learn about the following:
1)What Old English looks and sounds like
2)What elements of literature are typical of our
time period
Runes
• The earliest British inhabitants, of whom we
have written history, were the Celts. They
used a form of writing called runes.
• Runes were carved into trees, stones, crosses,
etc. Many of these can still be seen today.
Celtic Runes
Old English (450-1100 AD)
The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar
languages, which in Britain developed into what
we now call Old English. Old English did not
sound or look like English today. Native English
speakers now would have great difficulty
understanding Old English. Nevertheless, about
half of the most commonly used words in
Modern English have Old English roots. The
words be, strong, and water, for example, derive
from Old English. Old English was spoken until
around 1100.
Old English: The first page
of Beowulf
1) Study the copy.
2) Write down your
impressions of Old
English based on the
writing.
Old English
• Go to
http://faculty.virginia.edu/OldEnglish/Beowulf.Readi
ngs/Prologue.html
• Next, click on the line numbers to hear a reading.
What is your impression of Old English based on the
audio?
• Next go to
http://www.1066andallthat.com/english_old/lords_
prayer.asp
• Listen to the first video and follow along with the
Old, Middle, and Modern English listed below the
video. What words and patterns are similar? What
is different? Be specific.
Old English Riddles
• Many Old English writings contain riddles similar
to the ones we have today. Go to the following
website:
http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/english
/oldenglish/
• Read Week 2: Riddle 76. Answer these two
questions:
1)In the riddle, who/what is the speaker? (Hint:
It’s an inanimate object.)
2)What is the object’s function? (Hint: Two are
given in the riddle.)
The following literature terms are present in
Beowulf. Therefore, you need to be able to
know, recognize, and use them.
Stock Epithets
• Adjectives that point out special traits of
particular persons or things
• “swift-footed” used to describe Achilles in the
Iliad
• to describe Achilles in the Iliad
Kennings
• A descriptive phrase or compound word that
substitutes for a noun
• “sin stained demon” in place of Grendel’s
name
Alliteration
• The repetition of the first consonant sound in
a phrase
• Example:
• Tongue twisters: Sally sells sea shells by the
sea shore
• This method was used by scops for
memorizing many lines of poetry.
caesura
• A pause dividing each line, with each part
having two accented syllables
U /
U U / U
/ U
• “He took what he wanted, // all the
/
U
treasures.”
Good!
knowledge
our
YouYou
maynow
nowhave
complete
your shield
history,
geography,
and writings.
to show
off the honor
that youIt is time
for you to become a true Anglo-Saxon
have earned.
warrior!
Personal Shield
Traditionally, Anglo-Saxon shields were round
and made of wood. They were often
decorated with artistic elements which
represented the warrior.
You have been given a shield from
from your teacher. Complete the
following steps to make it unique.
Shield Directions
1) Go to the following website: Runic Name. Learn how
to write your name in the runic alphabet. This should
be written on your shield along with the Modern
English translation.
2) Go to the following website: Runic Symbols. Choose
two runic symbols that represent you. These should
be written on your shield along with the Modern
English translation.
3) Decorate the rest of the shield in a way that reflects
yourself. There should be no white space left.
4) On the back, explain the symbols and other
decorations you chose to use.
You
are now my
friend,
Incredibly
awesome
Powerpoint
Congratulations!
Now
that but
youthat
have
does
mean
will share
completed
yourI tasks,
you my
are a true
provided
by: notall
mead withwarrior!
you! See you in the
Anglo-Saxon
mead hall!
Your incredibly awesome
teacher! 