Unit 1
Anglo Saxon
British Literature
Ms. Carroll
Anglo-Saxon Period
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Era of invasion
Violent conquests
Warfare and battle
Value bravery and honor
6th c. Augustine helped unite tribes
Influence of Christianity
Warrior code later seen in code of Chivalry
Old English Literature
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c. 650-1100
Old English refers to language of Anglo-Saxons
2 types of poetry:
heroic and Christian
Strong oral tradition
Scops: court poets, told tribal history and
tradition, usually sung with lyre or harp
Characteristics
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Alliteration
Caesura
Kenning
Repetition
Compounding
Litotes
Developed orally to entertain
Wove Norse/Celtic beliefs with Christianity
Epic
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Long narrative giving the story of heroic
deeds accomplished by a hero of above
average strength and ability
Hero undergoes perilous adventure for
tribe or nation
Accomplishes goal usually with little aid
Classical epics involve friendly or hostile
gods
Presentation of Epics
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Rich and diverse oral tradition
Based on history, folklore, and sagas told
and perfected over time
Usually opens with invocation to muse and
statement of theme
Then starts in medias res
Uses flashbacks, epithets, hospitality
codes, and epic boasts
Epic Hero
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Defeat evil against all odds
He may die, but group will be saved
Honorable
Strength
Courage
Larger than life character
Represents something greater
Of significant birth (often doesn’t know it)
Beowulf
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Shows early British culture
Concept of Anglo-Saxon hero
Follows many of classic epic characteristics
Longest surviving British work
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From before 10th century, told prior
Oldest British epic
Unknown author(s)
Beowulf
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Describes Scandinavian warrior of 6th c.
Grendel, a monster, terrorizes King Hrothgar, the
Danish king
Beowulf, the young prince of the Geats, comes to the
rescue
Map of Area
Beowulf / Geat
Hrothgar/ Danes
Dave Barry, on Beowulf:
"If my memory serves me correctly (and I
believe it does, because I am copying this from
the encyclopedia) Beowulf is an Old English epic
poem concerning a hero who freed the court of
the Danish king Hrothgar from the ravages of
the ogre Grendel and Grendel's mother and thus
became king of the Geats. This raises questions,
including: Why would anybody want to be king
of the Geats? I mean, the word 'Geat' sounds
like an insult, doesn't it? As in: 'Some stupid
Geat put salami in the disk drive!' (Let me state,
before I get a bunch of hate mail, that I myself
am two-thirds Geatish.)"
As you read…
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Consider how Beowulf is an epic and how the
character Beowulf is an epic hero
What does this epic reveal about the culture of
the time?
What does it say about the nature of evil?
Where do we see Christian influences? Where
do we see pagan influence of wyrd (fate)?
Unit 1
Medieval Period
British Literature
Ms. Carroll
Medieval Period
Begins with Norman Conquest in 1066
Development of feudal system
Spread of Church influence (Crusades)
Chivalric code
Although seen as ‘Dark Years’, many new
things emerged
Medieval Literature
Development of Middle English
Use of rhymed verse
Popularity of Miracle Plays that eventually
became Morality Plays (in 15th and 16th c)
Canterbury Tales one of most famous from
this period
Geoffrey Chaucer
1343-1400
Wrote Canterbury Tales
From a middle-class family
Trained to work in King Edward III court
Served in army and in government
Strong knowledge of literature of time
Canterbury Tales
One of first books printed by William Caxton,
inventor of printing press
Tells the story of 30 people on pilgrimage to
shrine of Thomas Becket (in Canterbury)
Originally to have 120 tales, but only 22 were
finished
Canterbury Tales
“General Prologue” describes each pilgrim
Chaucer presented his observations as a
companion pilgrim, satirizing and commenting
on people and problems of his age
The 30 pilgrims show the best and worst of
human nature
Canterbury Tales
Each tale matches teller’s character, experiences,
interest, and purpose
We will study “Pardoner’s Tale” and “Wife of
Bath’s Tale”
As you read…
Pay attention to how Chaucer describes each
pilgrim and in what way (positive or negative)
he presents them.
How do his views reflect the cultural values of the
time? Are these still shared views today?
What cultural values are revealed in the Tales?
To what degree do the themes of the tales still
resonate for us today?