The Anglo-Saxons (449-1066)
•Elegiac poetry- “The Seafarer”
•Heroic poetry- Beowulf
•Epic
•Epic hero
•Literary terms
•Background on the time period
(~roughly 600 years)
Anglo-Saxon Literature
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Anglo-Saxon literature began not with books,
but with spoken verse and incantations
Minstrels called scops recited these poems
long before they were ever written down
The Epic
Epic- long narrative poem, sometimes developed orally;
celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure
An epic contains:
 Epic hero- larger than life character that usually represents
widespread national, cultural or religious values, and eternal
human problems such as good vs. evil
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An epic is presented in a serious manner, often though
the use of elevated language
Literary Terms
Early verse falls into 2 categories:
 Elegiac poetry- sorrowful laments that
mourn the death of loved ones and the loss
of the past
 Heroic poetry- recounts the achievements of
warriors involved in great battles
Literary Terms
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Caesura- mid-line pause
Alliteration- repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant
sounds. For example, She sells seashells by the seashore
Kenning- a colorful, indirect way of naming something; a
metaphorical phrase in place of a noun. (Grendel is described
as shepherd of evil, guardian of crime, infamous killer)
Comitatus- describes the tribal structure of the Anglo-Saxons
and other Germanic tribes, in which groups of men would swear
loyalty to a lord in exchange for food, mead, and the loan of fine
armor and weaponry. The men who swore such an oath were
called thegns (roughly akin to modern Scottish "thane"), and
they vowed to fight for their lord in battle
Beowulf
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Composed by an unknown poet more than
1200 years ago
Marks the beginning of English literature
The story takes place in 6th century
Scandinavia
Recited originally in Old English
Beowulf
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Based on the legends and chronicles of the various
Northern Europeans who migrated to England
Embodies the highest ideals of Beowulf’s time and
place: loyalty, valor, selflessness, a sense of
justice
Blend of Christian ethics and pagan morality
Often associated with pagan morality is the idea of
fate or wyrd