The Anglo-Saxon Period
Important Dates: 449-1066 A.D.
The term Anglo-Saxon comes from
 Three
Germanic tribes that began invading
Britain
 These three tribes were known as the:
 Jutes
 Angles
 Saxons
Most familiar type of poetry
 Heroic
Epic Poetry- is a long narrative
poem whose central character is a hero.
Qualities of an epic hero
 Superhuman
qualities
List some characteristics of what you think
an epic hero possesses
What is the most famous of these
epic poems?






Beowulf
The poem was written by a Christian poet whose
name is unknown
Written sometime in between the 8th and 11th
centuries
Beowulf is written in Old English
Manuscript was partially charred in a fire
Original copy is now located in The British
Museum where each page is encased in plastic
Literary Terms
 Kennings,
Exaggeration and Alliteration
are three devices that together allow the
reader to experience this poem which is
quite different than most other poetry.
 The epic poem has 3,182 lines
What is a kenning?
A
compound word that represents
something else.
 Example:
Body= bone house
 Sea= Whale road
What is exaggeration?
 Makes
the character in the story more
interesting, exciting and dramatic.
 Example:
Beowulf’s bravery is
exaggerated when he jumps into a swamp
with heavy armor and a broken sword to
fight a dangerous monster.
What is alliteration?

Repeating the same sound, usually a consonant
at the beginning of words

Example:
“The Hall of Heart”
“His pledge and promise”
“Dragging the dead men home to his den”
“Fitted and Furnished”
This device adds creativity and rhythm to the poem
Why is it important to read Beowulf
and other classic pieces of
literature?
 Kennings,
exaggerations and alliteration
all help in developing vivid descriptions
and imagery to entertain and beautifully
tell the story of Beowulf.