History of the People of Great Britain

449 A.D.-1066 A.D449 A.D.-1066 A.D

Celts (Brythons and Gaels) up to 55 B.C.

Roman Conquest 55 B.C. - 407 A.D.

Anglo-Saxon Period 407 A.D. - 787 A.D.

Viking Invasions 787 A.D. - 1066 A.D.

Norman Conquest begins in 1066 A.D.

Cultural/Linguistic Influences

Early England Created by Early England Created by Three InvasionsThree Invasions

1. Roman Occupation 55 B.C.-410 A.D.

2. Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions 410 – 1066 A.D.

3. The Norman Invasion (The Battle of Hastings) in 1066 A.D.

LATINLATIN

GERMAN(IC)GERMAN(IC)

FRENCHFRENCH

The island we know as England was occupied by a race of people called the Celts. One of the tribes was called they Brythons or Britons (where we get the term Britain)

The Celts were Pagans and their religion was know as “animism” a Latin word for “spirit.” Celts saw spirits everywhere

Druids were their priests; their role was to go between the gods and the people

Pre-Historical /Pre-Roman

The Roman InvasionThe Roman Invasion

55 B.C. - 407 A.D.

The RomansThe Romans

55 B.C. Julius Caesar invaded Britain

Built roads designed for military purposes (commerce, communication, civilizing)

Infrastructure– Government (fell apart when they left)– Walls, villas, public baths (some remains still exist)

Language and Writing– Latin was official language–

Religion– Christianity

Anglo Saxon PeriodAnglo Saxon Period

407 A.D- 787 A.D.

In 449, three groups invaded BritainIn 449, three groups invaded Britain– AnglesAngles– SaxonsSaxons– JutesJutes

Anglo-Saxons– Drove the natives from the eastern, central, and

southern areas– Became known as “Angles Land” or England– Germanic language developed into “Angle-ish”

or English

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

Originally started out with several tribal units organized by a king.

Anglo Saxons were Anglo Saxons were PagansPagans Paganism= polytheistic religionPaganism= polytheistic religion

Fate vs. Personal FreedomFate vs. Personal Freedom Christians believe that all individuals have the Christians believe that all individuals have the

freedom to make their own choicefreedom to make their own choice Early Anglo Saxons Early Anglo Saxons worshipped ancient gods of worshipped ancient gods of

German mythologyGerman mythology

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

Writing:Writing:

primitive system, “runic”primitive system, “runic” Oral traditionOral tradition of Literature: of Literature:

narratives handed down from narratives handed down from generation to generation by word generation to generation by word of mouth, usually sung.of mouth, usually sung.

Scop (shope)--Old English poet or Scop (shope)--Old English poet or bardbard

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

Anglo Saxon SocietyAnglo Saxon Society

KingsKings Athelings--PrincesAthelings--Princes Witans--CounselorsWitans--Counselors Thanes--NoblesThanes--Nobles Peasants--Peasants--

Agricultural Agricultural LaborersLaborers

Theows--ServantsTheows--Servants Thralis--SlavesThralis--Slaves

Anglo-Saxon Living Anglo-Saxon Living ConditionsConditions

most of the towns built by the Romans had fallen into ruins

A village was made up of small groups of houses built around a larger hall.

Athletic

Strong

Seafaring

Adventurous

Strong belief in fair play

The Anglo-Saxon ManThe Anglo-Saxon Man

Loyalty to Lord or KingLoyalty to Lord or King

Great love of personal freedomGreat love of personal freedom

Respect for womenRespect for women

Love for gloryLove for glory

Honored the truthHonored the truth

Anglo-Saxon IdealsAnglo-Saxon Ideals

The Viking InvasionThe Viking Invasion

787-1066

The Vikings were sea-faring, explorers, traders and warriors, Scandinavians during the 8th-11th centuries.

Expeditions that plundered and ended in conquest and settlements of Britain.

King Alfred “the Great” in 871 was able to use the language to appeal the English and his efforts saved the language.

The VikingsThe Vikings

Politically and Culturally– there was no central government or church

Linguistically (The English Language at its Earliest)– The English language is “born” during the first

millennium and is known as Old English

– Old English is mainly Germanic

– LOTS of dialects of Old-English

The VikingsThe Vikings

The Norman InvasionThe Norman Invasion

begins in 1066 A.D.

In 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans (powerful Northern Frenchmen) defeated the English and started a centuries-long conquest of England

Two Most Important Effects:– French becomes official language of politics

and power and exerts enormous influence on Old English

– England begins unifying under a French political system, much of which is still with us (even in the U.S.) today

The NormansThe Normans

The Anglo-Saxon Period in The Anglo-Saxon Period in ReviewReview

Pre-Anglo-Saxon (really “pre” historical)– Celtic Peoples (approx 1700/400 B.C. – 55 B.C.)

– Roman Occupation (55 B.C.-410 A.D.)

Anglo-Saxon/Viking– Angles, Saxons, Frisian, and Jutes (410-787– Viking Raids/Invasions begin 8th c. and end 10th c.

Norman Invasion/Occupation (really in the Middle Ages)– four centuries of French rule

The Society of the Middle Ages

The 3 Estates

The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age.– Clergy

Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul

– Nobles French chiefly spoken, those who fight,

purpose was to protect—allow for all to work in peace—and provide justice

– Commoners English spoken, those who work, purpose

was to feed and clothe all above them

Feudalism

The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800-1100)

Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm.

In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits.

Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord.

Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.

A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals– Restricted to nobility

The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to…– God– his lord– his lady

Chivalric ideals include...– benevolence– brotherly love– politeness

Chivalry

Provided guidance through well known precepts..– Seven Deadly Sins

Pride Greed Wrath Envy Gluttony Sloth Lust

The Church

The idea of Fortune and her wheel was one of the most pervasive ideas throughout the Middle Ages.

On the wheel are depicted four figures: one at the top, one at the bottom, one rising, and one falling.

It served to remind of the It served to remind of the temporality of temporality of earthly thingsearthly things. .

The Wheel of Fortune

•Germanic language introduced to the British Isles in the 5th century A.D.

• Spoken before the Norman Conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066 AD which introduced French as the language of the noble class.

•This language is the ancestor of the Modern English spoken today

Literature During the Medieval Period

Three distinctive phases in language in which literature was composed.Old English 449-1066

Middle English 1066- 1485

Modern English 1485-present

Anglo Saxon Literature

Mostly Mostly oral storiesoral stories, especially riddles, especially riddles Doesn’t RhymeDoesn’t Rhyme Uses alliterationUses alliteration Uses KenningsUses Kennings

– Metaphor often hyphenated ex. Whales-Metaphor often hyphenated ex. Whales-path= seapath= sea

– Symbolism with SeasonsSymbolism with Seasons Spring: YouthSpring: Youth Summer: AdultSummer: Adult Autumn: Old AgeAutumn: Old Age Winter: DeathWinter: Death

Characteristics of Medieval Literature Heroism

– from both Germanic and Christian traditions, sometimes mingled Beowulf Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Presentations of idealized behavior– literature as moral lesson

loyalty to king chivalry

use of kennings (especially in Beowulf)– A figurative, usually compound expression used

in place of a name or noun. Example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle.

Use of Allegory

An allegory is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal.

Much of medieval literature relied on allegory to convey the morals the author had in mind while writing--representations of abstract qualities, events, and institutions are thick in much of the literature of this time.

This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord.

The knight serves his courtly lady with the same

obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord.

She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission.

The Ideal of Courtly Love

A quest is a hero’s journey towards a goal. The objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and the overcoming of many obstacles.

The hero's must obtain something, or someone, by the quest and with this object return home.

the code of conduct observed by a knight errant who is wandering in search of deeds of chivalry. This knight is bound by a code of behavior - a set of conventional principles and expectations.

The Quest

Is often of divine descent endowed with great strength and ability" or "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities"

The hero faces his greatest fear

The hero “dies,” so he can be reborn

The hero gains new perception

This new perception may create a moment of clarity The moment may be of great self-realization for the hero It may also be an epiphany for the hero’s companions

The Hero

Usually, an inner and outer problem for the character is set.

The hero is introduced; audience identifies with them

The hero lacks something, has a tragic flaw, or a deep wound

The call often produces disorientation and discomfort for the hero

The call is often in the form of a dire warning

The Structure

Excuses are used to avoid the call

This hesitation illustrates the formidability of the challenge ahead

Resistance creates change and strength, allowing the hero to grow

A physical or metaphorical crossing is made

The crossing is an irrevocable leap of faith, from which there’s no turning back

The Structure

The hero is a figure of imposing stature

The setting is vast, covering great nations or worlds

Action consists of deeds of great valor or require super human strength

Supernatural forces are evident

A styled of sustained elevation and grand simplicity

The poet recounts deed of the hero with a measure of objectivity

Characteristics of Epic Literature

The poet opens by stating the theme

The poet then invokes a muse

Opens the narrative in media res (literally means “in the midst of things”)

Has extensive use of epic similes

Structure of Epic Literature

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

EpicEpic

A long verse narrative in an elevated style, presenting characters of high position in adventuresExamples: The Iliad, The Odyssey, Gilgamesh, and Beowulf

Epic SimileEpic Simile

an elaborated comparison. Differs from the ordinary simile by being more involved and ornate. A secondary object is developed into an independent aesthetic object

Folk EpicFolk Epic

An epic without certain authorship

KenningKenning

An elaborate metaphor used in Old English poetry as a synonym for a simple nounExample: whale-road

LitotesLitotes

a form of understatement and a characteristic of Old English poetryExample:“Twas a weary while! twelve winter’s time”

In Medias ResIn Medias Res

a literary technique of opening a story in the middle of the action through flashbacks and other devices in exposition

ElegyElegy

a formal poem mourning the death of someone

EpithetsEpithets

descriptive phrases that may be repeated over and over. Frequently, several epithets are used in the same sentenceExample: “Prince of the Danes, protector of Scyldings, Lord of nations, and leader of men,…

AlliterationAlliteration

Repetition of the first sounds of words.

Used to help scops remember the poem and to create unity within a piece.

AlliterationAlliteration

Language Changes to the Culture

Roman Alphabet was gradually adopted

Christianity gradually replaced Anglo Saxon beliefs

Literature gradually changed from oral to written

OLD ENGLISH

400-1066

Beowulf

Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum  si þin nama gehalgod tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.

Middle English

1066-1485

Chaucer

Oure fadir þat art in heuenes halwid be þi name;  þi reume or kyngdom come to be. Be þi wille don in herþe as it is doun in heuene. yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred. And foryeue to us oure dettis þat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris þat is to men þat han synned in us. And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.

Early Modern

English

1485-1800

Shakes-peare

Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen. Giue us this day our daily bread. And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters. And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer us from euill. Amen.

Modern English

1800-present

Austen .

The End