Anglo-Saxon Literature: An Introduction
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Transcript of Anglo-Saxon Literature: An Introduction
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Anglo-Saxon Literature: An Introduction
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Literature
Characteristics Few “pieces” of literature; however, it covers a
larger period of time than any other literary period Originated to celebrate heroism Oral literature (due to widespread illiteracy);
therefore, it has to be told from person to person Doesn’t rhyme, but has a strong rhythm suitable for
chanting. Recited by the scops/bards (wandering poets) who
sang of gods and heroes Status of scops was equal to that of warriors because they
preserved fame
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Literature
Content Strong belief in fate Juxtaposition of church and pagan worlds Admiration of heroic warriors who prevail in battle Express religious faith and give moral instruction
through literature Communal hall represents shelter and
entertainment Full of battles; boastings, pride in glory and blood-
thirstiness Measures time by nights, moons and winters Spiritedness is achieved by respect for bravery and
loyalty
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Common Themes of Poetry
Terror of northern wintersAwareness of transitory nature of lifeReferences to fear of the sea because of
its immensity, cruelty and mystery
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Literary Devices: AlliterationRepetition of initial consonant soundUsed to bind the two halves of a lineOne or more accented syllable in the first
half of a line is always alliterated with one or more accented syllable in the second half.
Gives poetry a chant-like effect
Ex) “tears torn out of Grendel’s taut throat”
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Literary Devices: HomilyLiterally "sermon", or any serious talk,
speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice.
A passage in a work that gives stern solemn advice on how to live and is mostly concerned with morals and conduct.
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Literary Devices: Caesura
“Every nice ear, must, I believe, have observed that in any smooth English verse of ten syllables, there is naturally a pause either at the fourth, fifth, or sixth syllable.” – Alexander Pope
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Literary Devices: CaesuraA natural pause or break dividing a FOOT
between two words, usually near the middle of a line with two major stressed syllables in each partA FOOT is a unit of rhythm in verse
Found in typical Anglo-Saxon verseLiterally: “a cutting”
Old English, cennan – to declareOld Norse, kenna – to know or name
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Literary Devices: Caesura
Examples A prince of Geats had killed Grendel
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Literary Devices: Caesura
How do I identify the stressed vs. the unstressed syllables?stress/accent – a greater amount of force
(breath or emphasis) given to one syllable in speaking than is given to another.
Slightly louder, higher in pitch, or longer in duration than other syllables
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Which syllable is stressed?
Eagle
Cigar
Mystique
Impact
Open
Precise
Statue
Until
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Words typically without a stress
AAnTheAtBy
ForFromOfToWith
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Identify the Stressed Syllables
By John Donne
Batter my heart, three-personed God, for You
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend
You force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
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Identify the Caesura
By William Blake
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds
And binding with briars my joys and desires.
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Literary Devices: Appositive
An appositive is a noun or pronoun — often with modifiers — set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.
An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede it.
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Literary Devices: Epithet A word which makes the reader see the object described in a clearer
or sharper light. It is both exact and imaginative. A word of phrase preceding or following a name which serves to
describe the character. A short, poetic nickname--often in the form of an adjective or
adjectival phrase--attached to the normal name. The Homeric epithet in classical literature often includes compounds of two words
such as, "fleet-footed Achilles," "Cow-eyed Hera," "Grey-eyed Athena," or "the wine-dark sea." In other cases, it appears as a phrase, such as "Odysseus the man-of-many-wiles.”
The historical epithet is a descriptive phrase attached to a ruler's name. For instance, King Alfred the Great, Duke Lorenzo the Magnificent, Robert the Devil, Richard the Lionheart, and so on.
The generally descriptive epithet would appear in Old Norse and Germanic cultures to help distinguish individuals, thus giving us (in Njal's Saga) colorful names such as Hallbjorn Half-Troll, Ulf the Squinter, Hjorleif the Womanizer, and Ketil Flat-Nose.
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Literary Devices: Kenning
Kenning A figurative, metaphorical expression/phrase or
compound word that takes the place of a common noun
A long-winded, forceful metaphor made up of strung-together adjectives and nouns that stand for a thing without naming it (often using alliteration)
Vivid and picturesque Connects words to complex concepts and rich
emotion
Examples . . .
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Whale-road
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sea
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Candle of the sky
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sun
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More Examples of Kennings
twilight-spoiler
battle-sweat
slaughter-dew
brow-stars
ring-giver
light of battle
Viking’s moon
sun-table
dragonblood
eyesprinceswordshield
blood
sky
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Examples of Kennings from Beowulf
Ship: the bent-necked
wood the ringed prow the foamy-necked the sea-wood the sea-farer
Dragon twilight spoiler
QueenThe peace-bringer
among nationsSword
leavings of the fileBattle
storm of swords
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A look at complex kennings
Construct complicated kenning strings by means of consecutive substitution.
For example, slaughter dew worm dance = battle
Slaughter dew worm dance
blood worm dance
sword dance
battle
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Compound Kennings
=ship
horse of the sea
=sea whale-road
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=
then a ship became a “horse of the whale-road”
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Try this Complex Kenning
Using the following 3 kennings, create a complex kenning meaning “warrior” by using consecutive substitution
“provider to ravens” is a warrior
“swans of blood” are ravens
“mead of battle" is blood
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Did you get it?provider to the swans of the
mead of battle “provider to ravens” is a warrior “swans of blood” are ravens “mead of battle" is blood
provider to RAVENS swans of BLOOD
mead of battle =
provider to the swans of the mead of battle
is a WARRIOR
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Modern Kennings bone-house fire-water information super-highway gasoline gulper darkness destroyer sleep stopper word-eater sun smudge spinning water-spitter