Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Celts Cont.
Organized into clans o Depended on Druids (pagan priests) to settle disputes o Druids performed religious rituals and recited poems and myths
o 4 distinct classes
o Earls hereditary class of warlords o Freemen could own land and sell things (included thanes, early barons, who were given status as reward for military service. o Churls (serfs) servant who worked the land in exchange for military protection o Thralls slaves, prisoners, convicts
A-S continued
o Small kingdoms frequently fought,
eventually seven larger kingdoms were formed. o All of the intermingling created what is called Anglo-Saxon or OLD ENGLISH
A-S Beliefs
4 Ideals
Honor Warrior attitude Good will defeat evil Fate
Pagan
In the hands of fate
Church thrived in Ireland and was eventually reintroduced in northern England by Columba in 563 Scotland accepted the faith as well as some Angles and Saxons
Beowulf
Epic poem (more later)
Danish Contributions
Brought brewing and mercantile trade to England. Had a fondness for law New Danish invaders actually conquered Saxons in 10th century and witan was forced to chose a Danish King
A-S Lit
1st alphabet called runes Singers at celebrations were called scops and gleemen Accompanied by a harp and included a caesura (mid-line pause) Heroic poetry- recounts the achievements of warriors involved in great battles Elegiac poetry-sorrowful laments that mourn death Pagan elements remain such as wyrd, or an ominous fate
A-S Prose
Bede wrote in Latin, but wrote of a unified England, thus the 1st of English prose Alcuin: monk who wrote books on philosophy, religion, etc. All writing was linked to church because church gave education
Beowulf Cont.
Beowulf: Pagan warrior known for his courage, strength, and dignity Poem includes many references to Christian ideas (11th century), but many A-S values
Warrior society
Dignity Bravery Prowess in battle Honor Fate
Includes Kenning
Colorful indirect ways of saying something
Sea= whale path Battle=sword play