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The History of the English Language

Britain Before the Anglo-Saxons


Early history was big battle scene Iberians brought stone-age weapons

Arrival of the Celts


2 groups of Celts 800-600bc Brythons (Britons) Settled on largest island (Britain) Gaels Settled on 2nd largest (Ireland

Celts Cont.
Organized into clans o Depended on Druids (pagan priests) to settle disputes o Druids performed religious rituals and recited poems and myths

The Roman Conquest


Julius Caesar (55bc) hasty invasions barely penetrated the island Claudius sent legions for true conquest (43ad)
o Camps grew into towns o Paved roads o Taught methods of warfare (not defense) o Lasted 300 years

The Anglo Saxon Conquest Who were they?


Farmers Fishermen Rowed boats up rivers and conquered towns 3 groups
o Angles o Saxons o Jutes

A-S Established highly organized tribes


o Ruled by a king
o King chosen by the witan (council of elders)

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

Worshiped early Germanic gods


Tiu god of war and sky Woden chief god Fria Wodens wife, goddess of the home Days of the week are named after them

Dispersal of the Britons


Fled to edge of island and beyond Wales hilly western region Ireland to join Gaels and back to Scotia (Scotland) Spoke Celtic languages

The Coming of Christianity


Romans brought Christianity in the 4th Century Celts brought it with them when they fled
Went from Wales to Ireland

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

Resurgence of the Roman Church


St. Augustine brought RC to southern England in 597 Converted King Ethelbert and set up monastery in Canterbury By 650 all of England was RC The result was a kinder, gentler England

Christianity and Literature


Roman influence brought 2 things
Education Written Literature

Monks hand copied books called manuscripts Venerable Bede


Wrote A History of the English Church and People

Beowulf
Epic poem (more later)

Attack of the Danes


AKA the Vikings
Nasty- burned, plundered, raped, pillaged, burned manuscripts By 850 most of England was ruled by Vikings and called the Danelaw Only the Saxon kingdom of Wessex held strong

Alfred The Great


Only English King to be called The Great Established truce in 886
Saxons took the South Danes took the North

Reestablished education Translated Latin works into Anglo-Saxon

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

Edward and the Normans


Throne was regained by Alfreds family Deeply religious (thus the name Confessor) His friendship with his cousin William weakened Saxon power and led to the Norman Conquest (next unit)

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

Poets of the Christian Era


Caedmon Cynewulf

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

Alfred and his Successors


Aelfric:Monk, 10th century wrote Homilies Wulfstan: Archbishop wrote sermons in Old English

The Beowulf Legend


Epic: A long heroic poem The National epic of England Author unknown
first recited in the 6th century Composed in the 8th century Written down in the 11th century

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

The Epic of Beowulf


Actually has three parts
B vs. Grendel B vs. Grendels mother B vs. the dragon We will only read part I

Includes Kenning
Colorful indirect ways of saying something
Sea= whale path Battle=sword play

The Epic of Beowulf


Theme:
Good vs. Evil
Although evil is present in life, ultimately good will overcome evil.

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