Anglo-Saxons

WALT: understand what things Anglo-Saxon people did to entertain themselves.

Today, we will be finding out about what Anglo-Saxon people did for fun.

How do you think children and adults entertained themselves?

How will it be similar/different to modern entertainment?

The Anglo-Saxons were great craft workers. They made intricate jewellery, musical instruments and

homemade toys and games.

They were also keen storytellers. They would gather together in feasting halls and tell thrilling stories. Often their stories would be accompanied by music played on an instrument called

a lyre.

The Saxons liked to play with words too. They amused themselves by telling clever riddles.

Anglo-Saxon jewellers made brooches, beads and gold ornaments.

Very few Anglo-Saxons could read or write. All their stories were told to them by their friends and family.

On dark winter days, people gathered in the great hall around a log fire. They listened to stories and poems, feasted and sang songs.

They ate roast meats with bread and fruit, and they drank ale or a strong drink made from honey called mead. People often drank too much, so feasts were usually noisy and sometimes ended in fights!

Anglo-Saxons loved tales about brave warriors and their adventures. A favourite story told how Beowulf, a heroic prince, battled the fierce man-eating monster Grendel.

How did they tell stories?

The story of Beowulf was first written down around the 8th or 9th century, but long before that the story was told around the fire.

The story of Beowulf

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/zwjq2hv

Children played with homemade toys. They had rag dolls and carved wooden toys, such as horses and small wooden boats, as well as games that used counters and dice.

From finds in graves, we know children also had spinning tops and played tunes on pipes made from reeds or animal bones.

Anglo-Saxon men enjoyed sporting pastimes, like wrestling, weight-lifting (using heavy rocks) and horse-racing. These sports kept them fit for work and strong for war. In swimming races, it was fair to push other swimmers underwater!

What games did they play?

The Anglo-Saxons liked to tell each other riddles too. Can you work out the answer to this one?

I appear on the ground like a blanket and melt in the midday sun. What am I?

Your Task

Using what you have learnt about Anglo-Saxon entertainment for both children and adults, you are going to create a Pic Collage or poster all about what

they did for fun!