Old English (450-1150 Old English (450-1150 A.D.) A.D.)

and the and the Anglo-Saxon Period Anglo-Saxon Period

(449-1066 A.D.)(449-1066 A.D.)The Language The Language

and and

the Literaturethe Literature

Three Periods Three Periods of of

English Language English Language DevelopmentDevelopment

Old English – 450-1150 A.D.Old English – 450-1150 A.D. Middle English – 1150-1500 A.D.Middle English – 1150-1500 A.D. Modern English – 1500-presentModern English – 1500-present

The LanguageThe Language

English as a language first appeared English as a language first appeared about 1,500 years agoabout 1,500 years ago

The land was inhabited between The land was inhabited between 50,000-250,000 years ago50,000-250,000 years ago

Who was there?Who was there?

Stone AgeStone Age

Lasted in England until Lasted in England until about 2,000 B.C.about 2,000 B.C.

Weapons of stoneWeapons of stone Other implements of Other implements of

stonestone Paleolithic (Old Stone) Paleolithic (Old Stone)

and Neolithic (New and Neolithic (New Stone)Stone)

Gave way to the Gave way to the Bronze AgeBronze Age

Iron Age was next (500 Iron Age was next (500 or 600 B.C.)or 600 B.C.)

PaleolithicPaleolithic

No English ChannelNo English Channel People short (5 People short (5

feet), long-armed, feet), long-armed, short-legged, low short-legged, low foreheads, poorly foreheads, poorly developed chinsdeveloped chins

Caves, under rock Caves, under rock sheltersshelters

NeolithicNeolithic

About 5,000 B.C.About 5,000 B.C. Superior stone Superior stone

weapons and weapons and implementsimplements

Higher cultureHigher culture Dark race of slightly Dark race of slightly

larger staturelarger stature Crude pottery, Crude pottery,

weavingweaving CrannogsCrannogs

The CeltsThe Celts

Came to England during the Bronze AgeCame to England during the Bronze Age Spoke Gaelic (Ireland) and Brythonic Spoke Gaelic (Ireland) and Brythonic

(Britain)(Britain) Trivia: In Trivia: In Million Dollar BabyMillion Dollar Baby, Clint Eastwood’s , Clint Eastwood’s

character was reading a book about a character was reading a book about a language. He used a term he learned to refer language. He used a term he learned to refer to Hilary Swank. What was the language?to Hilary Swank. What was the language?

Druids were priests who memorized and Druids were priests who memorized and recited long heroic poems – oral traditionrecited long heroic poems – oral tradition

Romans in EnglandRomans in England

55 B.C. – Julius Caesar invaded 55 B.C. – Julius Caesar invaded England -- twiceEngland -- twice

Succeeded in gaining minimal control Succeeded in gaining minimal control of the southeastof the southeast

Claudius gained control of most of Claudius gained control of most of the island in 43 A.D.the island in 43 A.D.

300 years of Roman rule300 years of Roman rule

Roman influenceRoman influence

Established highways Established highways and roadwaysand roadways

Roman houses and Roman houses and baths, temples, baths, temples, theaterstheaters

Water and heatingWater and heating Mosaic floors, stucco Mosaic floors, stucco

wallswalls Dress, ornaments, Dress, ornaments,

utensils, pottery, utensils, pottery, glasswareglassware

Latin – official Latin – official language (upper class)language (upper class)

Germanic ConquestGermanic Conquest Invasions began around 449 A.D.Invasions began around 449 A.D. Came from Denmark and GermanyCame from Denmark and Germany Bede -- Bede -- Ecclesiastical History of the English Ecclesiastical History of the English

PeoplePeople Jutes (Jutland on north Danish peninsula)Jutes (Jutland on north Danish peninsula) Angles (Schleswig-Holstein on south Angles (Schleswig-Holstein on south

Danish peninsula)Danish peninsula) Saxons (between the Elbe and Ems rivers)Saxons (between the Elbe and Ems rivers) Frisians (along the coast from Weser to Frisians (along the coast from Weser to

Rhine rivers)Rhine rivers)

Celtic Shut OutCeltic Shut Out

Britons “softened” by Roman ruleBritons “softened” by Roman rule Romans withdrew in 410Romans withdrew in 410 Made a deal with the Jutes, who took overMade a deal with the Jutes, who took over Saxons came in 477 (Sussex) and 495 Saxons came in 477 (Sussex) and 495

(Wessex); also Essex and Middlesex(Wessex); also Essex and Middlesex Angles came and settled the east coast; Angles came and settled the east coast;

established Anglian kingdom in 547established Anglian kingdom in 547

Anglo-Saxon CivilizationAnglo-Saxon Civilization Some settlements Some settlements

peaceful with Celtspeaceful with Celts Some settlements Some settlements

fighting occurredfighting occurred RomanRoman towns burnt and towns burnt and

abandonedabandoned Eorls (aristocracy)Eorls (aristocracy) Ceorls (simple freemen)Ceorls (simple freemen) Wergild (justice)Wergild (justice) Witan (council of Witan (council of

elders)elders)

Northumbria (7Northumbria (7thth century)century)

Mercia (8Mercia (8th th century)century) East AngliaEast Anglia KentKent EssexEssex SussexSussex Wessex (9Wessex (9th th century)century)

““England” and “English”England” and “English”

Celts called all Germanic invaders “Saxons”Celts called all Germanic invaders “Saxons” Early Latin writers referred to the people as Early Latin writers referred to the people as

“Saxones” and the land as “Saxonia”“Saxones” and the land as “Saxonia” Anglia Anglia began to appear with began to appear with SaxoneSaxone in reference in reference

to all West Germanic tribesto all West Germanic tribes Ethelbert, king of Kent, -- Ethelbert, king of Kent, -- rex Anglorumrex Anglorum Writers referred to the vernacular as Writers referred to the vernacular as EngliscEnglisc Angelcynn became the term for the land and Angelcynn became the term for the land and

peoplepeople About 1,000, About 1,000, Englaland Englaland (land of the Angles) (land of the Angles)

appearedappeared

Old English DialectsOld English Dialects

Northumbrian – north of the Thames Northumbrian – north of the Thames RiverRiver

Mercian – north of the Thames RiverMercian – north of the Thames River West Saxon – West Saxon kingdom in West Saxon – West Saxon kingdom in

the southwest (Almost all Old English the southwest (Almost all Old English literature is preserved in manuscripts literature is preserved in manuscripts transcribed in this region)transcribed in this region)

Kentish – southeast (Jutes)Kentish – southeast (Jutes)

Old English exampleOld English example

SEE HANDOUT PAGES 60-62SEE HANDOUT PAGES 60-62

Flexibility and DerivationFlexibility and Derivation

mod“heart, mind,

spirit, courage”

modig“spirited, arrogant”

modiglic“magnanimous”

gemodod“disposed, minded”

Modern English Modern English lackslacks the the flexibilityflexibility of Old English. of Old English.

The tendency is to The tendency is to borrow/assimilate rather borrow/assimilate rather

than adapt our own words.than adapt our own words.

The LiteratureThe Literature

Some brought by the Some brought by the Germanic Germanic conquerors conquerors

Oral traditionOral tradition PaganPagan

Grim view of lifeGrim view of life Several gods – Several gods –

Woden, Fria, Tiu, ThorWoden, Fria, Tiu, Thor Wednesday, Friday, Wednesday, Friday,

Tuesday, ThursdayTuesday, Thursday Fate (wyrd)Fate (wyrd)

Reintroduction of Reintroduction of Christianity – 6Christianity – 6thth centurycentury

Literary PerformanceLiterary Performance

Scops and gleemenScops and gleemen Ceremonial Ceremonial

occasionsoccasions CaesuraCaesura, , alliteration, alliteration,

and kenningsand kennings Possibly Possibly

accompanied by a accompanied by a harpharp

Castles or hallsCastles or halls

Christianity Christianity

King Ethelbert of Kent – converted by King Ethelbert of Kent – converted by Saint AugustineSaint Augustine

Set up monastery in Canterbury Set up monastery in Canterbury Mission: Convert the kingsMission: Convert the kings 650 – Success650 – Success Brought education and literatureBrought education and literature Bede (673-735)Bede (673-735)

““From the fury of the From the fury of the Northmen, O Lord, deliver us.”Northmen, O Lord, deliver us.”

The Norse and the The Norse and the Danes (Vikings) took to Danes (Vikings) took to the seas – rising the seas – rising population, limited population, limited farmlandfarmland

Plundered monasteries, Plundered monasteries, destroyed manuscripts, destroyed manuscripts, stole sacred religious stole sacred religious objectsobjects

Destroyed communitiesDestroyed communities Killed villagersKilled villagers Only Wessex was able Only Wessex was able

to fight back effectivelyto fight back effectively

Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great

Wessex throne in 871Wessex throne in 871 Resisted the DanesResisted the Danes Truce: Saxons rule the south; Danes Truce: Saxons rule the south; Danes

rule the east and north (rule the east and north (DanelawDanelaw)) Peace -- Danish words became part Peace -- Danish words became part

of English vocabulary (i.e. law)of English vocabulary (i.e. law)

Norman ConquestNorman Conquest

Danes began a second invasion in Danes began a second invasion in 1010thth century. century.

Edward the Confessor -- a Christian, Edward the Confessor -- a Christian, part Norman, friend of King William part Norman, friend of King William of Normandyof Normandy

1066 – Edward died; Norman 1066 – Edward died; Norman Conquest Conquest

BeowulfBeowulf

Considered the Considered the greatest single greatest single work of Old English work of Old English literatureliterature

3,000-line folk 3,000-line folk epicepic HeroHero Social conditionsSocial conditions Germanic Germanic

motives/idealsmotives/ideals

Beowulf as a recordBeowulf as a record

Physical endurancePhysical endurance Unflinching Unflinching

couragecourage Sense of dutySense of duty LoyaltyLoyalty HonorHonor

““Sorrow not . . . Better is it Sorrow not . . . Better is it for every man that he for every man that he avenge his friend than avenge his friend than that he mourn greatly. that he mourn greatly. Each of us must abide Each of us must abide the end of this world’s the end of this world’s life; let him who may, life; let him who may, work mighty deeds ere work mighty deeds ere he die, for afterwards, he die, for afterwards, when he lies lifeless, when he lies lifeless, that is best for the that is best for the warrior.”warrior.”

Other Old English LiteratureOther Old English Literature

War and exileWar and exile Sea and its Sea and its

hardships/fascinationhardships/fascination Ruined citiesRuined cities Minstrel lifeMinstrel life Christian subjectsChristian subjects

““Widsith”Widsith” ““Deor”Deor” ““The Wanderer”The Wanderer” ““The Seafarer”The Seafarer” ““The Ruin”The Ruin” ““Battle of Brunanburh”Battle of Brunanburh” ““Battle of Maldon”Battle of Maldon” ““Juliana”Juliana” ““Elene”Elene” ““Christ”Christ”

Verse Vs. ProseVerse Vs. Prose

Verse is Verse is more more easily easily rememberremembered – oral ed – oral traditiontradition

Alfred the Great (871-899) Alfred the Great (871-899) encouraged education encouraged education

Had books translated from Had books translated from Latin to EnglishLatin to English

Pastoral CarePastoral Care Bede’s Bede’s Ecclesiastical History Ecclesiastical History

of the English Peopleof the English People The Consolation of The Consolation of

PhilosophyPhilosophy Sermon to the EnglishSermon to the English

Let’s get started!!!Let’s get started!!!