Old english power point

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

2. Three Periods Three Periods
of of
English Language DevelopmentEnglish Language Development
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

3. The LanguageThe Language
English as a language first appeared about English as a language first appeared about
1,500 years ago1,500 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?

4. 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 Bronze Gave way to the Bronze
AgeAge
Iron Age was next (500 Iron Age was next (500
or 600 B.C.)or 600 B.C.)

5. PaleolithicPaleolithic
No English ChannelNo English Channel
People short (5 feet), People short (5 feet),
long-armed, short-long-armed, short-
legged, low legged, low
foreheads, poorly foreheads, poorly
developed chinsdeveloped chins
Caves, under rock Caves, under rock
sheltersshelters

6. 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

7. The CeltsThe Celts
Came to England during the Bronze AgeCame to England during the Bronze Age
Spoke Gaelic (Ireland) and Brythonic (Britain)Spoke Gaelic (Ireland) and Brythonic (Britain)
Trivia: In Trivia: In Million Dollar BabyMillion Dollar Baby, Clint Eastwood’s , Clint Eastwood’s
character was reading a book about a language. He character was reading a book about a language. He
used a term he learned to refer to Hilary Swank. used a term he learned to refer to Hilary Swank.
What was the language?What was the language?
Druids were priests who memorized and recited Druids were priests who memorized and recited
long heroic poems – oral traditionlong heroic poems – oral tradition

8. Romans in EnglandRomans in England
55 B.C. – Julius Caesar invaded England -- 55 B.C. – Julius Caesar invaded England --
twicetwice
Succeeded in gaining minimal control of Succeeded in gaining minimal control of
the southeastthe southeast
Claudius gained control of most of the Claudius gained control of most of the
island in 43 A.D.island in 43 A.D.
300 years of Roman rule300 years of Roman rule

9. Roman influenceRoman influence
Established highways and Established highways and
roadwaysroadways
Roman houses and baths, Roman houses and baths,
temples, theaterstemples, theaters
Water and heatingWater and heating
Mosaic floors, stucco Mosaic floors, stucco
wallswalls
Dress, ornaments, Dress, ornaments,
utensils, pottery, utensils, pottery,
glasswareglassware
Latin – official language Latin – official language
(upper class)(upper class)

10. 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 Danish Angles (Schleswig-Holstein on south Danish
peninsula)peninsula)
Saxons (between the Elbe and Ems rivers)Saxons (between the Elbe and Ems rivers)
Frisians (along the coast from Weser to Rhine Frisians (along the coast from Weser to Rhine
rivers)rivers)

11. 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

12. Anglo-Saxon CivilizationAnglo-Saxon Civilization
Some settlements Some settlements
peaceful with Celtspeaceful with Celts
Some settlements Some settlements
fighting occurredfighting occurred
RomanRoman towns burnt towns burnt
and abandonedand abandoned
Eorls (aristocracy)Eorls (aristocracy)
Ceorls (simple Ceorls (simple
freemen)freemen)
Wergild (justice)Wergild (justice)
Witan (council of Witan (council of
elders)elders)
Northumbria (7Northumbria (7
thth

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

13. ““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 “Saxones” Early Latin writers referred to the people as “Saxones”
and the land as “Saxonia”and the land as “Saxonia”
Anglia Anglia began to appear with began to appear with SaxoneSaxone in reference to all in reference to all
West Germanic tribesWest 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 peopleAngelcynn became the term for the land and people
About 1,000, About 1,000, Englaland Englaland (land of the Angles) appeared(land of the Angles) appeared

14. Old English DialectsOld English Dialects
Northumbrian – north of the Thames RiverNorthumbrian – north of the Thames River
Mercian – north of the Thames RiverMercian – north of the Thames River
West Saxon – West Saxon kingdom in the West Saxon – West Saxon kingdom in the
southwest (Almost all Old English 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)

15. Old English exampleOld English example
SEE HANDOUT PAGES 60-62SEE HANDOUT PAGES 60-62

16. Flexibility and DerivationFlexibility and Derivation
mod
“heart, mind,
spirit, courage”
modig
“spirited, arrogant”
modiglic
“magnanimous”
gemodod
“disposed, minded”

17. 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 than borrow/assimilate rather than
adapt our own words.adapt our own words.

18. The LiteratureThe Literature
Some brought by the Some brought by the
Germanic conquerors Germanic conquerors
Oral traditionOral tradition
PaganPagan
Grim view of lifeGrim view of life
Several gods – Woden, Several gods – Woden,
Fria, Tiu, ThorFria, Tiu, Thor
Wednesday, Friday, Wednesday, Friday,
Tuesday, ThursdayTuesday, Thursday
Fate (wyrd)Fate (wyrd)
Reintroduction of Reintroduction of
Christianity – 6Christianity – 6
thth

centurycentury

19. Literary PerformanceLiterary Performance
Scops and gleemenScops and gleemen
Ceremonial occasionsCeremonial occasions
CaesuraCaesura, , alliteration, alliteration,
and kenningsand kennings
Possibly accompanied Possibly accompanied
by a harpby a harp
Castles or hallsCastles or halls

20. 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)

21. ““From the fury of the Northmen, O From the fury of the Northmen, O
Lord, deliver us.”Lord, deliver us.”
The Norse and the Danes The Norse and the Danes
(Vikings) took to the seas (Vikings) took to the seas
– rising population, – rising population,
limited farmlandlimited farmland
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 to Only Wessex was able to
fight back effectivelyfight back effectively

22. Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great
Wessex throne in 871Wessex throne in 871
Resisted the DanesResisted the Danes
Truce: Saxons rule the south; Danes rule Truce: Saxons rule the south; Danes rule
the east and north (the east and north (DanelawDanelaw))
Peace -- Danish words became part of Peace -- Danish words became part of
English vocabulary (i.e. law)English vocabulary (i.e. law)

23. Norman ConquestNorman Conquest
Danes began a second invasion in 10Danes began a second invasion in 10
thth

century.century.
Edward the Confessor -- a Christian, part Edward the Confessor -- a Christian, part
Norman, friend of King William of Norman, friend of King William of
NormandyNormandy
1066 – Edward died; Norman Conquest 1066 – Edward died; Norman Conquest

24. BeowulfBeowulf
Considered the Considered the
greatest single work greatest single work
of Old English of Old English
literatureliterature
3,000-line folk 3,000-line folk epicepic
HeroHero
Social conditionsSocial conditions
Germanic Germanic
motives/idealsmotives/ideals

25. Beowulf as a recordBeowulf as a record
Physical endurancePhysical endurance
Unflinching courageUnflinching courage
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 he work mighty deeds ere he
die, for afterwards, when die, for afterwards, when
he lies lifeless, that is he lies lifeless, that is
best for the warrior.”best for the warrior.”

26. 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”

27. Verse Vs. ProseVerse Vs. Prose
Verse is Verse is
more easily more easily
remembered remembered
– oral – 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 of Ecclesiastical History of
the English Peoplethe English People
The Consolation of PhilosophyThe Consolation of Philosophy
Sermon to the EnglishSermon to the English

28. Let’s get started!!!Let’s get started!!!