Chapter 1 The Anglo--Saxon Period.ppt

1、Chapter One The Anglo - Saxon Period 2. Northumbrian School andWessex Literature 3. Anglo - Saxon Poetry 1. Historical backgroundin the north, in the 7th century in the south, in the 9th century Celts - earliest settlers of the British Islesin the upper Rhinelandto the British Isles about 600B.C.bra

2、nchname the isles Britain (400 to 300 B.C.)Culture of the Celts: an early stage of the Iron AgeBeliefs: little knowsReligious ceremonies: May Day the cult of mistletoeThe Roman Empire - from 55 B.C. to 407 A.D.Form of society : slave society, but with high level of civilizationLondon was founded.The

3、 first Roman general: Julius CaesarThe contributions: build temples, roads, walls, military camps; make little influence on the cultural life of the CeltsWalled towns: a name ending in “chester” or “caster”fortknowledge of the Roman Britain - De Bello Gallicodefeated Celts- GermaniaThe Angles, Saxon

4、s, and Jutes -about 450 A.D.Settled in EnglandDrove the Celts into Wales, Scotland and IrelandGermanic tribesThe Saxon wordsangula hooklived by sea fishingseaxswordhardy fighterstribal societymaster of the British Isles ancestors of the present English peoplethe kingdom of Wessex - around 500 A.D.fe

5、udal societyCeltic King Arthura legendary figureThe Knights of the Round Tablethe bravest of his fellowersKing Alfred, the Great of Wessex -the second half of the 9th centuryIt was not until the reign of his great grandson Edgar that England was united under one king.At the close of the 6th century

6、there were 7 prominent Saxon kingdoms in England.in the southThe Duke of Normandy - 1066In the early 11th century - Danes for 23 yearsfrom Normandy in northern FranceEnglish throne Williamthe last Saxon king promiseNorman ConquestReligion:heathensbe ChristianizedHeathen mythology Christian religionC

7、hurches were built, and monks became the most learned in the country.the end of Anglo Saxon periodtwo highlights in the development of the Anglo - Saxon literatureNorthumbrian SchoolWessexCenter:monasteries and abbeysLeader: 1. Caedmon in the 7th centuryhis contribution: Paraphraseturned the stories

8、 in the Bible into verse formthe first Anglo - Saxon poet2. BedeThe Ecclesiastical History of the English PeopleFather of English HistoryIn the 7th and 8th centuries the center of learning in the northIn the 9th and 10th centuries the center of learning in the southwith King Alfred as the guiding sp

9、iritHis contribution: * Latin to his own language* The Anglo - Saxon Chroniclehistory bookliterary work* A style of Anglo - Saxon prosethe reign of King Alfred30,000 lines of Anglo - Saxon poetry have survived.Beowulfepic poetry religious poemsheroic poemselegiesthe earliest heroic poetrythe most im

10、portant poem now preservedBeowulfprobably written down in the 8th Cen.the manuscript of poem in the 10th Cen.3,183 linesbased on partly historical and legendary materialsoral form existed in the 6th Cen.The first page of the Beowulf manuscript.HrothgarDanish KingHeorotbuilda splendid hallGrendelmons

11、tercomes out of the lairgoes to the halldevour warriorsholds the partiesfor 12 yearsBeowulfnephew to king Hygelac of the GeatshelpsrewardsfightsdiesPart 1 the fight against GrendelBeowulfGrendels motherGrendelavengefightskillsHrothgarrewardsthe GeatsHygelachis sondiesbe killedbe chosena dragon fight

12、s and woundeddiesPeople lamented Beowulfs death and praised him as a great and good king.Part 2 the fight against Grendels mother-sea monster.Part 3 the fight against dragon: aged king and diedThemes:high spiritual qualities resolution to serve the country and kinsfolktrue couragecourteous conductlo

13、ve of honourCharacteristics:Beowulf is strong, courageous, selfless, ready to risk his life.artistic features technical structurecaesuraalliterationkenningrepetition and variationcaesuraevery line consists of two clearly separated half lines between which is a pause, called caesura Grendel stalking;

14、 Gods brand was on him. the gold-hall of men, the mead-drinking place nailed with gold plates. That was not the first visit Alliteration It is a form of initial rhyme, or head rhyme. It is the repetition of the same sound or sounds at the beginning of two or more words that are next to or close to each other. He came on under the clouds, clearly saw at last Rage-inflamed, wreckage-bent, be ripped openKenninga figurative language in order to add beauty to ordinary objects. It is a metaphor usually composed of two works, which becomes the formula for a special