CE 2019-II and Literature: Chronicles and Gawain

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Literature History

Programme

- looking back: Early Middle Ages

- Reading: Beowulf

- Discussion questions

- homework

When did the Romans leave the British isle?

1. 1066
2. 450 BC
3. 6th century
4. 450 AD

What is a viking raid?

1. It's an invasion of heathens
2. It's a kind of trial done to vikings by the Anglo-Saxon Kings
3. It's when vikings pillage and plunder the monastery
4. It's when vikings come and kill the king

what was the ultimate form of shame for a warrior?

1. getting killed in battle
2. being wounded in battle and crying about it
3. fleeing from battle
4. being laughed at by the king

Read pages 7-9

Super hero characteristics

The Anglo-thing

The monster-thing

#lifeofBeowulf

question 1: why are there all these references to God in the poem?

2: examples from the text that show that grendel is a bloodthirsty monster

3 why does Wiglaf mention all the valuables that Beowulf has given to his retainers?

Wiglaf: 'Anyone ready to admit that the lord of men who showered you with gifts...away. What is his point?

Heaney's translation

Swanton's translation

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Window on the period in English history

A window on this period in English history

Chronicles were usually written by monks

Homework

read pages 11-14

Write your own entry for the year 2023 for the Chronicle. Which events hould be mentioned? in what way? 

AD 1 - AD 1154

Entries were not all about religious events

1066 

The Battle of Hastings

Consequences of the Battle of Hastings 

for the English language

• French became the official language 

Language of the church: Latin 

Language of the state: French 

• Until the 14th century English was only spoken and not written: 

- a lot of conjugations were lost, a complex language changed into a relatively simple language 

- many French words gradually entered the language. Now about 40% are loanwords from the French language 

• Stories, romances, ballads from French origin were taken over in literature  

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

• Read the information on page 14
  

The storyline of Sir Gawain is derived largely from French Arthurian tales -> King Arthur

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:

Any questions about the story?

Exam training

Work on CE 2019-II texts 9 - 11

Homework for December 1st

Remember...

... to bring your novel, CE 2019-II and Literature reader to class

... to finish CE 2019-II

Again, no class on Tuesday...