Literature lesson 1 - introduction and the early Middle Ages

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Welcome to Literature class

Domein E: literatuur

Subdomein E2: Literaire begrippen

De kandidaat kan literaire teksstoorten herkennen en onderscheiden, en literaire begrippen hanteren in de interpretatie van literaire teksten.

Subdomein E3: Literatuurgeschiedenis

De kandidaat kan een overzicht geven van de hoofdlijnen van de literatuurgeschiedenis en de gelezen literaire werken plaatsen in dit historisch perspectief.

How to study?

• Listen actively, so take notes
• Understand, deal with the specific years later
• Make (digital) flash cards

The Early Middle Ages

(450 - 1066)

The Roman Britain

Middle Ages?

Glossary

- Angles, Saxons and Jutes – the Germanic peoples who migrated from continental Europe and settled, initially in the south and east of the island, from the 5th century.

- Anglo-Saxons – the collective term for the Germanic settlers, first coined in the late 8th century. It came into general use in the 10th century.

- Vikings – the invaders from Scandinavia who between the 8th and 11th centuries raided much of western Europe, including the British Isles.

- Danes – the Vikings who mounted a full-scale invasion in the 860s and then settled across much of what is now northern and eastern England.

- English – refers both to the Anglo-Saxons (the first people to call themselves ‘English’ or ‘Angli’) and later to all settlers in England, including Danes, particularly after the emergence of a unified kingdom of England in the 10th century.

Timeline

55 B.C. Julius Caesar's first invasion of Britain

5. A.D. Rome acknowledges Cymbeline king of Britain

75 - 77 A.D. Rome's conquest of Britain is complete

122 A.D. Construction of Hadrian's Wall on the northern frontier

360's Series of attacks on Britain from the North

407 A.D. Constantine III named emperor by Roman troops in Britain

408 A.D. Devastating attacks by the Picts, Scots and Saxons

409 A.D. Britons expel Roman officials and fight for themselves

410 A.D. Britain in independent

From Roman rule to

Anglo-Saxon kingdoms

• From 55 BC to about 450 AD under Roman rule
• 450 AD: Roman left Britain to defend empire on continent
• Attacks by Scots, Irish, Angles, Saxons and Jutes
• Anglo-Saxon community was born; many kingdoms within Britain

• Kings were surrounded  by young warriors and   rewarded them for their loyalty

• Central meeting point: Mead hall, to eat, drink and listen to stories and poems.

Converting the heathen Anglo-Saxons to Christianity

Latin literature by Christian monks,

illuminated manuscripts

Important literature from this time

1. The Ecclesiastical History of the Anglo-Saxon People, Bede
2. Beowulf
3. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (illustration)
   

King Alfred of Wessex

Alfred the Great (849 - 899), king of Wessex. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, circa 890.

Old English

Some Old English (of Latin origin) that have survived into modern English:  belt, butter, chalk, chest, cup, fan, fork, mile, minster, mint, monk, pepper, school, sock, strop, wine.

Thunder comes from heat and from moisture. The air draws the moisture to it from below and the heat from above.

‘Ðunor cymð of hætan & of wætan. Seo lyft tyhð þone wætan to hire neoðan & ða hætan ufan.’

Let's hear Old English

Have you heard of Sutton Hoo before?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Do not forget to...

• read the sections on early middle ages and Sutton Hoo again