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The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods

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The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Geoffrey Periods 449–1485 Chaucer the origins of a nation • The Anglo-Saxon Epic • Reflections of Common Life dvd-rom • The Age of Chaucer Great Stories on Film Discover how a movie captures the imagination • Medieval Romance of viewers in a scene from King Arthur. Page 266 NA_L12PE-u01-uo.indd 19 11/22/10 12:00:38 PM unit Questions of the Times DISCUSS Read and discuss these questions with a partner, and share your 1 thoughts with the class. Then read on to explore the ways in which these issues affected the literature of the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods. What makes a Who really shapes true HERO? SOCIETY? From the fierce, doomed Anglo-Saxon warrior Beowulf to The medieval period in British history conjures up images King Arthur and his loyal knights, bound by their code of of kings, queens, and knights in shining armor, but in reality chivalry, early British literature shows a deep fascination most of the people were simple peasants. The feudal system with the hero as the embodiment of society’s highest ensured that peasants, despite their large numbers, had very ideals. As these ideals have shifted, the image of the hero little political power. Yet their struggles and contributions has changed too. What do you believe are the qualities of helped build a great nation. What do you think truly shapes a true hero? society? Is it the power of the few or the struggles of many? 20 NA_L12PE-u01s01-QOTT.indd 20 11/22/10 12:02:24 PM RL 9 Demonstrate knowledge of foundational works of literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics. RI 9 Analyze documents of historical and literary significance for their themes, purposes, and rhetorical features. Does FATE Can people live up control our lives? to high IDEALS? The seafaring Anglo-Saxons led harsh, brutal lives, often cut During the medieval period, there were elaborate rules of short by violence, disease, or the unpredictable tempests conduct to guide behavior in battle as well as in romance. of the icy North Sea. They admired strength and courage This code of chivalry assumed that knights were uniformly but ultimately saw humans as helpless victims of a grim, gallant and loyal, ladies fair and devout, manners impeccable, implacable fate they called wyrd. Do you believe people and jousting the way to prove bravery and win favor. Is it can determine their own futures, or does chance or fate possible to live up to such high ideals? Is it worth trying? play a part? 21 NA_L12PE-u01s01-QOTT.indd 21 11/22/10 12:02:43 PM The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods 449–1485 The Origins of a Nation A towering circle of ancient stones, draped in the mist of centuries. The clatter of horses’ hooves, the clash of swords and spears. A tiny island whose motley tongue would become the language of the world, and whose laws, customs, and literature would help form Western civilization. This is England, and the story begins here. 2222 NA_L12PE-u01s02-ui.indd 22 11/22/10 11:58:42 AM The Anglo-Saxon Period: RL 9 Demonstrate knowledge of foundational works of literature, Historical Context including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar Britain’s early years were dominated by successive waves of themes or topics. RI 9 Analyze invaders. Among them were the Anglo-Saxons—a people who documents of historical and literary significance for their gave us the first masterpieces of English literature. themes, purposes, and rhetorical features. L 1a Apply the understanding that usage is a Centuries of Invasion matter of convention, can change over time, and is sometimes The Dark Ages, as the Anglo-Saxon period is often called, was a time contested. of bloody conflicts, ignorance, violence, and barbarism. Life was difficult, and the literature of the period reflects that reality. Little imagery of the brief English summers appears in this literature; winter prevails, and spring taking notes comes slowly, if at all. The people were serious minded, and the reader finds Outlining As you read this introduction, use an outline scarce humor in their literature. Indeed, many of the stories and poems to record main ideas about present heroic struggles in which only the strong survive. And no wonder. the historical events and The first person ever to write about England may have literature of each period. early britain You can use headings, been the Roman general Julius Caesar, who in 55 b.c. attempted to boldfaced terms, and conquer the British Isles. Put off by fierce Celtic warriors, Caesar hastily the information in boxes claimed victory for Rome and returned to Europe, leaving the Britons like this one as starting (as the people were known) and their neighbors to the north and west, points. (See page R49 in the Picts and Gaels, in peace. the Research Handbook for A century later, however, the Roman army returned in force and more help with outlining.) made good Caesar’s claim. Britain became a province of the great Roman I. Historical Context Empire, and the Romans introduced cities, roads, written scholarship, A. Centuries of Invasion and eventually Christianity to the island. Their rule lasted more than three 1. Early Britain hundred years. “Romanized” Britons adapted to an urban lifestyle, living 2. Anglo-Saxons in villas and frequenting public baths, and came to depend on the Roman military for protection. Then, early in the fifth century, the Romans pulled 3. Vikings out of Britain, called home to help defend their beleaguered empire against B. The Norman Conquest hordes of invaders. With no central government or army, it was not long before Britain, too, became a target for invasion. anglo-saxons The Angles and Saxons, along with other Germanic tribes, began arriving from northern Europe around a.d. 449. The Britons— perhaps led by a Celtic chieftain named Arthur (likely the genesis of the legendary King Arthur of myth and folklore)—fought a series of battles against the invaders. Eventually, however, the Britons were driven to the west (Cornwall and Wales), the north (Scotland), and across the English Channel to an area of France that became known as Brittany. Settled by the Anglo-Saxons, the main part of Britain took on a new name: Angle-land, or England. Anglo-Saxon culture became the basis for English culture, and their gutteral, vigorous language became the spoken language of the people, the language now known as Old English. Stonehenge, an ancient monument located in Wiltshire, England unit introduction 23 NA_L12PE-u01s02-ui.indd 23 11/30/10 10:21:40 AM vikings The 790s brought the next wave of invaders, a fearsome group of seafaring marauders from the rocky, windswept coasts of Denmark and Norway: the Vikings. Shrieking wildly and waving giant battle-axes, Viking raiders looted, killed, and burned down entire villages. At first, they hit and ran; later, finding England a more pleasant spot to spend the winter than their icy homeland, the Danish invaders set up camps and gradually gained control of much of the north and east of the country. In the south, the Danes finally met defeat at the hands of a powerful Anglo-Saxon king known as Alfred the Great. Alfred unified the English, and under his rule, learning and culture flourished. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a record of English history, was initiated at his bidding. The Norman Conquest In 1042, a descendant of Alfred’s took the throne, the deeply religious A Voice from the Times Edward the Confessor. Edward, who had no children, had once sworn William returned to Hastings, an oath making his French cousin William, duke of Normandy, his and waited there to know heir—or so William claimed. When Edward died, however, a council of nobles and church officials chose an English earl named Harold whether the people would submit to succeed him. Incensed, William led his Norman army in what was to him. But when he found that to be the last successful invasion of the island of Britain: the Norman they would not come to him, he Conquest. Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and went up with all his force that on Christmas Day of that year, William the Conqueror was crowned was left and that came since to king of England. him from over sea, and ravaged The Norman Conquest ended Anglo-Saxon dominance in England. all the country. Losing their land to the conquerors, noble families sank into the peasantry, and a new class of privileged Normans took their place. —Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Scale model of the Battle of Hastings 24 unit 1: the anglo-saxon and medieval periods NA_L12PE-u01s02-ui.indd 24 11/22/10 11:58:53 AM Cultural Influences Early Anglo-Saxon literature reflected a fatalistic worldview, while later works were influenced by rapidly spreading Christianity. The Spread of Christianity Like all cultures, that of the Anglo-Saxons changed over time. The early invaders were seafaring wanderers whose lives were bleak, violent, and short. Their pagan religion was marked by a strong belief in wyrd, or fate, and they saved their admiration for heroic warriors whose fate it was to prevail in battle. As the Anglo-Saxons settled into their new land, however, they became an agricultural people— less violent, more secure, more civilized. in the Roman Wo ianity rld A.D. The bleak fatalism of the Anglo-Saxons’ early beliefs Christ 500 may have reflected the reality of their lives, but it offered little hope.
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