CONTENTS:
1. Example Biography 2. Example Biography with SPaG hints 3. Features of a Biography
A Biography of Alfred The Great
Early Life
Alfred was born in the year AD 849 in the kingdom of Wessex, which was located in the southwest of England. Alfred's father, Aethelwulf, was king of Wessex, so Alfred grew up as a prince. However, he had four older brothers, so it was doubtful that he would ever become king. Alfred was seen as an intelligent child who loved to learn and memorise poems. As a child, he travelled to Rome, where he met the pope, and began to learn about Christianity. When Alfred's father died in 858, his brother Aethebald became king. Over the next several years, each of his brothers died until his last, elder brother – Aethelred – was crowned king.
Fighting the Vikings
Throughout much of Alfred's life, the Vikings had been raiding England. In 870, the Vikings had conquered all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except for Wessex. Alfred was made his brother's second in command; he led the Wessex army to a great victory at the Battle of Ashdown.
Becoming King
In 871, the Vikings continued to attack. Alfred's brother Aethelred died in one of the battles and Alfred was crowned king at the age of 22. Over the next several years Alfred fought off the Vikings. After many battles, he thought they had finally achieved some kind of peace. However, in 878, the Danish King Guthrum led a surprise attack against Alfred and his army. He was defeated. Alfred managed to escape, but with only a few men. He fled so that he could plot his counterattack. Many of the men of Wessex were tired of the constant raids and attacks of the Vikings; as a result, they rallied around Alfred and soon the king had a strong army again.
Peace with the Vikings
Despite being very courageous and a great leader, Alfred was a frail man who struggled with illness for most of his life. He did not let this stop him though; with his new army, Alfred counter-attacked the Vikings. After a hard-fought battle, he defeated King Guthrum and took back his land at Chippenham. Subsequently, Alfred established a peace treaty: the Vikings would remain on the eastern side of Britain and the Anglo Saxons on the west. The Viking territory became known as Danelaw.
Ruling as King
Once peace had been established with the Vikings, Alfred went about rebuilding his kingdom. With so much focus on fighting off the Vikings, the educational system of England had almost disappeared. Alfred knew that education was important, so he founded schools and rebuilt monasteries.
In 886, he re-captured London and was named King of the English on Anglo Saxon coins. This was the first time a man had ever reigned over most of the country. A devout Christian, he began to spread the religion throughout England and many Saxons and Vikings, who were Pagan, converted to Christianity. Not only this, but he helped to translate the Bible from Latin into English so that more people could read – this is another example of how he helped to improve education too.
In addition to this, Alfred made other reforms and improvements to his kingdom: he built forts throughout the country, established a strong navy, and brought talented European scholars and craftsmen across the channel to England. Furthermore, he also established a national code of law.
Death
Alfred died in 899 and was succeeded by his son Edward. It would be his grandson Aethelstan who would eventually be called the first King of England. However, Alfred remains one of the most famous people I British history; he continues to be known as ‘Alfred the Great’ to this day.
A Biography of Alfred The Great
Early Life
Alfred was born in the year AD 849 in the kingdom of Wessex, which was located in the southwest of England. Alfred's father, Aethelwulf, was king of Wessex, so Alfred grew up as a prince. However, he had four older brothers, so it was doubtful that he would ever become king. Alfred was seen as an intelligent child who loved to learn and memorise poems. As a child, he travelled to Rome, where he met the pope, and began to learn about Christianity. When Alfred's father died in 858, his brother Aethebald became king. Over the next several years, each of his brothers died until his last, elder brother – Aethelred – was crowned king.
Fighting the Vikings
Throughout much of Alfred's life, the Vikings had been raiding England. In 870, the Vikings had conquered all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except for Wessex. Alfred was made his brother's second in command; he led the Wessex army to a great victory at the Battle of Ashdown.
Becoming King
In 871, the Vikings continued to attack. Alfred's brother Aethelred died in one of the battles and Alfred was crowned king at the age of 22. Over the next several years Alfred fought off the Vikings. After many battles, he thought they had finally achieved some kind of peace. However, in 878, the Danish King Guthrum led a surprise attack against Alfred and his army. He was defeated. Alfred managed to escape, but with only a few men. He fled so that he could plot his counterattack. Many of the men of Wessex were tired of the constant raids and attacks of the Vikings; as a result, they rallied around Alfred and soon the king had a strong army again.
Peace with the Vikings
Despite being very courageous and a great leader, Alfred was a frail man who struggled with illness for most of his life. He did not let this stop him though; with his new army, Alfred counter-attacked the Vikings. After a hard-fought battle, he defeated King Guthrum and took back his land at Chippenham. Subsequently, Alfred established a peace treaty: the Vikings would remain on the eastern side of Britain and the Anglo Saxons on the west. The Viking territory became known as Danelaw.
Ruling as King
Once peace had been established with the Vikings, Alfred went about rebuilding his kingdom. With so much focus on fighting off the Vikings, the educational system of England had almost disappeared. Alfred knew that education was important, so he founded schools and rebuilt monasteries.
In 886, he re-captured London and was named King of the English on Anglo Saxon coins. This was the first time a man had ever reigned over most of the country. A devout Christian, he began to spread the religion throughout England and many Saxons and Vikings, who were Pagan, converted to Christianity. Not only this, but he helped to translate the Bible from Latin into English so that more people could read – this is another example of how he helped to improve education too.
In addition to this, Alfred made other reforms and improvements to his kingdom: he built forts throughout the country, established a strong navy, and brought talented European scholars and craftsmen across the channel to England. Furthermore, he also established a national code of law.
Death
Alfred died in 899 and was succeeded by his son Edward. It would be his grandson Aethelstan who would eventually be called the first King of England. However, Alfred remains one of the most famous people I British history; he continues to be known as ‘Alfred the Great’ to this day.
Passive Voice Cohesive Device Relative Clause
Purpose: To give an account of someone’s life.
Structure and Content: Opening statement introduces the subject, and explains what the person is known for and when and where they were born Significant events and influences in that person’s life are ordered chronologically and organised into clear paragraphs Key dates Maybe opinions of others Closing paragraph summarises and explains how this person will be remembered
Language Features: Refers to named individuals Mostly semi-formal tone (unless quoting someone else) Factual May use passive voice (‘… was educated in…’) Written mostly in the past tense Can include direct and indirect speech and quotes from other sources Written in 3rd person Includes cohesive devices such as adverbials