British Legends

The Anglo-Saxon Period

449-1066
Theme: Heroes and Heroism
Fold your paper so you have 4
boxes
Using these boxes, tell the story of the 3 little pigs;
you can write or illustrate the story, but include as
many details as possible in the time allotted.
Where is the pigs’ Why did the Pigs leave
father/mother? home?

Details
Vary...why?
Where did they get
materials?
 Okay…So what?

1. Oral History—Lessons and

entertainment
2. British folktale
3. Anglo Saxon time period
Where did the Anglo-Saxons
come from?
• Between 800 and 600 B.C., two groups
of Celts from southern Europe invaded
the British Isles.
– Brythons (now spelled “Britons”) settled on
the largest Island, Britain.
– Gaels, settled on the second largest island,
known to us as Ireland.
 Proto Indo European

Indo- Greek Latin Balto-Slavic Celtic Germanic

Iranian Albanian
Baltic Slavic Welsh
Sanskrit Iranian Bretan
Romanian
French Gælic

Spanish Latvian Russian

Hindi Persian
Portuguese Lithuanian Ukrainian
Bengali Kurdish
Italian Czech
Slovak
Serb-
Croatian
 The Celts
– farmers and hunters
– organized themselves into clans
– clans had fearsome loyalty to chieftains
– looked to priests, known as Druids, to settle
their disputes
 Proto Indo European

Indo- Greek Latin Balto-Slavic Celtic Germanic

Iranian Albanian
Baltic Slavic Welsh
Sanskrit Iranian Bretan
Romanian
French Gælic

Spanish Latvian Russian

Hindi Persian
Portuguese Lithuanian Ukrainian
Bengali Kurdish
Italian Czech
Slovak
Serb-
Croatian
 Where did the Anglo-Saxons
come from?
• Roman conquest of Britain AD 43
– Britain annexed as a province in the Roman
Empire
– Difficult to control such a large piece of land
• Brought Christianity to Britain around AD
300
– Pagan vs. Christian themes throughout; never
fully indoctrinated at this time
• The last Romans left around 407 A.D.
– Needed to defend against rebelling European
countries; England left to its own devices
Roman Empire
Roman Gatehouse in Britain
Arbeia
 Where did the Anglo-Saxons come
from?
• 449AD 3 Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons,
and Jutes) invade.
• Destruction of Roman influence, including
Christianity
• New land: “Angle-land”
- small tribal kingdoms
- no written language
- supported themselves through farming
and hunting
 Proto Indo European

Indo- Greek Latin Balto-Slavic Celtic Germanic

Iranian Albanian
Baltic Slavic Welsh
Sanskrit Iranian Bretan
Romanian
French Gælic

Spanish Latvian Russian

Hindi Persian
Portuguese Lithuanian Ukrainian
Bengali Kurdish
Italian Czech
Slovak
Serb-
Croatian
Anglo Saxon King and Warrior
early 7th century
An Anglo-Saxon Hall
An Anglo-Saxon Farmstead

Remember the
West Stow: reconstructed village 3 little pigs…
 Sutton Hoo
• Burial site discovered in 1939
• Important links to Anglo-
Saxon world and Beowulf
• Remains of a boat were
discovered and large burial
chamber containing
numerous artifacts
• Artifacts suggest a distinctly
Christian element
intermingled with pagan
ritual.
The Reemergence of Christianity

• 596AD: attempt to convert Anglo- Saxons to

Christianity
• 597AD: Saint Augustine
– converted King Ethelbert of Kent to Christianity.
– set up a monastery in Canterbury in Kent.
• 650AD: most of England is Christian; some hold
on to previous beliefs
– The church provided counsel to quarreling rulers in
efforts to unify the English people.
• At this time, the British Isles were not unified and
included separate kingdoms with separate
rulers. They fought continuously over the fertile,
green land
 Constant Conflict
• 9th Century:
– Norway invaded Northumbria (Anglo-Saxon
kingdom in northern and central England),
Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
– The Danes of Denmark targeted eastern and
southern England

Remember the
3 little pigs…
 Alfred the Great
King of Wessex 871-899
• 866—resisted Danish intrusion and earned “the
great” title
– Saxons acknowledged Danish rule in East and North
– Danes respected Saxon rule in South
• End of 10th Century—Danes want to widen
Danelaw
– Forced Saxons to select Danish Kings
• 1042—Kingship returned to Alfred the Great’s
descendent Edward
• Edward the Confessor died in 1066. His death
led to the end of the Anglo-Saxon Period.
Literature of Anglo-Saxon Times

• 2 major influences
1) Germanic Traditions of the Anglo-Saxons
2) Christian Traditions of the Roman
Church

Remember the
3 little pigs…
 Proto Indo European

Indo- Greek Latin Balto-Slavic Celtic Germanic

Iranian Albanian
Baltic Slavic Welsh
Sanskrit Iranian Bretan
Romanian
French Gælic

Spanish Latvian Russian

Hindi Persian
Portuguese Lithuanian Ukrainian
Bengali Kurdish
Italian Czech
Slovak
Serb-
Croatian
 1) Germanic Traditions of the
Anglo-Saxons
• Germanic language
– Mixture of various Germanic dialects +
Old English
– Old English (often looks like a foreign
language)
Page of Beowulf manuscript in
Old English

Listen to me!
 Heroic Ideals Dominate
• Warrior culture
– Poems and stories depict a society like the Anglo-
Saxons
• Military and tribal loyalties
• Bravery of warriors
• Generosity of rulers
• Oral tradition
– Songs and stories often sung and told about the valiant
struggles of heroic warriors
• More than just entertainment – provided a model for
living and a form of immortality they could aspire to
• Note: all of these provided the foundation for early
written literature in Old English
 Anglo-Saxon Literature cont.
• Anglo-Saxon poetry falls mainly into two
categories:
– Heroic poetry – recounts the achievements of
warriors
– Elegiac poetry – laments the deaths of loved
ones and the loss of the past
• Beowulf is the most famous example of
heroic poetry.
 The Beowulf Poet
• Christian; reflects
established tradition
• Allusions to the Old
Testament
• Beowulf is a Redeemer
who is sent by God to
save man from sin:
• Christ archetype:
Correspondences
between Beowulf’s death
and the death of Christ
• The price of salvation is
life itself
 Epic
• Beowulf: Unknown author
• The national epic of England (first work to
be composed in English)
• A long heroic poem, about a great legendary
warrior renowned for his courage, strength,
and dignity.
 Epic Elements
• Most epics are serious in tone and lofty in
style, a technique meant to convey the
importance of the events. Long speeches
by the characters suggest an impressive
formality.
• Use of kennings
 Epic Elements
Epic Element Definition As seen in …
 the central character of an epic. This  
Epic Hero
character is a larger-than-life figure, typically
of noble or semi-divine birth, who pits his
courage, skill, and virtue against opposing,
often evil, forces. 
a long, dangerous journey or mission  
Quest
undertaken by the epic hero. The quest is
the hero’s opportunity to prove his heroism
and win honor and undying renown.

Valorous  long, dangerous journey or mission  

undertaken by the epic hero. The quest is
deeds the hero’s opportunity to prove his heroism
and win honor and undying renown.

Divine  In many epics, the hero receives help from a  

god or another supernatural force who takes
intervention an interest in his quest.

Great events  Important events from the history or  

mythology of a nation or culture often
provide the backdrop for the epic narrative.
 
 
 Heroic Values in Beowulf
• Relationship between
king and his warriors
• The king rewards his
warriors with gifts
• If a kinsman is slain,
obligation to kill the
slayer or obtain
payment (wergeld) in
compensation
 Conflict Christian Values and
Heroic Values
• This tension is at the
heart of the poem
• Pagan history and
myth are made to
point to a Christian
moral
• Beowulf is poised
between two value
systems
 A man of high
The Epic Hero social status whose
fate affects the
Defeats his enemies using destiny of his
Physical strength people
Skill as a warrior
Nobility of character
Quick wits
Is not modest – boasting is a ritual
Embodies the ideals and values of his
people
Is eager for fame
Because the Germanic tribes believed
death was inevitable, warriors sought fame
to preserve the memory of their deeds after
death
Element Example
The main character is a hero, who is often possessed of super
natural abilities or qualities (STATUS QUO)

Epic Hero Cycle

The hero is charged with a quest (call to Adventure)

“Crossing the Threshold” Moving from the known to the

unknown (DEPARTURE)

The hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and

his quest
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL (TRIALS)
The presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful
animals, and/or human helpers and companions

The hero’s travels take him to a supernatural world, often one

that normal human beings are barred from entering

The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up
his quest or appears defeated (APPROACH, CRISIS)

A resurrection (TREASURE)

Achieving the goal or the “boon” (RESULT)

Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his
rightful place on the throne. Return to the ordinary world
(RETURN/NEW LIFE)
Applying the “boon” (RESULUTION/STATUS QUO)
 Are Modern Super Heroes
Epic?
Using the profile provided to your group and
your own prior knowledge fill out the epic
hero cycle chart for the super hero, then
answer the question at the bottom of the
page using the chart to back up your
opinion.
 HELP! I need somebody!
• Think of a time when you helped someone in need
or someone helped you OR a time when you did
NOT render help and wish you had. Give a brief
summary of the incident then answer the following
analysis questions:
– What was your/their motivation (why was help
rendered?)?
– What was the result?
– What would have happened if help was not
rendered?
– Did anyone else offer help? Why/why not?