Anglo Saxon Period: Historic Background, Theme, Style
📚 Old English period (450-1066)
✨Also known as Anglo-Saxon Period
Introduction:
👉 The Anglo-Saxon period in England lasted from 449 AD to 1066 AD.
👉 It was a time of war, invasions, cultural development, and literary growth.
👉 The period ended in 1066 AD when the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings.
Historic Background of the Anglo-Saxon Period
1. End of Roman Rule (Early 5th Century)
👉Before the Anglo-Saxons, Romans ruled Britain for nearly 400 years.
👉In 410 AD, the Roman Empire was weakening and had to withdraw its troops from Britain to defend Rome.
👉Britain was left undefended, and different groups started attacking it.
2. Anglo-Saxon Invasion (449 AD)
👉After the Romans left, tribes from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands started invading Britain.
The three main tribes were:
Angles (from modern-day Denmark and Germany)
Saxons (from Germany)
Jutes (from Denmark)
👉These tribes pushed out the native Britons (the original inhabitants of Britain) and took over most of the land.
👉The Britons fled to Wales, Scotland, and Cornwall or became slaves.
3. Formation of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
👉The Anglo-Saxons established seven main kingdoms, known as the Heptarchy:
Northumbria
Mercia
East Anglia
Wessex
Essex
Sussex
Kent
👉 These kingdoms often fought each other for power.
4. Arrival of Christianity (Late 6th Century)
👉Before Christianity, Anglo-Saxons followed paganism (worship of multiple gods).
👉In 597 AD, St. Augustine was sent by the Pope in Rome to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
👉Christianity spread slowly, and churches and monasteries were built.
5. Viking Invasions (8th–11th Century)
👉In 793 AD, Vikings (Norsemen from Scandinavia) attacked England for the first time at Lindisfarne.
👉Vikings kept raiding and settling in England.
👉By the 9th century, they controlled parts of England, known as the Danelaw.
6. King Alfred the Great (871–899 AD)
👉He was the King of Wessex and is known for:
✨Stopping Viking expansion
✨Making peace treaties
✨Encouraging education (he promoted the use of the English language)
👉 He is the only English king to be called "the Great."
7. Unification of England (10th Century)
King Athelstan (924–939 AD) was the first king to unite all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under one rule.
8. End of the Anglo-Saxon Period (1066 AD)
👉In 1066 AD, King Edward the Confessor died without an heir.
👉Harold Godwinson became king but was challenged by William, Duke of Normandy.
👉William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings, becoming King William I (William the Conqueror).
👉This marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule and the beginning of the Norman era.
Themes in Anglo-Saxon Literature
1. Heroism and Warrior Culture
👉Anglo-Saxons admired bravery, strength, and loyalty in battle.
👉Warriors had to protect their lords and tribes.
✨Example: Beowulf – a story about a hero who fights monsters.
2. Fate (Wyrd)
👉Anglo-Saxons believed in "wyrd" (fate), meaning life was controlled by destiny.
👉People could not escape fate, but bravery in battle could give them immortality through stories.
3. Loyalty and Kinship
👉Warriors had to stay loyal to their lord and fight to the death for their tribe.
👉Lords gave rewards (gold, weapons, land) to their loyal followers.
✨Example: In Beowulf, Beowulf is loyal to his king and people.
4. Exile and Loneliness
👉Many poems describe people banished from their homeland or losing their lord.
✨Example: The Wanderer and The Seafarer talk about warriors feeling lost and lonely.
5. Good vs. Evil
👉Many stories show heroes fighting against evil forces (monsters, dragons, or enemies).
✨Example: Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon.
6. Christianity vs. Paganism
👉Early Anglo-Saxon literature had pagan ideas, but later works mixed Christian beliefs.
✨Example: Beowulf praises God but also talks about fate and destiny.
7. Glory and Honor
👉Warriors fought not just for survival but for glory.
👉They wanted their names to be remembered forever.
Style of Anglo-Saxon Literature
1. Oral Tradition
👉Stories were told by poets (scops) and passed down orally before being written.
👉Poets used rhythms and repeated patterns to help remember them.
2. Use of Alliteration
👉Alliteration (repeating the same sound) was common.
✨Example: "Grendel gaped with gory jaws."
3. Kennings
👉A kenning is a two-word metaphor that replaces a noun.
✨Examples:
"Whale-road" (ocean)
"Sky-candle" (sun)
"Bone-house" (body)
4. Caesura (Pause in Poetry)
👉Poems often had a pause (caesura) in the middle of a line.
✨Example:
"Then he saw || the mighty water-monster."
5. Epic Poetry
👉The most famous Anglo-Saxon poem is Beowulf, which is an epic (a long heroic story).
👉Epics had heroes, battles, supernatural creatures, and a serious tone.
6. Elegiac Mood (Sadness and Nostalgia)
👉Many Anglo-Saxon poems are sad and talk about loss.
✨Example: The Wanderer describes a man grieving for his lost lord and home.
7. Religious Influence
👉Early works focused on pagan gods and fate, but later poems had Christian themes.
👉Monks wrote many religious texts in Latin and Old English.
Conclusion
👉The Anglo-Saxon period was a time of war, invasions, and cultural changes.
👉 Literature from this era reflects themes of heroism, fate, loyalty, exile, and religion.
👉The style of writing used alliteration, kennings, and epic storytelling.
👉 Even though the Anglo-Saxon period ended in 1066 AD, its literature—especially Beowulf—remains important today.
Points to Remember
✅ Historic Background
Fall of Rome & Anglo-Saxon invasion
Seven kingdoms (Heptarchy)
Christianity's arrival
Viking invasions
King Alfred’s rule
Unification of England
Battle of Hastings (1066) - (William the Conqueror).
✅ Themes
Heroism & warrior culture
Fate (wyrd)
Loyalty & kinship
Exile & loneliness
Good vs. evil
Christianity vs. paganism
Glory & honor
✅ Style
Oral tradition
Alliteration
Kennings
Caesura
Epic poetry
Elegiac mood (sadness)
Religious influence
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