Anglo Saxon Literature Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

Anglo-Saxon Literature

Anglo-Saxon poetry has oral traditions and was narrated by the scop, a poet and minstrel who played an important social function by singing about cultural values.
Most of their literature was in poetry, with some in prose, and was written in Old English.
After Christianization, monks transcribed the texts into Latin.

Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry

A poem is divided into two halves with a different length, with a verse containing between 8 and 20 syllables.
The caesura is a pause between the first half line and the second half line.
Stresses (accents) are important for rhythm, with a fixed accent of 2 + 2 because the verse is divided into two parts.
Alliterative verse is used, where all verses must contain at least one alliteration, which is the same as that present in the first half and in the second.
Assonance is used to connect the two halves, with a repetition of the same vowel sound within the verse.
Kenning is a metaphorical phrase used in place of a name or noun, such as "whale-road" for the sea.

Types of Anglo-Saxon Literature

Epic poem: a long narrative text that talks about the brave deeds of a hero, such as Beowulf.
Elegy: a long narrative poem that talks about a sad tone, such as the loss of homeland or exile.
Riddle: a short poem used as entertainment that speaks about different aspects and lifestyles of Anglo-Saxons, often using double meanings.

Beowulf

Beowulf is the only epic poem to have survived, with over 3000 lines.
It speaks about the gestures of a hero and gives information about Anglo-Saxon life.
The transcription is in a manuscript called Cotton Vitellius, conserved in the British Library of the British Museum.
The author is unknown, but it was probably composed by a single author for a Christian audience between the 8th and 11th centuries.
The poem is set in Denmark, ruled by King Hrothgar, and Geatland, ruled by Beowulf when he becomes king.

Plot of Beowulf

The hero must defeat three monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon.
Beowulf kills Grendel by tearing off its claw, and later kills Grendel's mother with a magic sword.
50 years later, Beowulf must fight a dragon that has been attacking his people, and he dies after being wounded by the dragon's poisonous claws.
Before dying, Beowulf asks his friend to burn his body and bury him under a rock with the dragon's treasure.

Themes of Beowulf

The hero is praised for his courage, strength, loyalty, and generosity.
The poem exalts the conflict between good and evil and shows God's will is the same as fate.
Beowulf risks his life to help the king, and the poem ends with his funeral.

Description

Explore the key aspects of Anglo-Saxons' literature including oral traditions, the role of the scop, cultural values, poetry, prose, transcription, and Christianisation. Learn about the transition from Old English to Latin and the significance of storytelling in this historical period.