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ANGLOSAXON POETRY:

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Originally, storytellers (scops- pronounced shops), told stories in mead halls ... continual and essential part of the metrical scheme and until the late Middle ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: ANGLOSAXON POETRY:


1
ANGLO-SAXON POETRY
  • Origins, Language, Elements

2
Origins
  • The Oral Tradition
  • Originally, storytellers (scops- pronounced
    shops), told stories in mead halls for
    entertainment
  • These stories were passed down through generations

3
Origins
  • Conversion to Christianity (due to the influence
    of St. Augustine of Canterbury) in the 7th
    century
  • Monks began writing down stories- reflect the
    merging of cultural values

4
Origins
  • The English Language
  • Language is the most perfect work of art in the
    world. The chisel of a thousand years retouches
    it.
  • Henry David Thoreau
  • http//www.danshort.com/ie/timeline.htm

5
Old English Beowulf
  • http//www.youtube.com/watch?v4L7VTH8ii_8

6
Alliteration
  • A figure of speech in which consonants,
    especially at the beginning of words, or stressed
    syllables, are repeatedIn Old English poetry
    alliteration was a continual and essential part
    of the metrical scheme and until the late Middle
    Ages was often used thus.

7
Caesura (sih-ZHUR-uh)
  • (Latin "a cutting") A break or pause in a line
    of poetry, dictated, usually, by the natural
    rhythm of the languageIn Old English verse the
    caesura was used to indicate the half line.

8
Kennings (cont.)
  • Examples
  • a) helmberend"helmet bearer" "warrior"
  • b) beadoleoma"battle light" "flashing sword"
  • c) swansrad"swan road" "sea"
  • Essentially, then, a kenning is a compact
    metaphor that functions as a name or epithet it
    is also, in its more complex forms, a riddle in
    miniature.

9
Kennings
  • The term derives from the use of the Old Norse
    verb kenna 'to know, recognize'
  • It is a device for introducing descriptive color
    or for suggesting associations without
    distracting attention from the essential
    statement.

10
Anglo-Saxon Literature
  • Epic Poetry
  • Long narrative poem written in a lofty style
    which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero
    (epic hero) or god

11
The Epic Hero
  • Noble Birth
  • Capable of deeds of great strength or courage
  • Experienced in battle
  • Travels over a vast setting
  • Faces supernatural foes
  • Receives supernatural help

12
Anglo-Saxon Riddles
  • http//www2.kenyon.edu/AngloSaxonRiddles/texts.htm
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