Anglo-Saxon Poetry

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words only definitions & notes
  1. alliterate
    use alliteration as a form of poetry
    One or more accented syllables in the first half of a line almost always alliterate with one or more accented syllables in the second half.
  2. kenning
    a compound word serving as a metaphorical name for something
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions
  3. caesura
    a break or pause in the middle of a verse line
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions
  4. alliteration
    use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions
  5. Anglo-Saxon
    earliest known form of the English language, from about 400-1100 CE
    The Anglo-Saxon Period
    450AD-1066AD

    The Brythons, a Celtic people, were the first known residents of England.
  6. artifact
    a man-made object
    Look at the pictures in your text of artifacts found at Sutton Hoo, and you will see that skilled artisans lived along side the warriors of the day.
  7. Alfred the Great
    king of Wessex
    Later Alfred the Great led his people against Danish invaders, providing some cohesion for the Anglo-Saxon people.
  8. epic poetry
    a literary work celebrating the deeds of some hero
    Characteristics of Epic Poetry:
    1.
  9. animism
    the doctrine that all natural objects have souls
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    ...
  10. unify
    join or combine
    At first the country was no more unified than the Celts had been.
  11. epic poem
    a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  12. heroics
    ostentatious or vainglorious or extravagant or melodramatic conduct
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  13. troubadour
    a singer of folk songs
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    ...
  14. bard
    a lyric poet
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  15. Druid
    a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    ...
  16. blank verse
    unrhymed poetry, usually in iambic pentameter
    In this respect Anglo-Saxon poetry is like blank verse.
  17. folklore
    the unwritten stories and proverbs and songs of a culture
    Includes elements of myth, legend, folklore, history
    6.
  18. epic
    a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  19. ethic
    the principles of right and wrong for an individual or group
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    ...
  20. Celtic
    relating to or characteristic of the Celts
    The Anglo-Saxon Period
    450AD-1066AD

    The Brythons, a Celtic people, were the first known residents of England.
  21. Old English
    earliest known form of the English language, from about 400-1100 CE
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    Source ...
  22. poetry
    literature in metrical form
    Anglo-Saxon poetry has the following characteristics:
    1.
  23. Danish
    a Scandinavian language that is the official language of Denmark
    Later Alfred the Great led his people against Danish invaders, providing some cohesion for the Anglo-Saxon people.
  24. myth
    a traditional story serving to explain a world view
    Includes elements of myth, legend, folklore, history
    6.
  25. legacy
    a gift of personal property by will
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    Source ...
  26. rhythm
    an interval during which a recurring sequence occurs
    The rhythm of a line depends primarily on the number of beats or accented syllables.
  27. pagan
    a person following a polytheistic or pre-Christian religion
    Reflected the juxtaposition of the Church and the pagan world

    4.
  28. chronicle
    a record or narrative description of past events
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  29. ethics
    motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
    41

    People, Terms, and Concepts:
    Qualities of an epic animism
    *Druids invaders of England
    *Loyal dependency *wyrd
    Odin bard/scop/troubadour
    Anglo-Saxon ethics alliteration
    Sutton Hoo caesura
    Kenning contributions of the Romans
    King Alfred importance of treasure
    *Cain and Abel Brecca
    Beowulf Herot
    Grendel Unferth
    Hrothgar Wiglaf
    Welthow reaction of Unferth to Beowulf
    Hrothgar’s throne Beowulf’s supernatural abilities
    ...
  30. Christianity
    a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
    As time passed they replaced the old Celtic religion with Christianity.
  31. legend
    a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
    Includes elements of myth, legend, folklore, history
    6.
  32. heroic
    having qualities appropriate for brave figures
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  33. formal
    in accord with established conventions and requirements
    Uses more formal, almost grand language


    Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon culture:
    1. bravery in battle
    2. loyalty for king or leader
    3. bards or poets were used to elevate heroes of the tribes and were usually as important as the warriors themselves
    4. faith in God to intervene positively with fate
    5. influence of old religion—paganism
    6. warfare was the order of the day
    7. amassing a fortune in battle
  34. narrative
    an account that tells the particulars of an act or event
    Narrative
    3.
  35. challenge
    a call to engage in a contest or fight
    Unferth’s Challenge pp. 21-25
    d.
  36. verse
    literature in metrical form
    In this respect Anglo-Saxon poetry is like blank verse.
  37. poem
    a composition in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
    Read the epic poem
    Beowulf, and you will discover that bards or scops chronicled the heroics of the warriors to preserve the deeds and the pride of the people.
  38. pause
    stop an action temporarily
    Each line has a pause or caesura after the second beat.
  39. period
    an amount of time
    The Anglo-Saxon Period
    450AD-1066AD

    The Brythons, a Celtic people, were the first known residents of England.
  40. poet
    a writer of verse consisting of lines that often rhyme
    Uses more formal, almost grand language


    Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon culture:
    1. bravery in battle
    2. loyalty for king or leader
    3. bards or poets were used to elevate heroes of the tribes and were usually as important as the warriors themselves
    4. faith in God to intervene positively with fate
    5. influence of old religion—paganism
    6. warfare was the order of the day
    7. amassing a fortune in battle
  41. government
    the system or form by which a community is ruled
    The Romans invaded in 55 BC and brought government, roads, villas, and public baths.
Created on Wed Aug 15 11:27:11 EDT 2012 (updated Wed Aug 15 11:29:12 EDT 2012)

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