BritLit Content

Where did the term "Anglo-Saxon" come from
Click the card to flip 👆
1 / 15
Terms in this set (15)
Where did the term "Anglo-Saxon" come from
Germanic tribe, after they took over the unprotected land of Great Britain
because the British Isles were taken over by the Romans, the British left to defend their land and the Anlgo-Saxons moved in an took over the unprotected land
What is Anglo-Saxon literature mostly about
dark with little humor because the peoples' lives were difficult
mostly about heroic struggles to survive
Anglo Saxon Culture included
—bravery in battle
—influence of christianity and old pagan religion
—warfare
—amassing a fortune in battle
—reverence for womanhood
—open handed hospitality
—truth/honesty
—personal freedom
Characterisitics of Epic Poetry
—narrative
—long
—larger than life hero
—embodies values of a particular society
—elements of myth, legend, folklore, history
—serious tone
—formal, grand language
Characteristics of Anglo Saxon Poetry
—no rhyme
—lines have four strong beats
—2 half lines with 2 beats each
—alliteration
the exeter book in anglo-saxon culture
collection of manuscripts that includes pieces of tradition
sea faring
spent a lot of time on boats, invade other countries
folk epic
stories about heroes that were passed down orally and eventually arranged into larger words
literary epic
composed by individual authors who drew on the conventions of folk epics
invoking a muse
muse—a spirit thought to inpsire an artist or supernatural force for help in telling the story
in media resthe plot begins in the middle of thingselevated stylelofty diction that heightens the importance of the events retold catalongs of battles, weapons, and royal giftsepic hero on a questcentral character in an epic —often noble or semi-divine birth —sets out on quest —dangerous journey that tests his spiritsupernatural forcesdeities some of whom may watch over the hero monstersvalorous deedsacts that reveal the epic hero's extraordinary qualities reflect the values cherished by his culture