Happy Homecoming Monday!

Notes from reading (p. 2-19, 47):

• We have gained democracy and personal rights/freedoms through the Anglo-Saxon ideals
• People who have invaded/settled the island of Great Britain.
  
• Iberians (ancient)
• Celts
• The first settlers of Great Britain
  
• Among them were a group called Brythons (and from this we get "Britain")
• Animism--everything has a spirit
• Priests (Druids)--the link between people and the spirits
• Women are powerful (Hoorah!)
  
• Celtic stories are very different from the later Anglo-Saxon tales
  
• Romans
• Conquered Britain under Claudius
• Built roads and a great defensive road 73 miles long
• IN A.D. 409 they evacuated their troops from Britain leaving roads, walls, villas, and great public baths, but no central government.
• Introduced Christianity
  
• Angles and Saxon
  
• From Germany and Denmark
• English language became dominant (from this we get Engla land, or "England")
• England did not gain any more political unification. The country was divided into several principalities with their own "kings".
• Unified under the Christian church
• King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) brought many of these changes to England
  
• Women had rights--they weren't "property" to their husbands. Christianity allowed for many opportunities as well (becoming powerful abbesses).
• Life was dominated by the need to protect the clan and home against enemies. Loyalty was essential!
• Creating poetry was as important as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving. Bards (storytellers) sang of gods and heroes.
• Christian Monasteries were strongholds of the religion. They also preserved literature (ex. Beowulf)
  
• Religion much in common with Norse/Scandinavian mythology. Despite the growth of Christianity, Anglo-Saxon religion remained strong.
  
• Odin was the most important (god of death, poetry, and magic)
• Thor--god of thunder and lightning (we get the swastika from his symbol)
• Vikings
• Normans
  
• Invasions/settling helped this area to become diverse in ideas and culture
  

Beowulf:

• This story is to England what Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are to ancient Greece
  

People, Monsters, and Places:

• Beowulf-a Geat, son of Edgetho and nephew of Higlac, king of the Geats. Higlac is both Beowulf's feudal lord and his uncle.
• Brecca-chief of the Brondings, a tribe, and Beowulf's friend.
• Grendel-a man eating monster who lives at the bottom of a foul mere, or a mountain lake. His name might mean "storm" or "to bellow".
• Herot-golden guest-hall built by King Hrothgar.
  
• Hrothgar-king of the Danes, built the Herot.
• Unferth-one of Hrothgar's courtiers, reputed to be a skilled warrior. His sword, called Hrunting, is used by Beowulf in a later battle.
• Welthow-Hrothgar's wife, queen of the Danes.
• Wiglaf-a Geat warrior. He is the only one to help Beowulf in his final battle against a dragon.

HOMEWORK:

• Take notes (if you didn't finish in class)
• Make sure you come in for your essay conference! (On an off hour Ms. Smith has! Not your off hour! Per Ms. Smith)
• Anna and Shelli are bringing donuts on Wednesday!