1. English IV
Mr. Gilliand

2. English IV
Mr. Gilliand
Journal: From the fierce, doomed Anglo-Saxon warrior Beowulf
to King Arthur and his loyal knights, bound by their code of
chivalry, early British literature shows a deep fascination with the
hero as the embodiment of society’s highest ideals. As these
ideals have shifted, the image of the hero has changed too. What
do you believe are the qualities of a true hero? Do you have any
heroes who live up to this ideal? Describe them.

3. The British Isles and
Beowulf
Cultural Foundations
Mr. Gilliand
English IV

4. The Celts
• Occupied most of the
isles about 2000 years
ago.
• Also called “Brythons”
• Arrived around 500 BC
• Tribal, not territorial
• Unifying Force?

5. The Roman Invasion
Socio-Political Unification
• Romans invaded in 55
B.C. under General Julius
Caesar
• Brought “civilization” to
the isles.
• Most of the Celts were
integrated into the new
order.
• Founded Londinium

6. The Roman Invasion
Socio-Political Unification
• Romans invaded in 55
B.C. under General Julius
Caesar
• Brought “civilization” to
the isles.
• Most of the Celts were
integrated into the new Romans
order.
• Founded Londinium

7. Fall of Rome/Angles and
Saxons
• As Rome fell, the
Legions either withdrew
or remained and
assimilated. Either way
the isles lost the support
of the Empire around
409 AD
• 449 AD-Seeing an Romans
opportunity, the Angles
and Saxons invade.

8. Fall of Rome/Angles and
Saxons
• As Rome fell, the
Legions either withdrew
or remained and
assimilated. Either way
the isles lost the support
of the Empire around
409 AD
• 449 AD-Seeing an
opportunity, the Angles
and Saxons invade.

9. Fall of Rome/Angles and
Saxons
• As Rome fell, the
Legions either withdrew
o ns
or remained and ax
/S
assimilated. Either way g les
An
the isles lost the support
of the Empire around
409 AD
• 449 AD-Seeing an
opportunity, the Angles
and Saxons invade.

10. Christianity
Religious Unification
• 430 AD-First Christian
Missionaries come
• 461 AD-St. Patrick
comes to Ireland
• 540 AD-Historical Welsh
King leads many united
tribes against invaders
from the north
• 597 AD-St. Augustine

11. Vikings
• 780 AD-Vikings invade
savagely
• 880ish AD-King Alfred of
Wessex unites the Isles
under Christianity...a
country is born.
• National unification
follows

12. Vikings
• 780 AD-Vikings invade
savagely
s
ngi
•
Vik
880ish AD-King Alfred of
Wessex unites the Isles
under Christianity...a
country is born.
• National unification
follows

13. Beowulf
British History Captured in Literature

14. Beowulf
British History Captured in Literature
•Originally a Viking story

15. Beowulf
British History Captured in Literature
•Originally a Viking story
•Oral Traditions

16. Beowulf
British History Captured in Literature
•Originally a Viking story
•Oral Traditions
•Didactic: Meant to teach

17. Beowulf
British History Captured in Literature
•Originally a Viking story
•Oral Traditions
•Didactic: Meant to teach
•Christian Influence/Overlap. Why?

18. Beowulf
British History Captured in Literature
•Originally a Viking story
•Oral Traditions
•Didactic: Meant to teach
•Christian Influence/Overlap. Why?
•Our manuscript is 1000 years old

19. • This is the first page of
our only existing copy of
Beowulf. This is the only
document that preserves
English storytelling of
this era.

20. • This is the first page of
our only existing copy of
Beowulf. This is the only
document that preserves
English storytelling of
this era.
• And this is an audio
sample, read in Old
English.

21. • This is the first page of
our only existing copy of
Beowulf. This is the only
document that preserves
English storytelling of
this era.
• And this is an audio
sample, read in Old
English.