This document discusses some key aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature. Religion was focused on ensuring success rather than spirituality. Kings gained power through battle skills rather than heredity. There was no concept of an afterlife beyond death in battle. Fate or "Wyrd" determined one's destiny. Epic poems were part of an oral tradition and featured heroic figures and supernatural elements. Beowulf is considered the greatest work of Old English literature, focusing on the hero and Germanic values amid Christian influences.

2. ►Religion was not spiritual
► a means of ensuring success in
material things (harvest, victory)
►King was the strongest warrior
 not hereditary; it depended solely on
his ability to win battles and so gain
land, treasure, and slaves to give his
supporters.
►BATTLE- the favorite pastime

3. ►Values
 Loyalty
 Fighting prowess
 Courage
►No positive afterlife
 Straw death
 Valhalla
►Life ruled by WYRD

4. ►The Anglo-Saxon idea of “Fate”
►What will happen to you has already
been determined by Wyrd
►Three Aspects
 Past
 Present
 Future
►Weird

5. Most epics share certain
characteristics:
►oral tradition
 Scops
►hero of imposing stature,
national & historical
importance
►vast setting, covering
great nations, the world or the
universe

6. Most epics share certain
characteristics:
►deeds require
superhuman courage
►Supernatural forces-
gods, angels, demons
►Elevated style of
writing

7. common in some but
not all epics:
►States the theme of the
work
►Appeal to a muse
 epic question
►In Medias Res (in the
middle of things)

8. ► Considered the greatest
single work of Old
English literature
► 3,000-line folk epic
► Hero
► Social conditions
► Germanic motives/ideals
► Mixture of Pagan &
Christian beliefs
 Monks did the writing?

9. ►Repetition of consonant
sounds in lines of
poetry
 “Grim and greedy,
his grip made ready,
Snatched from their
sleep with savage fury.”

10. ►A form of figurative
language that acts as
synonym for a simple noun.
They are usually
picturesque, metaphorical
compounds.
 “the sea-farer” = ship
 “whale road”= ocean

11. ►A form of
understatement in
which a thing is
affirmed by stating the
negative of its opposite.
 “He had no cause to love
the Jutes.”
 “Not bad.”