TIMELINE COMPARISON

The Historical Background

The origins

700 BC- 700 AD

700 BC

THE CELTS

55 BC

The Romans

AD 410

The Anglo-Saxons

AD 700

The Vikings

The literary context

The origins

700 BC- 700 AD

700 BC

runic alphabet

AD 410

oral tradition

AD 700

From the Oral to a written form

Beowulf

• A Surviving Manuscript: Beowulf is one of the most important Old English poems that has survived to this day.
• A Story of a Hero: The poem tells the story of a great warrior named Beowulf who fights monsters to protect his people. It's a classic example of an epic poem.
• A Blend of Reality and Legend: The poem is set in the 6th-century Scandinavia, it mixes historical elements with fantastical creatures and events, making it a legendary tale.
• Importance in Literature: Beowulf is considered a cornerstone of English literature. It's the oldest surviving epic poem in English and has influenced many later works of literature.

• Invaders from the North: The Vikings were seafaring people who traveled in longboats. They sailed from their homes in Scandinavia and invaded England.
• Battles and Conquests: When the Vikings arrived, they fought against the people who were already living in England, the Anglo-Saxons.
• Alfred the Great: One famous Anglo-Saxon king. He fought hard against the Vikings and managed to keep them from taking over all of England.
• Viking Legacy: Even though the Vikings were eventually defeated, they left a lasting impact on England. Their culture, language, and traditions mixed with those of the Anglo-Saxons, helping to shape the England we know today.

AD 700

The vikings

Vikings, a group of people from Scandinavia (places like Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) who came to England many years ago.

55 BC

THE ROMANS

• The romans arrived: it wasn't until AD43 that the Romans decided to settle in England.
• Roman ways: they introduced their own way of life, language, and culture.
• Hadrian's wall: to protect themselves (from Scotland) they built a big wall.
• A long time: England was part of the Roman Empire for 400 years.

AD 410

The anglo-saxons

After the Romans left England, a new group of people called the Anglo-Saxons came and settled there. These people were from Germany and they spoke different languages. They divided England into smaller kingdoms (7) and lived in small groups. Over time, their different languages combined to form what we now call Old English.

700 BC

the celts

Migrated to Britain around 700BC. They soke their own language, which is still the base of other languages (Gaelic, Irish, welsh). They were organized in tribes and lived in small villages. They also built impressive structures like the Stonehenge

AD 410

oral tradition

• Oral Tradition: Stories, poems, and history were passed down from one generation to the next through spoken word.
• Singers and Storytellers: Special people called scops or bards would memorize and perform these stories and poems for their communities.
• No Written Records: There were no books or written records for these stories, so people had to remember them all.
• The Importance of Memory: Because there was no writing, people had amazing memories. They could remember long stories.
• The Role of Christianity: Later, when Christianity came to England, people started writing down these stories, which helped to preserve them for future generations.

700 BC

runic alphabet

• What is the runic alphabet? It's a special kind of writing that used symbols called "runes." These runes were carved into things like stones and wood.
• Who used it? The Celts and later the Anglo-Saxons used the runic alphabet.
• What was it used for? The runes were used not only for writing, but also for making predictions about the future.
• Why did it disappear? Over time, people started using the Latin alphabet more, and the runic alphabet was used less and less until it disappeared.

• Two Main Types: The poetry can be divided into two main categories: pagan and Christian.
• Pagan Poetry: This type of poetry is older and reflects the beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons before Christianity. It often tells stories about gods, heroes, and battles. These poems are usually about bravery, loyalty, and the fight between good and evil.
• Christian Poetry: This type of poetry came later, after the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity. It focuses on religious themes and the teachings of the Christian church.

AD 700

from the oral to a written form