Anglo Saxon Research Paper
Anglo-Saxon Essay
The Anglo-Saxon period began in 449 and lasted for over 600 years. Born of warfare, Anglo-Saxon England remained forever a military society. Though like most great societies it met its end in battle. However the Anglo-Saxons help to lay a great foundation for English history.
In order for a society to exist and prosper, there must be those that create it, which include the Celts and the Romans, the early settlers of the Britain. Britain was inhabited by many Celtic tribes that were lead by kings. Within each tribe the society was stratified into classes, much like the castes system; the Druids or priests, considered the educated class, the Nobility or ruling families of the tribes, the Warriors, Artisans, manual workers, …show more content…
Alfred, born in southern England, became king of Wessex, the West Saxons, after the death of his brother Athelred in 871 AD. During this period of time Danish forces (Vikings) invaded Wessex. Although Alfred did not defeat the Danes at this point in time, in 878 AD the West Saxons defeated the Danes in the Battle of Edington. By 886 Alfred had united the English kingdoms and became King of England. Though he was a great military leader, Alfred was an avid benefactor of learning. He encouraged his followers to learn to read; he even learned Latin himself, translating works like Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, Roman statesman and philosopher, and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I into English. Alfred is the only English king to be deemed "The …show more content…
Often daring and strong, but also mournful and elegiac in spirit, their poetry emphasizes the sorrow and ultimate futility of life and the helplessness of humans before the power of fate. They also seem to characterize the heroism of warriors as found in epic or heroic poetry. Similarly, Christian themes can be found in some epic poems along with Germanic myths, history, and customs. These characteristics can be found in the poems Beowulf, more of the heroic/epic type, and Deor, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer, focusing more on the elegiac
The Anglo-Saxon period began in 449 and lasted for over 600 years. Born of warfare, Anglo-Saxon England remained forever a military society. Though like most great societies it met its end in battle. However the Anglo-Saxons help to lay a great foundation for English history.
In order for a society to exist and prosper, there must be those that create it, which include the Celts and the Romans, the early settlers of the Britain. Britain was inhabited by many Celtic tribes that were lead by kings. Within each tribe the society was stratified into classes, much like the castes system; the Druids or priests, considered the educated class, the Nobility or ruling families of the tribes, the Warriors, Artisans, manual workers, …show more content…
Alfred, born in southern England, became king of Wessex, the West Saxons, after the death of his brother Athelred in 871 AD. During this period of time Danish forces (Vikings) invaded Wessex. Although Alfred did not defeat the Danes at this point in time, in 878 AD the West Saxons defeated the Danes in the Battle of Edington. By 886 Alfred had united the English kingdoms and became King of England. Though he was a great military leader, Alfred was an avid benefactor of learning. He encouraged his followers to learn to read; he even learned Latin himself, translating works like Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, Roman statesman and philosopher, and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I into English. Alfred is the only English king to be deemed "The …show more content…
Often daring and strong, but also mournful and elegiac in spirit, their poetry emphasizes the sorrow and ultimate futility of life and the helplessness of humans before the power of fate. They also seem to characterize the heroism of warriors as found in epic or heroic poetry. Similarly, Christian themes can be found in some epic poems along with Germanic myths, history, and customs. These characteristics can be found in the poems Beowulf, more of the heroic/epic type, and Deor, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer, focusing more on the elegiac