ANGLO-SAXON
Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxon, Jutes)
raided Britain for over a century, settled in and drove away the local Celtic tribes, pushing them into present.day Wales, Scotland and Ireland
society strongly hierarchical
leader, who could be a tribal chief, the head of a family unit or a king
each ruled over his thanes
warriors bound to him loyalty for land, riches and power
warriors were grouped under a king or a comitatus
culture based on rich tradition of oral literature
mead-ball, a large room in castles or building, where warriors and kings gathered to drink, eat and feast
scop (bearers of English culture and literature)
an Anglo-Saxon poet, who entertained Germanic king and soldiers by reciting poetry, often accompanied by a harp or similar instrument (=chanted)
comes from Old English word scieppan = to creat, to shape
can go wherever he want, from one village to another or hold a permanent post in a king's court
he performed during celebrations, feats, after important battle or at the end of a war
vital role in Anglo-Saxon society and participated actively as commentators and observers of events
he composed his own works and often his personality
a sort of "vocal conscience" who helped to preserve the history of Germanic people and contributed to the construction of collective identity
they used the alliteration (great goal)
women in the society
caesura = divided the lines into 2 parts
with caesura and alliteration the translation in more difficult
cloth-makers and embroiders
could express their opinion