Introducing Anglo Saxon

Poetry

The Seafarer

Earliest Poem in England

Stay very attentive, take notes because…

You are assigned to compose a five line Anglo Saxon Style Poem.

A 25 point Project Grade You must included the 3 major characteristics we cover today in your 5 line verse.

Fall of 2008 Classes,

Your poems are due November 7thThis is this Friday, Veteran’s Day.

1. Hard Copy for in class reading and submission2. Electronic copy to your section’s Wiki space.

These will undergo an electronic plagiarism check!

Introducing Anglo Saxon

Poetry

The Seafarer

Earliest Poem in England

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem

• What language is used to compose the poem?

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem

• What language is used to compose the poem?

• It is actually called, Old English

Examine a copy of the Actual Poem

– This is the Old Germanic Tongue of the Angles & Saxons who immigrated from the Northern shores of Germany to Britain in 449 AD.

– When seen In England, we call this “Old English”.

– Obviously we must read it in translation.

German speakers to England 440 AD

Are all the Letters the Same as in Modern English?

Are all the Letters the Same as in Modern English?

• No we note a number of odd characters.

– Line 1:– Line 2: – Line 3:

1. Mæg ic be me sylfum 2. soðgied wrecan, 3. siþas secgan,

4. hu ic geswincdagum 5. Earfoðhwile

6. oft þrowade, 7. bitre breostceare

8. gebiden hæbbe, 9. gecunnad in ceole

10, cearselda fela,

Looking solely at the Old English…

Is there any recognizable Poetic Device employed?

Looking solely at the Old English… is there any recognizable Poetic

Device employed?

• Yes! We note Alliteration!

• Find a few lines that shows it clearly.

• Verse Indeterminate Saxon1

• Mæg ic be me sylfum soðgied wrecan, • siþas secgan, hu ic geswincdagum • Earfoðhwile oft þrowade, • bitre breostceare gebiden hæbbe, • gecunnad in ceole cearselda fela, • atol yþa gewealc, þær mec oft bigeat• nearo nihtwaco æt nacan stefnan, • þonne he be clifum cnossað.

• Verse Indeterminate Saxon1

• Mæg ic be me sylfum soðgied wrecan, • siþas secgan, hu ic geswincdagum • Earfoðhwile oft þrowade, • bitre breostceare gebiden hæbbe, • gecunnad in ceole cearselda fela, • atol yþa gewealc, þær mec oft bigeat• nearo nihtwaco æt nacan stefnan, • þonne he be clifum cnossað.

Let’s take a look at a true translation

• True is the tale I tell of my travels,

• Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes:

• Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens,

• Tempest and terrible toil of the deep,

• Daily I’ ve born on the deck of my boat.

• Is the Alliteration maintained?

Yes, very obviously we see Alliteration

• True is the tale I tell of my travels,

• Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes:

• Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens,

• Tempest and terrible toil of the deep,

• Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Keep thinking Poetry…the prime element of poetry is also emphasized.

Can you identify it?

• True is the tale I tell of my travels,

• Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes:

• Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens,

• Tempest and terrible toil of the deep,

• Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Meter is the Prime element of Poetry!We note 4 strong beats per line!We can clap it this rhythm easily.

• True is the tale I tell of my travels,

• Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes:

• Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens,

• Tempest and terrible toil of the deep,

• Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Do you also hear a Pause between beat 2 and 3?

• True is the tale I tell of my travels,

• Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes:

• Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens,

• Tempest and terrible toil of the deep,

• Daily I’ve born on the deck of my boat.

Do you also hear a Pause between beat 2 and 3?

• True is the tale I tell of my travels,• Sing of my seafaring sorrows and woes:• Hunger and hardships heaviest burdens, • Tempest and terrible toil of the deep,• Daily I’ve born on the deck of my

boat.

• This is termed a Caesura.

• You can also note the Meter and Caesura along with the Alliteration in the Old English.

• Mæg ic be me sylfum soðgied wrecan, • siþas secgan, hu ic geswincdagum • Earfoðhwile oft þrowade, • bitre breostceare gebiden hæbbe, • gecunnad in ceole cearselda fela, • atol yþa gewealc, þær mec oft bigeat• nearo nihtwaco æt nacan stefnan, • þonne he be clifum cnossað.

Major Characteristic of Anglo Saxon Style Poetry

• Meter: 4 heavy beats per line» Syllable count is irrelevant.

• Alliteration - usually on the accented beat

• Caesura – a slight pause midline.» Between the second and third beat

What is a Seafarer?

Why, it is one who goes to

sea, of course.

How many different

Seafarers will we hear from

in the narration?

• Our Fragment shows two voices:

»The Old Sailor

»The Youth

• Will the voices differ in their view of life at sea?

• Will the voices differ in their view?

• We’ll soon see.

What is the name for the wandering storytellers of the Anglo-Saxons?

?

A Scop.

You can schllurrr the

“Sc”

A Schkopp

How much Old English Poetry is Extant?How much is Existing?

• Existing lines of Anglo Saxon Poetry = abt. 30,000

• Beowulf = 3,182 lines.

• Beowulf is about 10% of the existing body of Anglo Saxon Poetry.

Let’s Hear the Poem

Yes, that is Hear the Poem.

Our Illiterate Saxons could not read.

The Poem was performed by the Scop… often in the Mead Halls.

The Seafarer

Anonymous

Great Poetry Appeals to the Senses.

Name the 5 senses: 1.2.3.4.5.

Great Poetry Appeals to the Senses.

The 5 senses: 1. Smell2. Taste 3. Hear4. Feel5. See

Listen to the work, by rows, with each taking one of the senses and note how the Poet assails this sense.

Through his imagery what do you… 1. Smell2. Taste 3. Hear4. Feel5. See

Is this Good Poetry?

Is this Good Poetry?

Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling.It connects to us.

Is this Good Poetry?

Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling.It connects to us.

This does connect.

Is this Good Poetry?

Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling.It connects to us.

This does connect.

The devices of the Poet create play in the language that creates a mood. It happens without us consciously being aware.

Is this Good Poetry?

Lyric Poetry shares an emotional feeling.It connects to us.

This does connect.

The devices of the Poet create play in the language that creates a mood. It happens without us consciously being aware.

This poem connects with us at an unconscious level.

Which Voice is closer to your perspective on going to Sea?

The Old Sailor The Youth

The Seafarer

The Seafarer

Anglo-SaxonAnonymous

The Seafarer

Anonymous

The Seafarer

Anonymous

Really enjoyed The Seafarer, Dr. U.

Can’t wait to star in you Presentation of Beowulf