英国文学史及作品选读课件Chapter 1The Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066)教材课程.ppt

* * Chapter Ⅰ The Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066) 1. The Making of the Nation The early inhabitants---Britons, a tribe of Celts. mixed blood. “Britain”, the land of Britons. 2. The Middle Ages  From the collapse of Roman Empire to the Renaissance This age can be roughly divided into two periods: (1) Anglo-Saxon Period: (The Old English) (2) Anglo-Norman Period (Middle English)--- as a result of Norman conquest of the island. 3. Historical background: (1) The earliest settlers of the British Isles were the Celts; (2) 43-ca.420 Roman invasion and occupation of Britain (3) ca. 450 Anglo-Saxon Conquest (4) 597? St. Augustine arrives in Kent; beginning of Anglo-Saxon conversion to Christianity (5) 871-899???? Reign of King Alfred 4. King Arthur The Anglo-Saxon Occupation: The native Britons (Celts) were finally confined to the mountainous region of Wales where the modern form of their language is spoken alongside English to this day. In defeat, the Britons produced a body of stories revolving a legendary ruler called Arthur who had fought heroically against the Anglo-Saxon invaders. 6. Wessex Literature (1). Wessex: A region and ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of southern England. According to tradition, the kingdom was founded by the Saxon conquerors of Britain and at its greatest extent occupied the territory between the English Channel and the Thames River. (2) King Alfred Known as “the Great.” (849-899) King of the West Saxons (871-899), scholar, and lawmaker who repelled the Danes and helped consolidate England into a unified kingdom. King Alfred’s contribution to English literature: 3 aspects. King Alfred’s Contribution to English Language British Literature In the 9th century, the Christian Anglo-Saxons were invaded by the Danes. The Danes occupied the northern part of the island. They were stopped by Alfred, King of the West Saxons from 871 till 899, who for a time united all the kingdoms of southe