Anglo Saxon Values
Boasting prior to battle – purpose
1. Boosts confidence of boaster/add to physical strength
2. Locks in the boaster so he/she can’t back out.
3. Increases confidence of subordinates.
4. Increases the boaster’s notoriety –
5. Intimidates the opponent.

Digression – common AS poetic device in which poet sidetracks from main plot for purpose of foreshadowing or paralleling a theme.


Divine Right of Kings - concept that monarchs serve by the grace of God.

Caesura - break IN THE MIDDLE of a line of poetry, often with alliteration on either side
- may or may not have punctuation to signify the break
NEED TO ADD EXAMPLES




Anglo Saxon -

-Beo compsed in 5, 6, or 7 century, but it wasn't recorded by Christian monks until about the year 1000

Society Overview
- Feasting and Fighting
- Wergild - "blood price"
- exception - not in the case of relatives.
Comitatus - social contract in which thanes (essentially soldiers) would pledge allegiance to a lord/leader/king in exchange for protection, shelter and a share in bounty.

Role of Women -
Morgengifu - the morning gift - payment made after consummation of sex on marriage night
- made directly to the women


Anglo Saxon Poetry
- Kenning - multi-word metaphor or description that replaces a noun
- Life Bestowing Wielder of Glory - God
- Swan's way - Ocean
- Digression - offshoot from the primary story that does usually have a thematic connection to what's happening
- Litotes - understatement for effect.
- Homily - speech that sets forth a society's standards for moral living.
- Alliteration - repetition of consonant sound.