Introduction to Beowulf + Anglo Saxon Culture and History

Would you believe me if I told you that Old English sounds more like German than English?

In this one-time class, we will dive into all things Anglo Saxon, in preparation to reading English's oldest text on record-- Beowulf. Be prepared to hear what Old English sounds like (we always think it sounds like Shakespeare, but it's way harder to understand than that!). Learn of the Germanic tribes that pushed their way into England, leaving behind a footprint of their own. 

Discover how tales of epic heroes swinging their swords were blended with religion, creating a hybrid piece of Literature that still is one of the most celebrated classics known to the world. We will look at how the Anglo Saxon's Pagan origins are blended with that of a Christian England from a clash of storytelling from Christian monks and Pagan warriors, delivering us the hybrid text of Beowulf. 

Once this class is done, you will have a solid background of what the heck all of this means in relation to the epic poem, Beowulf. Our main goal is to have fun and build a foundation that paves the way to conduct a deep and rich analytical reading of Beowulf that allows to connect the history of the Anglo Saxons, culture, and religion to the text!

I recommend this to any student who will be planning on attending college, majoring in English, or has not had the pleasure of studying this classic in a teacher guided form!