The Battle of Maldon

The Battle of Maldon

A prezi created by Sunny C.

The Theme:

The Battle of Maldon

The theme of the poem is bravery, courage, and heroism.

• Courage and bravery can be seen in that the Saxons didn't give up hope when their unready king did. They stood their ground to protect the love of their native land.
• The Englishmen also didn't retreat when Byrthnoth fell into the hands of their enemies.
• In lines 255- 264 . it says, "Then Dunnere spoke, shaking his spear, the simple man called over all, he ordered that each of the heroes should avenge Byrhtnoth : “May none in this army hesitate who thinks to avenge his lord, nor mourn for his life.” Then they went forth; they did not care for life. Then the huscarls began to fight fiercely, grim spear-bearers, and they prayed to God that they might avenge their dear lord and work destruction upon their enemies. "

Bibliography:

• The Battle of Maldon. Retrieved from: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/maldon/maldon.html
• The Battle, The Battle of Maldon. Retrieved from: http://seas3.elte.hu/coursematerial/KallayGeza/Maldon.prose.pdf
• The Battle of Maldon. Retrieved from: http://www.battleofmaldon.org.uk/index.htm
• The Battle of Maldon, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Oct. 27,2014. Retrieved from:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Maldon
• King Aethelred II Unready King. Retrieved from: http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=ethelred2
• King Aethelred Unready King. Retrieved from: ttp://www.battle1066.com/aethel.shtml
• Vikings Invasions: Battle of Maldon, About.com. Retreived from: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswarsto1000/p/Viking-Invasions-Battle-Of-Maldon.htm
• Byrhtnoth | Referências na Internet | cyclopaedia.net Retrieved from: http://pt.cyclopaedia.net/wiki/Byrhtnoth\
• The Battle of Maldon, Study Notes on the Old English Poem. Retrieved from: http://www.bethtovey.com/OEtexts/maldon.html

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1355805604651/

• Godwin, Earl of Wessex, Princeton University Retrieved from: https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Godwin,_Earl_of_Wessex.html
• http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/1296.html
• English 205- Fall 2012, The Battle of Maldon. Retrieved from: http://en205uaakersfall2010.blogspot.com/2010/09/battle-of-maldon.html
• The Battle of Maldon. Retrieved from: http://www.thedrunkenboat.com/battleofmaldon.html
• British Literature, The Battle of Maldon. Retrieved from: http://anglosaxons-middleages-renaissance.blogspot.com/2010/11/battle-of-maldon.html

The Background:

The Vikings:

• In 978 AD: King Edward of England died leaving his young and inexperienced son, Aethelred to inherit the throne.
• By the second year of Aethelred's reign , Vikings from the North crossed the river of Blackwater and invaded the Northern Island.
• The savage Northmen began to raid the city of Maldon but the brave Saxons caught them by surprise, for the Saxons wished to defend their homeland.

The sons of Odda: Godric, Godwin, and Godwy were cowardly warriors for they did not stand their ground when Saxons began to avenge their leader, Byrthnoth.

• In lines 186-194 it states, “There Odda’s son was first in flight, Godric went from the battle and left the good man who often gave him many steeds; he leapt upon the horse that was his lord’s, in those trappings to which he had no right, and both his brothers ran with him, Godwin and Godwy; they took no notice of the battle but turned from the strife and sought the woods, fled into that fastness and protected their own lives.”

The Anglo-Saxons:

The Unready King

Byrthnoth's challenge

Byrthnoth

• Aethelred was a cowardly king who paid tribute to the Vikings instead of fighting against them. He is known as the Unready King.
• Byrthnoth, the Ealderman of Essex was also known as the true leader of the Saxons. He fought for his kingdom until he fell into the hands of the barbaric Vikings.
• In lines 171-180 of The Battle of Maldon it says, " Then he wasn’t able to stand steadfast on his feet any longer. " I thank you, Ruler of hosts, For all joys that I attained in this world. Now merciful Creator, I possess the greatest need that you grant that which is good to my ghost, so that my soul journey to you, into your control, Lord of angels,go with peace. I entreat from you that devils may not injury it.”
• This quote tells us that through all this pain, he still thanked the Lord for the blessings he had recieved in this world.