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     The Anglo-Saxon Period began with the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain in 449 A.D. The Anglo-Saxon people consisted of deep-sea fisherman and farmers. Their society was not what is considered to be a civilized society today. They were not as interested in such things as personal hygiene. Most Anglo-Saxons were unable to read. This resulted in oral traditions, stories passed down by mouth. This spoken verse was the beginning of Anglo-Saxon literature. England has many coasts, and these coasts, along with the sea, were a prevalent part of English literature.
     Early Anglo-Saxon prose falls into one of either two categories. Heroic poetry tells of the achievements of warriors of that time. A prime example is the epic Beowulf. The other category consists of elegiac poetry. These poems mourn the death of loved ones and the loss of the past. �The Wanderer� is an elegiac poem. The oral tradition began to change in the late sixth century. Christian monks were coming into the area and setting up monasteries. These monks were the first to write the Anglo-Saxon prose down. They did so by using the Latin language.
     Before the Christian monks arrived, England was a pagan nation. They did not believe in a dingle god, but thought their lives were led by fate. This powerful fate was sometimes referred to as �wyrd.� The monks began converting the people to Christianity. The Church helped to promote peace and unify England. The literature of this time was subject to be biased, depending on the author. The Christian monks added references to God and Christian beliefs to Anglo-Saxon prose. Therefore, the literature reflects both pagan and Christian beliefs.
     The Anglo-Saxon society was loyal to their leader. Bravery was highly respected and greatly rewarded. This bravery was exhibited by heroes of the time. Heroes were also extremely strong. They possessed the quality of being loyal, as well. Heroes were usually of a high, noble birth. In Anglo-Saxon time, arrogance was considered to be a fine characteristic. It was perfectly normal to boast about one�s self. These heroes were usually Anglo-Saxon warriors. When not in battle, their home was the mead-hall. This was a modern day men�s club. There, the warriors would drink mead, congregate, and listen to prose recited by scops. The mead-hall was their most important symbol of home.
     Other literary forms of the Anglo-Saxon period include the lyric poem and the epic. The lyric poem expressed thoughts or feelings of a single speaker. An epic is a long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of a heroic or legendary figure. The hero represents the national, cultural, or religious values. The hero is �good� and is in a battle with �evil.� The prose had a regular rhythm and a strong beat. It usually had four beats to a line. Sound breaks, or caesuras, were often used. Kenning, a two word metaphorical name for something, was another literary device of the time. Alliteration, compound predicated, and appositive phrases were all heavily used throughout the Anglo-Saxon literature. The ideals and beliefs of Anglo-Saxon society are reflected in the literature of that period. Therefore, the Anglo-Saxon period has both historical and literary importance.