1065 And All That
History
TV film, first broadcast in 1966 on the BBC to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. A dramatised look at England in 1065 as Hastings approaches, with voiceover by Leo McKern. Directed by Leo Aylen.
Leo Aylen
Leo Aylen
1966
English
Learn Old English with Leofwin
Old English Language
A short animated video clip presenting some basic phrases in Old English relating to the family. I hope to create more of these as time allows. Leofwin and his family are based on the characters of a book teaching everyday Old English as a living language, which will be available towards the end of 2011.
Matt Love
Matt Love
Old English
Yeavering: Sparrow Flight
Archaeology
This image depicts a sparrow in flight across Yeavering to provide us with a bird's eye view. The analogy of a sparrow flying through a Great Hall was first documented by Bede (II.13). Paulinus had tried to persuade Edwin to become a Christian, but Edwin wished to consult his advisers and friends. This was the advice of one counsellor after hearing the chief Priest Coifi recommend that Edwin follow the new Christian religion:
"Another of the king's chief men signified his agreement with this prudent argument, and went on to say:
'Your Majesty, when we compare the present life of man on earth with that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a single sparrow through the banqueting-hall where you are sitting at dinner on a winter's day with your thegns and counsellors. In the midst there is a comforting fire to warm the hall; outside, the storms of winter rain or snow are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms; but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry world from which he came. Even so, man appears on earth for a little while; but of what went before this life or of what follows, we know nothing. Therefore, if this new teaching has brought any more certain knowledge, it seems only right that we should follow it.'
The other elders and counsellors of the king, under God's guidance, gave similar advice."
This video was originally posted on the Yeavering section of the Past Perfect Project archaeological site: http://www.pastperfect.org.uk/sites/yeavering/images/sparrowclip.html
The Archaeology Section of Durham County Council and the Conservation Team of Northumberland County Council
The Past Perfect Project, Durham and Northumberland County Councils
7th century
Anglo-Saxon Lyre Music
Music
Five short clips of Anglo-Saxon lyre playing, recorded on the cliffs at Leigh-on-Sea, July 2010. Please note that the original version of this video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Leofwin2010#p/u/7/n3zPX7BCXzI
Matt Love
Contributor's own resource
Alsige of West Stow
Old English language
An introduction to a typical village house at West Stow, delivered in Old English.
Transcript:
Welcumen béo on West Stowa. Mín nama is Alsige.
Þis is mín hús. Ðes is se hróf, séo duru, séo flór .... cum in.
Þes is mín wífman, and Þes is mín bróþor.
ealá, ealá
Þis is þæt fýr, ond hér is úre mete ... stincað wel!
Hér is mín bedd. Wé rísað þá séo sunne ríseð, wé weorcað ealne dæg ond gáð to bedde þá niht cumeþ
(goes outside)
Þéos is mín woruld -- ðá heofenas, séo sunne, þá tréow, þá æceras, þá godu, þá ylfe ond mín twá stranga handa.
Beoð wel, fríend.
Translation:
Welcome to West Stow. My name is Alsige.
This is my house. This is the roof... the door... and the floor.... come in.
This is my wife, and this is my brother.
Hello! Hello!
This is the fire, and this is our food -- hmm, smells good!
Here is my bed. We get up when the sun rises, we work all day long, and go to bed at night-fall.
(goes outside)
This is my world -- the sky, the sun, the trees, the fields, the gods and the elves - and my two strong hands.
Be well, friends.
Matt Love
Contributor's own resource
2010
Old English
Deor Aloud
Old English language
'Deor' read aloud at West Stow, with accompaniment on Anglo-Saxon lyre.
Matt Love
Contributor's own resource
The Coming of the English
Old English literature
The account (abridged) by Bede of the coming of the English to Britain in the 5th century. He wrote in Latin in the 8th century, and his work was rendered into Old English a century later. The text is copied using an Old English hand, with pop-up glosses in present-day English. Please note that the *unglossed* version of the video is archived here: the glossed version is available at http://www.youtube.com/user/Leofwin2010#p/u/5/p2xBT9xyslo
Matt Love
Contributor's own resource
Old English
The Lord's Prayer
Old English literature
From the Wessex Gospels, c.870AD, with pop-up glosses in present-day English. The text is copied using an old English hand. The photo at the end is Leofwin as an early 7th century missionary. Please note that this is the *unglossed* version of this video: a glossed version is available here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Leofwin2010#p/u/4/EE71znjuba4
Matt Love
Contributor's own resource
c.870
Old English
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1066 Read Aloud
Old English literature
Part of the entry for 1066 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, read in Old English. It describes the arrival of Duke William in Pevensey, the Battle of Hastings, and the death of Harold. The text was copied using an Old English hand. Please note that this is the *unglossed* version of the video: a glossed version is available here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Leofwin2010#p/u/2/tjXmKOt7hns
Matt Love
Contributors' own resource
1066
Old English
Beowulf - Scyld Scefing's Funeral
Old English literature
Beowulf - Scyld Scefing's Funeral - Read in Old English. The location is the reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village at West Stow, Suffolk, England. Please note that this is the *unglossed* version of the video: a glossed version is available here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Leofwin2010#p/u/0/xkK4_5DqLhk
Matt Love
Contributor's own resource
2010
Old English