Violence, Christianity, And The Anglo-Saxon Charms

Abstract

Concentration in Literary Studies

The thesis focuses on violence reinterpreted through the Anglo-Saxon charms that
exhibit a fusion of Christian and pagan elements. In order to comprehend the impact of
this fusion, I provide ecclesiastical and social histories of the Anglo-Saxons, stressing
upon the interconnectedness of both-an essential concept in understanding the AngloSaxon
view of the world. This interconnectedness is seen in the Anglo-Saxon perception
of magic, which in their understanding was synonymous to science or religion. I provide
a brief introduction on magical practices and beliefs that applied to the charms, shedding
light on how they were expected to work. In the third chapter of the thesis, I include
seven Old English charms of my own translation, categorizing them into three groups:
1.Channs that require violent acts for their efficacy; 2. Charms that remedy a violent act;
3. Charms that protect against violence. I analyze each of the charms, providing a
Christian and pagan understanding for each one. Each section concludes with a statement
about how violence was reinterpreted in the charms. Based on the chronology of the
manuscripts in which the charms were found, I argue that the charms increasingly
become more prayer-like, moving from being pagan chants superimposed with Christian
references to incantations more like prayers.

Date of Award	2011
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Timothy Shonk (Supervisor)