Thursday 5 November 2015

EARLY BRITAIN - THE SAXONS & THE DANES

Alexander Dreymon as Uthred in The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories series of novels. The series is set in the 9th and 10th centuries, during the Viking invasions of England. It tells the story of Uhtred, a Saxon warrior who is captured and raised by the Danes. Uhtred is torn between his two loyalties as he fights to reclaim his birthright and defend England from the invaders.

The Last Kingdom is a well-made and exciting series with strong characters, stunning visuals, and epic battle scenes. It is also a historically accurate series that provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of Anglo-Saxon England.

The series has been praised for its realistic portrayal of Viking culture, its complex characters, and its exciting action sequences. It has also been credited with helping to popularize the historical fiction genre on television.

The Last Kingdom is a must-watch for fans of historical fiction, Vikings, and epic battle scenes. It is also a great series for anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of England.


VIDEO 1

This is a clip from episode 1 season 1 of The Last Kingdom. 

In the year 866, the Danish earl Ragnar leads a fleet of dragonships to the coast of Northumbria, where he kills the eldest son of the Saxon Lord of Bebbanburg, Uhtred. Uhtred engages Ragnar and his Danish army at Eoferwic, but the Danes feign a retreat, leading the reserves of the Saxon army to attack, and then be flanked by a hidden force of Danes. Uhtred is killed, and his 10-year-old son, Uhtred, and a Saxon girl named Brida are taken as slaves by Ragnar.


 Worksheet 1 

Uhtred is initially raised as a slave, but he quickly proves himself to be a valuable asset to Ragnar and his family. He learns the Danish language and customs, and he becomes a skilled warrior. Ragnar treats Uhtred and Brida as if they were his own children, and they come to love him as their father.

Years later, Uhtred is a grown man and a respected member of Ragnar's warband. He is close to Ragnar's daughter, Thyra, and he is encouraged by Ragnar to marry Brida. However, their happiness is short-lived when Ragnar is killed by a rival Danish earl.

Uhtred is devastated by Ragnar's death, and he vows to avenge him. He also vows to reclaim his birthright as the rightful Lord of Bebbanburg. However, his uncle Ælfric has usurped Uhtred's title and lands, and he is determined to keep them.

Uhtred is now caught between two worlds: the Saxon world of his birth and the Danish world of his upbringing. He must decide where his true loyalties lie, and he must fight for what he believes in.

The episode ends with Uhtred and Brida fleeing from Bebbanburg after Ælfric tries to have them killed. Uhtred is determined to return and reclaim his birthright, but he knows that it will not be easy.

Uhtred and King Alfred the Great: a complex relationship

Uhtred's relationship with King Alfred is one of the most complex and interesting aspects of the TV series The Last Kingdom. The two men are very different in many ways, but they also have a deep respect for each other.

At first, Uhtred despises Alfred. He sees him as a weak and indecisive king who is more interested in praying than in fighting. Alfred, for his part, is wary of Uhtred. He knows that Uhtred is a skilled warrior and a natural leader, but he also knows that Uhtred is fiercely independent and has no qualms about challenging authority.

Over time, however, Uhtred and Alfred begin to develop a grudging respect for each other. Uhtred comes to admire Alfred's intelligence and his commitment to unifying England. Alfred, for his part, comes to appreciate Uhtred's loyalty and his willingness to fight for what he believes in.

Their relationship is still complicated, however. Uhtred can never quite forgive Alfred for the fact that he is a Christian and that he has made peace with the Danes. Alfred, for his part, can never quite trust Uhtred fully. He knows that Uhtred is still loyal to his Danish upbringing, and he worries that Uhtred may one day betray him.

Despite their differences, Uhtred and Alfred form a close bond. They are both committed to defending England from the Danes, and they both have a deep respect for each other's skills and abilities. Their relationship is one of the most compelling aspects of The Last Kingdom.

Here are some examples of the complexity of their relationship:

  • Uhtred saves Alfred's life on multiple occasions, but he also disobeys Alfred's orders and challenges his authority.
  • Alfred makes Uhtred his sworn man and gives him land and titles, but he also imprisons Uhtred when he believes that he is a threat.
  • Uhtred eventually comes to respect Alfred as a king, but he never fully converts to Christianity or abandons his Danish heritage.

In the end, Uhtred and Alfred have a deep respect for each other, even though they disagree on many things. They are both complex and flawed characters, but they are both also committed to defending England and building a better future for their people.


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