 THE ANGLO-SAXON ANGLE 

9TH JUNE, 793 A.D. Price: Barter only

STRIKING VIKINGS AXE LINDISFARNE!

By our national affairs reporter, Aldin of even sightings of dragons. Many people across
Wessex. the land have wondered if something awful
would happen to the area, and it appears those
Vicious raiders from across the sea have fears were warranted.
attacked Lindisfarne monastery, killing the
peaceful monks and carrying off our Christian News of the terrifying attack has spread
treasures. quickly, even to mainland Europe. Alcuin, the
famous scholar of Emperor Charlemagne has
Blood-covered survivors have told stories of written to Lindisfarne’s bishop, Higbald, all the
fierce men with fearsome weapons, and of the way from Frankia. The Anglo-Saxon Angle has
dreadful destruction they meted out. obtained a copy of the letter, and can now
exclusively reveal clever Alcuin’s insightful
‘They came from the sea, in great, long ships thoughts on the matter:
covered in shields,’ said Father Oswald, a monk.
‘Some of our brothers went to meet them on the ‘Either this is the beginning of a greater
shore to welcome them! We thought they were tribulation, or the sins of the inhabitants have
traders. But instead of accepting our Christian brought it upon them. Truly it has not happened
hospitality, the heathen madmen hacked my by chance, but it is a sign that it was well
friends down. They do not care for God or men. merited by someone.’
They wanted gold, silver, slaves... They did not
speak a Christian language, but the first swing So it would appear that the Northumbrians
of their axes told us all we needed to know.’ have brought this vile attack upon themselves.

The marauders carried off great treasures and Continued on page 2.

even some of the peace-loving monks. They
desecrated the Holy Island, overturning God’s
altar and seizing sacred crosses and goblets.

‘They were wild and uncontrollable,’ Father INSIDE:

Oswald told The Anglo-Saxon Angle. ‘I could ❖ 10 ways to wear your veil! Don’t
see the fire in their godless eyes flashing from miss out on the latest trend from
under the rims of their helmets. I can remember
Christian Europe!
the bright colours of their shields; the glint of
light on their axe heads. Some were covered in
furs. One of them was wearing a tunic of metal ❖ Picture that! Northern traveller
rings. He was the scariest warrior of all. I fled catches glimpse of St. Columba’s
from him and managed to hide. God protected monster in Loch Ness!
me so I can warn our people about this new
threat from the sea.’
❖ Don’t have the wool pulled over
Of course, reports from Northumbria have not your eyes! Our foolproof guide to
been good for a while. Many ominous signs spotting a sick sheep at market!
have been seen there: whirlwinds, famine and

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Text
 Continued from front page. with this new threat,’ declared Ormod, a
blacksmith from York.
Their wars, their murders and of course their
controversial fashion sense have earned such a ‘We must work together to face the invaders, or
punishment, as the wise man Alcuin explains: we’ll be lost one kingdom at a time!’ agreed his
wife, Mayda.
‘Consider yourselves carefully, Northumbrians,
in case this unheard of evil was caused by some King Aethelred I of Northumbria was not
of the bad choices you have made. Consider available to give comment, but one of his
your clothes, the way you cut your hair, and the advisors told The Anglo-Saxon Angle that ‘the
luxurious habits of your princes and people.’ King has far too much to worry about right now
and will deal with this new problem when he’s
Fearful people across the country are reported finished rooting out the enemies within his own
to be listening to Alcuin and considering country.’
themselves very carefully in light of such a
dreadful raid on such a holy place. ‘For now, the King and his council advise
everyone to stay vigilant and to spread a
Six years ago the first of the northern raiders warning as quickly as possible if further
were seen on our shores when three ships invaders arrive, so proper action can be taken.’
landed in King Bertric’s province. The savage
pagans behaved in a similar way then, Father Oswald, the surviving monk from
slaughtering the town official who came to greet Lindisfarne, wonders if the king can really help
them and thereby spoiling the wedding Northumbria's coastal communities.
celebrations of the King and his Queen Edburga,
daughter of Offa. ‘It’s not odd to see strange ships on the horizon.
Many of these ships are manned by peaceful
Kings and peasants alike had hoped that this traders who come to share God’s gifts with our
first raid was an isolated incident, but it land. How will people know if a ship brings
appears those hopes have been shattered. wealth or war? I would tell our countrymen to
watch out for any ships with brightly coloured
‘They’ll be back, I’m sure of it,’ commented round shields on the side. If the ship is long and
Father Oswald. ‘They took so much treasure. So thin and covered in those shields, run for the
many of my brothers are now slaves. This will hills! Help will not come quickly enough to save
only have whetted their vile and greedy you. Pray that God protects you. That's all the
appetites. God save us!’ advice I can give.’

Local leaders suspect the monastery was He had only one more cheery message to add,
attacked because of its exposed position and
abundant treasures. Now that the plunderers ‘Of course, by the time the ships are close
have seen that monks cannot defend themselves enough for you notice the shields, it might
or the church’s God-given wealth, Father already be too late to run or hide. It was for my
Oswald’s grim prediction may well prove to be brothers at Lindisfarne.’
right. Many people are suggesting that further
raids are to be expected as long as lonely
monasteries exist and our provinces remain
divided.

‘Fighting between our noble Anglo-Saxon kings

will only weaken us, ruining our ability to cope

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Text
 Striking Vikings – Follow-Up Work

What is a large heading at the top of a newspaper article known as?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the purpose of a headline?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How does the headline of this article achieve these purposes?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is this a front page article? How can you tell?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What would a ‘national affairs reporter’ write about?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Having read the whole article, read the first paragraph again. What is the purpose of

this opening paragraph?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did ‘the first swing of their axes’ tell the monks?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Follow-Up Work
 Find TWO examples from the text of things which Alcuin believes caused an attack on

Northumbria.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Give TWO reasons why monasteries are especially likely to be attacked.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are the Anglo-Saxon kings likely to unite to face the invaders? Give a reason for your

answer.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the writer’s opinion of the Vikings? Find and copy ONE phrase which

supports your answer.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does it mean for writing to be ‘biased? How might newspapers be biased today?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Follow-Up Work
 Striking Vikings – Vocab 1

Write the meaning of each of these words.

monastery _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

meted ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

heathen _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

marauders _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

desecrated _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

altar __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ominous ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

warranted _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

scholar ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

obtained ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

insightful ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

tribulation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

merited _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

whetted _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

abundant __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

vigilant _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Vocab
 Striking Vikings – Vocab 2

Task A

‘“What are you doing?” said Matthew.’ By using different words for ‘said’, show how

Matthew is feeling in the brackets in each sentence below.

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (angry)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (happy)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (tired)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (grumpy)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (nervous)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (mean)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (amazed)

Task B

Now place an appropriate adverb at the end of each sentence you have created.

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Vocab
 Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – SPAG

Task A

Match each prefix to its meaning.

un the opposite or taking away of something

dis ‘not’, ‘into’ or ‘towards’ something

re below

in/im again

sub ‘not’; or the reversal of an action or state

Task B

Add the correct prefix to each of these words so that they match their definitions.

• _________ advantage: a negative circumstance which reduces the chance of success

• _________ comfortable: not comfortable

• _________ flux: an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things

• _________ standard: below the usual or required standard

• _________ appointed: elect or appoint someone again

• _________ important: not important

• _________ capable: not capable

• _________ inclined: unwilling or reluctant to do something

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – SPAG
 Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Oral Teacher Questions

What is a large heading at the top of a newspaper article known as? A headline.

What is the purpose of a headline? To catch a reader’s attention; to draw them into
reading the article; to give an idea of what the article is about.

How does the headline of this article achieve these purposes? By using: a large, bold
font; rhyming words; a pun on the word ‘axe’; an exclamation mark.

Is this a front page article? How can you tell? Yes it is. The name of the newspaper,
the date, and the price are at the top of the page.

What would a ‘national affairs reporter’ write about? Events which affect or are
significant for the whole of a country or nation.

Having read the whole article, read the first paragraph again. What is the purpose of
this opening paragraph? To summarise the main points of the story.

What did ‘the first swing of their axes’ tell the monks? That these were not peaceful
traders but murderous raiders who had come to attack and steal.

Find TWO examples from the text of things which Alcuin believes caused an attack on
Northumbria. Any TWO examples of ‘sins’ taken from the opening paragraphs of
page 2 are allowed.

Give TWO reasons why monasteries are especially likely to be attacked. Any two of
the following: their ‘exposed’ and ‘lonely’ positions; their ‘abundant treasures’; the
inability of monks to defend themselves.

Are the Anglo-Saxon kings likely to unite to face the invaders? Give a reason for your
answer. No. The provinces are described as ‘divided’ and King Aethelred I’s advisor
explains that the king’s focus is on his local enemies, not the Vikings.

What is the writer’s opinion of the Vikings? Find ONE phrase which supports your
answer. The writer has a negative/fearful/disgusted view of the Vikings. Numerous
words and phrases in the text imply this view.

What does it mean for writing to be ‘biased? How might newspapers be biased today?
If writing is ‘biased’ it portrays events and ideas in a way which promotes one point
of view (or person, or group) and undermines another. Modern newspapers could
favour a certain political party, celebrity, set of ideals or outcome.

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Teacher Questions
 Striking Vikings – Vocab 1

Write the meaning of each of these words.

monastery – a place where monks live, separated from the outside world

meted – gave out an amount of something

heathen – (historically) someone who does not believe in the god of the bible

marauders – people who travel around, raiding towns and villages for plunder

desecrated – treated a holy place in an obscene, disrespectful or profane way

altar – table at which the Christian communion ceremony is performed

ominous – indicating the threat or potential of evil or harm in the future

warranted – justified; proven to be right or appropriate

scholar – a learned and intelligent person with knowledge of one or several subjects

obtained – got or acquired

insightful – perceptive; displaying clear understanding of truth

tribulation – a time of great trials and suffering

merited – deserved

whetted – stimulated; made keener

abundant – present or available in a great amount

vigilant – on guard and watchful for danger

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Vocab ANSWERS
 Striking Vikings – Vocab 2

Task A

‘“What are you doing?” said Matthew.’ By using different words for ‘said’, show how

Matthew is feeling in the brackets in each sentence below.

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (angry)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (happy)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (tired)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (grumpy)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (nervous)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (mean)

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew. (amazed)

Various answers; must be appropriate synonyms for ‘said’.

Task B

Now place an appropriate adverb at the end of each sentence you have created.

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

• “What are you doing?” _________________________________ Matthew, _________________________________ .

Various answers; must be appropriate adverbs.

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – Vocab ANSWERS
 Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – SPAG

Task A

Match each prefix to its meaning.

un the opposite or taking away of something

dis ‘not’, ‘into’ or ‘towards’ something

re below

in/im again

sub ‘not’; or the reversal of an action or state

Task B

Add the correct prefix to each of these words so that they match their definitions.

• disadvantage: a negative circumstance which reduces the chance of success

• uncomfortable: not comfortable

• influx: an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things

• substandard: below the usual or required standard

• reappointed: elect or appoint someone again

• unimportant: not important

• incapable: not capable

• disinclined: unwilling or reluctant to do something

classroomsecrets.com
© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
Striking Vikings Axe Lindisfarne! – Y5m/Y6s (Black) – SPAG ANSWERS