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Beowulf

Beowulf . BEOWULF. Anglo-Saxon timeline . 600 BC: Celts arrive in Britain and form tribes, establish farms and villages and are often in conflict. 43 AD : Romans invade Britain Romans encounter Celts Build roads, large buildings, sanitation system Introduce Christianity

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Beowulf

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  1. Beowulf BEOWULF

  2. Anglo-Saxon timeline • 600 BC: Celts arrive in Britain and form tribes, establish farms and villages and are often in conflict. • 43 AD : Romans invade Britain • Romans encounter Celts • Build roads, large buildings, sanitation system • Introduce Christianity • Romans rule for approx. 400 years. • 300 AD : Irish ,Scottish and Germans invaded for plunder and slaves • 410 AD : Romans leave Britain

  3. Anglo Saxon timeline (cont) • 450 AD: Jutes from Denmark and Angles and Saxons from Northern Germany invade Britain • Germanic tribes push out Celts • 597 AD Anglo Saxons become Christian • Anglo-Saxons dominate England for 600 years . Though this period is marked by strife and confusion, they provide a language, began its literature , establish laws, government and religion. They were the first English people.

  4. Anglo- Saxon culture • Lived in tribal groups • Strongest ties were to kin and Lord • Kings emerged • Spoke old English • Newly Christian but still valued pagan ideals • Valued: Family, lineage, reputation, virtue, and a good story. • Desired: wealth, power

  5. Heroic code • Derived from Anglo-Saxon Germanic roots • Called for strength, courage and loyalty of warriors • Called for generosity, loyalty, hospitality and political acumen of Kings

  6. Anglo Saxon literature • Oral tradition- passed down through generations by storyteller s (called scops) • Poems had strong beat, alliterative verse and no rhyme • Caesura (a cutting) used in Old English to depict a half line. We use a comma for a modern effect. Da com of more from mistheleopum “Out of the marsh, from the foot of the hills.” • Kenning: a compound metaphor that functions as a name. Examples: Whale- road ; sky- candle; sea-steed

  7. Beowulf: The Epic Poem • Epic poem: a long narrative poem that describes a significant event and typically features a hero. • Modern Examples of Epics: Star Wars; Lord of the Rings

  8. Beowulf: The Poem • Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem. • Poem written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) • Some characters in the poem actually existed. • Only copy of manuscript written sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000’s),

  9. Setting: • Set in what is now Sweden, home of the Geats. • Set as early as 400 or 500 A.D. Time of Beowulf Europe today

  10. Some terms you’ll want to know comitatus • Literally, this means “escort” or “comrade” • lords mutually pledging loyalty to one another

  11. Terms Continued… Mead Hall: The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc. Thane: a warrior Wyrd Fate. In conflict with Christian references to God’s will .

  12. Themes Good vs. Evil Religion: Christian and Pagan influences The importance of wealth and treasure The importance of the sea and sailing The sanctity of the home Fate Loyalty and allegiance Heroism and heroic deeds

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