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long narrative poem reveals values & history fact, folklore & magic serious tone & grand language

long narrative poem reveals values & history fact, folklore & magic serious tone & grand language hero undertakes a great quest which relates to society’s values. Beowulf’s Genre = Epic Epic – long narrative poem Epic’s were the first ‘history books’!

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long narrative poem reveals values & history fact, folklore & magic serious tone & grand language

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  1. long narrative poem • reveals values & history • fact, folklore & magic • serious tone & grand language • hero undertakes a great quest • which relates to society’s values

  2. Beowulf’s Genre = Epic • Epic – long narrative poem • Epic’s were the first ‘history books’! • Your goal is to separate fact from fiction as you read Beowulf. • Therefore, you need to know the facts (Anglo-Saxon History)

  3. Must battle a great monster • Must pay homage to a god/gods (Fate/Wyrd) • Has Superhuman strength / skill / wit • Of Noble birth or rises to nobilty (sometimes a mystery) • Although superhuman, he is mortal • Usually has a great weapon

  4. EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic? Scop – Anglo-Saxon Poet - Memorized epic poems and delivered them at the Mead Hall - ‘Preserved’ the souls of past warriors

  5. Our language and literature today is greatly inspired by the warring tribes of Early England • Beowulf is considered the first work in English • (400 - 700 A.D. ) • It is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem • Epics contain a given group’s culture and history

  6. Actually this term is used to describe a culture composed of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Geats • They wereGermanic tribes –“guns for hire” – mercenaries • Hired by the Romans • They stay in Britain after the Romans leave.

  7. Tribal Life – small clans; armies (loyalty and strength most important) • Violent society, but loyalty is important. • Killing a fellow member of one’s tribe was the worst possible crime • Those who committed this crime paid a wergild.

  8. Religion: Anglo-Saxons = pagan beliefs • Woden – (Odin) – primary god • Thunor (Thor) – friend to man; controlled sky; thunder (royals’ god) • Tiw – north star; war god • Freya (Frigg) – goddess of love; feast; beauty • Loki – god of cunning (shape-shifter)

  9. Religion: Impact in Modern English • Sunday -- Sun's day • Monday -- Moon's day • Tuesday -- Tiw's day • Wednesday -- Woden's day • Thursday -- Thor's day • Friday -- Freya's day • Saturday -- Saturn's day (adopted Roman god)

  10. Druids – Pagan priests/shamans • (Anglos mix with Britons – Druids) • Feasts, ceremonies, magic, animism • Druids painted their bodies blue before battle • Human / animal sacrifice and effigy

  11. Extremely spiritual and violent • Limited concept of an afterlife • need fame to live on = “momento mori” • Reputation = eternal life

  12. EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic? Memento Mori – ‘remember death’ • no afterlife; therefore, achieve immortality by accomplishments • (preserve soul) through reputation

  13. Adoration – to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; to honor and idolize • The goal of Anglo Saxon society was to attain adoration and fame in order to obtain immortality • Methods = poem, statue, jewelry, memorial,…

  14. Wyrd - Fate or personal destiny • "to become or to be due” • similar to karma • an Anglo-Saxon’s ‘reputation’ The Tree of Life (souls)

  15. Mead Hall - center of civilization (symbol) • Socializing • History preserved (scop – oral poet) • Reputations built (brag; give gifts) • Sign of tribe’s strength; safe place (sleep)

  16. Comitatus - Germanic code of loyalty • Thanes (warriors)swore loyalty • King generousin return(give treasure / land) • Kings praised for generosity and hospitality. • Warriors praised for courage and loyalty

  17. Warfare: • Dominated life Comitatus: • Remain on battlefield (after King’s defeat) • Thane pledged life to the king (bravery) • King rewarded thanes with treasure (generosity) • Loyalty; oath = basis for social order

  18. Riddles – beauty in mystery = quickness of mind = intellectual strength • Boast– confidencewas veryimportant mustbe able toback upclaims

  19. Christianity vs. Pagan • Christian allusions in the poem result from transcription by a Christian monk • Anglo’s originally pagan; changed to Christianity after 600 A.D

  20. Notable Names: Bede: • Founds monastic group (strict) • Writes ‘Ecclesiastical History’ • Rumored as a miracle worker • Escapes assassination attempt (twice!)

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