Beowulf

1. Beowulf English IV

2. Who were the anglo-saxons? • Invaded and settled in the south and east of Britain in the 5th Century • Anglo-Saxon Era: the years 550-1066 • Language: Old English, spoken and later written; eventually became Middle English in the 11th Century • Descended from three tribes: Angles (modern day Germany), Saxons (Germany and surrounding countries), and Jutes (modern day Denmark)

3. Anglo-Saxon society • Built small towns near centers of agriculture • Each town had a main hall at its center, containing a central hearth (containing fire for warmth/cooking) • Wanted to remain peaceful – but had harsh laws for committing crimes • Literature: about 400 works survive, including Beowulf • Religion: originally pagan (believing in multiple gods), but later converted to Christianity

5. Beowulf • Old English heroic epic poem • One of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature • Composed by an anonymous poet between the 8th and 11th century • Focuses on the adventures of a hero named Beowulf

6. What is epic poetry? • Long narrative poem • Focuses on heroic deeds or events significant to a culture • Were originally told aloud, but eventually became written works (may not have survived otherwise). • Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Paradise Lost, The Divine Comedy, etc. • First epics are considered “primary” or “folk” epics • This includes Beowulf • Often begins “in medias res”

7. Traits of an epic hero • Larger-than-life figure • Usually of noble birth or part god • Fights against evil forces • Goes on an epic quest • Does good deeds that show virtue and bravery

8. Anglo-Saxon Poetry • Alliteration: repeating of consonant sounds (Example: He is hasped and hooped and hirtling with pain, limping and looped in it.) • Kennings: replaces simple nouns with more descriptive and complex images (Examples: “wound dew” = blood)  TONS of these in Beowulf • Common themes: war/warriors, seas, storms, animals (wolves, ravens), death, fate, destiny