Beowulf: Background Information

1. One of the most important remains of Anglo-Saxon literature is the epic poem Beowulf. Its age is unknown; but it comes from a very distant and hoar antiquity . . . It is like a piece of ancient armor; rusty and battered, and yet strong. -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American Poet)

2. Beowulf:Background Information • The oldest surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literature • Author unknown • Probably written by one man • Lived in what is now England • Was highly skilled in poetic technique • Was thoroughly familiar with the traditions and legends of early Germanic culture • Composed between the mid-seventh century and the end of the tenth century (A.D. 700-100) • Existed through oral tradition for an estimated 300 years – passed on from one scop (shop) to another • Written in what is now called Old English • Only one complete original manuscript remains

3. Anglo-saxon Storytellers • An Anglo-Saxon storyteller was called a scop - (pronounced shop) in Anglo-Saxon lands.

4. Literary Devices • Anglo-Saxon scops relied on certain poetic devices to aid their memory and give their poems structure and impact. Three of these devices can be found in Beowulf: • Alliteration • Kennings • Caesura

5. Alliteration • Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close together in a poem. • “Hrothgar’s men lived happy in his hall.” • “miserable, mighty men tormented”

6. Kennings are special kinds of metaphors that use compound words, prepositional phrases, or possessives to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. Kenning

7. Caesura • An obvious pause in a line of poetry. • In Old English poetry, it usually comes near the middle of a line, with two stressed syllables before and two after, often allowing little or no “run-on” of meaning from the first half line to the second. • “A prince of the Geats / had killed Grendel.”

8. Beowulf was written in Old English so it has to be translated into Modern English for us to read it. Here is a sample of the text in Old English: Cōm on wanre nihtscrīðan sceadugenga. Scēotend swæfon,þa þaet hornreced healdan scoldon –ealle būton ānum. þæt wæs yldum cūþ,þæt hīe ne mōste, þā metod nolde,se scyscaþa under sceadu bregdan; Our reading will come from the translation by Burton Raffel. Translation from old English Burton Raffel Seamus Heaney Gareth Hinds Robert Nye

9. Beowulf : The Epic Poem • Beowulf is an early Anglo-Saxon epic. • An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero. • The epic hero is usually a man of high social status and is often important in the history of his people. • Epic plots usually involve: • Supernatural events • Long time periods • Life and death struggles • In epics, the hero always represents good and the forces that threaten people represent evil. • To overcome the people’s enemies, the hero requires great physical strength.

10. Epics • Epics were originally sang or recited orally with musical accompaniment. • At that time, very few people could read. • Audiences were enthralled by monsters, perilous journeys, and fierce battles. • The Anglo-Saxons, in their primitive and harsh environment, demanded of their heroes . . . • courage, • physical strength • loyalty to a tribal king • wisdom in guiding others • supreme self-confidence • The heroes in Beowulf meet these qualifications.

11. Other Epics • Gilgamesh (Babylonian, unknown) • The Odyssey (Greek, Homer) • The Iliad (Greek, Homer) • The Aeneid (Roman, Virgil)

12. The epic hero is a mythical character who is strong, courageous, morally upright, and driven by the desire for glory. He faces enormous obstacles in these pursuits, usually some force or character that represents evil Even if he loses his life, he is victorious in his pursuit of glory. Characteristics of an Epic Hero: Is significant and glorified Is on a quest Has supernatural strength, intelligence, and courage Is Ethical Risks death for the good of society Performs brave deeds Is a strong and responsible leader Reflects the ideas and values of his society Epic Heroes

13. English Literature? • Even though Beowulf is the oldest surviving English epic, it is not set in England and its characters are not English. • In the 400s, Germanic peoples known as Anglo Saxons invaded the territory that would become known as England • They brought the story of Beowulf with them. • The text of Beowulf shows both Norse pagan belief and Christianity, often in the same line.

14. When, Where, and Who? • Setting • When? • The 6th Century • Where? • Scandinavia • Characters • The people are the Geats from southern Sweden and the Danes from Denmark

15. Who was Beowulf? • Beowulf was a brave warrior who vanquished evil monsters. • He embodies courage, loyalty, and generosity. • He traveled to Denmark from his home in Geatland (now southern Sweden) to slay Grendel. • Grendel is a monster with human qualities that has been terrorizing Herot for twelve years. • Herot is a banquet hall in Denmark built by the Danish king Hrothgrar

16. An enormous ogre or demon-like creature A descendent of the biblical Cain Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy. Despises mankind’s joy Menaces Hrothgar and the Danes for twelve years before facing Beowulf in battle Grendel

17. Hrothgar • The aging king of the Danes • Welcomes Beowulf’s assistance in facing Grendel • Built Herot (his giant mead-hall) to symbolize the kingdom’s success, civilization, and joy

18. Hrothgar’s mead-hall More like a palace Symbolizes the Scyldings’ (Danish people) success and mankind’s joy Social, governmental, and emotional center of the village Grendel delights in raiding and capturing it nightly Mead honey-based wine Herot

19. Not as powerful as her son, but still a formidable foe Lives with her son Grendel in a cave beneath a swampy lake (or mere) In her cave is a magical, giant sword Grendel’s Mother

20. Synopsis • For twelve years, Grendel has raided Herot nightly, killing King Hrothgar’s Danish warriors. • Beowulf, who has heard of Grendel’s evil deeds, decides to come to the aid of the Danes. • Hrothgar had once sheltered Beowulf’s father during a deadly feud, and Beowulf wants to return the favor. • Beowulf also hopes to enhance his own reputation and gain treasure for his king, Higlac. • Beowulf brings with him fourteen of his finest men.

21. Synopsis • On the first night of the visit, Hrothgar holds a feast in Beowulf’s honor. • Beowulf is insulted by a drunken Dane named Unferth. • Unferth tells the crowd that Beowulf was once beaten in a swimming contest by an ordinary man named Breca, thus he would certainly be no match for Grendel. • Beowulf responds with dignity noting that the two swimmers were separated by a storm, and on the fifth night of the contest Beowulf slew nine sea monsters before finally returning home • Unferth had been put in his place! • The Danes retire to safe sleeping quarters; Beowulf and his Geats bed down in Herot.

22. Synopsis • Angered by the joy of the men in the mead-hall, Grendel bursts in and kills one of the Geats. • With the strength of 30 men in his hand grip, Beowulf seizes the ogre’s claw and rips it from its shoulder socket. • The mortally wounded beast flees to his mere pool. • The claw trophy hangs high under the roof of Herot.

23. Synopsis • The Danes celebrate the next day with a huge feast. • But Grendel’s mother is bent on revenge. • That night she climbs into Herot to retrieve her son’s claw, and kills one of the Danes. • Beowulf was sleeping elsewhere. • The next morning Hrothgar, Beowulf, and several Danes and Geats follow the mother’s tracks into a dark, formidable swamp. • Beowulf dives into the mere to seek Grendel’s mother. • He carries with him a sword named “Hrunting,” a gift from the chastised Unferth.

24. Synopsis • First, Beowulf battles with strange creatures. • Grendel’s mother then attacks and hauls the Geat warrior to her dimly lit cave. • Beowulf’s gift sword Hrunting fails to penetrate the ogre’s hide. • Grendel’s mother tries to cut Beowulf with a knife, but his mail (armor) protects him. • Beowulf spots a giant magical sword and uses it to kill her.

25. Synopsis • An unexplainable light illuminates the cavern and reveals Grendel’s corpse and a great deal of treasure. • Beowulf decapitates the corpse. • The magic sword melts to its hilt (handle). • Beowulf returns the surface carrying Grendel’s head, but leaves the treasure.

26. Synopsis • After much celebration and gifts from Hrothgar, Beowulf and his men return home. • Later, Beowulf’s king Higlac is killed in battle. Higlac’s son is also killed in a feud. • Beowulf is named King of Geatland and rules for 50 years. • In his declining years, he must face one more demon.

27. The End of Beowulf • A fiery dragon has become enraged when a fugitive stole a valuable cup from the dragon’s treasure-trove. • The dragon terrorizes the countryside at night. • Beowulf insists on taking the dragon alone, but his sword is no match for the monster. • All of Beowulf’s men flee to the woods. • Only one of them, Wiglaf, goes to Beowulf’s assistance. • Beowulf is mortally wounded. • Dying, he leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf. • His body is cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a sea-side cliff where passing sailors can see. • The dragon’s treasure is buried with him. Turn to page 24