Introduction to Beowulf

1. Introduction to Beowulf Author Unknown

2. Part I: Vikings “Popular Misconceptions” • Did not live in one nation • They were not wild and dirty • They were not tall and blonde • They did not drink out of skull cups • They did not use crude weapons • Everyone did not hate Vikings • Viking helmets did not have horns

3. Were Not One Nation! • Instead: • Led by a chieftain • Home Base was in Scandinavia • Settled in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Norway.

4. They were not wild and dirty • Excavations show Viking sites have turned up: • Tweezers • Razors • Combs • Ear cleaners made from bones and antlers • Bathed at least once a week which was much more frequent that other Europeans who would bathe in the Spring.

5. Vikings were NOT Tall and Blonde • Height • Men were 5 ft 5 • Women were 5 ft 2 • Today’s Vikings are about 4” taller. • Vikings would have had to look up instead of down.

6. Vikings Did Not Drink out of Skull Cups • The Danish originated drinking methods in 1636 where warriors would drink from “curved branches of skulls,” i.e., horns • No skull cups have ever been found in Viking context.

7. Vikings Did Not Make Crude Weapons • Vikings made the “Ulfberht” sword. One of the best ever made. • NOVA did a film on Viking swords. • Weapon of choice was the “Axe.”

8. The Vikings Were Not Hated by Everyone • Feared by many, appreciated (and employed) by others • French King Charles III, known as “Charles the Simple” gave the land the Vikings had settled on in France (known as Normandy). • And King Charles gave his daughter to the Viking Chief, Rollo. • In return, the Vikings protected France against wilder Vikings. • Normandy, thus was named after the Normans, also known as the Vikings.

9. Viking Helmets Did Not Have Horns • Vikings actually wore a netted/knitted helmet. • Experts do not know where the horns on Viking helmets comes from – the idea dates back to the early 1800’s and the first Viking helmet found was around 1943.

10. Part II: Daily Life • Lived in Small Farming Communities • Typical Dwelling: Viking Longhouse where multiple families lived. • Contained a • Workshop • kitchen (which would keep the interior warm in the winter) • barn (with animals)

11. Negative Daily Aspect of Life • Barn was in the same dwelling area as the people lived – which often led to diseases (i.e., Arian flu, Bird flu, Swine flu) • When animals got sick, people got sick.

12. Viking Longhouse • Lofoten, Norway • 272 Feet long, size of a football field. • Roof resembles upside down Viking ship • People would spend a lot of time together so they spoke a lot to each other. • Tales called “The Sagas” out of New Finland.

13. Viking Diet • Ate agricultural products raised on their own farms. • Meat: consisted of cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats, and poultry. • Cereals, Dairy Produce, Vegetables, Fruits • Whatever could be hunted, captured, or gathered (i.e., fish, rabbit, deer, bear, boar and elk) • Far North: seals, walruses, whales, puffins, bird eggs • In order to survive in this type of environment Vikings had to eat at least 3,000 calories a day. • There is no evidence to suggest malnutrition so they must have eaten quite a bit.

14. Clothing • Limited information exists on clothing because • Textile decays • Limited Written sources • Only ornaments have been found • Textile found in association with Viking Burial @ Oslo Museum in Oslo, Norway. • Now that the Icebergs are rescinding – archeologists are beginning to find artifacts. • Two layers of tunics have been found • Pants had no pockets nor a fly. • Wrappings from knee to foot • Shoes would last about a year. • Soles would be very thin. • Animals in barn are where hides were made for new shoes. • Cloaks were heavy and fastened with pins • Rich would have multiple clothes. • When Vikings would come out of cold, they would be all wet. Middle Ages is when Vkings started wearing chain maille.

15. Women Clothing • Ankle Length linen worn under the dress • Neck linings would be closed with a broach • Over garments – a shorter length woolen dress suspended by shoulder straps • Brooches, beads and leather pouches • Socks but they were not knitted instead an ancient technique was used known as “nalbinding” (needle binding) used instead. • A single large, thick needles was used.

16. Part III: Vikings Going-a-Viking • Vikings going over sea – where the word comes from • Viking is used as verb – to go a “viking” • This is a reference to summer time overseas expeditions • Purpose was the raiding of monasteries and cities along the coast. • Raids – Lindis farne Monastery (793) • Lindisfarne Stone; Viking era ends with Norman Invasion of England in 1066.

17. Trade • Vikings engaged in trade, including in trading slaves. • They would abduct people and sell them. • The film, “The 13th Warrior” shows an element of truth in that film. • They loved silver and would always bring silver back with them when going a-Viking. • They would be careful how much silver they looted because other Vikings would catch wind of silver and invade each other. • They would bury their silver – thinking they would come back for it and they would forget where they had buried it. • There is evidence of silver as far as Baghdad.

18. Part IV: What is the Vikings Legacy? • Norwegian Rat due to migration and colonization trade. • When Vikings moved to Iceland, rats came with them on the ships. • DNA evidence was done on the Icelandic rats and found they match the Norwegian rats DNA.

19. Bezerker: Viking Warrior • This is when the Viking would go “Bezerk” or crazy before a war battle. Ivar, the Boneless

20. Sam Houston • Family’s name comes from Scotland • Scotland calls “Hyustooun” or “House Ton”

21. The Story of Harald Bluetooth • King of Denmark between 958 & 970. • He united parts of Denmark and Norway into one nation. • He converted the Danes to Christianity.

22. Language • Icelandic language is the closest Viking Language that we know of today. • Icelandic has its own script.

23. Vinland • When the Vikings landed in North America between 983 to 986 A.D. they discovered that grapes were growing in this particular region. They decided to name this land Vinland, Icelandic for “grapes.” • The climate was harsh and the Vikings left to further explore other areas where they could cultivate and live, eventually this land would become known as Canada.

24. Introduction to Beowulf • Story isn’t about the English—it’s about the Danes and the Geats. • Romans controlled England (up to Hadrian’s Wall) until the 5th century • Waves of post-Roman invasions by Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and Irish • Native Britons couldn’t hold them off http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/architecture/ss/042209HadriansWall_2.htm Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Romans to keep the Barbarians out. The wall is named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian who ruled Rome between 117 and 137 AD.

25. Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Map from C. Warren Hollister, The Making of England, p. 64

26. I. Historical background • 400-600 A.D. -- Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade (Beowulf set) • 410 A.D. – Rome renounces control of Britain • 521 A.D. – Hygelac invades the Netherlands • 597 A.D. – St. Augustine • 625 A.D. – Sutton Hoo • 700-950 A.D. -- Christian poet composed the poem

27. The Danelaw • Viking raids in late 8th century along East coast of England, Ireland, northern France • In 850, Danish Vikings began to settle in Kent • In 865, a large Danish army invaded and took control of nearly all of England except Wessex • In 870, Danes attacked Wessex

28. The Danelaw • 871: Alfred the Great becomes king of Wessex • Warrior, diplomat, administrator, scholar, Christian; Greatest Anglo-Saxon king • 872: Alfred had to bribe the Danes to stop the fighting • Built a navy of 60-oared ships, bigger and faster than the Danes’ ships

29. The Danelaw • After almost losing his kingdom in 872, Alfred’s military reforms allowed him to begin retaking land • By 886, Alfred had retaken London and made a treaty with the Danes establishing their area of authority in England—the Danelaw • By Alfred’s death in 899, the Danish threat was over, and subsequent kings reconquered the Danelaw

30. Sutton Hoo • Ship burial of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon king, possibly Raedwald (d. 624/625) • Found in 1939 at Sutton Hoo in eastern England, formerly the Danelaw • Ship was nearly 80 feet long, laden with treasures and everyday equipment (even if it is everyday equipment made of gold) • Window into the early Anglo-Saxon world

31. Sutton Hoo Photos from British Museum

32. Sutton Hoo

33. Sutton Hoo

34. Oslo, Norway

36. Introduction to Beowulf • Oral vs. written text • Many ancient works were memorized and recited—and were not written down until centuries later (Odyssey, Iliad, Beowulf) • Only surviving Beowulf manuscript dates from late 10th century • Probably composed mid-8th century

37. Introduction to Beowulf • The scop: Anglo-Saxon equivalent of a singing poet • Oral techniques: alliteration, repetition, variation, kennings, half-lines, metonymy (one thing substituted for another), synecdoche (part for the whole)

38. Beowulf Manuscript(Note the burn marks on the top and sides—the ms. was severely damaged in a fire)

39. Poetics Hwaet! Wē Gār-Dena in geārdagum þēodcyninga þrym gefrūnon, hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaþena þrēatum monegum mægþum meodosetla oftēah, egsode eorlas syððan ærest wearð fēasceaft funden. Hē þæs frōfre gebād, wēox under wolcnum, weorðmundum þāh oð þæt him æghwylc þāra ymbsittendra ofer hronrāde hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. Þæt wæs gōd cyning!

40. Kennings • A metaphorical expression used in place of a noun • Sea = “whale-road” or “swan’s way” • Joints, ligaments = “bone-locks” • Sun = “sky-candle” • Icicles = “water-ropes”

41. Metonymy and Synecdoche • Metonymy: Name of one thing is substituted for the name of something else that most people would associate with the first thing • “Iron” for “Sword” • “Crown” for “king” or “monarchy” • Synecdoche: Substitute a part for the whole • “keel” for “ship” • “All hands on deck” • “Heads of cattle”

42. Anglo-Saxon Society • Tribal society with kinship bonds and a heroic code of behavior • bravery • loyalty to one's lord, one's warband (comitatus), and one's kin • willingness to avenge one's warband or lord at all costs – death preferable to exile. • generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to warband and lord--gift-giving • heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor, eternal fame, and political power

43. Stavanger, Norway

44. Anglo-Saxon values • Loyalty • Fighting for one’s king • Avenging one’s kinsmen • Keeping one’s word • Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds • Brotherly love -- not romantic love • Heroism • Physical strength • Skill and resourcefulness in battle • Courage • Public reputation, not private conscience

45. What about the women? • Women make peace, bearing children who create blood ties • Women pass the cup at the mead-hall, cementing social bonds • Women lament loss, don’t avenge

46. Stavanger, Norway

47. Religion in Anglo Saxon Times • Mix of pagan and Christian values--often in conflict. • Pagan (secular (non-religious) lineage vs. Christian lineage; • Eternal earthly fame through deeds vs afterlife in hell or heaven; • honor & gift-giving vs. sin of pride (hubris); • revenge vs pacifist view (forgiveness); • Wyrd (Anglo-Saxon "Fate") vs God's will, etc.

48. Epic hero traits • Is significant and glorified • Is on a quest • Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage • Is ethical • Risks death for glory or for the greater good of society • Is a strong and responsible leader • Performs brave deeds • Reflects ideals of a particular society