Beowulf: An Epic Poem from the Anglo-Saxon Period

1. Beowulf: An Epic Poem from the Anglo-Saxon Period Miss Gottlieb English 10 Honors

2. Beowulf Background: Geography • Germanic tribes battled for control after causing the downfall of the Western Roman Empire (400s A.D.) • Political, economic, cultural repercussions • Bloody warfare  many Germanic tribes in Northern Europe left their homelands • Anglo-Saxon civilization established on island of Britain • G. tribes: Angles, Saxons, Jutes • Story set on mainland

3. Beowulf Background: Religion and Culture • Paganism in northern Germanic tribes • Warrior culture • Strength, courage, loyalty – principal values • Mead halls • Center of community, culture & entertainment; offered safety • Large wooden buildings - men • Drank mead (alcoholic beverage) • Storytelling • long epic poems & verse narratives • Scops – poet-singers, chanted from memory, usually played harp too

4. An Artist’s Vision of Heorot

5. Beowulf Background: The Epic Poem • Beowulf = Geat warrior • crosses the sea to aid Danes in battle • returns to Sweden to succeed his uncle, Hygelac, as king of the Geats • Hygelac was a real historical figure, led a military raid around 525 AD. • Historians believe the action of Beowulf is set shortly after Hygelac’s raid in 525. • Takes place on mainland, not in Britain. • Battle between Danes (PD Denmark) and Geats (PD Sweden)

6. Geats Danes

7. Beowulf Background: The Epic Poem • Originally written in Old English, the language spoken in Britain during Anglo-Saxon period • Old English poetry has a strong rhythm with each line divided into two parts by a pause (caesura) –indicated by an extra space. • In translation, commas used to reproduce effect of the caesuras • Old English doesn’t look or sound like modern English • Usually translated and/or heavily noted for modern readers • Text written between eighth and tenth centuries • After Anglo-Saxon conversion to Christianity • Tells story of mostly pagan society (~525 AD) • Most famous early Germanic heroic poem to survive ( oral tradition)

8. Beowulf Background: The Epic Poem

9. Beowulf Background: The Poet and the Poem • Exact author is unknown, only inferred information • Educated, familiar with ancient epics such as Aeneid by Virgil • Knowledgeable about Christianity and the Bible • Differences in scholarly opinions • Northern England – eighth century AD • Southwestern England – tenth century AD • Only one copy of original manuscript has survived • Dates back to 1000 AD • Preserved by Christian monks who copied manuscripts • Housed in British Library in London (present day) • Damaged by various disasters, including fires • Electronic Beowulf Project • 2007 film - Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Christian Glover 

10. Beowulf: AnEpicAdventure • Definition • Epic:A long narrative poem on a serious subject, presented in an elevated or formal style, that traces the adventures of a great hero. • Characteristics • The hero, generally a male, is of noble birth or high position, and often of great historical or legendary importance. • The hero’s character traits reflect important ideals of his society. • The hero performs courageous deeds that reflect the values of the era. • The actions of the hero often determine the fate of a nation or a group of people. • The setting is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation. • The poet uses formal diction and a serious tone. • Major characters often deliver long, formal speeches. • The plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long and dangerous journey through foreign lands. • The poem reflects timeless values (such as courage and honor). • The poem has universal themes (such as good v. evil, life v. death)

11. Beowulf:Literary Terms a brief descriptive phrase that points out the traits associated with a particular person or thing; fits metrically into a line the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, used to help storytellers memorize poems in oral tradition a pause in a line (modern-day - commas are often used to indicate a caesura in Old English poetry) descriptive compound words and phrases that substitute for simple nouns, common in Germanic poetry; type of metaphor “frost bound the earth and hail would fall, the coldest seeds” (“The Seafarer” lines 31-33)