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English 310A

Explore the cultural and literary significance of Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem. Discover the themes of heroism, social bonds, fate, and the interplay of Christian and Germanic values. Journey through the three levels of plot, examine the poetic structures, and ponder the judgment on Beowulf as a hero and king. Delve into the long-lasting impact of Beowulf as a beacon of fame and a reflection of ancestral values.

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English 310A

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  1. English 310A Anglo-Saxon Culture and Literature

  2. Skeleton History • “Ages” • Heroic 5th-6th c. • Conversion 7th c. • “Golden” 8th c. • Invasions 9th c. • Rebuilding & Reform 10th c. • Conquests & Conquerors 11th c.

  3. Names and Events • People • “Arthur” • Hygelac • Charlemagne • Alfred the Great • Cnut • William the Conqueror • Cultural Landmarks/Events

  4. Anglo-Saxon Social Framework • Social Bonds • Lord/Lady (hlaf-ward, hlaef-dige) • Thanes • Peasantry • comitatus (definition) • vengeance / wergeld (definition) • boasting • Examples (DR, Maldon)

  5. Beowulf • Hors d’oeuvres: • Parke Godwin, The Tower of Beowulf • John Gardner, Grendel • ST: Voyager episode, “Heroes and Demons” • Michael Crichton, Eaters of the Dead • Dorothy Dunnett, King Hereafter • Poul Anderson, Hrolf Kraki’s Saga

  6. Beowulf: Qualities of Plot • Three levels of plot to remember • Monster fights • Lead-in and lead-away actions • Background history (past/future) • Bwf as brilliant hybrid • folktale foreground x epic background of tribal feuds and history • popular x elite?

  7. Bwf: Literary nuts and bolts • Genre -- primary epic (definition) • Verse form -- alliterative 4-beat lines • Date • events 6th c. (Hygelac d. ca. 521) • composition ca. 8th - 10th c. (700-1000 AD) • RELATIVELY RECENT RESEARCH RESULT!!! • manuscript ca. 1000 AD

  8. Bwf : Literary nuts/bolts, cont’d. • Poet • anonymous (probably!!!) • Christian but sympathetic to pre-Christian ancestors • cf. DR, Maldon for context • not the only A-S perspective on Christianity

  9. Christianity and Germanic CulturalValues in Bwf • elegiac focus of poem -- awareness of transience, loss • human ignorance in face of darkness, danger, mortality • reinterpreting/rewriting ancestral beliefs (“the more things change....”)

  10. Bwf: Themes and Structures • Social bonds/values • kin -- brothers, uncles/nephews • lords/thanes • marriage -- noble women as “peace-weavers,” honor-givers • Meadhall -- Comitatus -- Feasting • symbol/site of social unity, honor, value-reinforcement • Heorot like other shining “cities on a hill”

  11. Reinforcing / Examining Social Values • “Mirror for princes” (and elite A-S society) • definition • “that was a good king” • Monsters as negations of major values • Grendel/Cain warriors/heroes • Grendel’s mother women, queens • dragon kings • cf. “Heroes and Demons”

  12. Bonds of Society vs. Bonds of Fate • fragility of social bonds • toughness/inevitability of forces of history, fate, feud, dark aspects of human nature • OE Wyrd , “what is to come, fate” ( > weird) • how to find meaning and live in such a world?

  13. Clues to Meaning in Poetic Structures • Literal structures: Meadhall • Plot-structures: Triple funeral pattern • Character parallels, contrasts, repetitions • characters as “foils” (definition) • repetitions of particular behaviors, events • always with some illuminating contrast or twist

  14. Judgment on Beowulf in Bwf • Pro -- • Con -- • Hero vs. King role-conflict? Too strong for good of Geats? • Limits on all human powers (even heroes’)? • Choices only between evils (cf. Byrhtnoth)? • “Fire and Ice” -- f rom Ragnarok to Robert Frost

  15. The Long View • Fame -- Memory/Story • a beacon to future sailors • separate from but compatible with Christian views of results of good life • “existential” affirmation of ancestral, pre-Christian values of meaning of life in this very mortal world

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