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Adapted from Mr. James Asher

Adapted from Mr. James Asher. Beowulf. Why Study Beowulf?. “…it is to us as a memory brought over the hills, an echo of an echo.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien. Genre= Epic Poem. Beowulf = written in Old English before tenth century AD oldest surviving epic poem in British literature

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Adapted from Mr. James Asher

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  1. Adapted from Mr. James Asher Beowulf

  2. Why Study Beowulf? “…it is to us as a memory brought over the hills, an echo of an echo.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien

  3. Genre= Epic Poem Beowulf = • written in Old English • before tenth century AD • oldest surviving epic poem in British literature http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/

  4. What is an epic poem? Essential Traits = • long narrative poem • great and serious subject • elevated style • centered on a heroic or somewhat divine figure http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/epic.html

  5. What is an epic poem? Essential Traits (continued) = • the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race relies on the hero • traditional epics shaped by literary artist • historical and legendary materials developed from oral traditions • hero’s nation during a period of expansion and warfare http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/epic.html

  6. What is an epic poem? • Common Traits = • invokes a Muse (one of the nine daughters of Zeus) • narrative opens "in the middle of things" (in media res) • long lists place the finite action within a broader, universal context • extended formal speeches • repetition and stock phrases http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/epic.html

  7. Beowulf Setting Heorot "We may be fairly sure that the spot where Hrothgar built his "Hart Hall" and where Hrothulf held that court to which the North ever after looked for its pattern of chivalry was Leire, where the grave mounds rise out of the waving cornfields." (Chambers,19-20)

  8. The hall was gilded in gold, filled with loud story tellings and feasts., It was surrounded by other buildings or make shift shacks that would have housed the Danes. This implies a fairly large retinue in Hrothgar's name. Heorot Hall

  9. Modern Day Europe

  10. MODERN DENMARK & SWEDEN

  11. Wherever the origins of the Geats, according to Beowulf it is located only two nights sail-way from the Danes great hall Heorot.

  12. Beowulf Where Old English and Norse mixed

  13. Beowulf Setting: Wild Moors

  14. Beowulf Artifacts

  15. Sutton Hoo

  16. Beowulf Religious Background • “Giants” (KJV Bible)/“Nephilim” (New International Version Bible) • Monster theories: • Offspring of “Sons of God” and “Daughter of Men?” • Separate race? • Noah and the flood • God angry, so flood (22’ higher than highest mountains) • Noah’s Ark: H x L x D: 45’ x 450’ x 75’, respectively • 150 days after rains, ark landed in Ararat (Turkey) • Noah’s family/animals left ark 375 days after entering.

  17. Beowulf Religion Theories • Christian elements: • 1. Biblical allusions: Cain, Abel, flood. • 2. Disapproval of heathen ideas • 3. References to Christian doctrines: heaven, hell, Day of Judgement (10 cases) • 4. Allusions to Christian God (53 cases) • Expresses faith in God’s providence • Tweaked to be Pagan? Vice-versa? • Unlike pagan “The Wanderer” or “The Seafarer,” w/ Christian “warnings” tacked onto ending, Beowulf has Christian elements throughout.

  18. Beowulf Religion Theories "F.A. Blackburn’s “The Christian Colouring in the Beowulf”: 1. Christian heard pagan stories and used them to create the epic poem. 2. Christian used old lays as his material. 3. Heathen used old stories or old lays; later revised by Christian.

  19. Beowulf Religion Theories • Marie Padgett Hamilton’s “The Religious Principle”: Beowulf is about righteous living with reprobate(s) on earth. Wyrd is pagan concept given Christianized meaning. • While Christian, there is little Christian doctrine. (References are only Old Testament and easily refigured from pagan equivalents.)

  20. Perspectives to Consider ... • What is a hero? Heroic ideals? • How do characters define good and evil? Are they valid definitions? • How does the structure of the poem create meaning? • How is Beowulf an archetypal journey to self? What can his journey teach us about our journey?

  21. Perspectives to Consider ... ARCHETYPE from Greek arkhetupos, original: arche (beginning, origin) + tupos (type) =model, stamp SUMMARY:Jung believed that the creative process consists mainly of successive embodiments of the archetypes, of fashioning primordial images “into the language of the present which makes it possible for every man to find again the deepest springs of life which would otherwise be closed to him.” More on archetypes coming soon to a theatre near you… 

  22. Resources: • The Beowulf Poet edited by Donald K. Fry • Beowulf and Epic Tradition by William Witherle Lawrence • Modern and Critical Interpretations Edited by Harold Bloom http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/epic.html http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/epic.html http://mcgoodwin.net/pages/beowulf.html#hase

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