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Beowulf

Beowulf. Textual Background. Composed around 700 A.D. The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written. The action of the poem takes place around 500 A.D.

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Beowulf

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  1. Beowulf

  2. Textual Background • Composed around 700 A.D. • The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written. • The action of the poem takes place around 500 A.D. • Poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values and pagan values of ancient Germanic oral poetry. • The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, the Danes and the Geats. • Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo-Saxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire • It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R> Tolkien published a paper on the poem that is became popular.

  3. Heroic Code – code of behavior and belief for the hero • Strength • Courage • Loyalty • Hospitality • Generosity • Honor and Remembrance

  4. Heroic Values • Relationship between king and his warriors • The king rewards his warriors with gifts • If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in compensation

  5. Pagan Versus Christian Reward is received in the afterlife Turning the other cheek Humility • Honor attained in this life through deeds • Retaliation • Glory/Pride

  6. Geats and The Danes Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden Hrothgar was king of the Danes

  7. Old English • Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form of English • Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from the 6th century to 11th century BC • In 1066, William the Conqueror successfully invaded England, bringing his Norman French language with him; the nobility began to speak French, and gradually Old English evolved into Middle English (1100-1500)

  8. Oral Tradition and Tools of the Scop • Scop – bard, singer, poet Helping the Scop • Alliteration - Lade ne letton. Leoht eastan com. • Kennings - A metaphorical expression, usually compound in form, that is used in place of a name or noun: whale-road (for sea), sea-horse (for ship), and iron-shower (for the rain of spears or arrows during a battle). • Epithets - An epithet is an adjective or a brief phrase used to characterize a person, place, or thing: ruler of elves (Beowulf), The Lord of all Life (God) = summary of the character’s qualities

  9. Elements of an Epic • Long Narrative Poem – formal, elevated style • Epic hero– a character with a trait or characteristic that is valued by his society • Quest– A journey through which the character or the reader learns something • Valorous Deeds– Doing something bravely • Divine Intervention– The hand of God (or gods) help the hero, proving his value. • Great events– The hero has a hand in something important in the history or mythology of a culture.

  10. Types of Epics • Folk • Told out loud first (usually by scops) • Unknown author • Unknown dates • Literary • Known author • (Paradise Lost by John Milton is a literary epic)

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