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Beowulf

Beowulf. The great English…Danish…German Epic. Why Beowulf? * Oldest full-length poem in any Germanic Language (like us) Vernacular rather than Latin * Historic value * Literary value * Cultural value.

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Beowulf

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  1. Beowulf The great English…Danish…German Epic

  2. Why Beowulf?* Oldest full-length poem in any Germanic Language (like us)Vernacular rather than Latin* Historic value* Literary value* Cultural value

  3. The Manuscript - facts*700-1020 AD/ CE– Linguistic/ style– Miniscule influence*Part of codex– 2 scribes*3,182 lines*Nowell*Cotton-Vitellius

  4. Attracting Notice * Noticed in the 1700s * National pride *Claimed by British Danes Germans * Ancient/ Modern crossroads

  5. The Manuscript - Style • Events described dated to 400-500 AD • Cross ref – Gregory of Tours • Epithets indicative of oral influence • Last great hero of race • Christian/ Pagan mixture

  6. Language • Old English – Anglo Saxon • Germanic Vs. modern mixed w/ French • Traditional poetic form

  7. Listen and watch Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum, LO, praise of the prowess of people-king 2þeodcyninga, þrymgefrunon, of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, 3hu ðaæþelingasellenfremedon. we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! 4Oft ScyldScefingsceaþena/ þreatum, Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, 5monegum mægþum, meodosetlaofteah, from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, 6egsode eorlas. Syððanærestwearð/ awing the earls. Since erst he lay 7feasceaft funden, he þæsfrofregebad, friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:

  8. Who came up with this? • Possibilities – Direct transcription/ compilation – Bankrolled by Danish conqueror – Anglo-Saxon king trying to claim a great heritage

  9. The Setting Scandanaviaat War Geat= Sweden (live in) Dane = Denmark • Lay of the land Boats, beer, bravery, and booty

  10. Boats

  11. Beer

  12. Bravery

  13. Booty

  14. The Plot • 3 battles • 2 parts • Hero/ adventure • Old world vs. new • Originally separate, but woven together well enough to be literature

  15. The Hero • Beowulf = Bee + wolf/ hunter = bear • Call – comes in search of monsters • Fortune & glory • Bravery & honor • Die with honor

  16. Themes • Feudalism – King/ Thanes • Revenge – Blood debt • Reward • Wyrd

  17. Cast *Beowulf • Herot • Grendel • Grendel’s Mother • Hrothgar • Wealhtheow • Aeschere • Unferth • Wiglaf

  18. Cultural Meaning – Berserkers – Anglo-Saxons seeking legitimization – Quest for order – Choosing what of the past to carry into the present – National pride/ past

  19. Psychological Meaning Freudian/ Jungian – Subconscious – Monsters – Mother image – Dragon/ defense of land

  20. Social Meanings – “Other” – indigenes – Leader must prove his worth – Rank & reward for service – Sacrifice for a greater good – Loyalty, nobility, law

  21. Overview of the Story

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