Beowulf

1. Beowulf Beo– Bear: Bears are known as Great Protectors in Norse mythology; strong Wulf– Wolf: Wolves are also great protectors, but are also cunning and speedy

2. History of the Text • One copy of the text remains • Scientists have dated the copy that exists to around 1000 AD • Probably hand copied by two monks • Preserved in a monastery • Early 16th Century--the reign of Henry VIII put it in danger • Survives probably by being taken into private collection • Emerges in 1563, moved to Cotton and then to British Museum

3. What We Know Scholars have inferred: • Consistent style suggests single author • Use of conventional poetic devices suggest educated author • Repeated phrases and formula words suggest oral composition • References to God and Bible suggest Christian author Things that are still unclear: • Place of origin: Studying Anglo Saxon dialect has been inconclusive • Date of poem: Anywhere from 700-1000 AD • Details about the author: Scop?

4. Literary Device/Term Review • Allusion: Biblical, Germanic oral tradition, Norse myth and legend, historical Anglo-Saxon kings (eg. King Offa of Mercia) • Alliteration (eg. Scyld’s strong son) • Epic poetry: a long narrative poem written in elevated style which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero or god. • Kenning: two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. whale-road=sea, mankind’s enemy = Grendel) • Caesura: A pause dividing each line of poetry, with each part having two accented syllables to help maintain the rhythm of lines. • Scop: Anglo-Saxon composers and storytellers. • Hero: A legendary figure who performs deeds requiring incredible courage and strength.

5. Anglo Saxon World • Roman roads and oxcarts • Villages = wooden houses • Communal farmland • Stone churches • Soldiers in armor • Mead halls--communal banquet halls • Harsh Environment: War, Few comforts • Religion: Gods = neither all good nor all powerful

6. Background • Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form of English (Check out Beowulf in Old English.) • Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from about 6th century to 11th century CE • 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 like in Canterbury Tales (1100-1500): “Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote/The droghte of March hath perced to the roote” • Modern English has been spoken since the Renaissance – Shakespeare is NOT Old English; he is Early Modern English

7. 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.

8. The Beowulf Poet • The poet is Christian • The poem reflects established Christian tradition • Allusions to the Old Testament • Think: What’s an allusion? • Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin • Sound familiar? • The price of salvation is life itself • Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ

9. Heroic Values in Beowulf • 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

10. Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values • This tension is at the heart of the poem • Pagan history and myth are made to point to a Christian moral • Beowulf is poised between two value systems

11. The Character of Beowulf • He fights for personal honor, but is committed to service to his own people and humanity. • A superhuman who remains recognizable • Contrast old and young Beowulf • Beowulf as savior • Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden

12. Antagonists Grendel’s Mother Grendel The Dragon

13. Themes • Good vs. Evil • Fate • The Importance of Establishing Identity • Tension between Heroic Code and Christianity • Significance of artifacts • The past

14. Important Elements • Elegaic tone • Heroic poem • Contrasts • Christian and pagan • Youth and old age • Rise and fall of nations • Joy and sorrow • Fate and God’s will • Violence • Irony

15. Elements of an Epic Poem • Epic hero– an character with a trait or characteristic that is valued by his society. • (E.g.– Superman’s bravery or valor) • 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.