Beowulf

Introduction to Beowulf

• Beowulf is one of the earliest poems written in any form of English.

• Actually, this writer should be called an editor because the poem had a long oral tradition and finally came to rest as what we know as Beowulf.

• The original poem didn’t have a title, modern editors gave the poem its name.

More About the Editor

• The “editor” was obviously well-read and conscious of his role as a poet.

• This is a Christian writer balancing his faith with very Pagan themes.

• We know that the editor is Christian because the only literate people of the time were those from the church.

Review of Old English History

• The Celts originally inhabited Britain.

• In the early 5th century, the Romans withdrew and left Britain vulnerable to Germanic invaders (Vikings).

Old English History

• The Britons had become Christians in the 4th century.

• The 1st attempt to Christianize the heathen Germanic tribes occurred in 597 AD when Pope Gregory sent missionaries led by Saint Augustine to Kent.

Review of Old English History

• Before Christianity, there were no books. The only formally educated people were clerics in the church.

• The Anglo-Saxon invaders brought a tradition of oral poetry (some of which was later written down with a religious spin after the Christian conversion.

Introduction to Beowulf

• There is only one surviving Beowulf manuscript and it dates from late 10th century.

• This manuscript was damaged in a fire in 1731 that destroyed many other medieval manuscripts.

Original Beowulf

Manuscript(Note the burn marks on the top and sides)

Introduction to Beowulf

• Beowulf is recognized as a hallmark of English literature, yet its heroes and its setting are not English.

• The poem is set in two places: the first half on a Danish island and the second half in Beowulf’s homeland (an island off the SE coast of Sweden).

Introduction to Beowulf

• Interesting Fact: J.R.R. Tolkein (The Lord of the Rings

Trilogy) was a learned Beowulf scholar. He played a huge part in getting Beowulf accepted as classic literature

Introduction to Beowulf

• Beowulf is written in the epic tradition, meaning it is larger than life.

• There is also liberal use of the supernatural.

• The poem champions bravery, loyalty, and devotion to community.

Introduction to Beowulf

• The poem portrays a strong sense of fatalism (acceptance of death)

• The warriors of the era accepted their mortality in a way that seems casual to modern readers.

• The concept of fate was central to the world view of Anglo-Saxons.

An epic…• Is a long story in poem form• Has a hero• Is the story of the hero’s travels and his fights

with monsters, gods, and bad guys• An epic is in 3rd person• Was originally sung• Jumps right into the plot• Contains information about the culture that

created them• Offers clues as to what the author might have

feared, admired, or questioned.

Beowulf The Epic

The Epic Warrior

• Has “Larger than life” qualities,• Is a natural lead of others• Is not emotionally connected to his

followers.• Is appealing to the opposite sex, but

is rarely in a committed relationship• Defeats monsters and or fights for

Gods

The Epic Warrior

• Has “good” on his or her side• Is associated with strength and values• Often stands alone in battle• Is generally smarter than everyone

else. A problem-solver• Has a fatal weakness• Is constantly on the move• Is a skilled fighter

LITERARY ELEMENT – Conflict

• The central struggle between two opposing forces in a story or drama

-External-Internal

External Conflict

• Exists when a character struggles against some outside force

-EX: fight between two people

Internal Conflict

• A struggle within the mind of a character.

• Christianity• Darkness and gloom• Battle and death• Revenge• Envy• Reputation

Recurring Themes

A mead hall

Heorot