Beowulf

Anglo-Saxon Period • The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest

recorded time period in English history.

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.

• We believe 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).

Map from C.

Warren

Hollister,

The Making

of England, p.

64

Anglo-Saxon

Kingdoms

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.

Anglo-Saxon Society

• Tribal society with kinship bonds and a

heroic code of behavior

– bravery

– loyalty to one's lord, one's warband

(comitatus), and one's kin

– willingness to avenge one's warband or

lord at all costs – death preferable to exile.

– generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to

warband and lord--gift-giving

– heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor,

eternal fame, and political power

Anglo-Saxon values

• Loyalty

– Fighting for one’s king

– Avenging one’s kinsmen

– Keeping one’s word

• Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds

• Brotherly love -- not romantic love

• Heroism

– Physical strength

– Skill and resourcefulness in battle

– Courage

• Public reputation, not private conscience

What about the women?

• Women make peace, bearing children

who create blood ties

• Women pass the cup at the mead-hall,

cementing social bonds

• Women lament loss, don’t avenge

Religion in Anglo Saxon Times

• Mix of pagan and Christian values--

often in conflict.

– Pagan (secular (non-religious) lineage vs.

Christian lineage;

– Eternal earthly fame through deeds vs

afterlife in hell or heaven;

– honor & gift-giving vs. sin of pride

(hubris);

– revenge vs pacifist view (forgiveness);

– Wyrd (Anglo-Saxon "Fate") vs God's

will, etc.

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.

• Beowulf marks the beginning of English

literature

• Beowulf is one of the earliest known

pieces of literature known in the English

language; written in Old English

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.

Contains specific Motifs

• Motifs – a motif is a recurring

theme or image in a work of

literature

• Biblical and Christian Allusions

• Pagan Customs

• Social Customs

• Traits of the Warrior

• Beowulf Boasts

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

Epic hero traits

• Is significant and glorified

• Is on a quest

• Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage

• Is ethical

• Risks death for glory or for the greater good of society

• Is a strong and responsible leader

• Performs brave deeds

• Reflects ideals of a particular society

The Epic Warrior

•Has “good” on his or her side

•Is associated with strength and values

•Often stands alone in battle

•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

• Christianity

• Darkness and gloom

• Battle and death

• Revenge

• Envy

• Reputation

Recurring Themes

A mead hall

Heorot

Characteristic features of

Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Alliteration

• Kennings

• Caesura

• Hyperbole

• Metonymy (one thing substituted

for another)

• Synecdoche (part for the whole)

Alliteration

•The repetition

of beginning

consonant sounds

in lines of poetry

• Kenning:

– A compound word/ metaphorical

phrase that substitutes/takes the place

of a specific noun…adds imagery to

writing

• “sky-candle” = sun

• “battle-dew” = blood

• “whale-road” = ocean

Kenning

Caesura

• Natural pause in the middle of a

line of poetry.

• 2 part line – each line is separated

by a pause or break in the middle

of the line; each part generally has

2 strong beats.

•(Put simply, it is a dramatic pause in the middle of a line.)

Caesura example:

Then the Scylding warrior savage

and grim,

Seized the ring-hilt and swung the

sword

Struck with fury despairing of life

Thrust at the throat broke through

the bone rings:

The stout blade stabbed through her

fated flesh.

Hyperbole.

• hyperbole

– An exaggeration/overstatement used

for effect…to help draw out a

comparison or establish an image/idea

– Joe was so hungry he could eat a

horse.

– I have the weight of the world on my

shoulders.

– I studied for my quiz FOREVER!

Metonymy and Synecdoche

• Metonymy: Name of one thing is substituted for the name of something else that most people would associate with the first thing

– “Iron” for “Sword”

– “Crown” for “king” or “monarchy”

• Synecdoche: Substitute a part for the whole

– “keel” for “ship”

– “All hands on deck”

– “Heads of cattle”

The EPIC poem of BEOWULF

is often divided into 3 sections;

it is about Beowulf’s

3 epic battles with evil.

…the Battle with

Grendel

…the Battle with Grendel’s Mother

…the Battle with the Dragon

Just in case you wanted to know,

Beowulf himself represents

good: • loyalty

• valor

• Selflessness

• sense of justice

WHY?

Why do we read Beowulf?

• It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic masterpiece.

• It gives us insight into the origins of the British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the world we currently live in.

• It gives us insight into the origins of our language.

Why do we read it?

• It gives us insight into all people everywhere and throughout time (time, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality – all of these things transcend English literature and matter to all people)

• It’s challenging and we love a good challenge!!!

Why do we read it?

• It’s scary and gets us to think

about our own worst fears

• It’s a VERY important piece of

literature historically (This is

the “because we have to”

reason!!)