Beowulf

1
Beowulf
2
The Basics

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?

3
By Whom?

• By whom was it written?
• Most Anglo-Saxon poetry was oral at first,
  meaning it was transmitted or performed by a Bard
  (Scop) from memory it wasnt actually written
  down, per se until . . .
• Somewhere between the eighth and ninth centuries
  A.D., The Beowulf-Poet (his identity is
  unknown) wrote down the poem which for many years
  had been sung/spoken.
• The Beowulf-poet, scholars believe, was an
  English monk (and therefore, Christian) who
  probably lived in one of the Anglo-Saxon
  settlements in Western England (Mercia)

4
About Whom?

• Even though the poet himself was English and
  Christian, the poem is about neither Englishmen
  nor (full-fledged) Christians
• It is the story of several Scandinavian peoples
  (tribes, really), mainly the Geats and the Danes,
  but also the Swedes. Beowulf is a Geat. He goes
  to the aid of the Danes, whose king is Hrothgar
• They live in . . .

5
Map of Baltic Region of Scandinavia and the
Viking Invasions (700-800)
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Who? in Review

• The poems hero is Beowulf, a Geat who lives in
  Scandinavia. He is probably a fictional
  character. He is certainly an epic hero. More on
  this later. The poem is also about three races or
  tribes
• The Geats
• The Danes
• The Swedes
• It is written by an English (Anglo-Saxon) monk
  who is looking back in time to the days when his
  ancestors still lived in Scandinavia and by a
  different code of ethics. (The Anglo-Saxon code
  was on its way out, soon to be replaced by
  Christian values)
• The original audiences would have heard the poem,
  and they would probably have been distant
  relatives of those tribes who play major roles in
  the poem

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Who are the main characters?

• Beowulf (Geat)
• Hrothgar (Dane)
• Unferth (Dane)
• Wiglaf (Geat)
• Grendel
• Grendels mother
• The dragon

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Main Characters Part Deux

• Many people divide the poem into thirds it is
  about Beowulfs three epic battles with evil
  creatures
• Grendel
• Grendels Mother
• The Dragon
• However, as Heaney points out, it is also really
  about three tribes
• The Geats
• The Danes
• The Swedes

9
What?

• What is it? Beowulf is an epic poem. An epic is
  a long narrative poem that relates the great
  deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the
  values of a particular society (Elements 1263).
  
• What is he? Beowulf is an epic hero the essay
  you write about this work will deal with one of
  the Anglo-Saxon or Christian values he represents
• What is it about? It is about a transitional
  point in history (though it is mostly
  mythological and fictional)
• It is poetic, creative, imaginative, and one of
  the earliest works of art in the English language
  (albeit Old English)
• It is also important to remember that it is NOT a
  work written in Latin. It is written in the
  vernacular (OE) and about people who were
  Englands founders (or conquerors) in the middle
  of the first millennium.

10
What (else)?

• Fuller definition of epic An epic is a long
  narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a
  larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of
  a particular society. Most epics include elements
  of myth, legend, folklore, and history. Their
  tone is serious, and their language is grand.
  Most epic heroes undertake quests to achieve
  something of tremendous value to themselves and
  their society. Homers Odyssey and Iliad and
  Virgils Aeneid are the best-known epics in the
  Western tradition. The two most important English
  epics are the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf . . . and
  Miltons Paradise Lost (Elements 1263).
• Beowulf is also, in very many ways, allegorical.
  An allegory is A story in which the characters,
  settings, and events stand for abstract or moral
  concepts (Elements 1259). It would be better to
  say that there are allegorical features in
  Beowulf than to call it an allegory. Just looking
  at the three creatures Bewoulf defeats may help
  show how the poem can be read allegorically
• Grendel stands for the monstrous features of
  fratricide consider that he is born of Cain (who
  is know for killing his brother). The Geats,
  Danes, and Swedes, were in many ways brothers,
  but they were also at war. Who else kills his
  brother (or kinsmen) in the poem?
• Grendels mother may stand for the root of (or
  mother of) our deepest animalistic aggressions.
  When heroes go into the sea, it is said by some
  scholars that they are actually going into the
  deepest recesses of their psyche. IS Beowulf, by
  defeating Grendels mother, simply killing the
  concept of revenge for revenges sake?
• Dragons often represent greed. They horde
  treasure and become violent if the treasure is
  touched. By killing the dragon, is Beowulf
  killing his own greed? Notice what he bequeaths
  to his people after he dies.

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When?

• When was it written? It was probably written
  sometime around 700 A.D.
• When did the events in it take place? Again, it
  is a fictional work. However, it is an
  imaginative work about people who occupied the
  Baltic region sometime in the fifth century A.D.
• Some events in the poem did take place
• The raid against the Franks by Hygelac, Beowulfs
  lord, took place in the sixth century A.D.
• It is important to remember the vast role time
  (Past, Present, and Future) plays within the poem
  itself. Beowulf and the other characters who
  populate the poem seem to be obsessed themselves
  with the human relationship to time (or when)
• Most important thing to remember is that it is a
  poem that reminisces about a previous, dead
  world.

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Where?

• Where was it written? It was written down, most
  likely, in the kingdom of Mercia (East Central
  Enlgand today).
• Where do the events in the poem take place? The
  action in the poem takes place in Geatland and
  Denmark (the island of Zealand and in Southern
  Sweden) . . . Or more generally, in the Baltic
  region of Scandinavia
• Also consider more specific settings
• The sea, the meadhall, the swamp, the cliff, the
  battlefield, etc.
• In the modern world, it is Denmark and Sweden and
  the islands in the Baltic between the two
  countries.
• But it is also indirectly about the poet who
  wrote the poem down we can say this because so
  many Christian features exist in the work. So it
  is also about Anglo-Saxon England, but only
  indirectly. None of the action takes place in
  England.

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The Scary, Horror Movie Where

• Heaney puts it nicely in his introduction when he
  says that Beowulf takes place in a once upon a
  time world and that it taps into three
  archetypal sites of fear
• The barricaded night house (Grendel)
• The infested underwater current (Grendels
  mother)
• Reptile-haunted rocks of a wilderness (dragon)
• I like to think of them this way, in terms which
  may mean more to your and my generation
• Our beds on a stormy night when we are alone in
  the house (where we should feel safe)
• A murky lake, or the beach where Jaws takes place
  (Ever been waterskiing and wondered what was
  nibbling on your toes?). Or, how about a dark
  forest by yourself?
• The dark recesses of the earth a cave, or even
  better, your own, dark basement

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Why?

• Why do we read it?
• Its a very creative, imaginative, poetic
  masterpiece (see the Heaney intro this is why he
  wants us to read itnot because we have to!!!)
• It gives us insight into the origins of the
  British people, the culture who, through
  seafaring conquest, founded the world we
  currently live in
• It gives us insight into the origins of our
  language
• It gives us insight into all people everywhere
  and throughout time (time, birth, death,
  fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict,
  home, country, adventure, spiritualityall of
  these things transcend English literature and
  matter to all people)
• Its challenging and we all love a good
  challenge!
• Its scary and gets us to think about our own
  worst fears
• Its a VERY important piece of literature
  historically (this is the because we have to
  reason!).

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Important Themes in the Poem

• Past, Present, and Future (and Fate)
• Life and Death
• Fame (often achieved through war)
• Setting
• Geography (Denmark, Geatland, Sweden, . . . And
  England??)
• The Meadhall (Heorot)
• Good vs. Evil Religion
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Beast (Man vs. Himself? If allegorical)
• Good Christian Traits vs. Evil
• Good Pagan (Anglo-Saxon traits) vs. Evil
• Bad Pagan Traits
• Christianity vs. Paganism (Paganism not evil)
• Anglo-Saxon Code
• Friendship
• Loyalty
• Fame, Honor
• Bravery
• Generosity

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Review of Important Details

• Epic poem
• Written in Old-English about the early Christian,
  but still pagan, Scandinavians who eventually
  conquered most of England
• Epic hero represents the values of his culture

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Study Questions

• Respond to each question using a complete (but
  brief!) sentence. Each student will turn in all
  their answers when they have finished ALL of the
  questions. Turn in to turnitin.com only when
  every question is complete.

Each subsequent slide corresponds to one nights
reading. The numbers in the slides titles are
the line numbers of the poem.
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Study Questions for ll. 1-300

• The poem opens with the story of Shield Sheafson.
  
• Who is he?
• What is he like?
• How is he related to Hrothgar?
• Describe the funeral rites given to Shield
  Sheafson?
• It then discusses Hrothgar
• When Hrothgar has achieved fame from fighting, he
  turns his mind to what?
• What is the name of what he builds?
• Monsters in the Night
• Describe the demon who threatens the meadhall.
• To whom is Grendel related? (Hint Think
  Biblical)
• Paganism and Christianity (You mean they fight,
  too???)
• According to the poet, who made the earth?
• While Grendel attacks Heorot, he does NOT
  approach what? Why?
• To whom/what do many of the Danes powerful
  counsellors turn for help?
• Heroes, Heroism, and the Anglo-Saxon Code
• Who is Hygelacs thane? From which region/country
  does he come?
• What does he hear about?
• Who is Beowulfs father? What is the worlds
  opinion of him?

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Study Questions for ll. 301-1007

• Belief Systems
• According to Hrothgar, why is Bewoulf there?
• What does Beowulf mean by Fate goes ever as
  fate must (455)?
• Look at the stanza which runs from ll. 473-79.
  In what/whom does Hrothgar believe?
• Friendship
• What kind of words does Unferth speak?
• What story does Unferth cite when challenging
  Beowulf? Describe it.
• How does Beowulf respond to Unferths challenge?
• The Role of Women in the Poem
• Who is Wealhtheow? What does she do when she
  enters?
• The Battle with Grendel
• What will Beowulf use to defeat Grendel?
• Describe, ever so briefly, the battle between
  Beowulf and Grendel.
• How do Beowulfs men help him?
• What does Beowulf get from Grendel that is proof
  he has defeated him?
• Where does Grendel go to die?
• Stories within Stories
• Describe the man who appears in ll. 866-873. What
  does he do to honor Beowulf and why?
• Honor, Fame, and Riches

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Study Questions for ll. 1008-1709

• Heorot Continued
• Fill in the blank Inside Heorot / There was
  nothing but ________ (1016-17).
• What kind of gifts are bestowed on Beowulf?
• Another Song
• The man who sang of Siegmunds and Beowulfs
  greatness sings again. What, in very general
  terms, is the second song about?
• The Role of Women
• What does Hrothgars Queen say as a toast?
• Another Attack?
• What happens when everyone goes to sleep after
  the feast?
• What two things does Grendels mother take back
  to her fen?
• Preparing to Fight Again
• What does Hrothgar say about his friend? What
  does this say about friendship and loyalty?
• Re-read the passage running from ll. 1345-82.
• Describe the two creatures.
• What kind of birth did Grendel have?
• What does this passage say about nature and the
  natural world?
• After reading the passage running from ll.
  1383-96, go to the BritLitDogs blog and respond
  to the Train Wreck entry. (Read the intro, then
  respond informally to the prompt. I and other
  students will be able to read it!!)
• What does the above passage (1383-96) tell us
  about the Anglo-Saxon heroic code?
• What is Beowulfs attitude toward death at line
  1442?

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Study Questions for 1709-2509

• After defeating Grendel, Beowulf was compared to
  Siegemund to whom is Beowulf compared now, this
  time the character is a foil to Beowulf. Describe
  the comparison.
• A long passage delivered by Hrothgar on true
  values is spoken to Beowulf. Summarize some of
  the important lessons Hrothgar gives Beowulf.
• After Hrothgar give this advice, what happens?
• What does Beowulf tell Unferth about Hrunting? Is
  this true? Why would Beowulf say what he says?
• At l. 1841, Hrothgar begins to say that Beowulf
  has three traits that will make him a great king.
  What are they?
• By defeating Grendel and Grendels mother, and
  coming in friendship, Beowulf has done
  something (l. 1855). What has he done, and how is
  this a real-world, non-mythological victory?
• Who is Queen Hygd? Who is her opposite? What
  should a queen be like?
• After the story of Frea, what does Beowulf start
  to discuss? Why might the poet use these
  digressions?
• What happens between Beowulf and Hygelac
  (2144-76)?
• How long does Beowulf rule the kingdom before the
  dragon appears?
• What provokes the dragons wrath?
• What is one building that is so important to
  Beowulf that gets burned down? Why does he think
  this has happened?
• What keeps Beowulf from lining up with a large
  army to defeat the dragon?
• The Flashback to Hygelacs death occurs at lines
  (???)
• Where did Hygelac get killed?
• What does Hygd offer Beowulf?
• Why does she offer this to him?
• Does he accept? Why do you think he does what he
  does?
• Why does this story get told at all?

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Study Questions for 2510-end

• Does Beowulf finally decide to use a weapon?
• Do Beowulfs men help him?
• Who does help him?
• What do we learn about Wiglaf and his family?
• What does Wiglaf say to Beowulfs men?
• What happens to Naegling? Why? What does this
  tell us about Beowulf and swords?
• What is meant by the line, So every man should
  act (2708)?
• Describe what Beowulf thinks about his life as he
  dies.
• Who does Beowulf thank at line 2794? What does he
  think will be so good about all the treasure he
  recovered?
• To whom does Beowulf give power?
• What do you think Beowulf means by, You are the
  lat of us . . .?
• What is Wiglafs prediction beginning at line
  2884?
• Summarize the story of Ongentheow. How is it
  commentary on what the future of the Geats will
  be like?
• Describe Beowulfs funeral.
• Describe the Geat womans lament.
• What do you think will happen to the Geats? Why?