Why do we read Beowulf

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Why do we read Beowulf?

• Its the first Heros Journey tale in English.
• The poem documents the values, questions, and
  attitudes of the time and explores themes that
  are still present today.
• It relates the lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxon
  period. Beowulfs poet tries to recreate the past
  for the reader the poem is almost nostalgic for
  those bygone pagan days.

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A brief chronology

• 499 AD Jutes come over to English soil from
  Germany
• 597 A.D. Christian missionaries sent to the
  tribes
• Augustine founds Canterbury
• 793 A.D. Beginning of Danish Invasion of England
• 1066A.D. Battle of Hastings- Norman Conquest of
  England
• The Evolution of English Language
• 400-1066- Olde English
• 1066-1400- Middle English
• 1400- Present- Modern English

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BeowulfManuscript Background

• Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in
  the English language.
• The single existing copy dates from around the
  8th to the 10th century
• Epic Poem a long narrative poem written about a
  national hero and generally including a journey
• Beowulf is the oldest known piece of literature
  in English.

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Original Beowulf Manuscript
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Beowulf Author Unknown

• Originally written in Olde English verse.
• Many scholars believe that Beowulf was originally
  transcribed by one or two monks.
• They most likely wrote it down after hearing it
  orally or by copying an already existing
  manuscript.
• The time period of the actual story takes place
  in the late early 6th century.

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Warrior Culture
In Beowulf, we see a number of elements
throughout the poem. First, we see a pagan
warrior society. In this society the relationship
between a king and his thanes is vital. It is a
symbiotic relationship in which the thanes defend
the king and his land and fight his wars. In
return, the king provides for his men. He offers
them such items as mailcoats, swords, helmets,
gold rings, mead, beer, shelter and
companionship. This society also places great
value on kinship. If one's kin is killed, it is
the remaining relative's duty to make the killer
pay for the death, either with his own life or
the payment of wergild (the "man price").
Finally, we see the recurrence of the pagan ideas
of fate and courage. Men believe that fate
controls their lives. Beowulf constantly tests
fate and believes that through courage he can
live on in the memory of those who will live
after him.
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Fatalism

• Anglo-Saxon term for fate is WYRD.
• Everything in Anglo-Saxon culture was attributed
  to fate. They believed a person had no control
  over his or her own destiny.
• These early people did not understand underlying
  causes, so they attributed all ill fates and
  fortuitious gains to a higher power

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Key Characters

• Beowulf--the title character and hero. He
  is the prince of the Geats and becomes
  their King. Son of Edgetheow.
• Hrothgar--the old, once great King of the
  Danes. His hall (Herot) is attacked by
  Grendel. He is the son of Healfdane.
• Grendel--the monster who attacks Herot. He is an
  evil giant, descendent of Cain.
• Grendels Mother--more fierce and ferocious than
  her son. Beowulf also fights her when she seeks
  revenge for her son.

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Key Characters Cont.

• The Dragon--guards a great treasure. Attacks the
  Geats. Fights Beowulf in the end of the poem.
• Wiglaf--the bravest and most loyal of Beowulfs
  warriors.
• Danes--originate in Denmark.
• Geats--originate in South Sweden.

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Heroic Tradition

• The idea of heroism is unique to each culture.
• Anglo-Saxon ideals of heroism include the
  following
• The hero must be well-known (braggarts) and
  admirable
• Behavior that is admired is the path to power
  among people everywhere.
• Strong both physically and mentally
• Battle hungry
• Sense of justice
• Must be able to turn a weakness into a strength
• Must be loyal to his Loaf (or Lord) and be in
  good standing with his fellow thanes (warriors)

Heroism--Beowulf is the ultimate hero of his time
demonstrating kinship and fearless leadership.
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Elegiac Tradition

• This is the tendency of a culture or society to
  mourn the an earlier better time in their history
• Beowulf is an elegiac lament- It mourns the
  passing away of better days, the loss of a more
  glorious way of life

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Pagan Influence

• Referring to anything that is not recognizably
  Christian
• Animism- the philosophy that everything contains
  a spirit and is inhabited by God
• Other Pagan Concepts
• elaborate Germanic sea-burials, grand feasts in
  the mead-halls, belief in fate, material rewards.

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Christian Influence

• Christian Concepts
• reference to Cain (used in connection to
  Grendel), reference to the Flood, Gods will be
  done
• Even though the characters in Beowulf are Pagan,
  the epic was recorded by Christian monks. The
  narrative was not unaffected by its recorders.
• Pagan vs. Christian
• Beowulfs author is a Christian. Yet, he is
  obviously aware of the cultures pagan past and
  attempts to describe it in great detail.

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Influence of Oral Tradition

• The epic poem, Beowulf is 3,200 lines in length.
• Scops- or traveling story tellers/ minstrels used
  word of mouth to pass along the heroic deed of
  idealized characters
• Anglo-Saxon warriors were often times also great
  storytellers
• To help scops and warriors memorize the epics,
  several literary techniques were employed.

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Kenning Definition

• Kennings are a store of ready made descriptive
  compound words or phrases.
• Kennings are a literary device unique to the
  Anglo-Saxon Period and the Anglo-Saxon people

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Kenning Examples

• Hell-forged hands- P.22
• Guardian of Evil- P.22
• Shadow of Death- P.22
• Ring-giver-P.31
• Create you own kenning!

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Kenning usage

• The kennings were used to help the scops to
  memorize the lengthy poems
• Reading and writing originated much later in
  history.

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Alliteration

• Alliteration was the most outstanding device used
  in this poetic period.
• Instead of rhyme unifying the poem, the
  repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds
  unite the ideas movement.

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Alliteration

• Example
• when darkness had dropped-P.21
• Assisted poets memory
• Create your own alliteration!

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Caesura

• A verse line divided into two halves, separated
  by a rhythmical pausethe pause is the caesura!
• The halves are joined by a repeated consonant or
  vowel sound in both halves of the line

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Caesura example

• Example
• loud in the hall , the harps rejoicing- P.21

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Foil

• Antithical characters who are exact opposites of
  each other-
• Examples- Chalk and cheese, or oil and water, or
  black and white

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Allusion

• A reference in one piece of literature to another
  piece of literature, historical event, or
  biblical story or concept
• Reference to the Bible

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Allegory

• A story in which characters, setting, and events
  stand for abstract or moral concepts

Good vs. Evil--the idea behind good conquering
evil is played out between Beowulf and the
enemies he fights. Beowulf vs Grendel, Beowulf
vs. Grendels mother, Beowulf vs. the Dragon.
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Bibliography

• Information and illustrations used for this
  powerpoint where gathered from the following
  sources
• http//www.lonestar.net/literature/beowulf.html
• http//www.jagular.com/beowulf/links.shtml