Beowulf Text and Contexts

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1,000 AD

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1,000 AD The “historical” events occur before 600 AD

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1,000 AD The “historical” events occur before 600 AD Beowulf mixes Pagan and Christian world-views

Beowulf Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1,000 AD The “historical” events occur before 600 AD Beowulf mixes Pagan and Christian world-views Beowulf was first published in 1815

Beowulf Prosody So! The Spear Danesin days of old Were led by a lordfamed for his forays. We heard of that prince’spower and prowess Often Scyld Scefingambushed enemies 5took their mead-benchesmastered their troops though first he was foundforlorn and alone. His early sorrowswere swiftly consoled: He grew under heavengrew to a greatness renowned among menof neighboring lands 10His rule recognizedover the whale-road Danegeld granted him.That was a good king!

Hwæt! We Gardenain geardagum, þeodcyninga,þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingasellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, 5monegum mægþum,meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas.Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden,he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum,weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylcþara ymbsittendra 10ofer hronradehyran scolde, gomban gyldan.þæt wæs god cyning! Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) (Old English at University of Virginia)

ðæm eafera wæsæfter cenned, geong in geardum, þone god sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat 15þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile. Him þæs liffreaHim þæs liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf; Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide sprang), Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. 20Swa sceal geong gumagode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftumon fæder bearme, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen 25 wilgesiþas, leode gelæsten; in mægþa gehwære þonne wig cume, lofdædum sceal man geþeon. Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) (Old English at University of Virginia)

Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) (Old English at University of Virginia) Him ða Scyld Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile felahror feran on frean wære. Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe, swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd, þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga; leof landfruma lange ahte. þær æt hyðe þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna, isig ond utfus, æþelinges fær. Aledon þa leofne þeoden, beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes, mærne be mæste. þær wæs madma felaþær wæs madma fela of feorwegum, frætwa, gelæded; ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,

Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) (Old English at University of Virginia) 40 billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan,Nalæs hi hine þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon 45 þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende. þa gyt hie him asetton segen geldenneþa gyt hie heah ofer heafod, leton holm beran, 50 geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa, murnende mod. Men ne cunnon secgan to soðe, selerædende, hæleð under heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.