Beowulf A Look at Epic Poetry

About Beowulf Beowulf is the self-portrait of a culture. The poem describes the values of the culture, not necessarily the facts. It describes the ideal man, a sword-wielding warrior who defends right, slays monsters, and displays honor and bravery.

The Stuff of Legend ***Beowulf takes place in sixth century Scandinavia but was told in Old English. This is why this story is considered English literature. 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 story probably existed as a story passed down by oral tradition for years before it was written down.

The Stuff of Legend continued Beowulf is a Geat – a country that is now southern Sweden. The beginning of the story takes place in Denmark in Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel is a monster that has been terrorizing the Danish people in the mead hall called Heorot. Beowulf comes to kill Grendel to pay a debt to Hrothgar that he owes because of his father, Edgetho.

Forging an Epic A scop (pronounced “shop”) is a storyteller or traveling minstrel. A scop memorized poems and stories and recited them in front of audiences. The poems and stories changed as they were passed from one scop to another, like a game of telephone. Beowulf was probably first told by scops. The epic of Beowulf was probably composed in the 8th century was finally written down in the 11th century. Beowulf came from earlier folktales describing monsters and dragons and brave warriors that were loyal to their heroic chiefs. They also described descents into hell-like places.

Key Characters Beowulf--the title character and hero. He is the prince of the Geats and becomes their King. Son of Edgetho.

Key Characters continued Hrothgar--the old, once great King of the Danes. His hall (Heorot) is attacked by Grendel. He is the son of Healfdane. Grendel--the monster who attacks Herot. He is an evil giant, descendent of Cain.

Key Characters continued Grendel’s Mother—not as powerful as her son, but more fierce and ferocious. Beowulf also fights her when she seeks revenge for her son. The Dragon--guards a great treasure. Attacks the Geats. Fights Beowulf in the end of the poem.

Key Characters continued Wiglaf--the bravest and most loyal of Beowulf’s warriors. Danes--originate in Denmark. Hrothgar’s people are Danes, and they are the people Grendel is terrorizing. Geats--originate in South Sweden. Beowulf is a Geat.

A Guide to Life The earlier folktales and Beowulf were combined to include the Christian beliefs. This is why there is a blending of old Celtic beliefs with the new Christian beliefs. The poem shows the struggle between the old gods and the new Christian God. The bravery, loyalty, and evil in Beowulf taught the Anglo-Saxons the values that their culture wanted them to have.

Oral Traditions to Written Text The manuscript was damaged by fire. The poem is still considered important to English literature. Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in the English language. Beowulf is the oldest known piece of literature in English.

Literary Analysis Epic: a long narrative poem, sometimes developed orally, that celebrates a hero’s deeds. Epics from different languages and time periods do not always have the same characteristics. For example, Homer’s epics The Iliad and The Odyssey do not use some of the literary elements used in Beowulf.

All epics, however, concern the actions of a hero, who can be described as: being of noble birth or high position, and often of great historical or legendary importance exhibiting character traits, or qualities, that reflect important ideals of society performing courageous, sometimes superhuman, deeds that reflect the values of the era performing actions that often determine the fate of a nation or group of people

Epic Conventions In addition, most epics share certain conventions, which reflect the larger –than-life events that a hero might experience. The setting is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation. The plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long and dangerous journey through foreign lands.

Epic Conventions continued The setting is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation. Example: Troy and Sparta in Homer’s The Iliad

Epic Conventions continued The plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long and dangerous journey through foreign lands. Examples: -the gods involved in the Trojan War in The Iliad -while not an epic, The Lord of the Rings features characters whose journey through many lands is impeded by supernatural forces

Epic Conventions Continued Dialogue often includes long, formal speeches delivered by the major characters. --Beowulf includes many such speeches. --The Iliad and The Odyssey include speeches by major characters.

Epic Conventions continued The theme reflects timeless values, such as: --courage and honor, and encompasses universal ideas, such as good and evil or life and death. **One of the reasons Beowulf was so popular in England is that it addresses these ideas that the English, in turn, could take on as part of their national identity.

Epic Conventions continued The style of the epic includes formal diction (the writer’s choice of words and sentence structure) and a serious tone (the expression of the writer’s attitude toward the subject).

Literary Analysis Beowulf uses kennings. Kennings is a figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry; for example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle.

The Use of the Hero Legendary hero: a larger-than-life character whose accomplishments are celebrated in traditional tales. ---The hero should have characteristics that his culture values. For example, Beowulf is boastful, strong and victorious but his loyalty, bravery and honor teach us how the Anglo-Saxons viewed the world. ---What heroic characteristics does our modern culture value?