WHY READ BEOWULF ?

Deals with morality and adventures Medieval Literature is history Deals with morality and adventures It gives inside clues to conditions and culture of that time Popular in its own time! Atmosphere and challenge

The Origin of the horror story? Bloody violent monsters mysterious supernatural good vs. evil

ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND Previously part of the Roman Empire

I. Invasion (The first wave) A. Began about 450 AD but cont. over several decades B. Angles, Saxons, Jutes & other Germanic tribes were invaders C. Had pagan beliefs-Wyrd/fate D. Original occupants were Celtic peoples-mainly Britons and Gaels who were previously ruled by Rome

II. Unifying Forces A. Christianity-Revived in 6th century B. Common Language-English needed to exist 1. Constantly changing 2.OE to ME to Modern 3. Vernacular-language spoken by the people-informal

III. Danish Invasion (2nd wave) A. Known as Vikings B. Began at end of 8th century C. Controlled England for almost 200 yrs. W/ Normans D. William the Conqueror regain British control in 1066-Battle of Hastings

IV. Beowulf (The Bear) A. Began in 100 AD/Oral tradition B. Written in 700 AD in OE author anonymous C. Based on Pre-Christian culture of warriors

D. Warrior Culture 1. Didn’t care for peace War=Conquest 2. Leaders chosen for courage/survival of fittest 3. Believed in Fate/”Wyrd” 4. Lived around warrior chief - scattered houses

Warrior Culture cont. 5. Death in battle=glory 6. Made war to obtain goods and land 7. Had reverence for women 8. Believed in revenge/cont. fathers’ feuds

Warrior Culture cont. 9. Feasting and drinking for days - But not to excess 10. No private land ownership 11. Cremation for great men-no excessive mourning-men cannot show grief 12. Many were seafaring

E. View of Heroism 1. Different from today 2. Heroes respected the following traits or beliefs: boastfulness,loyalty,bravery, noble birth, fighting ability, respect for death, supernatural strength, human weakness,god-made weapons

V. Beowulf as Literature A. Meant to be told by “Scops”/traveling minstrels B. Our version is based on a Christian translation(1000 AD) of about 3200 lines 1. Recorded by scribes (usually monks)

2. Bede -scribe who recorded early English history 3. Caedmon (another monk) Listed by Bede to be 1st English poet C. Exeter Books - a collection of Anglo-Saxon poems and writings D. Beowulf based on real people and places/Kings, countries, etc.

E. Three parts/battles 1. Grendel 2. Grendel’s mother 3. Fire-breathing dragon 4. Beowulf-an Epic poem (long narrative) vs. Lyrical poem (shorter-expresses personal thoughts and feelings)

VI. The Epic A. Long, narrative poem B. Celebrates a usually noble hero’s deeds C. Based on historical facts D. Hero’s traits reflect important ideals of his society

E. Hero is courageous and even superhuman F. Vast setting/long journey G. Infusion of supernatural beings or events H. Deals with universal themes (Good vs. Evil)

VII. Literary Devices A. Epithets - adjectives or noun phrases that are used repeatedly to point out special traits of a character – e.g “the swift-footed Achilles” or “Laertes son” for Odysseus B. Kennings - a figurative phrase or compound word that takes the place of a common noun

“Winter Ocean” Many-maned scud thumper,tub of male whales, maker of worn wood, shrubuster, sky-mocker, rave on portly pusher of waves, wind-slave.

C. Alliteration – repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words D. Hyperbole- a gross exaggeration E. Personification – giving human traits to inanimate objects F. Imagery – words or phrases that create vivid sensory experiences for the reader