Beowulf Text and Context

Background Composed around 700 A.D. The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written. The action of the poem takes place around 500 AD Poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values and pagan values of ancient Germanic oral poetry The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, the Danes and the Geats Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo-Saxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R> Tolkien published a paper on the poem that it became popular.

The Beowulf Poet The poet is Christian The poem reflects established Christian tradition Allusions to the Old Testament Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin The price of salvation is life itself Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ

Heroic Values in Beowulf Relationship between king and his warriors The king rewards his warriors with gifts If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in compensation

Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values This tension is at the heart of the poem Pagan history and myth are made to point to a Christian moral Beowulf is poised between two value systems

The Character of Beowulf He fights for personal honor, but is committed to service to his own people and humanity. A superhuman who remains recognizable Contrast old and young Beowulf Beowulf as savior

Themes Good vs. Evil Fate The Importance of Establishing Identity Tension between Heroic Code and Christianity Significance of artifacts The past

Important Elements of the Poem Elegaic tone Heroic poem Contrasts Christian and pagan Youth and old age Rise and fall of nations Joy and sorrow Fate and God’s will Violence Irony

Sutton Hoo Burial site discovered in 1939 Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf Remains of a boat were discovered and large burial chamber containing numerous artifacts Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element intermingled with pagan ritual. Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible archaeological violence to add creditability to the blend of customs in the text.

Sutton Hook Images

Suggested Further Reading Beowulf, A Verse Translatioin. Trans. Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel Donaghue. Norton Critical Edition. 2002. Norton bibliography on Beowulf , p. 2902. Websites on Beowulf, Old English poetry, and Sutton Hoo.