Beowulf Introduction

Manuscript in the British Museum

Anglo-Saxon or “Old English”

And now with sound. . . . http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/hear-beowulf-read-in-the-original-old-english.html

The History of Anglo-Saxon

The Heroic Age Anglo-Saxon primitivism The epic-warrior hero dominates Establishment of a culture and people

Greeks vs. Geats Clever intellect Polish Attempt to avoid imprudent conflict Praise of the individual Glorification of mental prowess Brute strength Determination Acceptance of violence Praise of the clan Glorification of strength and courage

The Barbarian Spirit Rugged individualism Passion for warfare Loyalty and fellowship of warriors Superstitious fear and reverence of beasts Pride in arms and armor Love of splendor and rich design

Background to the Poem Only one hand-copied manuscript exists in the British Museum, damaged by fire Originally in the collection of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1570?-1631)

Background to the Poem One of several manuscripts found on shelves designated by the busts of ancient rulers Beowulf is referred to as Cotton Vitellius A.xv.

Background Text is from 700-1000 AD, but the action predates it Christianity later imposed on the text Evolved out of the oral tradition Possibly compiled from several smaller narratives The only known manuscript of Beowulf is referred to as Cotton Vitellius A.xv.

Background One of the earliest works of Old English literature The action does NOT take place in England Reflects history and tradition of Anglo-Saxon and German ancestors

Background Beowulf --> Geats --> Southern Sweden Hrothgar --> Danes --> Denmark

Structure Digressions Lacks narrative variety Humorless

Structure Nature is stern and fearsome Characters are types: hero, king, queen -- simple outlines Opening = Shield’s funeral ship Closing = Beowulf’s pyre and tower

The Ideal Warrior-Hero Beowulf Acts from the highest motives Never uncertain Does not give way to anger Sacrifices the self without regard for reward Too ideal to be life-like Not rounded like Odysseus

thane a man who held land granted by the king or by a military nobleman, ranking between an ordinary freeman and a hereditary noble

comitatus a Germanic friendship structure that tied warriors to their leaders, thereby forming a warband the loyalty of thanes and kinsmen to their lord, even more compelling than to family

lof praise and esteem of countrymen, reputation “fame of the mouth,” identified as the joyful verbal pronouncement by an individual or group that another’s deeds are worthy of praise, and thus worthy of imitation

Wergild From the Germanic “Wert” (value) + “Geld” (money) = “man-price” Payment of material goods as recompense for the destruction of human life Reflects dependence on the tangible to resolve human problems

wyrd a concept roughly corresponding to fate or personal destiny etymologically related to the Modern English weird, which retains its original meaning only dialectally

kennings metaphorical compound “ring-giver” = lord “swan-road” = sea “word-hoard” = vocabulary

Themes The passing of noble souls from the earth Materialistic success True friendship Futility of material gain The value found in life and in death

Watch for. . . Man vs. the Preternatural Judeo-Christian vs. Pagan Youthful Beowulf vs. Old Beowulf Courtly manners Digressions