Setting for Beowulf

Settlement of Britain by the Germanic Tribes

Anglo-Saxon Period The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest recorded time period in English history. The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest recorded time period in English history. Stonehenge video Stonehenge video Stonehenge dimensions and size Stonehenge dimensions and size

Anglo-Saxon Literature Few people read Few people read Oral tradition – stories performed and/or sung by a scop from memory in Old English. Oral tradition – stories performed and/or sung by a scop from memory in Old English. For thought: Why are there so many versions of stories from this time period? Scops – poet/minstrels Scops – poet/minstrels (pronounced SHOPES) (pronounced SHOPES) Authors were unknown Authors were unknown

Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village

Boat Sheds on Lindisfarne Island; similar to the Anglo-Saxon mead halls

BEOWULF

THE STORY OF BEOWULF Beowulf marks the beginning of English literature Beowulf marks the beginning of English literature It is one of the earliest known pieces of literature in the English language; written in Old English It is one of the earliest known pieces of literature in the English language; written in Old English

What does Old English sound like?

Beowulf wasn’t written down until about 700 AD by “The Beowulf Poet” who is unknown. He wrote down the poem which for many years had been only sung or spoken. Beowulf wasn’t written down until about 700 AD by “The Beowulf Poet” who is unknown. He wrote down the poem which for many years had been only sung or spoken. Scholars believe “The Beowulf Poet” was most likely a Christian monk, thus adding a Christian perspective. Scholars believe “The Beowulf Poet” was most likely a Christian monk, thus adding a Christian perspective.

There is only one original Beowulf manuscript existing today. It is in the British History Museum in London. There is only one original Beowulf manuscript existing today. It is in the British History Museum in London.

What are some other examples of other EPICS? The Iliad and The Iliad and The Odyssey – Homer Harry Potter- Rowling Harry Potter- Rowling  The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien

In every epic is an EPIC HERO ! Epic Hero– must undertake a quest to achieve something of tremendous value to himself and his society

Contains specific motifs Motifs –a recurring theme or image in a piece of literature Biblical and Judeo-Christian Allusions Biblical and Judeo-Christian Allusions Pagan Customs Pagan Customs Social Customs Social Customs Traits of the Warrior Traits of the Warrior Beowulf’s Boasts Beowulf’s Boasts Monsters Monsters Water Water

This epic poem is often divided into 3 sections, each addressing the traditional battle between good & evil.

… the Battle with Grendel (Grendel represents evil.)

…the Battle with Grendel’s Mother (She also represents evil.)

…the Battle with the Dragon (It not only represents evil but also greed.)

Beowulf himself represents _____: loyalty loyalty valor valor selflessness selflessness sense of justice sense of justice

Setting: Where does Beowulf take place? Geatland and Geatland and Denmark Denmark (Modern Denmark (Modern Denmark and Sweden) and Sweden)

Setting: The Scary, Horror Movie “Where” Beowulf takes place in a “once upon a time world” which taps into “three archetypal sites of fear.” For thought: Brainstorm places people typically fear.

I like to think of them this way:

Our bed on a stormy night when we are alone in the house (where we should feel safe.)

1. The barricaded warrior house/ Mead Hall

A murky lake or a beach where Jaws takes place.

2. The infested underwater lair

The dark recesses of the earth: a cave, or even your own dark basement!

The reptile-taunted rocks of a wilderness and cave

What is “mail”?

We read Beowulf because… It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic masterpiece. It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic masterpiece. It gives us insight into the origins of the British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the world we currently live in. It gives us insight into the origins of the British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the world we currently live in. It gives us insight into the origins of our language. It gives us insight into the origins of our language.

Why do we read it? It gives us insight into the values, experiences, and emotions felt by all people everywhere and throughout time (time, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality – all of these things transcend English literature and matter to all people)

Why do we read it? It’s scary and gets us to think about our own worst fears It’s scary and gets us to think about our own worst fears It’s a VERY important piece of literature historically It’s a VERY important piece of literature historically (This is the “because we have to” reason!!) (This is the “because we have to” reason!!)

Danes – citizens of Denmark; their country is being attacked by Grendel Geats – citizens of Geatland (modern-day Sweden); home of Beowulf and his ancestors Herot – name of Danish warrior hall Hrothgar – King of the Danish people; (kenning – Healfdane’s son)

Anglo-Saxon Themes in Beowulf: Triumph or failure in war and battle Triumph or failure in war and battle Exploration and seafaring Exploration and seafaring Friendship and loyalty to men in battle - comitatus Friendship and loyalty to men in battle - comitatus Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and spoils of war Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and spoils of war Acceptance of wyrd – fate (what will be will be – predestined) Acceptance of wyrd – fate (what will be will be – predestined) Fatal doom concurrent with joyous celebration Fatal doom concurrent with joyous celebration

Comitatus The first century Roman historian Tacitus coined the term comitatus in his observations of Germanic tribal culture in Germania. The first century Roman historian Tacitus coined the term comitatus in his observations of Germanic tribal culture in Germania. The comitatus was a gathering of warriors under one governing lord, representing a strategic interweaving of family threads so as simultaneously to enlarge and secure tribal identity and allegiance. The comitatus and intermarriages among tribes were physical representations of intertribal treaties -- or rather the pre-literate versions of treaties, called friths, in which physical objects of value that represented the tribe were exchanged. The comitatus was a gathering of warriors under one governing lord, representing a strategic interweaving of family threads so as simultaneously to enlarge and secure tribal identity and allegiance. The comitatus and intermarriages among tribes were physical representations of intertribal treaties -- or rather the pre-literate versions of treaties, called friths, in which physical objects of value that represented the tribe were exchanged.friths In much the same way, blood-money (wergild, or literally man-money) is offered by one tribe as payment for those of another tribe whom they kill. And tributes of swords and rings, necklaces and battle gear are offered as seals of good faith -- physical objects in place of (non- existent) written contracts. They are markers of agreements which, without writing, have no other physical representation. In much the same way, blood-money (wergild, or literally man-money) is offered by one tribe as payment for those of another tribe whom they kill. And tributes of swords and rings, necklaces and battle gear are offered as seals of good faith -- physical objects in place of (non- existent) written contracts. They are markers of agreements which, without writing, have no other physical representation.

Biblical references and archetypes in Beowulf Beowulf as archetypal Christ figure (helping, sacrificing)Beowulf as archetypal Christ figure (helping, sacrificing) Herot Hall as Tower of Babel archetype (hall built to reach Heaven)Herot Hall as Tower of Babel archetype (hall built to reach Heaven) Beowulf's comitatus as disciplesBeowulf's comitatus as disciples Three days in underwater cave as symbol of three days in dead/hellThree days in underwater cave as symbol of three days in dead/hell Return triumphant as symbol of resurrectionReturn triumphant as symbol of resurrection Grendel as descendant of CainGrendel as descendant of Cain Dragon- snake with legs- symbol of SatanDragon- snake with legs- symbol of Satan Good vs. Evil struggleGood vs. Evil struggle

Genesis 4 Cain and Abel 1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. 1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

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