Beowulf Introduction

Manuscript in the British Museum

Anglo-Saxon or “Old English”

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The History of Anglo- Saxon

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

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  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

Background  Text is from AD, but the action predates it  Christianity later imposed on the text  Evolved out of the oral tradition  Possibly compiled from several smaller narratives  Text is from AD, but the action predates it  Christianity later imposed on the text  Evolved out of the oral tradition  Possibly compiled from several smaller narratives

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

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

Terms and Concepts  lof = praise and esteem of countrymen, reputation  wyrd = fate, destiny  comitatus = loyalty of thanes and kinsmen to their lord  kenning = metaphorical compound  “sea-farer” = ship  “swan-road” = sea  lof = praise and esteem of countrymen, reputation  wyrd = fate, destiny  comitatus = loyalty of thanes and kinsmen to their lord  kenning = metaphorical compound  “sea-farer” = ship  “swan-road” = sea

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  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

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