Beowulf The first great work of the English national literature

Beowulf as an Epic Epics sometimes called heroic poems Long narratives about the adventures of larger-than-life characters Tend to have five specific characteristics

Characteristics of an Epic 1.Hero is great leader, strongly identified with particular people or society 2.Broad setting which often includes upper and lower worlds 3.Hero does great deeds in battle OR undertakes extraordinary journey 4.Sometimes gods or other supernatural or fantastic beings take part in the action 5.Story told in heightened language

The Story of Beowulf Name may mean “bear” Only character who does not appear anywhere other than the epic Every other character found in earlier legends or real history A Geat from Sweden crosses sea to Denmark in quest to rescue king from demonic monster Oral art – handed down with changes from one minstrel to another

The Writing of Beowulf Original complete version is 3182 lines long – short by comparison to Homer’s 15,000 line epics Composed in Old English, probably in Northumbria (northeast England) Composed between years 700 and 750 Events take place in the early 6 th century Scenery is the coast of Northumbria Poet must have been Northumbrian and maybe a monk due to Christian elements

The Manuscript One surviving that dates from year 1000 Now in British museum in London Burned and stained Discovered in eighteenth century Somehow survived destruction of monasteries by Henry VIII two hundred years before

The Major Players (Characters) Beowulf – the hero Brecca – the buddy Grendel – the monster Herot – the mead hall Hrothgar – the king Welthow – Hrothgar’s wife (Danish queen) Unferth – one of king’s men (believed a capable warrior) Wiglaf – one of Beowulf’s closest companions

The Epic Hero… Central figure in the long narrative Reflects values and heroic ideals of particular society Has superior physical strength Is supremely ethical (does what is right) Must defeat monsters which embody dark, destructive powers Glorified by those he saves

Why do we need heroes – or do we? Defining a universal hero…three criteria The evil or oppression he/she confronts The motivation causes him/her to confront the evil The recipients of his/her efforts

Beowulf as The Archetype… Archetype universal symbol that evokes deep, sometimes unconscious responses in a reader. In literature, characters, images, and themes that symbolically embody universal meanings and basic human experiences, regardless of when or where they live common literary archetypes include stories of quests, initiations, scapegoats, descents to the underworld, and ascents to heaven.

Beowulf as The Archetypal Hero… The archetypal hero is an Everyman living an ordinary life. Suddenly and unexpectedly either pulls out of his ordinary life or chooses to leave his ordinary life to launch into a great adventure, whose ending he cannot know at the beginning. The stages of the archetypal hero… The hero journeys into a dark world where he meets various forces or entities with which he has to deal Along the way he encounters a teacher who gives him instruction in new skills he will need to learn to successfully achieve his goal. The hero becomes consciously aware of what that very specific goal is.

The Archetypal Hero, continued... The hero is challenged to his limit, reaching a peak culminating experience or "supreme ordeal." The hero "gains his reward" and is forever changed by the experience. He often gains some new powers and sets off with them. Eventually the hero re-emerges to his society with these new abilities, bringing a boon to his society which somehow restores that society.