1. Writing Prompt
It’s the year 3514—American culture as we know it today is gone. What single text (document, novel, song, film, etc.) would you want to be found that would explain our society? What would future people understand about us from it?

2. Introduction to Beowulf
Story isn’t about the English—it’s about the Danes and the Geats. So what’s it doing in England?
Romans controlled England (up to Hadrian’s Wall) until the 5th century
Waves of post-Roman invasions by Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and Irish
Native Britons couldn’t hold them off

3. Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Map from C. Warren Hollister,
The Making of England, p. 64

4. Setting: Beowulf’s time and place
Insert: Time of Beowulf
Europe today

5. I. Historical background
A.D. -- Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade (Beowulf set)
410 A.D. – Rome renounces control of Britain
521 A.D. – Hygelac invades the Netherlands
625 A.D. – Sutton Hoo
A.D. -- Christian poet (monk?) records the poem

6. Sutton Hoo
Ship burial of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon king, possibly Raedwald (d. 624/625)
Found in 1939 at Sutton Hoo in eastern England, formerly the Danelaw
Ship was nearly 80 feet long, laden with treasures and everyday equipment (even if it is everyday equipment made of gold)
Window into the early Anglo-Saxon world

7. Sutton Hoo

8. Sutton Hoo
Photos from British Museum

9. Sutton Hoo

10. Introduction to Beowulf
Oral vs. written text
Many ancient works were memorized and recited—and were not written down until centuries later (Odyssey, Iliad, Beowulf)
Only surviving Beowulf manuscript dates from late 10th century
Probably composed mid-8th century

11. Beowulf Manuscript (Note the burn marks on the top and sides—the ms
Beowulf Manuscript (Note the burn marks on the top and sides—the ms. was severely damaged in a fire) mms://audio.bl.uk/Media/beowulf/beowulf1.wmv

12. Beowulf vocabulary Scop—storyteller, poet
Alliteration—repetition of a sound within a line
Variation—restatement of an idea using different words
Kennings—a phrase that describes, rather than names, an idea
Caesura—a purposeful pause in the middle of a line of poetry
Fatalism—the belief that fate controls everything
Boast—to brag, obviously, but it serves an important purpose: to share an individual’s great deeds with the community

13. Sound of Old English Hwaet! Wē Gār-Dena in geārdagum
þēodcyninga þrym gefrūnon,
hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon.
So, the Spear-Danes in days gone by
And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness.
We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns.

14. Translating Old English
Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaþena þrēatum
monegum mægþum meodosetla oftēah,
egsode eorlas syððan ærest wearð
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,
A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes.
The terror of the hall-troops had come far.

15. Kennings A metaphorical expression used in place of a noun
Sea = “whale-road” or “swan’s way”
Joints, ligaments = “bone-locks”
Sun = “sky-candle”
Icicles = “water-ropes”

16. Anglo-Saxon Society
Tribal society with kinship bonds and a heroic code of behavior
bravery
loyalty to one's lord, one's warband (comitatus), and one's kin
willingness to avenge one's warband or lord at all costs – death preferable to exile.
generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to warband and lord--gift-giving
heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor, eternal fame, and political power

17. Anglo-Saxon values Loyalty Fighting for one’s king
Avenging one’s kinsmen
Keeping one’s word
Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds
Brotherly love -- not romantic love
Heroism
Physical strength
Skill and resourcefulness in battle
Courage
Public reputation, not private conscience

18. What about the women?
Women make peace, bearing children who create blood ties
Women pass the cup at the mead-hall, cementing social bonds
Women lament loss, don’t avenge

19. Epic hero traits Is significant and glorified Is on a quest
Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage
Is ethical
. Risks death for glory or for the greater good of society
Is a strong and responsible leader
Performs brave deeds
Reflects ideals of a particular society