1. Intro to Beowulf

2. Origins of Beowulf Beowulf is the oldest poem in the English language.
Actually, this writer should be called an editor because the poem had a long oral tradition and finally came to rest as what we know as Beowulf.
The original poem didn’t have a title, modern editors gave the poem its name.

3. More About the Editor
The “writer” was obviously well-read and conscious of his role as a poet.
This is a Christian writer balancing his faith with very Pagan themes.
We know that the editor is Christian because the only literate people of the time were those from the church.

4. Old English
Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from about 6th century to 11th century.
It all changed in 1066…

5. Transformation of the English Language
In 1066, William the Conqueror successfully invaded England, bringing his Norman French language with him; the nobility began to speak French, and gradually Old English evolved into Middle English ( ): “Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote/The droghte of March hath perced to the roote” (Chaucer)
Modern English has been spoken since the Renaissance – What English does Shakespeare write in? Old, Middle, or Modern?

6. Manuscript
There is only one surviving Beowulf manuscript and it dates from late 10th century.
This manuscript was damaged in a fire in 1731 that destroyed many other medieval manuscripts.

7. Original Beowulf Manuscript (Note the burn marks on the top and sides)

8. Setting
Beowulf is recognized as a hallmark of English literature, yet its heroes and its setting are not English.
The poem is set in two places: the first half on a Danish island and the second half in Beowulf’s homeland (an island off the SE coast of Sweden).

9. Setting
Time of Beowulf
Europe today

10. Tidbit! Interesting Fact:
J.R.R. Tolkein (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) was a learned Beowulf scholar. He played a huge part in getting Beowulf accepted as classic literature. It influences all of his writing.

11. Epic Poetry
Beowulf is written in the epic tradition, meaning it is a story “larger than life.”
A hero is often on a “quest” and the supernatural guides him.
Epics champion bravery, loyalty, and devotion to community.

12. The Epic An epic… Is a long story in poem form Has a hero
Is the story of the hero’s travels and his fights with monsters, gods, and bad guys
Was originally sung
Jumps right into the plot –in medias res

13. The Epic Warrior Has “Larger than life” qualities,
Is a natural leader of others
Is not emotionally connected to his followers.
Is appealing to the opposite sex, but is rarely in a committed relationship
Defeats monsters and/or fights for gods

14. Common Modern Epics
Evaluate a story you’ve read or seen as an epic story. Here are a few that may be familiar
Dante’s Divine Comedy
The Odyssey
Robin Hood
Lord of the Rings
Star Wars (Who is the Hero?)
The Matrix
Batman Begins

15. Literary Devices
Allusion: Biblical, Germanic oral tradition, Norse myth and legend, historical Anglo-Saxon kings
Alliteration: (eg. Scyld’s strong son)
Kenning: a compound (usually two words, often hyphenated) that employs figurative language in place of a more concrete single-word noun.
Bone-house = body
Whale-road = sea
Ring-giver = lord

16. Terms to Know
“scop” –story-teller “thane” –warrior “mead” –beer “mead-hall” –bar/gathering place “wyrd” –fate

17. NAMES Beowulf’s father– Ecgtheow
In most cases, the son is named after the father
Don
Donald (son of Don)
McDonald (son of son of Don)
McDonaldson (son of son of son of Don)
Proves Beowulf is own individual with own powers and abilities (and more important than his father)
Beo– Bear
Bears are known as Great Protectors in Norse mythology
Strong
Wulf– Wolf
Wolves are also great protectors, but are also cunning and speedy