1. Beowulf
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

2. History of the Text One copy of the text remains
Scientists have dated the copy that exists to around 1000 AD
Probably hand copied by two monks
Preserved in a monastery
Early 16th Century--the reign of Henry VIII put it in danger
Survives probably by being taken into private collection
Emerges in 1563, moved to Cotton and then to British Museum

3. What We Know Scholars have inferred: Things that are still unclear:
Consistent style suggests single author
Use of conventional poetic devices suggest educated author
Repeated phrases and formula words suggest oral composition
References to God and Bible suggest Christian author
Things that are still unclear:
Place of origin: Studying Anglo Saxon dialect has been inconclusive
Date of poem: Anywhere from AD
Details about the author: Scop?

4. Literary Device/Term Review
Allusion: Biblical, Germanic oral tradition, Norse myth and legend, historical Anglo-Saxon kings (eg. King Offa of Mercia)
Alliteration (eg. Scyld’s strong son)
Epic poetry: a long narrative poem written in elevated style which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero or god.
Kenning: two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. whale-road=sea, mankind’s enemy = Grendel)
Caesura: A pause dividing each line of poetry, with each part having two accented syllables to help maintain the rhythm of lines.
Scop: Anglo-Saxon composers and storytellers.
Hero: A legendary figure who performs deeds requiring incredible courage and strength.

5. Anglo Saxon World Roman roads and oxcarts Villages = wooden houses
Communal farmland
Stone churches
Soldiers in armor
Mead halls--communal banquet halls
Harsh Environment: War, Few comforts
Religion: Gods = neither all good nor all powerful

6. Background
Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form of English (Check out Beowulf in Old English.)
Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from about 6th century to 11th century CE
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 like in Canterbury Tales ( ): “Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote/The droghte of March hath perced to the roote”
Modern English has been spoken since the Renaissance – Shakespeare is NOT Old English; he is Early Modern English

7. Background Composed around 700 A.D.
The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written.
The action of the poem takes place around 500 A.D.
Poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values and pagan values of ancient Germanic oral poetry
The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, the Danes and the Geats
Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo- Saxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire
It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R. Tolkien published a paper on the poem that is became popular.

8. The Beowulf Poet The poet is Christian
The poem reflects established Christian tradition
Allusions to the Old Testament
Think: What’s an allusion?
Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin
Sound familiar?
The price of salvation is life itself
Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ

9. Heroic Values in Beowulf
Relationship between king and his warriors
The king rewards his warriors with gifts
If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in compensation

10. Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values
This tension is at the heart of the poem
Pagan history and myth are made to point to a Christian moral
Beowulf is poised between two value systems

11. The Character of Beowulf
He fights for personal honor, but is committed to service to his own people and humanity.
A superhuman who remains recognizable
Contrast old and young Beowulf
Beowulf as savior
Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden

12. Antagonists
Grendel’s Mother
Grendel
The Dragon

13. Themes Good vs. Evil Fate The Importance of Establishing Identity
Tension between Heroic Code and Christianity
Significance of artifacts
The past

14. Important Elements Elegaic tone Heroic poem Contrasts
Christian and pagan
Youth and old age
Rise and fall of nations
Joy and sorrow
Fate and God’s will
Violence
Irony

15. Elements of an Epic Poem
Epic hero– an character with a trait or characteristic that is valued by his society.
(E.g.– Superman’s bravery or valor)
Quest– A journey through which the character or the reader learns something
Valorous Deeds– Doing something bravely.
Divine Intervention– The hand of God (or gods) help the hero, proving his value.
Great events– The hero has a hand in something important in the history or mythology of a culture.