Anglo-Saxon PeriodAnglo-Saxon Period(Middle Ages)(Middle Ages)

A.D. A.D. 449-1485449-1485

Major Event in Anglo-Saxon Major Event in Anglo-Saxon HistoryHistory

• 55 B.C.-407 A.D. Romans occupy 55 B.C.-407 A.D. Romans occupy BritainBritain

• Anglo-Saxons are the new intrudersAnglo-Saxons are the new intruders• Coming of Christianity: 1066 A.D. Coming of Christianity: 1066 A.D.

The End of Anglo-Saxons due to The End of Anglo-Saxons due to Norman Conquest Norman Conquest

Anglo-Saxon CultureAnglo-Saxon Culture

• Simple Architecture: small towns Simple Architecture: small towns with meeting hall (Meade Hall) with meeting hall (Meade Hall)

• Loyalty to clanLoyalty to clan• Language: Old EnglishLanguage: Old English• Religion: Pre-Christian, PaganismReligion: Pre-Christian, Paganism• Ruled by fate - acceptance of death - Ruled by fate - acceptance of death -

braverybravery

BeowulfBeowulf

• Oral epicOral epic• Originating between 500 and 1100 A.D.Originating between 500 and 1100 A.D.• Written down in 11Written down in 11thth century century• Importance:Importance:

• Creates foundation for British HeroCreates foundation for British Hero• Anglo-Saxon culture and beliefsAnglo-Saxon culture and beliefs• HistoryHistory• Oldest surviving epic poemOldest surviving epic poem

BeowulfBeowulf

• ProtagonistProtagonist of the epic of the epic• Geatish hero who fights the monster Geatish hero who fights the monster

Grendel, Grendel’s mother, & a fire-Grendel, Grendel’s mother, & a fire-breathing dragonbreathing dragon

• Boasts and encounters reveal him to be the Boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior aroundstrongest, ablest warrior around

• In his youth, he personifies all of the best In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culturevalues of the heroic culture

• In his old age, he proves a wise and In his old age, he proves a wise and effective ruler. effective ruler.

GrendelGrendel• Grendel is one of the three monsters that Grendel is one of the three monsters that BeowulfBeowulf

battlesbattles• His nature is ambiguous: animal attributes and a His nature is ambiguous: animal attributes and a

grotesque, monstrous appearance, but seems to be grotesque, monstrous appearance, but seems to be guided by vaguely human emotions and impulsesguided by vaguely human emotions and impulses

• Exiled to the swamplands outside the boundaries of Exiled to the swamplands outside the boundaries of human society, Grendel is an outcast who seems to human society, Grendel is an outcast who seems to long to be reinstatedlong to be reinstated

• Grendel’s aggression against the Danes lies Grendel’s aggression against the Danes lies loneliness and jealousyloneliness and jealousy

• By lineage, Grendel is a member of “Cain’s clan, By lineage, Grendel is a member of “Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed / and condemned as whom the creator had outlawed / and condemned as outcasts.”outcasts.”

• Grendel is “[m]alignant by nature” and that he has Grendel is “[m]alignant by nature” and that he has “never show[n] remorse”“never show[n] remorse”

HrothgarHrothgar

• Aged ruler of the Danes who Aged ruler of the Danes who accepts accepts BeowulfBeowulf’s help in the ’s help in the first part of the story, aids first part of the story, aids BeowulfBeowulf’s development into ’s development into maturitymaturity

• Static character, a force of Static character, a force of stability in the social realmstability in the social realm

Hrothgar & BeowulfHrothgar & Beowulf

• Although he is as solidly rooted in the Although he is as solidly rooted in the heroic code as heroic code as BeowulfBeowulf is, his old age and is, his old age and his experience with both good and bad his experience with both good and bad fortune have caused him to develop a more fortune have caused him to develop a more reflective attitude toward heroism than reflective attitude toward heroism than BeowulfBeowulf possesses possesses

• He is aware of both the privileges and the He is aware of both the privileges and the dangers of power, and he warns his young dangers of power, and he warns his young protégé not to give in to pride protégé not to give in to pride

• Hrothgar’s meditations on heroism and Hrothgar’s meditations on heroism and leadership reveal the contrast between leadership reveal the contrast between youth and old age that forms the turning youth and old age that forms the turning point in point in BeowulfBeowulf’s own development’s own development

UnferthUnferth

• A Danish warrior who is jealous of A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulfproving himself inferior to Beowulf

• FoilFoil

WiglafWiglaf

    A young kinsman and retainer of A young kinsman and retainer of Beowulf who helps him in the fight Beowulf who helps him in the fight against the dragon while all of the against the dragon while all of the other warriors run away. Wiglaf other warriors run away. Wiglaf adheres to the heroic code better adheres to the heroic code better than Beowulf’s other retainers, than Beowulf’s other retainers, thereby proving himself a suitable thereby proving himself a suitable successor to Beowulf. successor to Beowulf.