One of the most One of the most important remains of important remains of Anglo-Saxon literature Anglo-Saxon literature is the epic poem is the epic poem Beowulf. Its age is Beowulf. Its age is unknown; but it comes unknown; but it comes from a very distant from a very distant and hoar antiquity . . . and hoar antiquity . . . It is like a piece of It is like a piece of ancient armor; rusty ancient armor; rusty and battered, and yet and battered, and yet strong.strong.

-- -- Henry Wadsworth Henry Wadsworth LongfellowLongfellow

(American Poet)(American Poet)

Beowulf:Beowulf:Background InformationBackground Information

The oldest surviving piece of Anglo-The oldest surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literatureSaxon literatureAuthor unknownAuthor unknown– Probably written by one manProbably written by one man– Lived in what is now EnglandLived in what is now England– Was highly skilled in poetic Was highly skilled in poetic

techniquetechnique– Was thoroughly familiar with the Was thoroughly familiar with the

traditions and legends of early traditions and legends of early Germanic cultureGermanic culture

Composed between the mid-seventh Composed between the mid-seventh century and the end of the tenth century and the end of the tenth century (A.D. 700-1000)century (A.D. 700-1000)Existed through oral tradition for an Existed through oral tradition for an estimated 300 years – passed on from estimated 300 years – passed on from one scop (shop) to anotherone scop (shop) to anotherWritten in what is now called Old Written in what is now called Old EnglishEnglishOnly one complete original Only one complete original manuscript remainsmanuscript remains

Anglo-saxon Anglo-saxon StorytellersStorytellers

An Anglo-Saxon storyteller was called a scop - (pronounced An Anglo-Saxon storyteller was called a scop - (pronounced shop) in Anglo-Saxon lands.shop) in Anglo-Saxon lands.

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Anglo-Saxon scops relied on Anglo-Saxon scops relied on certain poetic devices to aid certain poetic devices to aid their memory and give their their memory and give their poems structure and impact. poems structure and impact. Three of these devices can be Three of these devices can be found in Beowulf:found in Beowulf:– AlliterationAlliteration– KenningsKennings– VariationVariation

AlliterationAlliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close together in a poem. – “HHrothgar’s men lived rothgar’s men lived hhappy in appy in hhis is hhall.”all.”– ““mmiserable, iserable, mmighty ighty mmen toren tormmented”ented”

KenningKenningKennings are special kinds of metaphors that use compound words, prepositional phrases, or possessives to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly.

Compound Words Prepositional Phrases Possessives

"hell-forged" "hell-forged"

"banquet-rich“"banquet-rich“

"ring-giver" "ring-giver"

"mead-cup" "mead-cup"

"she-wolf""she-wolf"

"Shelter of warriors" "Shelter of warriors"

"shapes of darkness" "shapes of darkness"

"shepherd of evil" "shepherd of evil"

"tormentor of their days" "tormentor of their days"

"journey into darkness" "journey into darkness"

"ocean's/Furrows" "ocean's/Furrows"

"God's bright beacon" "God's bright beacon"

"Heaven's high arch" "Heaven's high arch"

"Geats'/Brave prince" "Geats'/Brave prince"

"hell's captive" "hell's captive"

Think of a modern example of a kenning.

VariationVariation

The restatement of a concept, The restatement of a concept, phrase, or idea using different phrase, or idea using different words. words.

“ “The nobleman's son then The nobleman's son then passed the steep rocky cliffs, the passed the steep rocky cliffs, the narrow path, the narrow single-narrow path, the narrow single-file path, an unknown way, file path, an unknown way, precipitous headland, the homes precipitous headland, the homes of many water-monsters.”of many water-monsters.”

Translation from old EnglishTranslation from old EnglishBeowulf was written in Old English so it has to be translated Beowulf was written in Old English so it has to be translated into Modern English for us to read it.into Modern English for us to read it.Here is a sample of the text in Old English:Here is a sample of the text in Old English:– Cōm on wanre nihtCōm on wanre niht

scrīðan sceadugenga. Scēotend swæfon,scrīðan sceadugenga. Scēotend swæfon,þa þaet hornreced healdan scoldon –þa þaet hornreced healdan scoldon –ealle būton ānum. þæt wæs yldum cūþ,ealle būton ānum. þæt wæs yldum cūþ,þæt hīe ne mōste, þā metod nolde,þæt hīe ne mōste, þā metod nolde,se scyscaþa under sceadu bregdan;se scyscaþa under sceadu bregdan;

Our reading will come from the translation by Burton Raffel.Our reading will come from the translation by Burton Raffel.

Burton Raffel Seamus Heaney Gareth Hinds Robert Nye

Beowulf : The Epic Beowulf : The Epic PoemPoem

BeowulfBeowulf is an early Anglo-Saxon epic. is an early Anglo-Saxon epic.

An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts, in formal An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.

Epic plots usually involve:Epic plots usually involve:– Supernatural eventsSupernatural events– Long time periodsLong time periods– Life and death strugglesLife and death struggles– Extended journeysExtended journeys

Other EpicsOther Epics GilgameshGilgamesh (Babylonian, unknown) (Babylonian, unknown) The OdysseyThe Odyssey (Greek, Homer) (Greek, Homer) The IliadThe Iliad (Greek, Homer) (Greek, Homer) The AeneidThe Aeneid (Roman, Virgil) (Roman, Virgil) Paradise LostParadise Lost (English, Milton) (English, Milton)

Epic HeroesEpic Heroes

The epic hero is a mythical The epic hero is a mythical character who is strong, character who is strong, courageous, morally upright, courageous, morally upright, and driven by the desire for and driven by the desire for glory.glory.He faces enormous obstacles He faces enormous obstacles in these pursuits, usually some in these pursuits, usually some force or character that force or character that represents evilrepresents evilEven if he loses his life, he is Even if he loses his life, he is victorious in his pursuit of victorious in his pursuit of glory.glory.

Characteristics of an Epic Hero:Characteristics of an Epic Hero:– Is significant and glorifiedIs significant and glorified– Is on a questIs on a quest– Has supernatural strength, Has supernatural strength,

intelligence, and courageintelligence, and courage– Is EthicalIs Ethical– Risks death for the good of Risks death for the good of

societysociety– Performs brave deedsPerforms brave deeds– Is a strong and responsible Is a strong and responsible

leaderleader– Reflects the ideas and values of Reflects the ideas and values of

his societyhis society

When, Where, and Who?When, Where, and Who?

SettingSetting– When?When?

The 6The 6thth Century Century

– Where?Where?ScandinaviaScandinavia

CharactersCharacters– The people are the Geats from southern The people are the Geats from southern

Sweden and the Danes from DenmarkSweden and the Danes from Denmark

Who was Beowulf?Who was Beowulf?Beowulf was a brave warrior who Beowulf was a brave warrior who vanquished evil monsters.vanquished evil monsters.He embodies courage, loyalty, He embodies courage, loyalty, and generosity.and generosity.He traveled to Denmark from his He traveled to Denmark from his home in Geatland (now southern home in Geatland (now southern Sweden) to slay Grendel.Sweden) to slay Grendel.– Grendel is a monster with human Grendel is a monster with human

qualities that has been terrorizing qualities that has been terrorizing Herot for twelve years.Herot for twelve years.

Herot is a banquet hall in Herot is a banquet hall in Denmark built by the Danish king Denmark built by the Danish king HrothgarHrothgar

GrendelGrendel

An enormous ogre or An enormous ogre or demon-like creaturedemon-like creature

A descendent of the A descendent of the biblical Cainbiblical Cain– Adam and Eve had two sons, Adam and Eve had two sons,

Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy.out of jealousy.

Despises mankind’s joyDespises mankind’s joy

Menaces Hrothgar and the Menaces Hrothgar and the Danes for twelve years Danes for twelve years before facing Beowulf in before facing Beowulf in battlebattle

Gre

ndel’s La

ir

HrothgarHrothgar

The aging king of the The aging king of the DanesDanes

Welcomes Beowulf’s Welcomes Beowulf’s assistance in facing assistance in facing GrendelGrendel

Built Herot (his giant Built Herot (his giant mead-hall) to symbolize mead-hall) to symbolize the kingdom’s success, the kingdom’s success, civilization, and joycivilization, and joy

HerotHerot

Hrothgar’s mead-hallHrothgar’s mead-hall– More like a palaceMore like a palace– Symbolizes the Scyldings’ Symbolizes the Scyldings’

(Danish people) success (Danish people) success and mankind’s joyand mankind’s joy

– Social, governmental, and Social, governmental, and emotional center of the emotional center of the villagevillage

– Grendel delights in raiding Grendel delights in raiding and capturing it nightlyand capturing it nightly

Mead Mead – honey-based winehoney-based wine

Grendel Destroys Herot

SynopsisSynopsis

For twelve years, Grendel has For twelve years, Grendel has raided Herot nightly, killing King raided Herot nightly, killing King Hrothgar’s Danish warriors.Hrothgar’s Danish warriors.Beowulf, who has heard of Beowulf, who has heard of Grendel’s evil deeds, decides to Grendel’s evil deeds, decides to come to the aid of the Danes.come to the aid of the Danes.– Hrothgar had once sheltered Beowulf’s Hrothgar had once sheltered Beowulf’s

father during a deadly feud, and father during a deadly feud, and Beowulf wants to return the favor.Beowulf wants to return the favor.

– Beowulf also hopes to enhance his Beowulf also hopes to enhance his own reputation and gain treasure for own reputation and gain treasure for his king, Higlac.his king, Higlac.

Beowulf brings with him fourteen of Beowulf brings with him fourteen of his finest men.his finest men.

SynopsisSynopsisAngered by the joy of the Angered by the joy of the men in the mead-hall, men in the mead-hall, Grendel bursts in and kills Grendel bursts in and kills one of the Geats.one of the Geats.

Grendel Attacks

SynopsisSynopsis

With the strength of 30 men in his hand With the strength of 30 men in his hand grip, Beowulf seizes the ogre’s claw and grip, Beowulf seizes the ogre’s claw and rips it from its shoulder socket.rips it from its shoulder socket.

Beowulf and Grendel Battle

Beowulf and Grendel Battle

The mortally wounded beast flees to his The mortally wounded beast flees to his mere pool.mere pool.

The claw trophy hangs high under the roof The claw trophy hangs high under the roof of Herot.of Herot.

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