Beowulfan epic poem

What is an epic or a saga?

A long story, often in the form of a poem

Based on historic or legendary events

Tells the exploits of a hero

Characters & events are exaggerated

and glorified

Beowulf as Literature

Earliest example of English poetry

3200 lines long

Sounds include rhythm & alliteration

Does not rhyme

Language is Anglo-Saxon -- an early form of English

History of the Poem Setting: Denmark and Sweden in the 500-600’s

Composed orally between 700-900

Author (or authors) unknown

Performed by bards (storytelling singers/poets)

First written about 1000 by monks Monks may have changed the original pagan

references to Christian ones

Beowulf in Danger! England in 1600--King Henry VIII orders all monasteries

destroyed

manuscript eventually ended up with Sir Robert Cotton (collector of manuscripts, books, coins)

kept in one of the largest private libraries in England

one century after his death, Cotton’s house caught fire

manuscript badly scorched, some parts were totally destroyed

1786--Danish scholar, G.J. Thorkelin made two copies of Beowulf and took them back to Denmark

Thorkelin’s library and papers destroyed in 1807

moved to the British Museum in 1753

Thorkelin started over, published his

version in 1815

conservation of the manuscript

began in 1845

now in the British Library in London

. . . except Beowulf!

The Story of Beowulf . . .and why it’s cool

a poem in three parts, each with a monster

The Setting of Beowulf . .

.

Norway Sweden

Denmark

Modern Germany

The Story of Beowulf . . .and why it’s cool

Part 1 - Beowulf sails from Sweden to Denmark with fourteen warriors to help King Hrothgar get rid of Grendel

The Story of Beowulf . . .and why it’s cool

Part 2 - A relative of Grendel’s gets involved in revenge

The Story of Beowulf . . .and why it’s cool

Part 3 - Fire-breathing dragon is rudely awakened

Beowulf, a Geat (from southern Sweden)

Hrothgar, King of the Danes (from Denmark)

Unferth, a Dane

Higlac, King of the Geats, Beowulf’s uncle

Queen Welthow, Hrothgar’s wife

Queen Higd, Higlac’s wife

Wiglaf, a Geat, Beowulf’s cousin

Characters (the humans)

Life During the Time of Beowulf

AD 500-600

Viking culture in Scandinavia

Farmers, fishermen, & seafarers

Warrior culture: loyalty, courage, revenge

Raided coastal Europe

People gathered and listened to heroic stories

Poems were sung and accompanied by harp

Entertainment

page of the

Beowulf manuscript

Feasting in a great hall

Sir Robert Cotton

Thorkelin’s manuscript of Beowulf

Viking ship