BEOWULBEOWULFF

Anglo-Saxon PeriodAnglo-Saxon Period The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest

recorded time period in English recorded time period in English history. history.

Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

Few people read in this periodFew people read in this period Oral tradition – was performed and/or sung by a Oral tradition – was performed and/or sung by a

Bard (Scop) from memory in Old English Bard (Scop) from memory in Old English This is why there are often This is why there are often

several versions of the several versions of the

same story. same story. ScopsScops – poet/minstrels – poet/minstrels Authors were unknownAuthors were unknown

THE STORY OFTHE STORY OF BEOWULF BEOWULF

BeowulfBeowulf marks the beginning of English marks the beginning of English literatureliterature

BeowulfBeowulf is one of the earliest known pieces is one of the earliest known pieces of literature in the English language; of literature in the English language; written in Old Englishwritten in Old English

Contains specific MotifsContains specific Motifs

Motifs Motifs – a motif is a recurring theme or image – a motif is a recurring theme or image in a work of literature in a work of literature

Biblical and Christian AllusionsBiblical and Christian Allusions Pagan CustomsPagan Customs Social CustomsSocial Customs Traits of the WarriorTraits of the Warrior Beowulf BoastsBeowulf Boasts

The story of The story of Beowulf Beowulf wasn’t written wasn’t written down until about 700 AD by “The down until about 700 AD by “The Beowulf Poet” who is unknown. He Beowulf Poet” who is unknown. He wrote down the poem which for many wrote down the poem which for many years had been only sung or spoken. years had been only sung or spoken.

Scholars believe “The Beowulf Poet” was Scholars believe “The Beowulf Poet” was most likely a Christian monk, thus adding most likely a Christian monk, thus adding a Christian perspective.a Christian perspective.

There is only one original Beowulf There is only one original Beowulf manuscript existing today. It is in the manuscript existing today. It is in the British History Museum in London.British History Museum in London.

BEOWULFBEOWULF is an is an EPICEPIC poem. poem.

EPIC – a long, narrative poem that EPIC – a long, narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society. values of a particular society.

Examples of other EPICS are…Examples of other EPICS are…

Greek “Iliad” and Greek “Iliad” and

““Odyssey” – HomerOdyssey” – Homer

The HobbitThe Hobbit and and Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings – Tolkien – Tolkien

And of course there’sAnd of course there’s the the EPIC HERO EPIC HERO !!

EPIC HERO – must undertake a quest to EPIC HERO – must undertake a quest to achieve something of tremendous value achieve something of tremendous value to himself and his societyto himself and his society

SUMMARY OF EPIC SUMMARY OF EPIC FEATURESFEATURES::

A long narrative poemA long narrative poem Larger than life hero; often with super-Larger than life hero; often with super-

human characteristicshuman characteristics Concerns eternal human problems like the Concerns eternal human problems like the

struggle between struggle between good and evilgood and evil Presented in a serious manner using elevated Presented in a serious manner using elevated

(poetic) language(poetic) language Hero represents widespread national, Hero represents widespread national,

cultural, or religious valuescultural, or religious values

Anglo-Saxon Themes in Beowulf:Anglo-Saxon Themes in Beowulf:

Triumph or failure in war and battleTriumph or failure in war and battle Exploration and seafaringExploration and seafaring Friendship and loyalty to men in battleFriendship and loyalty to men in battle Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and

spoils of warspoils of war Acceptance of Acceptance of wyrdwyrd – fate (what will be will be – – fate (what will be will be –

predestined)predestined) Fatal doom concurrent with joyous celebrationFatal doom concurrent with joyous celebration Christian allusions juxtaposed (in direct Christian allusions juxtaposed (in direct

contrast) with pagan customscontrast) with pagan customs

Christianity vs. Pagan BeliefsChristianity vs. Pagan Beliefs

Christianity focuses on a belief in God – one god who created Heaven and EarthChristians believe in one evil being – SatanChristians do not believe in wyrd and instead believe that God rewards and punishes.

Pagans existed before Christianity and became more and more sparsely populated when Christian beliefs became a government’s belief.

Pagans believed in many gods, each of whom oversaw different aspects of the world (water, sun, earth, etc)

Pagans believed that there were many evil monsters who fought to undo the gods and their human followers.

Pagans also believed in wyrd.

This This epicepic poem is often poem is often divided into 3 sections; it is divided into 3 sections; it is

about Beowulf’s 3 epic battles about Beowulf’s 3 epic battles w/ evil.w/ evil.

……the Battle with the Battle with GrendelGrendel

(Grendel represents evil)(Grendel represents evil)

……the Battle with Grendel’s the Battle with Grendel’s MotherMother

(She also represents evil.) (She also represents evil.)

……the Battle with the Dragonthe Battle with the Dragon (It not only represents evil but also greed.)(It not only represents evil but also greed.)

BeowulfBeowulf himself represents himself represents good:good:

loyaltyloyalty valorvalor selflessnessselflessness sense of justicesense of justice

BeowulfBeowulf: Where does it take : Where does it take place? place?

Geatland and Geatland and

Denmark Denmark

(Modern Denmark (Modern Denmark

and Sweden)and Sweden)

Map of Baltic Region of Scandinavia Map of Baltic Region of Scandinavia and the Viking Invasions (700and the Viking Invasions (700--800)800)

NoteNote: : None of the action None of the action

takes place in takes place in England!!!England!!!

The Scary, Horror Movie The Scary, Horror Movie “Where” “Where”

More specifically…More specifically…

Beowulf Beowulf takes place in a “once takes place in a “once upon a time world” which upon a time world” which taps into “three archetypal taps into “three archetypal sites of fear.” sites of fear.”

1. The barricaded night house/ 1. The barricaded night house/ Mead Hall (Herot)Mead Hall (Herot)

2. The infested underwater lair 2. The infested underwater lair (Grendel’s Mother)(Grendel’s Mother)

The Reptile-taunted rocks of a The Reptile-taunted rocks of a wilderness and cave (Fire wilderness and cave (Fire

Breathing Dragon)Breathing Dragon)

I like to think of I like to think of them this way: them this way:

Our bed on a stormy Our bed on a stormy night when we are night when we are alone in the house alone in the house (where we should (where we should

feel safe.)feel safe.)

A murky lake or a A murky lake or a beach where beach where Jaws Jaws

takes place.takes place.

The dark recesses of The dark recesses of the earth: the earth:

a cave, or even your a cave, or even your own dark basement!own dark basement!

WHY? WHY? Why do we read Why do we read BeowulfBeowulf??

It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic masterpiece. masterpiece.

It gives us insight into the origins of the It gives us insight into the origins of the British people, the culture, who, through British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the world seafaring conquests, founded the world we currently live in.we currently live in.

It gives us insight into the origins of our It gives us insight into the origins of our language.language.

Why do we read it?Why do we read it?

It gives us insight into all people everywhere and throughout time (time, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality – all of these things transcend English literature and matter to all people)

It’s challenging, and we love a good challenge!

Why do we read it?Why do we read it?

It’s scary and gets us to think about our It’s scary and gets us to think about our own worst fearsown worst fears

It’s a VERY important piece of It’s a VERY important piece of literature historically (This is the literature historically (This is the “because we have to” reason!!) “because we have to” reason!!)

Characteristic features of Characteristic features of Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

Alliteration Alliteration KenningsKennings Caesura Caesura

AlliterationAlliteration The repetition of beginning The repetition of beginning

consonant sounds in lines of poetry consonant sounds in lines of poetry Ex: She sells sea shells on the sea Ex: She sells sea shells on the sea

shore.shore.

KenningKenning KenningKenning – a metaphorical phrase used to replace a – a metaphorical phrase used to replace a

concrete noun concrete noun Ex: teacher = knowledge giverEx: teacher = knowledge giver

Ex: sea = whale’s homeEx: sea = whale’s homeEx: battle = spear play Ex: battle = spear play

It is like a poetic riddle or play on words.

CaesuraCaesura

a natural pause in the middle of a line of a natural pause in the middle of a line of poetry. poetry.

2 part line – each line is separated by a 2 part line – each line is separated by a pause or break in the middle of the line; pause or break in the middle of the line; each part generally has 2 strong beats. each part generally has 2 strong beats.

(Put simply, it is a dramatic pause in the middle of a line.)

Caesura example:Caesura example:

Then the Scylding warrior savage and grim,Then the Scylding warrior savage and grim,

Seized the ring-hilt and swung the swordSeized the ring-hilt and swung the sword

Struck with fury despairing of lifeStruck with fury despairing of life

Thrust at the throat broke through the bone Thrust at the throat broke through the bone rings:rings:

The stout blade stabbed through her fated The stout blade stabbed through her fated flesh.flesh.

What is “mail”?What is “mail”?

Tonight’s homework:Tonight’s homework:

Go to Go to www.classzone.comwww.classzone.com/eservices/eservices and enroll as a student in pd. 1and enroll as a student in pd. 1

Read pages 32-44 online and answer Read pages 32-44 online and answer the questions on p. 44. You can the questions on p. 44. You can answer them online or on paper. Be answer them online or on paper. Be prepared for a reading quiz prepared for a reading quiz tomorrow!tomorrow!