BeowulfBeowulf(author unknown)(author unknown)

Text and ContextText and Context

Background(History)Background(History)

► It was composed around 700 A.D.It was composed around 700 A.D.►The story had been in circulation as an The story had been in circulation as an

oral narrative for many years before it oral narrative for many years before it was written.was written.

►The action of the poem takes place The action of the poem takes place around 500 AD.around 500 AD.

►The poet is reviving the heroic The poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values of ancient language, style and values of ancient Germanic oral poetry, as well as pagan Germanic oral poetry, as well as pagan values of the time period.values of the time period.

Background (History)Background (History)

►The poem deals with ancient Germanic The poem deals with ancient Germanic peoples -- the Danes and the Geats.peoples -- the Danes and the Geats.

►Only a single manuscript of the poem Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo-Saxon era. survived the Anglo-Saxon era.

► In the 1700In the 1700’’s it was nearly destroyed s it was nearly destroyed in a fire.in a fire.

► It was not until 1936 when the Oxford It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R. Tolkien scholar J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the (Lord of the RingsRings) published a paper on the poem ) published a paper on the poem that is became popular.that is became popular.

The Beowulf PoetThe Beowulf Poet

► The poet is ChristianThe poet is Christian► The poem reflects The poem reflects

established Christian established Christian traditionstraditions

► There areThere are allusions allusions to to the Old Testamentthe Old Testament

► Beowulf is a Redeemer Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to who is sent by God to save man from sinsave man from sin

► The price of salvation is The price of salvation is life itselflife itself

► Correspondence between Correspondence between BeowulfBeowulf’’s death and the s death and the death of Christdeath of Christ

Heroic Values in BeowulfHeroic Values in Beowulf

►Relationship between Relationship between king and his warriorsking and his warriors

►The king rewards his The king rewards his warriors with gifts of warriors with gifts of land and wealthland and wealth

► If a kinsman is slain, If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the obligation to kill the slayer or obtain slayer or obtain payment (payment (wergildwergild) ) in compensationin compensation

Conflict of Christian Values Conflict of Christian Values and Heroic Valuesand Heroic Values

►The main conflict The main conflict of the poem is of the poem is about Christian about Christian and Heroic valuesand Heroic values

►Beowulf is Beowulf is conflicted conflicted between the two between the two value systemsvalue systems

The Character of BeowulfThe Character of Beowulf

►He fights for personal He fights for personal honor, but committed honor, but committed to service to his own to service to his own people and humanity.people and humanity.

►He is a superhuman He is a superhuman who is recognizable who is recognizable

►Contrast between Contrast between the young and old the young and old BeowulfBeowulf

►Beowulf is considered Beowulf is considered the savior of his the savior of his peoplepeople

ThemesThemes

►Good vs. EvilGood vs. Evil►Fate vs. God’s Fate vs. God’s

WillWill►Self-Identity Self-Identity ►Heroic Code vs. Heroic Code vs.

Christian ValuesChristian Values►The pastThe past►LoyaltyLoyalty►FriendshipFriendship

Important Elements of the Poem Important Elements of the Poem

►Elegiac toneElegiac tone►Heroic poemHeroic poem►ContrastsContrasts

Christian vs. paganChristian vs. pagan Youth vs. old ageYouth vs. old age Rise and fall of nationsRise and fall of nations Joy vs. sorrowJoy vs. sorrow Fate vs. GodFate vs. God’’s Wills Will ViolenceViolence

Findings at Sutton Hoo Findings at Sutton Hoo Cemetery in EnglandCemetery in England

► A burial site/grave was discovered in 1939A burial site/grave was discovered in 1939► Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and

BeowulfBeowulf► Remains of a boat were discovered and large Remains of a boat were discovered and large

burial chamber containing numerous artifactsburial chamber containing numerous artifacts► Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element

intermingled with pagan ritual.intermingled with pagan ritual.► Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible

archaeological violence to add creditability to archaeological violence to add creditability to the blend of customs in the text.the blend of customs in the text.

Sutton Hoo ImagesSutton Hoo Images

The EndThe End

►Questions?Questions?

►Comments?Comments?

Suggested Further ReadingSuggested Further Reading

►Beowulf, A Verse Translation. Beowulf, A Verse Translation. Trans. Trans. Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel

Donoghue. Donoghue. Norton Critical Edition. Norton Critical Edition. 2002.2002.

►Norton bibliography on Norton bibliography on Beowulf Beowulf , p. , p. 2902.2902.

►Websites on Beowulf, Old English Websites on Beowulf, Old English poetry, and Sutton Hoo.poetry, and Sutton Hoo.