Beowulf

Introduction to Leadership

Background InformationThe Anglo-Saxon Period—A.D.449-1066

Before the Anglo-Saxons

Britain settled by the Celts

Migrated from continental Europe between 800 and 600 B.C.

Julius Caesar arrived in 55 B.C. to begin a 400 year occupation of Britain.

The Roman forces withdrew from Britain by the early 5th century.

Anglo-Saxon England After the Romans withdrew, Britain became venerable.

In 449 A.D. Germanic tribes, mostly Angles, Saxons, and, Jutes began invading Britain.

By the end of the 7th century, Anglo-Saxons had become one people-The English.

The modern name England comes from the word for “land of the Angles.”

Christianity and Paganism The Britons under Roman rule were Christian, the invading Germanic

tribes were pagan.

In 563 A.D. Saint Patrick began to reconvert the population beginning in the north and working his way south.

In 596 A.D. Saint Augustine began in the south of the island and began working his way north.

By the end of the 7th century, England had become Christian.

Monasteries The missionaries brought literacy to England. They established

libraries and schools within their monastaries.

Roman alphabet was adopted. Importance of written word expanded.

Latin was used as the Literary and scholarly language.

Literature moved from an oral tradition to a written tradition.

End of Anglo-Saxon Rule

In 1066 A.D. William, the duke of Normandy, invaded England, as he had been promised the throne by King Edward.

Harold of Wessex had claimed the throne.

Harold was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings.

William became the first Norman kind of England.

The Anglo-Saxon period ended.

Beowulf First masterpiece in English literature

Describes the adventures of a hero who came from the southern part of what is now Sweden to aid a people living what is now Denmark.

Stories were part of a culture that a Germanic tribe bought with them when they invaded and settled England after Hygelac's (actual Swedish king) death in 521 A.D.

Anglo-Saxon minstrel, or scop, composed poetry in an oral form before an audience

Handed down through generations in an oral form--not written down until much later

Part of only 4 surviving Anglo-Saxon manuscripts

Beowulf Poet

Between 725 A.D. and 1000A.D. someone took the folk epic Beowulf as it had been orally passed down and wrote it down in Anglo-Saxon (Old English)

The Beowulf-poet has absolute knowledge of the customs, traditions, and values of the Anglo-Saxon society

He knows the Hebrew scriptures, as he refers to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel

May have been familiar with Latin literature, i.e. Virgil's Aeneid

Loved words and language

Ultimately interested in the nature of success, true friendship, the final value to be found in life and in death, not just heroic adventures akin to fairy tales

Combines both Christian and Pagan aspects in the poem

Beowulf’s appeal

Outstanding adventure story

Beowulf is an appealing hero

• possesses skill, courage and knowledge

• devotes his life to making the world a better place

• chooses to risk death to help others

• faces his own death with heroism and dignity

Boar’s Head Crest

Iron Helmut

Beowulf’s appeal (cont.)

Interested in the psychological aspects of human behavior

* cowardice, jealousy

* courage nobility

Exhibits a mature appreciation of the transitory nature of human life and achievement

* We, too, must create a meaningful life in a world full of danger

* Like them, we must adopt a code of behavior that allows us to take pride in ourselves, our accomplishments, our relationships with others

Anglo-Saxon Necklace

Shield Mount

Germanic Hero

Involved groups of warriors who served princes or kings

* War was a customary occupation

* warriors slept with armor at their side

* spent time defending their own country or raiding other countries for wealth

King provided warriors with food, drink, weapons and armor, land, and jewels

• warrior was obligated to fight to the death to defend his king

• only justice was retributive, i.e. death for death

• monetary value (wergild) was placed on the life of an individual

• payment could be demanded upon death

Germanic Warriors cont. Pagan warriors believed in wyrd (unalterable fate)

Immortality could only be achieved through fame which lasted beyond one’s death

Since life was so hard, one had to take pleasure in what good life had to offer so, eating, drinking, receiving gifts and achieving fame and honor, were highly valued.

Sutton Hoo—Anglo-Saxon burial ship discovered 1939

Literary Terms for Old English

Epic: a long verse narrative in an elevated style, presenting characters of high position in adventures

Examples: The Iliad, The Odyssey,

Gilgamesh, and Beowulf

Characteristics of an Epic 1. The hero is a figure of imposing stature2. The setting is vast, covering great nations

or worlds3. Action consists of deeds of great valor or

require super human strength4. Supernatural forces are evident5. A styled of sustained elevation and grand

simplicity6. The poet recounts deed of the hero with a

measure of objectivity7. Served warrior cultures by boosting tribal

pride and teaching later generations a code of values

Elements of an Epic

1. The poet opens by stating the theme

2. The poet then invokes a muse

3. Opens the narrative in media res (literally means “in the midst of things”)

4. Has extensive use of epic similes

Folk Epic

An epic without certain authorship Folk, or popular, epics are believed

to have developed from the orally transmitted folk poetry of tribal bards or other authors; they were eventually transcribed by anonymous poets. Well-known examples of the folk epic are the 

Epic Simile an elaborated comparison. Differs from the

ordinary simile by being more involved and ornate. A secondary object is developed into an independent aesthetic object

Example:

“Then the great sword, eaten with blood of battle

Began to soften and waste away

In iron icicles, wonder of wonders,

Melting away most like to ice

When the Father looses the fetters of frost

Slackens the bondage that abinds the wave,

Strong in power of times and seasons;” (1086-92)

Kenning

An elaborate metaphor used in Old English poetry as a synonym for a simple noun

Example: whale-road

Litotes

a form of understatement and a characteristic of Old English poetry

Example:

“Twas a weary while! twelve winter’s time”

Epithets

descriptive phrases that may be repeated over and over. Frequently, several epithets are used in the same sentence

Example: “Prince of the Danes, protector of Scyldings, Lord of nations, and leader of men,…

Alliteration

Repetition of the first sounds of words. Used to help scops remember the poem and to

create unity within a piece. Used to help unify poem and create complete,

balanced lines Example:

“Marauding monsters and menacing trolls” (71)

Caesura

Pause in a line of verse, usually near the middle Natural pause Each line of verse is divided into two half-lines Example:

“Success in battle; retainers bold

Obeyed him gladly; his band increased” (39-40)