The Anglo-Saxons and Beowulf

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

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ancient civilizations, some of which were quite advanced, had arisen in other parts of the world well before the Anglo-Saxon period.

For example, the great pyramids had already been built along the Nile.

City states had risen and fallen in Mesopotamia.Persia had already united many lands.China was a unified, powerful empire.The beginnings of democracy had already come

and gone in Greece.By contrast, Britain was a green, dark, isolated,

sleepy island where civilization and empire had yet to bloom.

Historical Perspective

Anglo-Saxon Era: TimelineAnglo-Saxon societyPagan vs. ChristianityAnglo-Saxon LiteratureBeowulfResources

Table of Contents

43 CE Romans invade Britain.Encountered the Celts.Romans build roads,

villas, huge buildings, and forts.

Introduced Christianity.420 CE Romans leave.

The Anglo-Saxon Era: Timeline

450 CE Jutes from Denmark, and the Angles and Saxons from Northern Germany invade England.Germanic tribes.Anglo-Saxons push out Celts

597 CE Anglo-Saxons become Christian

Timeline (continued)

787 CE Viking raids begin871-899 CE King Alfred the Great becomes King of

England.Established education systems, rebuilt monasteries.Fought Danes and forced them from Wessex.Unified Anglo-Saxons under one king to resist the Viking

invasions.Danes ruled in the North, Anglo-Saxons in the South.

1066 CE Norman Conquest by William the Conqueror.From Norman French.Defeated Danes and Anglo-Saxons.Officially ended Anglo-Saxon era and brought about the

beginning of the Medieval Period.

Timeline Continued

Anglo-Saxon society.Lived in tribal groups with a high class of warriors.Kings emerged as society developed.

Spoke Old English. This was the language that Beowulf was written in.

Became Christian but still valued heroic ideals and traditional heroes.

Their culture valued human contact, family, virtue, and a good story. They feared humiliation and loneliness in their lives. In addition, the Anglo-Saxons desired richness, power, and appreciated heroic actions of warriors.

Anglo-Saxon Society

PaganStrong nature

presenceStrength of the warrior

God is mentioned by two of the main characters in the poem: Beowulf and Hrothgar.

Grendel as LuciferBoth are outcastsPerform a task for GodGrendel is described as

a son or descendant of Cain, a clear Biblical reference.

Pagan vs. Christianity in Beowulf

Christianity

The Anglo-Saxons mixed both pagan and Christian traditions. Beowulf contains traces of both beliefs.

Anglo-Saxon literature began as an oral tradition. Stories, poems, and songs were all told aloud and passed from generation to generation orally through minstrels (also called scops).

Poems traditionally had a strong beat, alliteration, and no rhyme.

Caesura: “a cutting.” A break in a line of poetry, used in Old English to depict a half line. We use a comma for a modern effect. i.e. Da com of more under mistheleopum

“Out from the marsh, from the foot of the hills.” Kenning: derived from the Norse word “kenna” which means

“to know, to recognize.” It is a compact metaphor that functions as a name. i.e. helmberend: “Helm bearer” or “warrior”

Anglo-Saxon Literature

It is the sole survivor of a great epic tradition.It is great poetry.It is an archaeological relic which is most

interesting.As a linguistic document, it’s full of revelations.It gives us information about Old English social life

and politics.

Why Is Beowulf Important?

English is divided into three periods: Old English (ca.449-1100), Middle English (ca. 1100-1500), and Modern English (ca. 1500-).

Old English is sometimes known as Anglo-Saxon.The English language changed from Old English to

Middle English in 1100 and from Middle English to Modern English in 1500. These shifts took place over hundreds of years.

It is important to realize that the wide-spread notion of a standard language or even of standardized spelling are modern notions made possible by the printing press.

Language of the Age

Beowulf is the most well-known Anglo-Saxon poem, and is a form of poetry called Epic. Such other examples are Homer’s The Iliad and The Odissey.

Long narrative that celebrates a hero’s long journeys and heroic deeds. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Ring series and

George Lucas’ Stars Wars could be called modern epics.

Characteristics include a noble hero whose character traits reflect their society’s ideals. The hero performs brave acts and appears superhuman.

The Epic

The epic poem Beowulf strengthens the Heroic Code. This code was derived from the Anglo-Saxons’ Germanic roots, and called for strength, courage, and loyalty in warriors. It also required kings to be hospitable, generous, and have great political skills. This code was a basis for Anglo-Saxon honor.

Heroic Code

Universal themes of epic poetryGood vs. Evil

Beowulf vs. GrendelIsolationCourage and honor

Beowulf is fearless and brave while fighting the monsters.

Gods or semi-divine creaturesGrendel, Grendel’s mother, the dragon

Tale involves the fate of an entire raceBeowulf saves Hrothgar’s village from Grendel.

Common Themes of an Epic Poem

Takes the form of a long narrative poem about a quest, told in formal, elevated language

Narrates the exploits of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular culture

Begins with a statement of subject and theme and, sometimes, a prayer to a deity

Deals with events on a large scaleUses many of the conventions of oral

storytelling, such as repetition, sound effects, figures of speech, and stock epithets

Often includes gods and goddesses as characters

Mixes myth, legend, and history [Holt 55]

Common Themes of an Epic

Most famous of early Germanic poems

Written anywhere between 400-1000, but most likely after the 500s.

The author is unknown, but likely to be Christian. It is likely that a few different authors elaborated on the tale.

Takes place in Sweden, Denmark, and Frisia. The Norse were at this time

attacking Britain, thus allowing knowledge of places, people, and ancestors to be available.

Beowulf

Beowulf: main character, a hero featuring all the qualities of an epic hero. He has superhuman strength and is fearless and brave in battle.

Hrothgar: the king of the village that Beowulf saves from Grendel.

Grendel: a monster terrorizing Hrothgar’s village.

Grendel’s mother: a monster set out to avenge her son’s death.

Characters

View of Grandel

Beowulf travels to Hrothgar’s village to save them from Grendel, a terrifying monster eating their warriors. An epic battle ensues with Beowulf is the winner. Grendel’s mother comes seeking vengeance for her son’s death. Again, Beowulf is called upon to save them all, and he fights heroically and defeats the evil monster. After being vastly rewarded and refusing an offer from Hrothgar to be his heir, Beowulf makes the long trek back to his homeland where he becomes a mighty and generous king for many years. He fights a massive dragon who is threatening his people. He and the dragon both die in the struggle, but he is heroic until the end.

The Plot…in six sentences.

Stern, barbarous lifeReligious feeling, fatalism of Anglo-SaxonMixtures of savagery, sentiment, and nobilityLove of nature and especially being influenced by

the seaCommon sense, power of endurance, seriousness

of thoughtEmotional, imaginative, sensitive.

Anglo Saxon Elements in the Poem

Love of gloryAllegiance to lord or kingReverence for womenLove of personal freedomOpen-handed hospitality of lord to thaneHonoring truthRepression of too much sentiment

Ideals of Society

Old English ExampleOld English circa 500CE-1100CE

“Cyning” means “king,” so “Cyningas” must mean “kings.”

What other words look familiar to today’s language?