BEOWULF INTRODUCTION

English Language

End of the Anglo-Saxon Period

During this time, the English language was growing. The Celtic language merged with the Anglo-Saxon language.

Some words added by A-S: to, and, for, man, wife, child, drink, eat, sleep, T, W, R, F.

When Christian missionaries started coming to England around 600 AD, they brought words such as: altar, monk, preach, school, anthem, rule, candle, offer, hymn

From 787-1000 AD, Vikings came to the island with words such as: lift, take, give, live, husband, sky, trust, rotten

When the Normans invaded and conquered the Anglo-Saxons, they brought 10,000 words like: action, adventure, marriage, power, vision, rage, honest

When Alfred’s grandson Edward died in 1066, there was an argument over the throne. The Duke of Normandy claimed the throne, but the English chose Harold II. The Duke retaliated by attacking and defeating the A-S at the Battle of Hastings.

So, the A-S period ended in 1066 when the Normans won the Battle of Hastings and the Duke- William the Conqueror was the new King.

It tells the story of how Guillaume le Conquerant led the invasion against Harold of England, the voyage, the battle and the return home. It is housed in the town of Bayeux, France, where it is protected from light damage. It is over 1,000 years old and one of the oldest forms of artwork. It is truly an amazing piece of history to see!!!!!! The colors are still vibrant today as they were then.

Social Order

Beowulf

TERMS

Was written around 700 AD

Author was unknown- Poet composed it in his head & performed it.

Poem was not written down for about 250 years.

SCOPS, people in each tribe who composed stories and songs about the tribe and

its heroes. The stories were passed down from generation to generation.

EPIC POEM-long narrative poem about a national hero who has the virtues and qualities his society values. Epic poems are fiction with some fact put in.

EPIC HERO- courageous, resourceful, loyal, generous, willing to avenge wrongs, gentle, brave, strong, loves beauty, has deep feelings, able to express feelings.

Core of culture was COMITATUS relationship-warrior bond for each other and their leader. Tribes engaged in blood feuding constantly.

WER GELD= “man price,” absolute obligation to avenge a fellow warrior’s death (like gangs).

LOYALTY: fight to death to protect and/or avenge; obligation to King and warrior.

EPIC POEM CHARACTERISTICS

EPIC HERO CHARACTERISTICS

Beowulf

The

Anglo-Saxon

Period

449-1066 AD

Undertakes role as duty to others, not as a personal achievement

Strong sense of social morality, including code of behaviour to enemies

Only becomes hero when needed, may be unwilling

Does not necessarily have social status prior to heroics, but may achieve it.

Major characters deliver long, formal speeches.

The hero performs courageous, sometimes superhuman deeds.

The poem includes universal themes such as good/evil and life/death.

The hero, generally male, is of noble birth or high position and reflects important ideals of his society.

The plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long and dangerous journey to a foreign land.

Anglo-Saxon values

The Story

Loyalty

Fighting for one’s king

Avenging one’s kinsmen

Keeping one’s word

Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds

Brotherly love -- not romantic love

Heroism and Physical strength

Skill and resourcefulness in battle

Courage

Public reputation, not private conscience

Takes place in Denmark & Sweden (not England)

Herot- hall of Hrothgar, King of Danes

Grendel-monster who is descendant of Cain

Beowulf-prince of Geats-a Swede

1st great work of the English national literature.

The structure of the poem

Poetic form and devices

ALLITERATIVE VERSE - Same initial consonants / Line halved by caesura / Four stresses per line

KENNING: compressed metaphor, combined nouns for description

LITOTES: ironic understatement

SYNECDOCHE: part for whole

METONOMY: associated word for word itself, name substitution

WYRD: fate (to the POET = God’s will)

Three fights

1. Grendel

2. Grendel’s mother

3. The dragon