Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf

Classics to Contemporary Classics to Contemporary LiteratureLiterature

Heroism Unit Heroism Unit Classical Selection Classical Selection

Background on Background on BeowulfBeowulf

Oldest and longest Oldest and longest surviving poem in Old surviving poem in Old EnglishEnglish

The poem has an oral The poem has an oral tradition tradition

Scops chanted the Scops chanted the poem – told in three poem – told in three sittings over three sittings over three evenings evenings

Authorship is Authorship is anonymous anonymous

Is considered an Epic Is considered an Epic Poem Poem

Characteristics of an Epic Characteristics of an Epic The hero, generally male, The hero, generally male,

is of noble birth is of noble birth The hero performs The hero performs

courageous and courageous and superhuman deedssuperhuman deeds

The actions of a hero The actions of a hero determine the fate of a determine the fate of a nation nation

The setting is vast in The setting is vast in scope and involves more scope and involves more than one nation.than one nation.

The plot is complicated by The plot is complicated by supernatural beings supernatural beings

It addresses universal It addresses universal themes – such as good themes – such as good and evil and life and and evil and life and death. death.

Characteristics of an Epic

The hero, generally male, is of noble birth.

The hero performs courageous and superhuman deeds.

The actions of a hero determine the fate of the nation.

The setting is vast in scope and involves more than one nation.

The plot is complicated by supernatural beings.

It addresses universal themes – such as good vs. evil and life and death.

Setting of Setting of BeowulfBeowulf

Denmark (Danes) Denmark (Danes) Geatland (A Geatland (A

“tribal” area in “tribal” area in Sweden) Sweden)

Heorot (Herot) – Heorot (Herot) – the Mead Hall the Mead Hall where the Danes where the Danes Live Live

Major Characters Major Characters

Beowulf – The Beowulf – The Geatish Hero Geatish Hero

Hrothgar – the King Hrothgar – the King of the Danes of the Danes

Wiglaf – a Geatish Wiglaf – a Geatish soldier soldier

Grendel – the first Grendel – the first monstermonster

Grendel’s Mother – Grendel’s Mother – the second monsterthe second monster

The Dragon – the The Dragon – the third monster third monster

Night One: Grendel

Night Two: Grendel’s Mother

Years Later -Three: The Dragon

Is it Fiction or Nonfiction? Is it Fiction or Nonfiction? Fantasy Element: Dragons, Fantasy Element: Dragons,

Giant Swords, and Giant Swords, and Superhuman Feats Superhuman Feats

Hygelac (Hig-lack) of the Hygelac (Hig-lack) of the Geats, who is Beowulf’s king, Geats, who is Beowulf’s king, is a real person. He is a real person. He appeared in historical appeared in historical records of Gregory of Tours records of Gregory of Tours in 521 AD.in 521 AD.

The Vikings sacked the The Vikings sacked the monasteries in 790 AD. monasteries in 790 AD. Could be the origins of Could be the origins of Grendel. Grendel.

Or, it could have been Or, it could have been brought over from Denmark brought over from Denmark in 830 AD when the Danish in 830 AD when the Danish began to invade England.began to invade England.

Balance of Religion: Paganism Balance of Religion: Paganism Belief in more than one deity (gods/goddesses) Belief in more than one deity (gods/goddesses) Oral Tradition Oral Tradition Incorporation of the Dragons as a source of knowledge Incorporation of the Dragons as a source of knowledge Deer and Stag Imagery – Celtic deity Cernunnos Deer and Stag Imagery – Celtic deity Cernunnos Concept of “Wyrd” or FateConcept of “Wyrd” or Fate Raven and Bird Imagery – Nordic deity Odin Raven and Bird Imagery – Nordic deity Odin ““Wyrds” or “Norns” as Goddesses Wyrds” or “Norns” as Goddesses Burial is completed via Funeral Pyre Burial is completed via Funeral Pyre

Wyrd

Wyrd

Balance of Religion: Balance of Religion: Christianity Christianity

Written and published Written and published – changes were made – changes were made

Incorporation of Incorporation of references to one God references to one God (in this case, (in this case, masculine), the Lord, masculine), the Lord, and glory to God. and glory to God.

Allusion to the Cain Allusion to the Cain and Abel story and and Abel story and the connection to the connection to Grendel Grendel

Dragon as a Dragon as a snake/serpentsnake/serpent

Social Codes of the Anglo-Social Codes of the Anglo-Saxons Saxons

The family line – The family line – only in the case of only in the case of men men

A Man’s Worth A Man’s Worth Blood for Blood Blood for Blood Women as Peace-Women as Peace-

Weavers Weavers

Important Literary Important Literary “Devices” “Devices”

Scops (again, people who chant the poem) Scops (again, people who chant the poem) Example: “Example: “We have heardWe have heard of those of those

princes’ campaigns.” princes’ campaigns.” Kenning – a hyphenated noun that Kenning – a hyphenated noun that

replaces another noun or a character’s replaces another noun or a character’s name. Be careful though, a kenning is NOT name. Be careful though, a kenning is NOT a replacement for an adjective. a replacement for an adjective.

Example: “Each clan outlaying the coast – Example: “Each clan outlaying the coast – beyond the beyond the whale-roadwhale-road.” .”

Example: “The Example: “The Hall-Watcher’sHall-Watcher’s hate.” hate.”