Beowulf Text and Contexts Beowulf Beowulf is an

Beowulf Text and Contexts

Beowulf • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic

Beowulf • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic • Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English

Beowulf • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic • Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English • Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet

Beowulf • • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic

Beowulf • • • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1, 000 AD

Beowulf • • • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1, 000 AD The “historical” events occur before 600 AD

Beowulf • • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1, 000 AD The “historical” events occur before 600 AD Beowulf mixes Pagan and Christian world-views

Beowulf • • Beowulf is an Oral Epic, or “primary” epic Composed in West Saxon dialect of Old English Anonymous, probably the work of more than one poet First “postclassical” European epic Survives because it was written down, around 1, 000 AD The “historical” events occur before 600 AD Beowulf mixes Pagan and Christian world-views Beowulf was first published in 1815

Beowulf Prosody 5 10 So! The Spear Danes in days of old Were led by a lord famed for his forays. We heard of that prince’s power and prowess Often Scyld Scefing ambushed enemies took their mead-benches mastered their troops though first he was found forlorn and alone. His early sorrows were swiftly consoled: He grew under heaven grew to a greatness renowned among men of neighboring lands His rule recognized over the whale-road Danegeld granted him. That was a good king!

Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) 5 10 Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning!

Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) 15 20 25 ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned, geong in geardum, þone god sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile. Him þæs liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf; Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide sprang), Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, leode gelæsten; in mægþa gehwære þonne wig cume, lofdædum sceal man geþeon.

Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) 30 35 Him ða Scyld gewat felahror feran Hi hyne þa ætbæron swæse gesiþas, þenden wordum weold leof landfruma þær æt hyðe stod isig ond utfus, Aledon þa beaga bryttan, mærne be mæste. of feorwegum, ne hyrde ic cymlicor hildewæpnum to gescæphwile on frean wære. to brimes faroðe, swa he selfa bæd, wine Scyldinga; lange ahte. hringedstefna, æþelinges fær. leofne þeoden, on bearm scipes, þær wæs madma fela frætwa, gelæded; ceol gegyrwan ond heaðowædum,

Beowulf, Read by Peter S. Baker (Old English at University of Virginia) 40 45 50 billum ond byrnum; madma mænigo, on flodes æht Nalæs hi hine læssan þeodgestreonum, þe hine æt frumsceafte ænne ofer yðe þa gyt hie him asetton heah ofer heafod, geafon on garsecg; murnende mod. secgan to soðe, hæleð under heofenum, him on bearme læg þa him mid scoldon feor gewitan. lacum teodan, þon þa dydon forð onsendon umborwesende. segen geldenne leton holm beran, him wæs geomor sefa, Men ne cunnon selerædende, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.