Beowulf Written in Old English Brief History of

Beowulf Written in Old English

Brief History of Text ü One copy of the text remains ü Scientists have dated the copy that exists to around 1000 AD ü Probably hand copied by two monks

Text’s survival ü Preserved in a monastery ü Early 16 th Century--the reign of Henry VIII put it in danger ü Survives probably by being taken into private collection ü Emerges in 1563, moved to Cotton and then to British Museum

What we know--next to nothing! Scholars have inferred: ü Consistent style suggests single author ü Use of conventional poetic devices suggest educated author ü Repeated phrases and formula words suggest oral composition ü References to God and Bible suggest Christian author

Things that are still unclear ü Place of origin ü Studying Anglo Saxon dialect has been inconclusive ü Date of poem ü Anywhere from 700 -1000 AD ü Details about the author ü Scop?

Structure of the poem

Use of caesura ü Break (caesura) divides each line into two half-lines ü Each half line contains 2 stressed words or syllable with remaining syllables left unstressed

Alliteration ü Used within lines to link important words ü Consists of a consistent consonant beginning to words within a line or beginning the words with a vowel ü All vowels were treated the same

Set metrical combinations to fit needs ü Example: On the sea can be said a couple of ways ü On hranrade (on the whale-road) ü On seglrade (on the sail-road)

Kennings ü Metaphorical phrase used in place of a noun ü Sun = candle of the sky

Anglo Saxon world ü Roman roads and oxcarts ü Villages = wooden houses ü Communal farmland ü Stone churches ü Soldiers in armor ü Mead halls--communal banquet halls

Anglo Saxon world (cont) ü Harsh environment ü War! ü Few comforts ü Religion ü Gods: neither all good nor all powerful

Heroes ü Could attain some immortality through fame--be remembered for honor and heroic deeds ü Boasting was hero’s dare to destiny ü Fighting was the proper business of man ü Only respectable way to die was in battle

Oral tradition ü Hunters, fisherman, farmers--relaxed by eating, drinking, listening to songs ü Scops or bards created songs or poems celebrating heroes