Ray Winstone as Beowulf in Robert Zemeckiss Beowulf

Beowulf 1. The epic poem • It is a long narrative composition. It deals with the recollection of a glorious past in the history of a country • Performer Heritage the brave deeds of heroes History is the frame, but supernatural characters, like monsters, are the canvas of the poem.

Beowulf 1. The epic poem Performer Heritage • An aristocratic military society is described. • The narrative of the poem is made up of a series of type-scenes – battles, banquets, funerals, voyages. • The narration is objective. • The main theme is the nature of heroic life. • The didactic aim is the celebration of heroic values. • The language is vivid and the style is elevated.

Beowulf 2. Beowulf: a national epic Performer Heritage • The oldest surviving poem written in Anglo-Saxon more than 1200 years ago. • The poet is unknown. • It deals with a time following the initial invasion of England by Germanic tribes in 449 (5 th-6 th cent. ) • The date of composition is unknown probably composed as an elegy for a king who died in the 7 th century and written down in the 11 th century.

Beowulf 3. Settings Denmark Heorot where Beowulf confronts the monster Grendel The misty lake where Beowulf fights against Grendel’s mother The land of the Geats in Sweden Performer Heritage ruled by King Hrothgar. Here the first actions of the poem take place where Beowulf confronts a fire-breathing dragon

Beowulf 4. The plot It is divided into three sections: 1 Beowulf, the war leader of the Scandinavian Geats, fights against Grendel, the monster, = evil and succeeds in killing him in Heorot. Performer Heritage

Beowulf 4. The plot 2 The hero fights against Grendel’s mother she represents evil. Beowulf manages to kill her in the murky lake. 3 After fifty years, the hero kills a fire-breathing dragon in Scandinavia but is mortally wounded. A scene of Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007. Performer Heritage

Beowulf 5. Themes 1 Importance of the warrior code: loyalty to the king who is generous, hospitable and protected by his warriors/thanes; the thanes are loyal, brave, courageous; the need to take revenge; physical strength and courage; the search for glory in this life. Performer Heritage

Beowulf 5. Themes 2 A system of revenge is repeated in the poem: The feud = the tragic waste. feud peace feud 3 The eternal conflict between good and evil. 4 Fate and destiny govern the world. 5 Courage is the quality that can stand against Fate. Performer Heritage

Beowulf 6. Style Performer Heritage • Alliteration He rippled down the rock, writhing with anger • Extensive use of kennings The hoard-guardian (the guardian of the treasure = the monster) The ring-giver (the king) • Elevated language They extolled (praised) his heroic nature and exploits (deeds) and gave thanks for his greatness • Long lists of leaders and warriors

Beowulf 7. Christian elements Performer Heritage • Beowulf prays to the Creator of all things, the ruler of the Heavens. • God’s will: identical with fate (wyrd). • Grendel: the descendent of Cain, the first murderer of the Old Testament. • References to the Old Testament.

Beowulf 8. Supernatural elements Performer Heritage • Superhuman powers are attributed to Beowulf. • Several monsters appear in the poem. • The supernatural lake, where Grendel and his mother live, is filled with sea-monsters.