THE EPIC OF BEOWULF Anglo Saxon Background From

THE EPIC OF BEOWULF

Anglo Saxon Background � � From 449 -1485 known as the “Dark Ages” due to the barbaric nature of the people and the bloody conflicts. Characteristics of the Period: � Life was incredibly difficult � Enormous upheaval and change in England � Time of disastrous wars, both internal and external � Time of foreign invasion � Time of painful reconsolidation and emergence of England as a nation

Anglo Saxon Life � � � � Dominated by warfare Man responsibilities of leader were protection and maintaining law and order Most time spent in Mead Halls (bars) Success was achieved through loyalty to leader and success in battle Literature was a way to escape reality or give lord immortality Thanes (men who fought for a king or lord) Believed in the code of honor

Anglo Saxon People � � Invaders from Germany and northern Europe came in 449 AD Celts retreated primarily into Wales Most of the men were fishermen and farmers Greatest Anglo-Saxon king was Alfred the Great (died 899 AD) � He began the unification of England into one country through defense of the Vikings and language � Began a running history called The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle � Had Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People translated into English for people to study

Invasions � � � The Vikings began invading England in 790 s – they were a fearsome group of seafarers from Denmark. The Vikings looted, killed, and burned down entire villages. In the South, they met Alfred the Great, who finally started pushing them back. In 1042 a descendant of Alfred the Great, Edward the Confessor, took the throne and continued the battle against the Vikings. The last invasion of Britain came in 1066 and was known as the Norman Conquest where William the Conqueror drove out the last of the Vikings and was crowned the King of England.

Anglo Saxon Civilization � Life after the Vikings: � Common language � Shared a heroic ideal; set of traditional values � Admired men of courage � Loyalty to leader and/or tribe � Rulers were very generous to those who were loyal � Shortness of life

Anglo Saxon Religion � � � Beliefs changed over time (like many cultures) Strong Pagan religion was marked by belief in fate (wyrd) Their belief offered little hope so Christianity opened up new possibilities � New missionaries (thought to be Roman) arrived in 300 AD � Many people believed in Christianity but kept some Pagan beliefs � Monasteries became centers of intellectual, literary, artistic, and social activity � Greatest of the Christian Monks was Venerable Bede (673 -735)

Definition of Epic … � An epic is a long narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds. � Epics were usually based on historical facts.

Epic’s Literary Traits � � � Setting: is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation. Plot: is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long & dangerous journey through foreign lands. Dialogue: often includes long, formal speeches by major characters. Theme: reflects timeless values, such as courage, honor, and encompasses universal ideas, such as good vs. evil or life and death. Style: includes formal diction (word choice) and a serious tone.

Epic Hero � An epic hero must have the following qualities: � Of noble birth or high position and often of great historical or legendary importance. � Exhibits characteristics that reflect important ideals of society. � Preforms courageous, sometimes superhuman, deeds that reflect the values of the era. � Performs actions that often determine the fate of a nation or group of people.

Beowulf’s Provenance What we don’t know: Øwho wrote it Øwhen exactly it was written Øhow much, exactly, is based on historical truth

What we do know: ØBeowulf is the oldest surviving English poem. It’s written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), which is the basis for the language we speak today. ØSome of the characters in the poem actually existed. ØThe only copy of the manuscript was written sometime around the 11 th century A. D. (1000’s), however…

ØThe actual poem probably dates from the 8 th century (700’s) or so, and… ØThe story may be set even earlier, around 500 A. D. Ø There a lot of Christian references in the poem, but the characters and setting are Pagan…this means a monk probably translated it, but nobody really knows for sure.

So why wasn’t it written down in the first place? This story was probably passed down orally for centuries before it was first written down. It wasn’t until after the Norman Invasion (1066) that writing stories down became common in this part of the world.

So what’s happened to the manuscript since the 11 th century? Eventually, it ended up in the library of this guy. Robert Cotton (1571 -1631)

Unfortunately, Cotton’s library burned in 1731. Many manuscripts were entirely destroyed. Beowulf was partially damaged. The manuscript is now preserved and carefully cared for in the British Museum.

Setting: Beowulf’s time and place Although Beowulf was written in English, it is set in what is now Sweden, where a tribe called the Geats lived. The story may take place as early as 400 or 500 A. D.

Setting: Beowulf’s time and place Europe today Time of Beowulf

Poetic Elements to Look Out for: � Alliterative Verse �Repetition of initial sounds of words (in almost every line) �Generally, four feet/beats per line �A caesura, or pause, between beats two and four �No real rhyme

Poetic Elements to Look Out for: � � Kennings – a compound word, figure of speech, substituted for the usual name of a person or thing. An example – “the Almighty’s enemy” and “sin-stained demon” are both kennings used to describe Grendel Stock epithets are adjectives used to characterize a person, place, or thing. For example, in Beowulf God is described as “the Lord of all Life” or “the Ruler of glory”. They provide a brief summary of major characters’ most essential qualities.

Poetic Elements (cont’d) � � Allusions – references in a work of literature to a well-known person, place, event, written work, or work of art. Beowulf contains numerous biblical allusions. Foreshadowing – the author drops subtle hints about plot developments to come later in the story.

Some terms you’ll want to know scop A bard or story-teller. The scop was responsible for praising deeds of past heroes, for recording history, and for providing entertainment

Some terms you’ll want to know thane A warrior mead-hall The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc.

Themes and Important Aspects Good vs. Evil Religion: Christian and Pagan influences The importance of wealth and treasure The importance of the sea and sailing The sanctity of the home Fate Loyalty and allegiance Heroism and heroic deeds

Beowulf Animated Movie http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=QKjco. FZm. Ku. A This is brief animated version of the epic we will be reading.