Beowulf : The Beginnings of English Literature

1. Beowulf:The Beginnings of English Literature

2. Origins Unknown author; possibly one Christian author in Anglo-Saxon England Unknown date of composition (roughly 8th-11th Century CE)

3. Literary Devices • Allusion: Biblical, Germanic oral tradition, Norse myth and legend, historical Anglo-Saxon kings (eg. King Offa of Mercia) • Alliteration (eg. Scyld’s strong son) • Epic poetry: a long narrative poem written in elevated style which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero or god. • Kenning: two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. whale-road=sea) • Scop: Anglo-Saxon composers and storytellers (like minstrels or bards)

4. Warrior Code • Comitatus: Germanic code of loyalty • Thane: warrior – swears loyalty to the king for whom they fought and whom they protected • Kings: generous, protected thanes • Reputation: thanes were expected to be loyal, brave, courageous; kings were expected to be generous and hospitable • Wergild: “man-payment”; a fee paid to the family of a slain man to atone for his murder and to prevent the family from seeking revenge.

5. Geats and Danes • Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden • Hrothgar was king of the Danes

6. Old English • Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form of English • Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from about 6th century to 11th century CE • In 1066, William the Conqueror successfully invaded England, bringing his Norman French language with him; the nobility began to speak French, and gradually Old English evolved into Middle English (1100-1500): “Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote/The droghte of March hath perced to the roote” • Modern English has been spoken since the Renaissance – Shakespeare is NOT Old English; he is Early Modern English

8. Elements of an Epic • Epic hero– an character with a trait or characteristic that is valued by his society. • (E.g.– Superman’s bravery or valor) • Quest– A journey through which the character or the reader learns something • Valorous Deeds– Doing something bravely. • Divine Intervention– The hand of God (or gods) help the hero, proving his value. • Great events– The hero has a hand in something important in the history or mythology of a culture.

9. 2 Types of Epics • Folk • Told out loud first (usually by scops) • Unknown author • Unknown dates • (E.g.—Beowulf is a folk epic because we don’t know who wrote it) • Literary • Known author • (E.g.– Paradise Lost, by John Milton is a literary epic because we know who wrote it.)

10. 3 Epic Conventions • Invoke a muse • Muse– inspiration provided by the gods • Plot begins in medias res • In medias red– “In the middle of” the action • Serious tone • Not necessary to have all on these, but need most at least

11. Possible OER • Evaluate a story you’ve read or seen as an epic story. • O! Brother, Where Art Thou? • Epic hero– Ulysses Everett McGill • Quest– To seek the treasure • Valorous deeds– Singing the song, escaping the sheriff, saving Tommy from the KKK, et al. • Divine intervention– the flood • Great events– Helping elect Pappy O’Daniel as governor of Mississippi instead of the KKK head dragon • Literary epic– Cohen brothers wrote it in 2001 • Invokes a muse at the beginning • Begins in the middle of the story as they escape jail • Serious tone? Notsomuch.

12. Beowulf’s Name • Beowulf’s father– Edgetho • In most cases, the son is named after the father • Don • Donald (son of Don) • McDonald (son of son of Don) • McDonaldson (son of son of son of Don) • Proves Beowulf is own individual with own powers and abilities (and more important than his father) • Beo– Bear • Bears are known as Great Protectors in Norse mythology • Strong • Wulf– Wolf • Wolves are also great protectors, but are also cunning and speedy