Beowulf

1. Beowulf EH 2301

2. Beowulf • Of unknown origin • In the late 900’s, two anonymous scribes wrote the story on parchment using West Saxon, a Germanic dialect dominant for literary composition in England at that time.

3. Beowulf • Was bound together with 4 other works in Old English • The Passion of St. Christopher • The Wonders of the East • Alexander’s Letter to Aristotle • Judith (a poem) • All have the presence of monsters, so this suggests that was the common thread.

4. Beowulf • The whereabouts of the manuscript was unknown for about 500 years. • Lawrence Nowell, Dean of Litchfield, owned it in 1563. • May have save the manuscript from destruction when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and broke up their libraries.

5. Beowulf • Manuscript made its way to the famous library of Sir Robert Cotton, an Elizabethan physician. • In 1731, Cotton’s library caught fire and the codex containing Beowulf was scorched. • After Cotton’s death, his library collection was taken over by the Crown. • Today, the manuscript is in the British Library in London.

6. Beowulf • No one knows who “wrote” Beowulf. • Oral poetry was sung by many; was performed when warriors gathered in meadhalls during celebrations. • It is from this poem that we derive many of the details for the reconstruction of Anglo-Saxon social life.

7. Beowulf • Seems to have been entirely fictional. • The only historically verifiable moment in the poem: • Hygelac, lord of the Geats, died in battle against the Frisians. • Chronicled by historian Gregory of Tours that Chlochilaichus (Latin name of Hygelac) was killed in the year 521.

8. Beowulf • Why has this story lasted through the ages? • Interlaced with the battles of monsters are tales of human struggle. • Less than exemplary people: • Heremod: wicked king who hoarded people • Modthryth: queen who arbitrarily executed those who displeased her • Hrothulf: treacherous usurper

9. Beowulf • Why has this story lasted through the ages? • Interlaced with the battles of monsters are tales of human struggle. • Good against evil • Strength of heart and spirit • Truth and light vs. dark powers • Darkness: Grendel, a dragon, greed, treachery, pride

10. Beowulf • Why has this story lasted through the ages? • Interlaced with the battles of monsters are tales of human struggle. • Challenge is constant. • Death always awaits. • Great victories, such as the one over Grendel, but in the end, even the hero’s strength and vitality must be extinguished by old age.

11. Structure of Beowulf • Use of alliteration • Beginning 3 or 4 words in a line with the same letter • OE: “waes se grimma gaest Grendel haten” • TRANS: “a horror from hell, hideous Grendel.” • “Then out of the night/came the shadow-stalker, stealthy and swift“ (702-703)

12. Structure of Beowulf • Use of kenning • A specific type of compound used for stylistic effects; a compressed metaphor. • “swan-road” for ocean • “wave-courser” for ship • “death-shadow” for Grendel

13. Structure of Beowulf • Use of oral structure • Tendency to digress into stories tangent to the action of the main plot. • Contribute to artistry of broad contrasts • Youth vs. age • Joy vs. sorrow • Good vs. bad • Hrothgar’s story of King Heremod • Contrast of good Queen Hygd and bad Queen Modthryth

14. Structure of Beowulf • Use of oral structure • Tendency to digress into stories tangent to the action of the main plot. • Commentary from the poet

15. Structure of Beowulf • Use of oral structure • Epic form • Viewing hero’s life as part of a historical pattern • Iliad: Homer focuses on one sequence – the withdrawal of Achilles from the Trojan War • Recalls Helen’s abduction, which started the war • Looks ahead to defeat of Trojans

16. Structure of Beowulf • Use of oral structure • Epic form • Viewing hero’s life as part of a historical pattern • Milton’s Paradise Lost: disobedience of Adam & Eve; Enveloping action includes: • Earlier rebellion of Satan • The creation • Whole future of fallen mankind

17. Structure of Beowulf • Use of oral structure • Epic form • This narrative method enables epic poet to delineate his central figure or episodes with vitality, yet at the same time to enlarge the dimensions of the poem and encompass a wider range of human experience. • Poet also uses digression in a subtle way to foreshadow dark events to come.

18. Themes in Beowulf • Identity • Ancestral heritage • Individual reputation • Heroic acts

19. Themes in Beowulf • Heroic glory • Characteristics of good warrior • Strength • Loyalty • Courage • Characteristics of good king • Hospitality • Generosity • Diplomacy

20. Themes in Beowulf • Distribution of treasure • King rewards strong, loyal warriors • Gold • Horses • Armor

21. Themes in Beowulf • Pagan vs. Christian elements • Blackburn, The Christian Colouring in Beowulf: • Poem was composed by a heathen from old stories. At a later date, it was revised by a Christian to include the Christian allusions. • Poem was composed by a Christian who had heard the stories and used them in the material of his work.

22. Themes in Beowulf • Pagan vs. Christian elements • Blackburn • Passages containing references to biblical history or allusion to scripture • Passages containing disapproval of heathen ideas or pagan worship • Passages containing references to distinctively Christian doctrines (heaven, hell, day of judgment) • 53 cases of incidental allusions to the Christian God

24. Beowulf • http://faculty.virginia.edu/OldEnglish/Beowulf.Readings/Prologue.html

25. http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/index.html Audio readings of Beowulf: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/noa/audio.htm