1 / 22

Beowulf

Beowulf. The great English…Danish…German Epic. Why Beowulf? * Oldest full-length poem in any Germanic Language (like us) Vernacular rather than Latin * Historic value * Literary value * Cultural value.

terry
Télécharger la présentation

Beowulf

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Beowulf The great English…Danish…German Epic

  2. Why Beowulf?* Oldest full-length poem in any Germanic Language (like us)Vernacular rather than Latin* Historic value* Literary value* Cultural value

  3. The Manuscript - facts*700-1020 AD/ CE– Linguistic/ style– Miniscule influence*Part of codex– 2 scribes*3,182 lines*Nowell*Cotton-Vitellius

  4. Attracting Notice * Noticed in the 1700s * National pride *Claimed by British Danes Germans * Ancient/ Modern crossroads

  5. The Manuscript - Style • Events described dated to 400-500 AD • Cross ref – Gregory of Tours • Epithets indicative of oral influence • Last great hero of race • Christian/ Pagan mixture

  6. Language • Old English – Anglo Saxon • Germanic Vs. modern mixed w/ French • Traditional poetic form

  7. Listen and watch Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum, LO, praise of the prowess of people-king 2þeodcyninga, þrymgefrunon, of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, 3hu ðaæþelingasellenfremedon. we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! 4Oft ScyldScefingsceaþena/ þreatum, Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, 5monegum mægþum, meodosetlaofteah, from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, 6egsode eorlas. Syððanærestwearð/ awing the earls. Since erst he lay 7feasceaft funden, he þæsfrofregebad, friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:

  8. Who came up with this? • Possibilities – Direct transcription/ compilation – Bankrolled by Danish conqueror – Anglo-Saxon king trying to claim a great heritage

  9. The Setting Scandanaviaat War Geat= Sweden (live in) Dane = Denmark • Lay of the land Boats, beer, bravery, and booty

  10. Boats

  11. Beer

  12. Bravery

  13. Booty

  14. The Plot • 3 battles • 2 parts • Hero/ adventure • Old world vs. new • Originally separate, but woven together well enough to be literature

  15. The Hero • Beowulf = Bee + wolf/ hunter = bear • Call – comes in search of monsters • Fortune & glory • Bravery & honor • Die with honor

  16. Themes • Feudalism – King/ Thanes • Revenge – Blood debt • Reward • Wyrd

  17. Cast *Beowulf • Herot • Grendel • Grendel’s Mother • Hrothgar • Wealhtheow • Aeschere • Unferth • Wiglaf

  18. Cultural Meaning – Berserkers – Anglo-Saxons seeking legitimization – Quest for order – Choosing what of the past to carry into the present – National pride/ past

  19. Psychological Meaning Freudian/ Jungian – Subconscious – Monsters – Mother image – Dragon/ defense of land

  20. Social Meanings – “Other” – indigenes – Leader must prove his worth – Rank & reward for service – Sacrifice for a greater good – Loyalty, nobility, law

  21. Overview of the Story

More Related