Beowulf

1
Beowulf
an epic poem
2
What is an epic or a saga?

• A long story, often in the form of a poem
• Based on historic or legendary events
• Tells the exploits of a hero
• Characters events are exaggerated and glorified

3
Beowulf as Literature

• Earliest example of English poetry
• 3200 lines long
• Sounds include rhythm alliteration
• Does not rhyme
• Language is Anglo-Saxon -- an early form of
  English

4
History of the Poem

• Setting Denmark and Sweden in the 500-600s
• Composed orally between 700-900
• Author (or authors) unknown
• Performed by bards (storytelling singers/poets)
• First written about 1000 by monks
• Monks may have changed the original pagan
  references to Christian ones

5
Beowulf in Danger!

• England in 1600--King Henry VIII orders all
  monasteries destroyed

• manuscript eventually ended up with Sir Robert
  Cotton (collector of manuscripts, books, coins)

• kept in one of the largest private libraries in
  England

• one century after his death, Cottons house
  caught fire

6

• manuscript badly scorched, some parts were
  totally destroyed

• moved to the British Museum in 1753

• 1786--Danish scholar, G.J. Thorkelin made two
  copies of Beowulf and took them back to Denmark

• Thorkelins library and papers destroyed in 1807

7
. . . except Beowulf!

• Thorkelin started over, published his version in
  1815
• conservation of the manuscript began in 1845
• now in the British Library in London

8
The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why its cool

• a poem in three parts, each with a monster

9
The Setting of Beowulf . . .
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Modern Germany
10
The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why its cool

• Part 1 - Beowulf sails from Sweden to Denmark
  with fourteen warriors to help King Hrothgar get
  rid of Grendel

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The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why its cool

• Part 2 - A relative of Grendels gets involved in
  revenge

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The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why its cool

• Part 3 - Fire-breathing dragon is rudely awakened

13
Characters (the humans)

• Beowulf, a Geat (from southern Sweden)
• Hrothgar, King of the Danes (from Denmark)
• Unferth, a Dane
• Higlac, King of the Geats, Beowulfs uncle
• Queen Welthow, Hrothgars wife
• Queen Higd, Higlacs wife
• Wiglaf, a Geat, Beowulfs cousin

14
Life During the Time of Beowulf

• AD 500-600
• Viking culture in Scandinavia
• Farmers, fishermen, seafarers
• Warrior culture loyalty, courage, revenge
• Raided coastal Europe

15
Entertainment

• People gathered and listened to heroic stories
• Poems were sung and accompanied by harp

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page of the Beowulf manuscript
17
Feasting in a great hall
18
Sir Robert Cotton
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Thorkelins manuscript of Beowulf
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Viking ship