Beowulf

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Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Poetry
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Translations

• Because Anglo-Saxon poetry was written in Old
  English, we will read it in translation
• http//www.washjeff.edu/users/ltroost/british/beo0
  1p.wav
• http//www.washjeff.edu/users/ltroost/british/beo0
  2p.wav
• http//www.washjeff.edu/users/ltroost/british/beo0
  3p.wav

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga,  
þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing    sceaþena þreatum, monegum
mægþum,   meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas.  
 Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden,     he þæs
frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum
þah, oðþæt him æghwylc    þara ymbsittendra
ofer hronrade    hyran scolde, gomban gyldan.  
þæt wæs god cyning!
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kingsof
spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,we have
heard, and what honor the athelings won!Oft
Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,from many
a tribe, the mead-bench tore,awing the earls.
Since erst he layfriendless, a foundling, fate
repaid himfor he waxed under welkin, in wealth
he throve,till before him the folk, both far and
near,who house by the whale-path, heard his
mandate,gave him gifts a good king he!
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Anglo-Saxon Timeline

• B.C. Celts are in Britain
• 55 B.C. Julius Caesar invades Britain
• 409 Romans withdraw from Britain
• 449 Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade
  (Angle-Land!)
• 597 Pope Gregory sends Christian missionaries
  Anglo-Saxon King Ethelbert converts to
  Christianity
• 670 Caedmons hymn earliest Christian poem
• 700 Beowulf first recorded
• 871 Alfred the Great becomes king (A-S
  Chronicles)
• 1000 surviving copy of Beowulf written
• 1066 Battle of Hastings William of Normandy
  becomes English king

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Caedmons Hymn
Nu we sculon herigean     heofonrices weard,
meotodes meahte     ond his modgeþanc,   weorc
wuldorfæder,     swa he wundra gehwæs,   ece
drihten,     or unsealed.   He ærest sceop     
eorðan bearnum 5 heofon to hrofe,     halig
scyppend   þa middangeard     moncynnes weard,
  ece drihten,     æfter teode   firum foldan,
    frea ælmihtig.   Beowulf on Steorarume
Beowulf in Cyberspace Bede's account of the
poet Caedmon Caedmon's Hymn
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Caedmons Hymn - Translation
Now we must praise     the Protector of the
heavenly kingdom, the might of the Measurer
    and His mind's purpose, the work of the
Father of Glory,     as He for each of the
wonders, the eternal Lord,      established a
beginning. He shaped first    for the sons of the
Earth heaven as a roof,     the Holy Maker then
the Middle-World,     mankind's Guardian, the
eternal Lord,      made afterwards, solid ground
for men,     the almighty Lord.
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OLD ENGLISH AS A LANGUAGE

• 1300 years of written records of English as a
  language
• Celtic influence seen primarily in place names
• Many place names also come from Roman occupation
• Influence of Latin is seen in words concerned
  with religion and learning
• Basic vocabulary of present day English is based
  on Old English
• Old English is Germanic in origin. It doesnt
  come from German, but German and English come
  from the same root language.
• Anglo-Saxon scribes often used the futhorc
  alphabet.

Hwæt! Wé Gárdena      in géardagum þéodcyninga
     þrym gefrúnon hú ðá æþelingas      ellen
fremedon.
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Anglo-Saxon Poetry

• Oral tradition
• Scop story-tellers - created and performed
  poetry, often accompanied by a harp recited
  thousands of lines from memory and also
  improvised and composed on the spot
• Tales of battles and events preserved history
• Often didactic
• Often mournful in tone (elegiac poem or elegy)
• Formulaic patterns reused over and over
• Only about 3,000 lines remain today

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Stylistic Devices of Old English Poetry

• Alliteration a sound is alliterated 3 times per
  line
• No rhyme
• Strong rhythm
• Each line has 4 stressed syllables at least 4
  unstressed
• Caesura pause at midline
• Originally chanted or sung, probably accompanied
  by a harp
• Repetition of stock phrases
• kennings

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The Exeter Book
a manuscript volume of Old English religious and
secular poetry, of various dates of composition,
compiled c.975 and given to Exeter Cathedral by
Bishop Leofric
includes several of the best-known anthology
pieces (The Wanderer, The Seafarer, The Wifes
Lament), as well as other texts (such as the
so-called wisdom poems) and riddles
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The Anglo-Saxons
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Anglo-Saxon ideals and traditions

• Loyalty between leader and warriors
• Revenge as a way of life
• Male-dominated, war-like society
• Materialistic society accumulation of wealth
  important
• Fame all-important only thing that transcends
  time and death live on in scops songs

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Anglo-Saxon Concepts

• Wyrd fate a pagan concept present throughout
  Beowulf
• Wergild man-price or man-oayment based on his
  station a mans life was worth a certain amount
  when a man was killed, his family would exact
  that price in gold or in blood

Note that these concepts are out of harmony with
principles of Christianity
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More Anglo-Saxon Concepts

• Fortitudio bravery
• Sapienta justice and wisdom
• Comitatus Code loyalty to king, bravery and
  courage in battle in return for protection,
  feasts, and material reward

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The Anglo-Saxon Leader

• Seeks fame, power, challenge
• Male
• Covets material possessions (for self and people)
• Dominant commanding
• Boasting is expected accepted
• Acknowledges mistakes limitations
• Fair and generous

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Beowulf
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Time Frame for Beowulf

• One of the earliest works of English literature
• Evolved from oral traditions
• Told by scops (Anglo-Saxon poets
• First written down around 725
• The surviving manuscript dates from around 1000

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Author is unknown

• ) Beowulf contains a mixture of pagan and
  Christian elements
• The narrative evolved over the reintroduction of
  Christianity into England
• The scop was a Christian telling a story set in
  pagan times to Christian listeners
• The Christian elements were added later by a
  Christian author (this theory was once popular
  but is no longer fully accepted

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Setting

• Most of the story does not happen in England
• Events occur in Sweden and Danish island of
  Zealand
• Reflects Viking fascination with sea
• Glorifies the Danes and Geats

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Epic Poems

• Long narrative concerned with deeds
• and fate of a hero
• Elevated style
• Author is objective
• Hero is important figure historical or
  legendary
• God or supernatural frequently part of the action
• Setting not limited
• Hero demonstrates super-human strength courage

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Characteristics of an EPIC HERO

• Is significant and glorified
• Is on a quest
• Has superior or superhuman strength,
  intelligence, and courage
• Is ethical
• Risks death for glory or the greater good of
  society
• Performs brave deeds
• Is a strong and responsible leader
• Reflects the ideals of a particular society

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Themes of Beowulf

• Good vs. evil
• Loyalty
• Dual ordeal external battle with opponent and
  internal battle with human tendencies
• Universal story of lifes journey adolescence
  to old age

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Motifs, Symbols, and Imagery

• Age
• Monsters
• Weapons
• Light vs. dark imagery

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Artwork and images from Beowulf on
Steorarume http//www.heorot.dk/