Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature

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BeowulfThe Beginnings of English Literature
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Origins

• Oldest surviving English poem
• Written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon) basis
  for the language we speak today.
• Unknown author (possibly a Christian author in
  Anglo-Saxon England)

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Origins

• The only copy of the manuscript was written
  sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000s),
  however
• The actual poem probably dates from the 8th
  century (700s) or so, and
• The story may be set even earlier, around 400 or
  500 A.D.

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Origins
So whats happened to the manuscript since the
11th century?
Eventually, it ended up in the library of this
guy.
Robert Cotton (1571-1631)
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Origins

• Unfortunately, Cottons library burned in 1731.
  Many manuscripts were entirely destroyed.
  Beowulf was partially damaged.
• The manuscript is now preserved and carefully
  cared for in the British Museum.

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Conflict in BeowulfChristian Values vs.
Anglo-Saxon (Pagan) Values

• This tension is at the heart of the poem
• Pagan history and myth are made to point to a
  Christian moral
• Beowulf is poised between two value systems

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The Beowulf Poet

• The poet is Christian (probably a monk or priest
  since they were the only ones who could read or
  write)
• The poem reflects established Christian tradition
• Allusions to the Old Testament
• Beowulf is symbolic of a Redeemer who is sent by
  God to save man from sin
• Similarities between Beowulfs death and the
  death of Christ (sacrifices himself for his
  people)

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Sutton Hoo

• Burial site discovered in 1939
• Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf
• Remains of a boat were discovered and large
  burial chamber containing numerous artifacts
• Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element
  intermingled with pagan ritual.

• Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible
  archaeological evidence to add creditability to
  the blend of customs in the text.

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Sutton Hoo Artifacts(note the Christian elements
mixed with pagan elements)
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Old English

• Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form
  of English
• Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from
  about 500 to 1100.
• In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England,
  bringing the French language with him gradually
  Old English evolved into Middle English
  (1100-1500)
• Modern English has been spoken since the
  Renaissance Shakespeare is NOT Old English he
  is Early Modern English

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Beowulf Background

• The action of the poem takes place around 500 AD
• Poet is reviving the language, style and values
  of the oral poetry of the ancestors of
  Anglo-Saxons
• The poem deals with ancient ancestors the Danes
  and the Geats
• It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar
  J.R.R Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) published a
  paper on the poem that it became popular.

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Setting Beowulfs Time and Place
Europe today
Time of Beowulf
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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 who lived in
  Denmark

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The Character of Beowulf

• He fights for personal honor/glory
• Has superhuman qualities but remains an
  approachable hero
• Committed to service to humanity and his own
  people.
• Beowulf as savior.

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Beowulfs Name

• Beowulfs father Edgetho
• In most cases, the son is named after the father
  but Beowulf isnt
• 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
• Cunning
• Speedy

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Themes and Important Subjects

• Good vs. Evil
• Religion Christian and Pagan influences
• The importance of wealth and treasure
• The importance of the sea and sailing
• The sacredness of the home
• Fate
• Loyalty
• Heroism

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So, why is Beowulf an important work of
literature?

• It is an expression of Anglo-Saxon values and
  attitudes
• Warfare
• Belief in fate
• Courage, loyalty and honor
• The battle of Good versus Evil
• Boasting
• Storytelling (scops held key
• to immortality)

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It is an excellent example of an epic

• Long
• Narrative
• Adventures of a central
• hero with superhuman powers
• Worldwide or cosmic setting
• Participation by God
• (or Gods) in action

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It is an example of Old English poetry

• Beat rhythm
• No rhyme
• Alliteration
• Kennings
• Caesuras

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Some terms youll want to know

• scop

A bard or story-teller. The scop was responsible
for praising deeds of past heroes, for recording
history, and for providing entertainment
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Some terms youll want to know
thane
A warrior
mead-hall
The large hall where the lord and his warriors
slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc.
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Some terms youll want to know
wyrd
Fate. This idea crops up a lot in the poem,
while at the same time there are Christian
references to Gods will.
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