BeowulfBeowulf

Author unknownAuthor unknown

What is an heroic What is an heroic epic?epic?

Sometimes called an Sometimes called an heroic poem, it is a heroic poem, it is a long narrative about long narrative about the adventures of the adventures of larger-than-life larger-than-life characters.characters.

Examples of heroic Examples of heroic epicsepics

BeowulfBeowulfThe IlliadThe IlliadThe OdysseyThe Odyssey

Motifs found in this Motifs found in this heroic epicheroic epic

Hero is a great Hero is a great leader strongly leader strongly identified with a identified with a particular people or particular people or societysociety

Setting is broad Setting is broad and often includes and often includes the upper and the upper and lower worlds.lower worlds.

Hero does great Hero does great deeds in battle or deeds in battle or undertakes an undertakes an extraordinary extraordinary journey.journey.

Sometimes gods or Sometimes gods or other supernatural other supernatural or fantastic beings or fantastic beings take part in the take part in the action.action.

The story is told in The story is told in heightened heightened language.language.

About About BeowulfBeowulf

First great work of First great work of English national English national literatureliterature

Is an oral epic- it Is an oral epic- it was handed down was handed down from one minstrel from one minstrel to another.to another.

Is relatively short, Is relatively short, only 3200 linesonly 3200 lines

Composed in Old Composed in Old English, probably in English, probably in Northumbria, Northumbria, EnglandEngland

Composed between Composed between 700 and 750 A.D.700 and 750 A.D.

Material based on Material based on early folk legends– early folk legends– some Celtic, some some Celtic, some ScandinavianScandinavian

Poet may also have Poet may also have been a monk, given been a monk, given the Christian the Christian elements elements

Only manuscript we Only manuscript we have of the epic have of the epic dates from the year dates from the year 1000 A.D. and is 1000 A.D. and is housed in the British housed in the British Museum in LondonMuseum in London

Know the list of Know the list of people, monsters people, monsters

and places on page and places on page 1919

Epic HeroEpic Hero

The central figure in The central figure in a long narrative that a long narrative that reflects the values reflects the values and heroic ideals of and heroic ideals of a particular societya particular society

Characteristics of Characteristics of an Epic Heroan Epic Hero

Superior physical Superior physical strengthstrength

Supremely ethicalSupremely ethicalGlorified by the Glorified by the people he has savedpeople he has saved

Beowulf the manBeowulf the manGreat warrior Great warrior Geat from Sweden Geat from Sweden who crosses the sea who crosses the sea to Denmark in a to Denmark in a quest to rescue King quest to rescue King Hrothgar from a Hrothgar from a demonic monster demonic monster named Grendelnamed Grendel

WeregildWeregildAn Anglo-Saxon An Anglo-Saxon custom that said that custom that said that any man who killed any man who killed someone had to pay a someone had to pay a price for his deed or price for his deed or accept the fact that accept the fact that the victim’s family the victim’s family would seek revenge.would seek revenge.

FOILFOIL

A character who A character who contrasts with contrasts with another character, another character, usually the herousually the hero

KENNINGKENNINGMetaphorical Metaphorical compound words or compound words or phrases that indicate phrases that indicate a person or thing by a person or thing by a characteristic or a characteristic or quality. quality.

Examples of Examples of kenningskennings

Ring-giverRing-giverBracelet-wearing Bracelet-wearing queenqueen

Gold-ringed queenGold-ringed queen

ALLITERATIONALLITERATION The repetition of initial The repetition of initial

consonant sounds in words.consonant sounds in words.Examples:Examples:

””......ssworn to worn to sstay after dark and tay after dark and sstem tem that horror with a that horror with a ssweep of weep of their their sswords.”words.”

ELEGYELEGY

Poem mourning the Poem mourning the death of someone death of someone or laments or laments something lost.something lost.

SettingSettingThe poem begins with The poem begins with two contrasting settingstwo contrasting settingsThe dark, desolate lair The dark, desolate lair of Grendelof Grendel

The noisy, joyous The noisy, joyous golden hall at Herot.golden hall at Herot.

CHARACTER CONTRASTCHARACTER CONTRAST

The loyal and happy The loyal and happy men of Hrothgar men of Hrothgar

The exiled and The exiled and murderous Grendelmurderous Grendel

GOOD VS. EVILGOOD VS. EVILThe conflict between the The conflict between the two symbols begins with the two symbols begins with the attack of Grendel on Herot attack of Grendel on Herot at night, where he kills 30 at night, where he kills 30 men. He attacked because men. He attacked because they woke him with their they woke him with their music and laughter.music and laughter.

GRENDELGRENDELHe was spawned in that He was spawned in that slime… (line 19)slime… (line 19)

Born to Cain (one of the Born to Cain (one of the Biblical sons of Adam Biblical sons of Adam and Eve who murdered and Eve who murdered his own brother, Abel)his own brother, Abel)

HOW LONG DID HEROT STAND HOW LONG DID HEROT STAND EMPTY?EMPTY?

Twelve wintersTwelve winters

WHY DOES GRENDEL NOT WHY DOES GRENDEL NOT TOUCH HROTHGAR’S THRONE?TOUCH HROTHGAR’S THRONE?

It was protected by It was protected by GodGod

PAGAN ELEMENTS (PG.23)PAGAN ELEMENTS (PG.23)

They sacrificed to They sacrificed to old stone gods & old stone gods & made heathen made heathen vowsvows

(pg 24) Beowulf begins to (pg 24) Beowulf begins to be glorified. How?be glorified. How?

King has heard of King has heard of Beowulf and knows of Beowulf and knows of his noble birth.his noble birth.

King recognizes the peril King recognizes the peril of Beowulf’s journeyof Beowulf’s journey

(PG 25)(PG 25)

What proof does What proof does Beowulf offer that Beowulf offer that he can slay he can slay Grendel?Grendel?

He has killed many He has killed many enemiesenemies

He has chained 5 He has chained 5 giants and chased giants and chased them from the earththem from the earth

He has hunted He has hunted monsters out of the monsters out of the ocean.ocean.

Why do you think Beowulf Why do you think Beowulf intends to fight Grendel intends to fight Grendel

without a sword?without a sword?He does not wish to He does not wish to have an unfair have an unfair advantageadvantage

““Fate will unwind as it Fate will unwind as it must.”must.”

This quote by Beowulf This quote by Beowulf introduces the introduces the concept of concept of wyrdwyrd, or , or fate, and his belief in fate, and his belief in its role.its role.

(pg 27) UNFERTH’S (pg 27) UNFERTH’S CHALLENGECHALLENGE

He accuses Beowulf of He accuses Beowulf of boastingboasting

He claims Beowulf was He claims Beowulf was defeated in a defeated in a swimming match with swimming match with his friend, Breccahis friend, Brecca

What is his motive for this What is his motive for this challenge?challenge?

Jealous because he cannot Jealous because he cannot defeat Grendel himselfdefeat Grendel himself

This challenge to the hero by This challenge to the hero by an inferior character is an inferior character is common in the epic poems.common in the epic poems.

HOW DOES BEOWULF HOW DOES BEOWULF RESPOND?RESPOND?

Tells a tale-within-a-tale about Tells a tale-within-a-tale about defeating nine sea monsters defeating nine sea monsters then swimming to safety.then swimming to safety.

This serves to unveil other This serves to unveil other heroic characteristics such as heroic characteristics such as honesty and self-restraint.honesty and self-restraint.

Sea monsters defeat Sea monsters defeat vs. a feastvs. a feast

He treated them politely, He treated them politely, offering them the edge of his offering them the edge of his razor sharp sword.razor sharp sword.

Filled their evil bellies with no Filled their evil bellies with no banquet-rich foodbanquet-rich food

They slept on the shore, lying They slept on the shore, lying on their backs, their blood on their backs, their blood spilled. spilled.

““Fate saves the living when Fate saves the living when they drive away death by they drive away death by

themselves.”themselves.” People can drive away death People can drive away death

by themselves if they take by themselves if they take steps of protection such as steps of protection such as wearing a seat belt or not wearing a seat belt or not smoking, etc.smoking, etc.

Beowulf accuses Unferth of Beowulf accuses Unferth of what crime?what crime?

Of murdering his kinsmen Of murdering his kinsmen by not acting on the code of by not acting on the code of weregild.weregild.

Unferth as good as Unferth as good as murdered his own brothers murdered his own brothers by not avenging their by not avenging their deaths.deaths.

Unferth as a foil to Beowulf?Unferth as a foil to Beowulf?Unferth is spiteful, boastful, Unferth is spiteful, boastful, committed the unpardonable committed the unpardonable sin of murder.sin of murder.

Beowulf on the other hand, Beowulf on the other hand, has earned glory by has earned glory by defending the helpless and defending the helpless and restrains from attacking restrains from attacking Unferth as Unferth has Unferth as Unferth has challenged Beowulf. challenged Beowulf.

ANGLO-SAXON WOMENANGLO-SAXON WOMEN

Described as Described as possessing the 4 possessing the 4 qualities:qualities:

beloved, beloved, cheerful, cheerful, generous, generous, graciousgracious

What does Hrothgar promise What does Hrothgar promise Beowulf for his defeat of Beowulf for his defeat of

Grendel?Grendel?

““Your ship will sail Your ship will sail home with its home with its treasure-holds full.”treasure-holds full.”

Who is the, “shepherd of evil, Who is the, “shepherd of evil, guardian of crime”?guardian of crime”?

GrendelGrendel

How did Beowulf’s men uphold How did Beowulf’s men uphold the A-S code of ethics?the A-S code of ethics?

They stand prepared to They stand prepared to defend their lord’s life with defend their lord’s life with their own.their own.

Why do you think Beowulf Why do you think Beowulf allowed Grendel to eat the allowed Grendel to eat the

first Geat?first Geat? Could be Grendel was too fast Could be Grendel was too fast

for him to react.for him to react. Could be he was giving Grendel Could be he was giving Grendel

a sense of false security.a sense of false security. Could be he was taking his time Could be he was taking his time

to formulate a plan of action.to formulate a plan of action.

Christian ElementsChristian Elements

Grendel is “a sin-stained Grendel is “a sin-stained demon”demon”

Grendel is “doomed to hell”Grendel is “doomed to hell” Hrothgar’s throne protected Hrothgar’s throne protected

by Godby God Welthow thanked God for Welthow thanked God for

answering her prayersanswering her prayers

Why didn’t their swords Why didn’t their swords work on Grendel?work on Grendel?

Swords were Swords were bewitched by bewitched by Grendel, laid spells Grendel, laid spells that blunted all men’s that blunted all men’s blades.blades.

Why does Beowulf hang Why does Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm from the Grendel’s arm from the

rafters?rafters?

To serve as a means of To serve as a means of warning others not to defile warning others not to defile HerotHerot

As a trophy of his victoryAs a trophy of his victoryTo show how he “disarmed” To show how he “disarmed” his enemy.his enemy.

How does Grendel’s lair How does Grendel’s lair compare to hell?compare to hell?

Water is steaming Water is steaming and boilingand boiling

Water was bloodyWater was bloodySwirling surf (like fire)Swirling surf (like fire)

ComitatusComitatus Anglo-Saxon code that says a Anglo-Saxon code that says a

warrior must defend his lord warrior must defend his lord to the death (if necessary).to the death (if necessary).

The failure of Beowulf’s men The failure of Beowulf’s men to come to his aid in battle to come to his aid in battle foreshadows the demise of foreshadows the demise of the Geat people.the Geat people.