BeowulfAnglo-Saxon England

A.D. 449-1066•No written records before Anglo-Saxons

•Culture was based on savage tumult, superstition, and constant uproar

•Natives live in battle with one another

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/outlinemaps/

Celts• Moved in around 500 BC• Britons lived in Britain• Gaels settled on Ireland• Farmer/Hunter society – organized into clans

with chieftains – were fiercely loyal• Religion

– Druids (priests)– Stonehenge– Settled feuds and offered sacrifices and prayers– Memorized and recited long epic poems – Old King

Cole – King lear– Many customs remain – knock on wood; Christmas

and Easter celebrations

Roman Conquest• 55 BC Julius Caesar invaded –

declared GB conquered & went home

• 43 AD Claudius Caesar established camps which became permanent towns

• Romans introduced the “art of warfare”, paved roads, and Christianity

• 407 AD Roman Empire crumbling – returned home to defend what was left of the empire

Anglo-Saxon Invasion• Germanic Tribes – fishermen & farmers• The Angles, the Saxons, & the Jutes• Legend of King Arthur

– fought 12 battles defeating Anglo-Saxon troops – Became known as the “once and future king”

• Warriors took over and settled down• Tribal Units – eventually 7 main kingdoms

– King– Earls– Freeman – thanes or barons– Churls/serfs

Anglo-Saxon Religion

• Pagan – polytheism (multiple deities) & dragons– Tui – god of war & sky– Woden – chief of gods– Thunor – god of thunder & lightening– Fria – Woden’s wife

• Wyrd – fate controlled everything as opposed to free will

• Abandoned with the adoption of Christianity

Christianity• Romans brought Christianity to Celts

and left it with them when the empire fell

• Roman Church fell with the empire – Celts thrived

• 597 Roman Church sent St. Augustine to Britain and set up Canterbury Monastery

• By 650 most of England was Christian• Education and literature thrived under

Christianity– Schools started– Monks transcribed manuscripts and books– Anglo-Saxon warlike streak was tempered

with learning and culture

Danish Invasion• Scandinavia’s rising population with limited farmland• People went in search of new lands & riches• Vikings destroyed monasteries and killed and burned

enter villages – Berserkers – insane Viking warriors

• All but Wessex (ruled by Alfred)fell to Danelaw– Alfred the Great, only Great b/c fought the Danes– Danelaw to North and East- Saxon law to the South– Pushed education and learning– Began the translation from Latin to Anglo-Saxon– Began the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle ( record of Anglo-Saxon life

• Danish Contribution– Began to settle into life of farming and trading– Communication not difficult because both languages are

Germanic

Danelaw as established by treaty

in 878 AD

Danish Invasion of calories and fat grams – But ohhh sooo good!

2nd Danish Invasion

• Danes returned and took more territory – forced Saxons to select Dane kings

• 1042 – Edward, the Confessor - Return to Alfred the Great descendents– Very religious king– ½ Norman (French) – Cousin to William, Duke of

Normandy (the Conqueror). – Further weakened Saxon power

• 1066 – William became the Conqueror – took England

Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Druids kept long poems about kings & heroes by oral tradition

• Alphabet called Runes - used for buildings and markers – but few could read or write

• Poems recited on special occasions by Scops or gleeman (assistants) – hours or sometimes days to recite an entire poem– Recited with harp & often with a

sing/song rhythm to help with memorization

• Celtic languages + Latin + Germanic languages = Old English

Beowulf: sole surviving manuscriptBritish Library Cotton MS Vitellius A. XV, f.132Copyright © The British Library Board

Types of Verse

• Only 30,000 lines still exist found in four poems• Two Types

– Elegaic – sorrowful laments that mourn the deaths of loves ones and loss of the past

– Heroic – recounts battles/victories of great warriors

• Beowulf– Epic, long heroic poem – 3,182 lines.– 1st to be composed in English (Old English to be exact)– Present text dates to before the Danish raids (composed

8th century, written down in the 11th century)– Expressed the values of a warrior society– Unknown author

The replica of the Sutton Hoo lyre in the British museum A twelve string gut strung

harp, made of Ash and Lime

Anglo-Saxon ProseAll important prose was

composed in Latin (History of the English Church and People – Venerable Bede

• The use of Old English began with Alfred, the Great’s use in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – historical journals written and compiled in monasteries

A page from the [C] text of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This entry is for 871, a year of battles between Wessex and the Vikings.

Epic Poetry• Long and told in a lofty

language with a serious tone• Settings include upper and

lower worlds• Celebrates the values of the

society that produced it• Begins in the middle of the

action• Epic Hero

– Undertakes an extraordinary journey - Quest

– Is a great leader or of high station– Embodies the values of the people

he represents– Does valorous deeds in battle

BeowulfCharacters

• Beowulf – Geat warrior, son of Edgetho, nephew of Higlac

• Hrothgar – King of the Danes• Herot – Danish mead hall• Brecca – Beowulf’s childhood friend• Grendel – man-eating monster terrorizing the

Danes – descendent of Cain• Unferth – one of Hrothgar’s men – owns Hrunting• Welthow – queen of the Danes• Wiglaf – Beowulf’s cousin and a loyal soldier

Beowulf“The Wrath of Grendel”

• Christian vs Pagan influences• Biblical Allusion

– Reference to something from the Bible within another piece of literature

• Theme – Good vs Evil• “Almighty making the earth” – Christian influence

from Monks• Warriors celebrating in Herot• Grendel

– described as monster and demon– Biblical allusion of Cain and Able to demonstrate bad

guy status• Evil works under the cover of darkness

– Darkness feeds our fears

• Grendel works in Herot for 12 years • Doesn’t touch Hrothgar’s throne

– Divine Right – king is chosen and therefore protected directly by God

– Grendel doesn’t want any

• “Hell’s support”, “the heathen’s only way”, “Let them beware” - all part of the mini-sermon delivered by the monk who wrote Beowulf down

• This chapter sets up Grendel’s power and brutality – looks like the bad guy might just win

• It also prepares us for Beowulf’s coming to the rescue

Beowulf“The Wrath of Grendel”

• Kenning – “long nickname” – another way of referring to a character without using his formal name– “Healfdane’s Son” = Hrothgar

• Beowulf’s introduction contrasts with Grendel’s– “strongest of the Geats – greater and stronger

than anyone anywhere in this world.”• Wise Ones eager for Beowulf to go – Why?

– Glory for Beowulf meant glory for all Geats• 14 men chose to accompany Beowulf on a

“suicidal mission” – why?– Loyalty was important to Ang-Sax society

• Danish watcher’s reaction – “bristly” but honest – he stands as a protector and

takes his job seriously– Promises to guard ship (a sign of honor and respect

for the Geats)

“The Coming of Beowulf”

“The Coming of Beowulf”• Identifies himself and his men by the glory of his

father (glory important Ang-Sax value)• Beowulf makes goal of friendship very clear• Beowulf responds with confidence (important to

Ang-Sax society)• Geat armor

– Mail– Decorated with Boar’s heads – symbols of strength,

fearlessness, savagery, and danger to enemies• Beowulf’s men leave most of their armor outside

their meeting with Hrothgar – Sign of respect for the king– Goal of building Hrothgar’s confidence

• Beowulf provides his “warrior resume” – why?– To build Hrothgar’s confidence

• Sent by his own people - they are confident in him• Dripping with enemies’ blood• 5 giants into chains – eliminated all others• Killed sea monsters

• “Shelterer of Warriors” – kenning• Beowulf has a request

– He & his men alone eliminate Grendel – why?• He wants the glory for the Geats alone!

• Beowulf states he will fight Grendel w/o weapons – 2 reasons– Honor – he won’t use weapons against an unarmed enemy– Loyalty – he doesn’t want to shame Higlac (his king)

• Imagery – using 5 senses to draw a mental picture or experience– “smear torn scraps of skin “, “crunch on bones” – people love it!

Like scary movies or road kill

“The Coming of Beowulf”

“Unferth’s Challenge”• Unferth is introduced as jealous and angry• His goal is to shame Beowulf by bringing up a swimming

match Bw lost• Bw responds clearly

– 1st accuses Unferth of being drunk and running off at the mouth– Takes the opportunity to brag about strength

• Carried sword while swimming

– Bw chose to stay close to Brecca – honor– Storm seperated them & brought the monsters– Bw attacked and defeated 9 monsters (sign of incredible bravery

and strength)

• Bw turns on Unferth– No tales of Unferth’s accomplishments– He murdered his own brothers (huge no no because loyalty was

so valued)– If Unferth could walk the walk, Grendel wouldn’t have been a

problem for him

“The Battle with Grendel”• Archetypal Character – a character type that is seen in

different pieces of literature– The hero, the villain, the damsel in distress

• Alliteration – repetition of initial consonant sounds– “silver sweet sound of song”

• Foreshadowing – writer gives hints to upcoming events– “never before nor after…found his reception so harsh”– We know we are about to see a conflict

• Grendel “snapped” the door open; “tore its iron fasteners with a touch”– Reminds us of Grendel’s amazing strength before the battle

• Grendel walks into a buffet !• Grendel eats one Geat

– Use of imagery – “drank blood” “Bolted him down”

• “last human supper”– foreshadowing

“The Battle with Grendel”• Grendel snatched for Beowulf

– Reverse play and Grendel finds himself caught in a serious game of “mercy”

• “Shepherd of evil, guardian of crime…”– Kennings

• Grendel wants to flee– Suggests he is weak and has never faced an equal

opponent (lack of honor on Grendel’s part)

• Description of battle interrupted by description of Herot – 2 reasons– To continue to build the suspense– To emphasize the violence of battle by demonstrating

the strength of the setting

• G’ screams terrify the Danes

“The Battle with Grendel”

• Bw’s men try to help but man made weapons are useless– Bw is rewarded for his honor – how?

• He would have been destroyed if he had been counting on his sword

• “yet his time had come” – foreshadowing• Bw rips Grendel’s arm completely from the

socket– Demonstrating Bw’s amazing physical strength

• Bw hangs the claw from the rafters of Herot– All for the Glory – the claw is representative of his

accomplishments

“The Monsters’ Lair”• Only Grendel and his mother

– No father figure • Represents the absence of God

– Mother has no name – why?• She is only a woman and is not as important

• Description of Lair = hell-like place or our underworld setting– Steam– Snakelike roots– Black water

• A deer would rather die on the banks than enter the water to save its own life– Bw will enter = bravery and his ultimate goal, his

quest for Glory

“The Battle with Grendel’s Mother”• Bw asks Hrothgar to see to his men and send his

treasure back to Higlac– Loyalty to his men and his king

• Bw sank for hours– Uncommon strength and power

• His chain mail protected him from her and other beasts• Bw takes Hrunting (undefeated sword) - Why doesn’t he

fight barehanded?– G’s mom is female and not worthy of honorable actions

• Enters the battle hall – burning water – same underworld setting

• His Sword is once again useless – she is immune to man-made weapons

• Bw is getting creamed – but continues to fight – why?– His insatiable quest for glory and fame

The Battle with Grendel’s Mother”• Da, Da, Da Dum!!!!

– This is the part where it looks like the bad guy just might win!

– His chain mail saves him– And of course, “Holy God, who sent him victory…” –

hello Monk• Giant’s sword – not man-made – CHA CHING!!

– So massive no ordinary man could have lifted it• Another example of Bw’s incredible strength

• Chops off her nugget and leaves her body• BW goes looking for Grendel

– Writer reminds us of Grendel’s horrible crimes to keep us from disliking Beowulf for hunting a dead monster

– Grendel needs to deserve to have his head chopped off his dead body

“The Battle with Grendel’s Mother”

• Danes left Bw for dead when the lake erupted into blood and fire

• Geats stayed without much hope to wait for Bw

• Bw returns with the sword handle (hilt) b/c the blade melted in the monster’s blood

• He also brings back Grendel’s head – It takes four men to carry it – Bw handles it alone – another example of

amazing strength

• Bw ultimately brought peace to the lake

“The Last Battle”• Bw returns to Geatland

– Becomes King and rules for 50 years• Thief steals a chalice from dragon’s treasure

– Awakens dragon that begins burning and destroying villages in Geatland

• Bw sees it as his responsibility to protect his people– Even as an old man he still seeks fame– Still holding onto his defeat of Grendel

• Dragon– Fire breathing & poisonous

• “till fate decides which of us…” – pagan influence with idea of Wyrd

• Goes to face the dragon as a 70+ yr old man– Courage and strength

“The Last Battle”• Bw announces his presence with a battle cry

– Courage and honor• Dragon “coiled and uncoiled” – very serpent like

- imagery• Iron shield, not wood – Why?

– DUH! – fire breathing dragon• “fought with fate against him” – foreshadowing

Bw’s death• Sword again useless – blade broke

– Bw’s incredible strength• Dragon renews attack w/pain & fury

– Cooking Bw’s grits• Only one soldier stands with him – Wiglaf

– Makes an eloquent speech about loyalty, courage, & honor

“The Last Battle”• Wiglaf’s words of encouragement designed to

make Bw remember his ultimate goal – Glory• Bw uses broken sword to smash dragon in the

head• Dragon retaliates and bite Bw in the neck• Wiglaf puts out dragon’s flame with his own sword• Bw cuts dragon in half with his dagger

– Fitting that Bw delivers the death blow – why?• He is the hero of the story after all

• Bw has received a mortal injury – will die– We need him to die in battle to satisfy our need for

closure to his life• Bw’s final words

– Celebrates the peace and righteousness of his reign– Never killed his own family members– Asks Wiglaf to bring treasure to him.

“The Spoils”

• Caesura – when a sentence ends in the middle of a line of poetry– Line 792

• Bw asks to see the treasure and is pleased that he sold his life for it

• Wiglaf moves quickly b/c he knows Bw is dying

• Bw thanks God – Christian influence– Turns throne over to Wiglaf

• Reward for his absolute loyalty• Gives Wiglaf the necklace as a sign

“The Farewell”• Irony – unexpected twist or outcome• Geats build Bw’s tower (lighthouse)

– Even in death Bw is protecting his people– Ashes in the walls– Treasure buried under the tower

• 12 of the “bravest” Geats rode around the tower celebrating their king– Ironic b/c they are the ones who abandoned

him in the first place

• Ending celebrates him as a worthy and uncommon king

Review• Kenning• Caesura• End-stop• Foreshadowing• Themes• Setting/atmosphere• Imagery• Archetypal character• Irony• Biblical Allusion